When Arren starts advancing towards her, Emma wraps her tail around one of the pinecones in the area and lobs it in Arren's direction. The throw is forceful but inaccurate, and the pinecone lands nearby harmlessly. Emma then makes a hissing sound at Arren before running northwards.

Bryn hears Emma's response in the same fragmented and distorted manner as before: 'I... return... I'm... again... must... follow...' Nonetheless, there is more decisiveness in her voice now.

Commandant Nattensbarn, who had just pushed Lieutenant Tireur forward so she could also see the interaction, arrives in time only to see Emma turning and running farther north. "Aleshi and her damned tricks!" She exclaims. "That thing sure is fast! But as long as it's not headed to Ersta, I think we can let it be. It's best that it doesn't change its mind and decide we are delicious or dangerous enough to attack us."

While she runs, if Bryn tries to follow her, Emma picks a small branch with her tail and lobs it in Bryn's direction. Again, forcefully but inaccurately, the branch hits one of the nearby trees in front of Bryn's path, producing a faint 'thump' and falls to the ground.

Emma runs to M-17. Bryn may keep pace and reach S-17 or its vicinity, if he wishes (though I'd like you to confirm in your next post). 

Arren arrives at N-8 (unless he stops at N-4); Lieutenant Tireur and the Commandant arrive at N-7 and N-6, respectively.

Arren halts (N8), his gaze shifting from Emma to the pinecone that's landed harmlessly nearby. He blinks in surprise, then eases his stance. If they weren't dealing with a creature capable of ending them all in an instant, the moment might almost be comical.

He turns to his superiors and says dryly, "Well, I guess that's as clear an answer as we're ever going to get." A short pause. "I have to say, I've never been thrown a warning pinecone by someone turned into a killing machine before. There really is a first time for everything."

He waits a moment to see what the Corporal will do, assuming that if he's heard the Commandant, he might halt his pursue as well. (ooc: will edit if this is not the case!)

Then, suspecting the Commandant may have missed part of the exchange with Emma, Arren explains what just happened. "It looked like Emma was trying to answer my earlier questions—one flick or slam with the tail for a yes, and two for a no. She definitely seems more in control than ast night. And I believe she really was trying to communicate and to warn us not to get too close."

The Sergeant glances in the direction Emma fled before speaking again. "Should we wait back at the alcove, Ma'am? When I asked if she thought she'd return to her Human form in time, her reply was uncertain. But that looks like our best bet right now. Especially since chasing her seems off the table."

Once again it takes a moment for 'Tace' to decode what Emma is saying, and he stays where he is as he is doing so. I will return when I am me again. You must not follow me?

Instead of following Emma, he respects her wishes, especially after he hears the Commandant come the conclusion that they should let her go as well. He does keep an eye on her as se moves, but unless her path changes such that she would get to Ersta he simply moves to join the Commandant, Lieutenant and Sergeant.

He nods in agreement that Emma seemed in more control this time, and then chimes in regarding where they should head now. "Emma, the usual Emma, would not return to Ersta. I believe waiting at the alcove is the only way to make contact with her again without hunting her, Ma'am and Sirs", he says respectfully.

He is careful not to suggest a particular course of action, just the facts regarding what Emma might do as he sees it.

(OOC: No, Bryn does not move to S17 in the previous turn)

Movement: To N9 to speak with the others.

Emma continues to run northwards until she's out of sight. 

"I think I've seen enough." Commandant Nattensbarn declares. "We'll go back to Ersta and find a messenger to send word to Tus. You two," she briefly gestures towards Arren and "Tace" so that there's no mistake who she's talking to, "should stay here and wait for her to return. In the unfortunate event that Emma reaches Ersta in her current state, I hope you'll hear the Lieutenant's firearm and get there in time to save whoever you still can. Expect it to take several days before a convoy from Tus arrives, so find a way to make yourself comfortable in here. I will expect a report from one of you each day at sunrise."

Once she's finished, the Commandant turns back towards the alcove to gather her things. ((You can still speak with her before she goes back to Ersta, if you wish.))

Arren, thanks to his long-time comradeship with the Commandant, and Bryn, thanks to his natural acuity, notice that the Commandant isn't as confident and stern as usual, and though she tries to act like it, both see through the act and know she's unsettled from the sight of Emma turning right in front of her. Arren was present in times when she faced danger before - though it was his job to make sure that doesn't happen and so far, he'd been doing it well - and it usually does not shake her like so.

"On the bright side," Lieutenant Tireur suggests in a low voice before following after the Commandant, who had already started walking away, "maybe I can get her to eat and rest more while we're here. It's not often that we stay in one place for this long, except for when in Pyorre."

'Tace' listens to the Commandant with mixed feelings. Emma needs help for sure, but being locked up in Tus? Is that really the way it has to be? Could that make her condition worse, rather than help her gain more control?

Despite his thoughts on the matter, he knows it is not his place to bring it up amongst his superiors. If I wasn't stuck in this charade, what would I do? Offer to accompany Emma on a journey to find Briethe? Risk my life and the lives of everyone we come across? No.

He clears his throat a little, "If I might make a suggestion, Ma'am?"

Assuming she doesn't cut him off, he says, "It is possible the manacles delayed the monsters rage long enough for Emma to exert some control, as it struggled with them. Perhaps we could reach out to the blacksmith in Ersta to see if he can help. A replacement set in case she has broken them, for example, or some way of making them more comfortable for Emma whilst she is herself. Perhaps he could create a shackle point we could attach to the wall in the alcove, and provide a chain so if Emma does change again she can't run off? I confess I don't know how long that would take, though. And if it could be done before the convoy arrives"

He awaits a response, wondering what the Commandant would even say in her missive that could explain the danger the convoy would be in. Surely they would have to provide some sort of cage to transfer Emma in.

