Arrenstretches his shoulders a little while Tacerestrains Emma—more out of habit than with any hope it'll have a real effect—twisting his face slightly as the movement reminds him of the shoulder injury. It had hurt during and after the fight, but now the pain is growing as the adrenaline continues to wear off.
He sets the lit lantern on a patch of relatively dry earth, close enough that they'll all be able to see each other, but still far enough away in case of sudden movements. Once that's done, he looks to Tace and says, "We need her awake asap. I'd say we shake her leg and call her name. If that doesn't work, we splash her with water. And if that doesn't work, then a slap will be in order."
He gives Tace a questioning look, in case he has other ideas—and so he can prepare as well—but it's clear Arren still favors the gentler approach to start with (not counting the fact that they’ve already slashed at her multiple times—and vice versa), all while keeping in mind that time is of the essence.
The Half-Elf wipes away the most obvious traces of blood from his face, hands and clothes during the brief wait—at least the downpour helps with that—and unless Tace interjects, he will proceed by shaking Emma's leg, and then stepping a bit away and calling out to her. His left arm holds the shield close, and his right hand rests visibly on the hilt of the sword.
After restraining Emma by manacling her to the tree, 'Tace' looks back at the fire, wishing it weren't dying and was able to get them warm and dry.
When the Sergeant details his plan, he nods, "I can't think of a better way to wake her". Not with my hands as figuratively manacled as Emma's.
Whilst the Sergeant enacts his plan, he looks around for a source of dry wood. Perhaps in vain, with the amount of rain, but he feels it worth a look if it means being able to build the fire back up.
Probably better look for some way to shelter Emma from the rain as well, at some point.
The only place nearby that could keep timber dry in these conditions is the alvoce, but there is nothing to burn inside. One could run to Ersta and back, and that might not take too long, though they'd have to find wood there first.
Arren finds that waking Emma isn't as simple as he'd expect. Shaking her gently achieves nothing, and he figures she would have woken up earlier while being carried if it were that easy. However, he notices a slight movement in response to her name. Just a little, it could have been a coincidence at first, but after repeating several times, Emma begins to stir lightly and eventually, slowly, she raises her head and opens her eyes to meet Arren's.
Emma tries to stand up, but immediately the manacles pull her down. She contorts her face in pain once she feels her injuries. After a moment of digesting the situation, she seems to come to terms with it and remains seated as she is, hands behind the tree and all, but looks up at whichever of the two soldiers is closest. She examines the two in silence, and after a moment, she speaks in a very quiet voice. "It is... I did it, didn't I? I'm sorry. But now you know." She seems relatively calm for a person in her position, but it is the calmness of a person who has accepted their fate as it is.
"I see you're still determined to keep me alive," she continues. "I should probably thank you, but... could I have some water, please? To drink, I feel parched."
(ooc: "His left arm holds the shield close, and his right hand rests visibly on the hilt of the sword." I've just realised this doesn't really make sense.)
Arren, who has taken a couple of steps away after Emma awoke, meets her gaze for a few seconds before he answers. He briefly looks away and takes a deep breath. Steel yourself, he thinks.
He then looks back at Emma, and—trying to sound neutral—replies, "Indeed. Now we know." His stance remains unchanged: left arm holding the shield, right hand hanging free, the longsword still sheathed at his left hip. "And because of that, the priorities have shifted. I'm sorry, but we need to act in Ersta's best interest—along with our own safety."
The Sergeant pointedly ignores Emma's plea for water and continues, "Emma, we went to your household and saw your letters. We need some clarifications, and we need them now. First, Tell us about 'BS'—the person who contacted you, claiming they could help you and your husband conceive. What did they look like? Anything you can describe might help."
He pauses to let her answer, then adds, "Emma, do you know how they found out about your and Hector’s struggles?"
Arren doesn't ask more questions for now, allowing Taceto add his own.
'Tace' squats down adjacent to Emma compared to where the Sergeant is, watching her closely. He is a little surprised at the demeanour of the Sergeant, bordering on cold, considering his empathy for Emma's situation earlier. But it is true, they do know what she is now. And she is dangerous to everyone around her.
Although he has things on his mind as well, he doesn't interrupt the Sergeant's flow of questions. Finding out what they can about the mysterious BS does need to be our main priority.
If Emma looks in his direction, which she will need to turn her head ninety degrees to do, he will give an encouraging smile.
(OOC: Will wait for the answers before possibly adding more questions)
Emma tries to look at Arren while he speaks, but the posture she is forced into makes it uncomfortable to look up like that for long, and she soon lowers her eyes to his feet instead. Arren feels that she's still listening, though. When 'Tace' comes to crouch beside her, she tries to look at him, but midway through turning her head towards him, she twists her face in pain and instead looks back at Arren.
"My letters?" Emma pauses. Even as she answers, she doesn't raise her eyes to Arren. She doesn't feel untruthful; it just seems to be uncomfortable. "B... S? Oh, right. Must have been the spring before last. Maybe the beginning of the following summer. I received this strange letter, but I didn't think much of it. It's true, we were trying to conceive back then. It feels like a lifetime ago." She stops, struggles to swallow, tries to look at Arren pleadingly again for a moment before looking down again.
"I placed that crookneck pumpkin on the windowsill. I didn't believe anything would happen, but... well, it didn't hurt to try. A few months passed, and nothing happened. I forgot about it, of course. Then, it was autumn already, and this Elf appeared. He was pale, and his hair was dark. Not like the Elves you meet around here often. I suppose he looked more Levickan, though I wouldn't know for sure. He claimed he could help, and reminded me of the letter he sent before. By then, we've still to succeed in our... attempts. So I agreed to his help. I..." She pauses for a long moment. "I don't really remember what he did. But, anyway, it didn't help.
"Now that I think about it, it wasn't long after that Hector started... behaving strangely. But... I cannot recall what happened." Her voice, no longer calm, starts rising in pitch a little and now sounds tremulous. "It's not that I forgot, I... I feel like it is blank! I remember meeting him, though he was like any other patron of the Stewpot at the time, and he introduced himself to me, and then... nothing. Nothing at all. But it's strange. I wouldn't remember someone if they were just a passing visitor in the Stewpot. I feel like there must be more - and not only because you ask me - but when I try to remember, all I draw is... blank."
She tries to look at Arren again, a little fear in her eyes this time. "That is all, I think. It sounds absurd, doesn't it? But please, believe me."
If you wish, you may roll an Insight check. If you pass DC13:
Unbelievable as it may sound, it doesn't feel like Emma is trying to lie or hide information intentionally.
A levickan elf, it really could be Breithe Staidear. He must have performed whatever magic transformed Emma, and used magic to make her forget.
"I believe you", 'Tace' says after a moment, reaching for his waterskin before looking to the Sergeant for approval to allow Emma a little drink. If the Sergeant gives the nod, he will pour a trickle of water into Emma's mouth. If not he will place it down next to himself. Either way, he shifts around a little so it doesn't hurt Emma to look at him. To see at least his eyes behind his mask.
"You remember receiving the letter, and you remember the levickan elf arrive. What is the last memory you have before it goes blank? And the first after? Was Hector present?", he asks Emma. "And also, you received another letter from BS. That one was later and suggested the levickan elf knew something had gone wrong. How would he know this? Was it your change that he spoke of, or Hector's", he adds. "Did you see him again?".
An Elf from Levicka. Those were the Commandant's exact words, Arren recalls, when she told them about Breithe Staidear. So it could be him, after all. And to think we only stopped in Ersta because of the rain.
Arren remains silent now while Tace asks his questions, nodding slightly when he reaches for his waterskin.
When Tace leans forward to pour a trickle of water into Emma's mouth, Arren's right hand immediately shifts to the hilt on his left hip. It stays there until Tace steps back—at which point, that hand returns to its previous position.
A question starts to gnaw at the Half-Elf now. Who is the monster here? He's starting to feel like one himself, but he knows as well that can't let his guard fall.
(OOC: Insight: 3+1 = 4. By the way, if possible, Arren moves a bit, making sure he is within 5 feet of Tace)
Emma avidly drinks from the waterskin, as much as Bryn would let her or until it is entirely empty. "Thank you," she says, trying to look at 'Tace' again now that he has moved closer to her field of view. She looks straight into his eyes when suddenly, though only momentarily, her eyes widen in surprise. She quickly averts her look back to the ground, and says nothing. Arren, however (with his poor roll), doesn't notice the surprised look, and assumes she just averted her eyes due to the pain once more.
"He... was sitting in The Stewpot, just like any other customer." She answers "Tace's" question, her voice a little stronger now, closer to how it's been when you talked with her before. "I worked alone most of the time - Hector was busy with his own business - so I couldn't gather orders from the main hall. Instead, people had to come to the bar or the kitchen, where I'd take their order. I think it took him some time to understand that, or maybe someone told him, and he eventually came to place an order, or so I thought.
"He said he came to help me as he promised, and I was confused at first, since I didn't remember who he was. He then mentioned his letter to remind me, and once again claimed he could help. I..." She pauses for a rather long moment. "I asked him to wait until I close the Stewpot for the night, and asked whether he'd like to eat anything in the meantime. I then asked for his name, and he... eh... I think he answered, but I cannot recall it. I think that's the last thing I can remember about him. The next thing is..."
Emma pauses for a long moment to think about this question, but eventually just shakes her head. "I remember things after that, of course, but I can't tell you which was the first. Nothing stands out to me, and none of them involve the Elf again. But a second letter, I... it sounds familiar, but I don't remember receiving one. Are you sure? It's strange. This feeling, like seeing a familiar face but being unable to associate the face with a name. I know something happened, but I don't know what. You don't happen to have the letter here with you, do you? Maybe it could help me remember."
(ooc: I think we never took the letters with us, right?)
Arrenlistens to Emma in silence, and only after she finishes does he speak.
"We didn't take the letters with us, unfortunately. But in the second one, BS regretted how things ended last time, though he admitted he hadn't imagined things would unfold as they did. He said a bird carried a whisper to him—and that he couldn't help but feel some responsibility. He proposed that, if you wished to see him again, you should do as before: place a Cucurbitaceae on your windowsill on the night of the full moon. It seems he was certain he could help make right what their earlier actions had caused."
He pauses to let her speak, if she wishes.
"Emma… does the name Breithe Staidear ring a bell?"
Arren pauses again, watching her closely to gauge her reaction to the name. Then, after a beat, he adds with another question:
"Did you come across anyone else in the forest after you ran away—besides us? Olive told us he met a hunter about eight days ago. They sounded Etanan, and they were short in stature. That hunter claimed to be looking for you ... and the timing matches the last full moon."
'Tace' takes note of the surprised look Emma gives him on looking into his eyes, but allows the Sergeant to take over the questioning after explaining the contents of the second letter from BS.
What did that look mean?
After a moment considering that, he puts his mind to what Emma says about the levickan elf. Assuming it is Breithe, it is no wonder he has managed to stay hidden all this time, if he can make people forget ever meeting him. That would make tracking him down nigh on impossible.
When the Sergeant drops the name Breith Staidear, he watches closely for a reaction.
And of course the hunter and the links to Etana. We really should get that root from Olive and see if it helps Emma.
(OOC: There is a lot of potential insight checking going on here. Not sure how many rolls are required or if he can get any more mileage out of the 21 he rolled before, which I forgot to tag in the post above).
Emma listens to Arren's accurate description of the second letter, but eventually just shakes her head lightly. "I don't know. Maybe. It sounds familiar, but I don't remember it." When Arren states the name explicitly, she thinks for a moment before replying almost exactly the same. "I don't know. Maybe. Is that this BS's name? It sounds familiar, but again, I just don't remember. I'm sorry I can't be of any more help."
When the hunter is brought up, Emma answers with more certainty. "No, I don't recall anyone like that. At least, if I met them, it didn't happen while I was... Human, and my memories of the times when I'm... not Human, are vague and discontinuous."
Bryn believes Emma is cooperating with them as best she can.
While the two soldiers are busy gauging her reaction to their every word, Emma takes a chance to ask one of her own questions. "What are you planning to do now? With me, I mean. Once you're done asking your questions."
'Tace' stands, stretches and steps away from Emma, leaving her question unanswered for now, but hoping that the Sergeant would join him.
If he does, he will proceed in a hushed voice, and if not he will speak in earshot of Emma.
"Her question is a good one. I believe she is trying her best to help. To remember. Something must have affected her memory, or she is a very good liar", he explains. "What do you think about one of us heading back to get the root that the hunter gave to Olive? Perhaps it can help Emma. I am not sure what else we can do otherwise, and I don't think we should leave her unchaperoned until we have no choice".
The Corporal finds that the Sergeant was thinking similarly, and that he steps away from Emma almost at the same time the Corporal does.
"I don't like it," he begins, "But then again, I don't like any other option I can think of. I'd rather we didn't split up, but that would either mean not going back to town, or going and leaving her entirely on her own." He shakes his head slightly. "Perhaps it's best that one of us remains with her, yes. That might help her keep in control."
He pauses. "But regarding the root..." He hesitates. "We can ask Olive for it, of course. But if the hunter was telling the truth, it seemed meant to help those hurt by the monster—like we were—not the monster itself. In any case, for lack of better options, we might as well try."
Arren pauses. "I can remain here, or you can. As I said, neither option is ideal. Whoever goes must inform the Commandant and the Lieutenant. I think the best course now is to stay in Ersta until reinforcements arrive from Tus."
'Tace' waits patiently as the Sergeant thinks things over, before responding with his thoughts.
"I agree the root is a long shot, but it is all we have right now. We could perhaps share it between the three of us, just in case our wounds are infected, and in the hope it might help Emma", he says, but not with much confidence.
"With regards speaking to the Commandant, I think you would have the best chance of convincing her to stay. I could pass on a message, but would not be in a position to persuade her like you might. Even with suggesting a link to Breithe Staidear", he suggests.
He looks back at Emma, and then back to the Sergeant, "I would be comfortable staying and trying to keep Emma calm. I will of course follow your lead though, and do my best with the Commandant if that is your decision".
"I'll be back as soon as possible." He pauses, looking Tace straight in the eye. "Do take care. She might be restrained, but she can still..." He doesn't finish the sentence. It isn't necessary.
With that, Arren takes a few of steps away from the Corporal, returning to Emma's view. He reaches into his backpack and retrieves her frying pan and the potatoes, setting them down where she can see them. Then he gives her a small nod, followed by another to Tace, before strapping his shield across his back and preparing to leave.
(ooc: I imagine the lamp can stay with Emma and Bryn? Arren doesn't really need it to find his way back the same way they came here, does he? He will ask Bryn for the key to the carriage before leaving, though)
"Thank you," Emma says once she sees her frying pan. "Could I ask you to place it in the alcove, where it's dry? It should be well-oiled, but I wouldn't want to risk it rusting in the rain."
Arren can follow "Tace's" markings on the trees back to town and then, later, to the alcove again. While they'd be easier to spot with some light, Arren can be mostly confident he'd find them without one too, as long as he doesn't rush too much.
While they wait, unless Bryn asks her more questions (or opens some other conversation), Emma will stay quiet. However, soon enough, Bryn can see she's shivering slightly from the cold. He, too, can feel it penetrating through his wet clothes. At this point, he knows he shouldn't stay in the cold, under the rain, for too long, else he might get sick.
A similar thought passes through Arren's mind while he hurries to Ersta. Now familiar with the path, it takes only a little to reach town, and once there, wherever he wants.
'Tace' does indeed hand over the carriage key as requested.
As he starts to feel the cold and wet, and as he is making sure the frying pan and potatoes are fully out of the rain, he thinks about staying in the alcove. But first he looks around a bit to see if there is any way to shelter Emma from the rain.
As he does, he will speak to Emma, "I saw your surprise when you looked at me".
He leaves the question hanging in the air, to see if Emma will respond without further prompting.
Arren's first stop in Ersta is the building where they left the carriage and the horses. He gives Choco and Mocha a quick glance—likely finding them asleep, either lying down or standing quietly. Unlocking the carriage, he searches for spare clothes for himself and another set for Tace. Feeling the bite of the cold seeping through his damp clothes, he changes right there, storing the wet, bloodied garments in the carriage - careful not to mess anything there - and stores Tace's set in his backpack.
He makes a quick stop by Emma’s home—thankfully, he still has the key. He heads straight to the couple's bedroom and picks out the warmest-looking dress he can find, carefully placing it in his backpack, as well.
On the way to the Three Frogs, he feels slightly better knowing that, at least, he won't be walking in damp and covered in blood. But it does nothing to ease the pain of the wounds, the general exhaustion he's been carrying—nor the unease of leaving his companion alone with a woman who had the strength to injure them both. One who, had they not been as prepared as they were, would have killed them as she did with the others who met her.
The Sergeant tries to rehearse what he'll say to the Commandant and the Lieutenant, but finds the words won't come. Probably just the weariness. Hopefully they'll come out at the right moment. He hopes, at least, that the inn is as quiet as it was a couple of hours ago (ooc: is this right?) when they left.
Arren would gladly fall into a bed and sleep for a week straight if he could. But he can't. He has to report what they found. Then get back. As soon as possible.
With all that on his mind, he enters the inn. He tries to keep quiet even if he is in a rush.
Emma raises her head briefly to look in Bryn's direction as he wanders around. "I must have imagined things. Surely." She answers.
Bryn sees that in the immediate vicinity, the alcove is the only place that's dry. He doesn't recall seeing any other dry places in what little area of the forest he's been through so far, but there should be other places where animals find shelter from the rain, probably.
"If you don't mind me asking," Emma asks after a bit, "who is this person you're searching for? I don't believe I told you his name because I cannot recall it, and you said the letter you found in my house only had someone's initials on it. So it seems to me that, at this point, you know more than me already. Have there been others who suffered a similar fate to mine at the hands of this person? Is that why you're searching for them?"
Arren can find clean, dry clothes for 'Tace' and himself in the carriage. The horses, as expected, are resting from a long day of standing idle in the stable.
In Emma's room, Arren finds a dress and an overdress - both light beige coloured - which he believes will be warm. After searching a little more, he eventually finds a simple wool raincoat that looks rather old, but warm nonetheless.
((A couple hours ago? It hasn't been that long. The fight took less than a minute, and from its end to Arren arriving back in Ersta, it must not have been over fifteen minutes. Remember, you woke Emma up immediately.))
The inn is quiet as before, and Arren's two comrades still sit in the same manner they did before. Commandant Nattensbarn raises her eyes to look at Arren and lingers on him longer than usual. For a moment, he might fear that a wound has opened again and that she saw the blood, but a brief peek down at his body reveals that the armour and the raincoat, along with the clean clothes, keep any such wounds - if any - hidden for now. "Where is Corporal Peite?" She asks eventually, seeing as Arren is alone and nobody enters after him.
Arren stretches his shoulders a little while Tace restrains Emma—more out of habit than with any hope it'll have a real effect—twisting his face slightly as the movement reminds him of the shoulder injury. It had hurt during and after the fight, but now the pain is growing as the adrenaline continues to wear off.
He sets the lit lantern on a patch of relatively dry earth, close enough that they'll all be able to see each other, but still far enough away in case of sudden movements. Once that's done, he looks to Tace and says, "We need her awake asap. I'd say we shake her leg and call her name. If that doesn't work, we splash her with water. And if that doesn't work, then a slap will be in order."
He gives Tace a questioning look, in case he has other ideas—and so he can prepare as well—but it's clear Arren still favors the gentler approach to start with (not counting the fact that they’ve already slashed at her multiple times—and vice versa), all while keeping in mind that time is of the essence.
The Half-Elf wipes away the most obvious traces of blood from his face, hands and clothes during the brief wait—at least the downpour helps with that—and unless Tace interjects, he will proceed by shaking Emma's leg, and then stepping a bit away and calling out to her. His left arm holds the shield close, and his right hand rests visibly on the hilt of the sword.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
After restraining Emma by manacling her to the tree, 'Tace' looks back at the fire, wishing it weren't dying and was able to get them warm and dry.
When the Sergeant details his plan, he nods, "I can't think of a better way to wake her". Not with my hands as figuratively manacled as Emma's.
Whilst the Sergeant enacts his plan, he looks around for a source of dry wood. Perhaps in vain, with the amount of rain, but he feels it worth a look if it means being able to build the fire back up.
Probably better look for some way to shelter Emma from the rain as well, at some point.
Perception: 11+5=16
The only place nearby that could keep timber dry in these conditions is the alvoce, but there is nothing to burn inside. One could run to Ersta and back, and that might not take too long, though they'd have to find wood there first.
Arren finds that waking Emma isn't as simple as he'd expect. Shaking her gently achieves nothing, and he figures she would have woken up earlier while being carried if it were that easy. However, he notices a slight movement in response to her name. Just a little, it could have been a coincidence at first, but after repeating several times, Emma begins to stir lightly and eventually, slowly, she raises her head and opens her eyes to meet Arren's.
Emma tries to stand up, but immediately the manacles pull her down. She contorts her face in pain once she feels her injuries. After a moment of digesting the situation, she seems to come to terms with it and remains seated as she is, hands behind the tree and all, but looks up at whichever of the two soldiers is closest. She examines the two in silence, and after a moment, she speaks in a very quiet voice. "It is... I did it, didn't I? I'm sorry. But now you know." She seems relatively calm for a person in her position, but it is the calmness of a person who has accepted their fate as it is.
"I see you're still determined to keep me alive," she continues. "I should probably thank you, but... could I have some water, please? To drink, I feel parched."
Varielky
(ooc: "His left arm holds the shield close, and his right hand rests visibly on the hilt of the sword." I've just realised this doesn't really make sense.)
Arren, who has taken a couple of steps away after Emma awoke, meets her gaze for a few seconds before he answers. He briefly looks away and takes a deep breath. Steel yourself, he thinks.
He then looks back at Emma, and—trying to sound neutral—replies, "Indeed. Now we know." His stance remains unchanged: left arm holding the shield, right hand hanging free, the longsword still sheathed at his left hip. "And because of that, the priorities have shifted. I'm sorry, but we need to act in Ersta's best interest—along with our own safety."
The Sergeant pointedly ignores Emma's plea for water and continues, "Emma, we went to your household and saw your letters. We need some clarifications, and we need them now. First, Tell us about 'BS'—the person who contacted you, claiming they could help you and your husband conceive. What did they look like? Anything you can describe might help."
He pauses to let her answer, then adds, "Emma, do you know how they found out about your and Hector’s struggles?"
Arren doesn't ask more questions for now, allowing Tace to add his own.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
'Tace' squats down adjacent to Emma compared to where the Sergeant is, watching her closely. He is a little surprised at the demeanour of the Sergeant, bordering on cold, considering his empathy for Emma's situation earlier. But it is true, they do know what she is now. And she is dangerous to everyone around her.
Although he has things on his mind as well, he doesn't interrupt the Sergeant's flow of questions. Finding out what they can about the mysterious BS does need to be our main priority.
If Emma looks in his direction, which she will need to turn her head ninety degrees to do, he will give an encouraging smile.
(OOC: Will wait for the answers before possibly adding more questions)
Emma tries to look at Arren while he speaks, but the posture she is forced into makes it uncomfortable to look up like that for long, and she soon lowers her eyes to his feet instead. Arren feels that she's still listening, though. When 'Tace' comes to crouch beside her, she tries to look at him, but midway through turning her head towards him, she twists her face in pain and instead looks back at Arren.
"My letters?" Emma pauses. Even as she answers, she doesn't raise her eyes to Arren. She doesn't feel untruthful; it just seems to be uncomfortable. "B... S? Oh, right. Must have been the spring before last. Maybe the beginning of the following summer. I received this strange letter, but I didn't think much of it. It's true, we were trying to conceive back then. It feels like a lifetime ago." She stops, struggles to swallow, tries to look at Arren pleadingly again for a moment before looking down again.
"I placed that crookneck pumpkin on the windowsill. I didn't believe anything would happen, but... well, it didn't hurt to try. A few months passed, and nothing happened. I forgot about it, of course. Then, it was autumn already, and this Elf appeared. He was pale, and his hair was dark. Not like the Elves you meet around here often. I suppose he looked more Levickan, though I wouldn't know for sure. He claimed he could help, and reminded me of the letter he sent before. By then, we've still to succeed in our... attempts. So I agreed to his help. I..." She pauses for a long moment. "I don't really remember what he did. But, anyway, it didn't help.
"Now that I think about it, it wasn't long after that Hector started... behaving strangely. But... I cannot recall what happened." Her voice, no longer calm, starts rising in pitch a little and now sounds tremulous. "It's not that I forgot, I... I feel like it is blank! I remember meeting him, though he was like any other patron of the Stewpot at the time, and he introduced himself to me, and then... nothing. Nothing at all. But it's strange. I wouldn't remember someone if they were just a passing visitor in the Stewpot. I feel like there must be more - and not only because you ask me - but when I try to remember, all I draw is... blank."
She tries to look at Arren again, a little fear in her eyes this time. "That is all, I think. It sounds absurd, doesn't it? But please, believe me."
If you wish, you may roll an Insight check. If you pass DC13:
Unbelievable as it may sound, it doesn't feel like Emma is trying to lie or hide information intentionally.
And if you fail (after choosing to roll):
She really seems scared.
Varielky
A levickan elf, it really could be Breithe Staidear. He must have performed whatever magic transformed Emma, and used magic to make her forget.
"I believe you", 'Tace' says after a moment, reaching for his waterskin before looking to the Sergeant for approval to allow Emma a little drink. If the Sergeant gives the nod, he will pour a trickle of water into Emma's mouth. If not he will place it down next to himself. Either way, he shifts around a little so it doesn't hurt Emma to look at him. To see at least his eyes behind his mask.
"You remember receiving the letter, and you remember the levickan elf arrive. What is the last memory you have before it goes blank? And the first after? Was Hector present?", he asks Emma. "And also, you received another letter from BS. That one was later and suggested the levickan elf knew something had gone wrong. How would he know this? Was it your change that he spoke of, or Hector's", he adds. "Did you see him again?".
An Elf from Levicka. Those were the Commandant's exact words, Arren recalls, when she told them about Breithe Staidear. So it could be him, after all. And to think we only stopped in Ersta because of the rain.
Arren remains silent now while Tace asks his questions, nodding slightly when he reaches for his waterskin.
When Tace leans forward to pour a trickle of water into Emma's mouth, Arren's right hand immediately shifts to the hilt on his left hip. It stays there until Tace steps back—at which point, that hand returns to its previous position.
A question starts to gnaw at the Half-Elf now. Who is the monster here? He's starting to feel like one himself, but he knows as well that can't let his guard fall.
(OOC: Insight: 3+1 = 4. By the way, if possible, Arren moves a bit, making sure he is within 5 feet of Tace)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Emma avidly drinks from the waterskin, as much as Bryn would let her or until it is entirely empty. "Thank you," she says, trying to look at 'Tace' again now that he has moved closer to her field of view. She looks straight into his eyes when suddenly, though only momentarily, her eyes widen in surprise. She quickly averts her look back to the ground, and says nothing. Arren, however (with his poor roll), doesn't notice the surprised look, and assumes she just averted her eyes due to the pain once more.
"He... was sitting in The Stewpot, just like any other customer." She answers "Tace's" question, her voice a little stronger now, closer to how it's been when you talked with her before. "I worked alone most of the time - Hector was busy with his own business - so I couldn't gather orders from the main hall. Instead, people had to come to the bar or the kitchen, where I'd take their order. I think it took him some time to understand that, or maybe someone told him, and he eventually came to place an order, or so I thought.
"He said he came to help me as he promised, and I was confused at first, since I didn't remember who he was. He then mentioned his letter to remind me, and once again claimed he could help. I..." She pauses for a rather long moment. "I asked him to wait until I close the Stewpot for the night, and asked whether he'd like to eat anything in the meantime. I then asked for his name, and he... eh... I think he answered, but I cannot recall it. I think that's the last thing I can remember about him. The next thing is..."
Emma pauses for a long moment to think about this question, but eventually just shakes her head. "I remember things after that, of course, but I can't tell you which was the first. Nothing stands out to me, and none of them involve the Elf again. But a second letter, I... it sounds familiar, but I don't remember receiving one. Are you sure? It's strange. This feeling, like seeing a familiar face but being unable to associate the face with a name. I know something happened, but I don't know what. You don't happen to have the letter here with you, do you? Maybe it could help me remember."
Varielky
(ooc: I think we never took the letters with us, right?)
Arren listens to Emma in silence, and only after she finishes does he speak.
"We didn't take the letters with us, unfortunately. But in the second one, BS regretted how things ended last time, though he admitted he hadn't imagined things would unfold as they did. He said a bird carried a whisper to him—and that he couldn't help but feel some responsibility. He proposed that, if you wished to see him again, you should do as before: place a Cucurbitaceae on your windowsill on the night of the full moon. It seems he was certain he could help make right what their earlier actions had caused."
He pauses to let her speak, if she wishes.
"Emma… does the name Breithe Staidear ring a bell?"
Arren pauses again, watching her closely to gauge her reaction to the name. Then, after a beat, he adds with another question:
"Did you come across anyone else in the forest after you ran away—besides us? Olive told us he met a hunter about eight days ago. They sounded Etanan, and they were short in stature. That hunter claimed to be looking for you ... and the timing matches the last full moon."
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
'Tace' takes note of the surprised look Emma gives him on looking into his eyes, but allows the Sergeant to take over the questioning after explaining the contents of the second letter from BS.
What did that look mean?
After a moment considering that, he puts his mind to what Emma says about the levickan elf. Assuming it is Breithe, it is no wonder he has managed to stay hidden all this time, if he can make people forget ever meeting him. That would make tracking him down nigh on impossible.
When the Sergeant drops the name Breith Staidear, he watches closely for a reaction.
And of course the hunter and the links to Etana. We really should get that root from Olive and see if it helps Emma.
(OOC: There is a lot of potential insight checking going on here. Not sure how many rolls are required or if he can get any more mileage out of the 21 he rolled before, which I forgot to tag in the post above).
Emma listens to Arren's accurate description of the second letter, but eventually just shakes her head lightly. "I don't know. Maybe. It sounds familiar, but I don't remember it." When Arren states the name explicitly, she thinks for a moment before replying almost exactly the same. "I don't know. Maybe. Is that this BS's name? It sounds familiar, but again, I just don't remember. I'm sorry I can't be of any more help."
When the hunter is brought up, Emma answers with more certainty. "No, I don't recall anyone like that. At least, if I met them, it didn't happen while I was... Human, and my memories of the times when I'm... not Human, are vague and discontinuous."
Bryn believes Emma is cooperating with them as best she can.
While the two soldiers are busy gauging her reaction to their every word, Emma takes a chance to ask one of her own questions. "What are you planning to do now? With me, I mean. Once you're done asking your questions."
Varielky
'Tace' stands, stretches and steps away from Emma, leaving her question unanswered for now, but hoping that the Sergeant would join him.
If he does, he will proceed in a hushed voice, and if not he will speak in earshot of Emma.
"Her question is a good one. I believe she is trying her best to help. To remember. Something must have affected her memory, or she is a very good liar", he explains. "What do you think about one of us heading back to get the root that the hunter gave to Olive? Perhaps it can help Emma. I am not sure what else we can do otherwise, and I don't think we should leave her unchaperoned until we have no choice".
The Corporal finds that the Sergeant was thinking similarly, and that he steps away from Emma almost at the same time the Corporal does.
"I don't like it," he begins, "But then again, I don't like any other option I can think of. I'd rather we didn't split up, but that would either mean not going back to town, or going and leaving her entirely on her own." He shakes his head slightly. "Perhaps it's best that one of us remains with her, yes. That might help her keep in control."
He pauses. "But regarding the root..." He hesitates. "We can ask Olive for it, of course. But if the hunter was telling the truth, it seemed meant to help those hurt by the monster—like we were—not the monster itself. In any case, for lack of better options, we might as well try."
Arren pauses. "I can remain here, or you can. As I said, neither option is ideal. Whoever goes must inform the Commandant and the Lieutenant. I think the best course now is to stay in Ersta until reinforcements arrive from Tus."
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
'Tace' waits patiently as the Sergeant thinks things over, before responding with his thoughts.
"I agree the root is a long shot, but it is all we have right now. We could perhaps share it between the three of us, just in case our wounds are infected, and in the hope it might help Emma", he says, but not with much confidence.
"With regards speaking to the Commandant, I think you would have the best chance of convincing her to stay. I could pass on a message, but would not be in a position to persuade her like you might. Even with suggesting a link to Breithe Staidear", he suggests.
He looks back at Emma, and then back to the Sergeant, "I would be comfortable staying and trying to keep Emma calm. I will of course follow your lead though, and do my best with the Commandant if that is your decision".
Arren takes a deep breath, then nods.
"I'll be back as soon as possible." He pauses, looking Tace straight in the eye. "Do take care. She might be restrained, but she can still..." He doesn't finish the sentence. It isn't necessary.
With that, Arren takes a few of steps away from the Corporal, returning to Emma's view. He reaches into his backpack and retrieves her frying pan and the potatoes, setting them down where she can see them. Then he gives her a small nod, followed by another to Tace, before strapping his shield across his back and preparing to leave.
(ooc: I imagine the lamp can stay with Emma and Bryn? Arren doesn't really need it to find his way back the same way they came here, does he? He will ask Bryn for the key to the carriage before leaving, though)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"Thank you," Emma says once she sees her frying pan. "Could I ask you to place it in the alcove, where it's dry? It should be well-oiled, but I wouldn't want to risk it rusting in the rain."
Arren can follow "Tace's" markings on the trees back to town and then, later, to the alcove again. While they'd be easier to spot with some light, Arren can be mostly confident he'd find them without one too, as long as he doesn't rush too much.
While they wait, unless Bryn asks her more questions (or opens some other conversation), Emma will stay quiet. However, soon enough, Bryn can see she's shivering slightly from the cold. He, too, can feel it penetrating through his wet clothes. At this point, he knows he shouldn't stay in the cold, under the rain, for too long, else he might get sick.
A similar thought passes through Arren's mind while he hurries to Ersta. Now familiar with the path, it takes only a little to reach town, and once there, wherever he wants.
Varielky
'Tace' does indeed hand over the carriage key as requested.
As he starts to feel the cold and wet, and as he is making sure the frying pan and potatoes are fully out of the rain, he thinks about staying in the alcove. But first he looks around a bit to see if there is any way to shelter Emma from the rain.
As he does, he will speak to Emma, "I saw your surprise when you looked at me".
He leaves the question hanging in the air, to see if Emma will respond without further prompting.
Arren's first stop in Ersta is the building where they left the carriage and the horses. He gives Choco and Mocha a quick glance—likely finding them asleep, either lying down or standing quietly. Unlocking the carriage, he searches for spare clothes for himself and another set for Tace. Feeling the bite of the cold seeping through his damp clothes, he changes right there, storing the wet, bloodied garments in the carriage - careful not to mess anything there - and stores Tace's set in his backpack.
He makes a quick stop by Emma’s home—thankfully, he still has the key. He heads straight to the couple's bedroom and picks out the warmest-looking dress he can find, carefully placing it in his backpack, as well.
On the way to the Three Frogs, he feels slightly better knowing that, at least, he won't be walking in damp and covered in blood. But it does nothing to ease the pain of the wounds, the general exhaustion he's been carrying—nor the unease of leaving his companion alone with a woman who had the strength to injure them both. One who, had they not been as prepared as they were, would have killed them as she did with the others who met her.
The Sergeant tries to rehearse what he'll say to the Commandant and the Lieutenant, but finds the words won't come. Probably just the weariness. Hopefully they'll come out at the right moment. He hopes, at least, that the inn is as quiet as it was a couple of hours ago (ooc: is this right?) when they left.
Arren would gladly fall into a bed and sleep for a week straight if he could. But he can't. He has to report what they found. Then get back. As soon as possible.
With all that on his mind, he enters the inn. He tries to keep quiet even if he is in a rush.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Emma raises her head briefly to look in Bryn's direction as he wanders around. "I must have imagined things. Surely." She answers.
Bryn sees that in the immediate vicinity, the alcove is the only place that's dry. He doesn't recall seeing any other dry places in what little area of the forest he's been through so far, but there should be other places where animals find shelter from the rain, probably.
"If you don't mind me asking," Emma asks after a bit, "who is this person you're searching for? I don't believe I told you his name because I cannot recall it, and you said the letter you found in my house only had someone's initials on it. So it seems to me that, at this point, you know more than me already. Have there been others who suffered a similar fate to mine at the hands of this person? Is that why you're searching for them?"
Arren can find clean, dry clothes for 'Tace' and himself in the carriage. The horses, as expected, are resting from a long day of standing idle in the stable.
In Emma's room, Arren finds a dress and an overdress - both light beige coloured - which he believes will be warm. After searching a little more, he eventually finds a simple wool raincoat that looks rather old, but warm nonetheless.
((A couple hours ago? It hasn't been that long. The fight took less than a minute, and from its end to Arren arriving back in Ersta, it must not have been over fifteen minutes. Remember, you woke Emma up immediately.))
The inn is quiet as before, and Arren's two comrades still sit in the same manner they did before. Commandant Nattensbarn raises her eyes to look at Arren and lingers on him longer than usual. For a moment, he might fear that a wound has opened again and that she saw the blood, but a brief peek down at his body reveals that the armour and the raincoat, along with the clean clothes, keep any such wounds - if any - hidden for now. "Where is Corporal Peite?" She asks eventually, seeing as Arren is alone and nobody enters after him.
Varielky