After they make it back to the alcove and the Commandant states her orders, Arren doesn't say much at first, beyond acknowledging the given orders. Emma's transformation—new to the Commandant and the Lieutenant, and different from the night before for the Corporal and himself—has left them all more shaken than they care to admit.

In Arren's case, he's glad the Commandant has settled on contacting Tus, as he'd suggested. But he still doesn't feel entirely at ease. What's going to happen to Emma once she's there? Will the personnel be properly informed—and more importantly, willing—to look past the monster and see the woman? Will they now pursue a permanent solution to her condition?

Corporal Peite's voice snaps him out of his thoughts. "That's a great idea, actually," Arren says with a nod. "Not only would it increase everyone's safety, but also her comfort. And the better Emma feels, the less likely she is to turn—or to lose control if she does."

He glances toward the Commandant, watching for her response. "That said, we need to decide what we're going to say in town. We've been able to deflect the townsfolk’s questions so far, but given how they feel about Emma, that won't last. Especially once they see the convoy from Tus."

Arren pauses. "Which brings me to another question—and do forgive me, Ma'am, for adding more to your plate." He hesitates, clearly aware of how rattled she seems, but continues all the same. "What are we going to say in that letter to Tus? Or when they arrive? I only hope whoever ends up in charge can see past the monster and treat her for what she is: a woman forced into a situation she never asked for. Emma has shown signs of progress, and it would be a shame if all that were lost because she ends up in… well, incompetent hands."

Arren considers asking about Breithe Staidear, but with everything they've already asked, it feels like too much. And seeing the Commandant's expression, perhaps what he should ask is a simple "Are you all right?" But something holds him back from doing just that. Not now. Not yet.

When Walnuts chimes in with his usual optimism, Arren can't help but smile slightly and nod. Good old Walnuts. Even after all this, he still finds a bright side.

Having sat in one himself, Bryn knows prisoners in Katto, as in Levicka, are transported by cage wagons. Those are usually constructed of wood, which might not be strong enough to hold Emma should she attempt to escape, but it would not be unthinkable that some are made from metal to contain the more violent prisoners, or those with magical abilities that could potentially burn a wooden wagon. Arren had seen such wagons passing by in the past and knows of them as well.

"Yes, go ahead." The Commandant seems eager to go already, having retrieved the few items she dropped on the ground when Emma turned, but she listens to "Tace's" suggestion. "That's... not a bad idea." She replies once he finishes. "I'll check with the smith after sending for Tus. But... until then, and only if you're feeling confident, you can try wrapping some cloth around the iron. It wouldn't be comfortable, but it should be better than the raw metal. It might require you to unmanacle her, so consider carefully whether it is worth it."

After listening to Arren's questions, the Commandant tries to answer, but she briefly rubs her temples before she does, a sign Arren has learned to recognise, which means, most of the time, that she does not have a good answer. Or that she has a headache, sometimes. "Leave those matters to me." She finally answers, though she sounds already lethargic as if knowing it'll be a pain to manage. "It is my role to take care of these issues. You just have to make sure nobody - including yourselves - gets hurt during the next few days."

Usually, she'd leave things there, but perhaps the mention of incompetent people, which she so detests, drives her to add: "We cannot control who will manage this matter, but I cannot imagine any situation in which Emma leads a happy life from here, unless we are somehow certain that she'll never hurt anybody again. On top of that, once we reach Pyorre, I must report on this issue, and I imagine quite a few people will find great interest in Emma. I believe her accommodations in Tus will be temporary only, though I do not know whether what awaits her afterwards will be better or worse. I do pity the woman, but... there's just not much that I can do for her."

Emma will return several hours later, a little past noon. By then, she had reverted to her normal self. She doesn't seem hurt and, fortunately, is not covered in blood when she's back. Likewise, her hands are still manacled. The tail she grew when transformed had disappeared, and the only sign that anything happened at all is the small tear in her dress, about where the lower back meets the pelvis (about the top of the tailbone). Arren and Bryn notice that she tries to keep her backside away from them, but if at any point she happens to turn, they'll notice that the tear is closer to a slit than a hole in shape, and so not much can be seen through it, to Emma's relief.

"Thank you, for... for not chasing after me. I feared it... I... might respond if you did." She says, a little sheepishly, when she returns. 

'Tace' listens as the Commandant echoes his own words to Emma herself not that long ago. That perhaps being incarcerated and left alone was the best outcome, but she unlikely to be left alone. Not by the Katton army and others who want to understand or control the power she holds. I assume she means that the army might want to harness or control her. I wish there was something I could do to help her avoid that fate.

His mood is sombre whilst he waits for Emma to return, not offering up much in the way of conversation and staying alert in case it is not the human version that appears. He does take the Commandant's suggestion on board, and tries to fashion some padding for the manacles, possibly by cutting a strip off a blanket.

"You showed great control, Emma. You probably saved our lives by being able to restrain the creature. Mine for sure", he replies to her gratefully. "I don't suppose you have any idea what triggered the change? It all seemed to be going quite well until it wasn't".

When he notices her trying to hide the dead in her clothes at the back, he looks about to see if there is anything clan and dry enough to drape over her.

Commandant Nattensbarn's reply doesn't offer much comfort to Arren, who simply sighs and gives an understanding nod. Like her, he pities Emma, but recognises there's really nothing more they can do, aside from ensuring the wait for the convoy is as calm and safe as possible. Seeing the Corporal's somber mood while they wait, Arren imagines similar thoughts must be weighing on his mind too.

While they wait for Emma to return, the Half-Elf does little beyond keeping watch and resting. They may have avoided a fight, but the pursuit hadn't been without tension, so even if it's still early in the day, he takes a moment to sit and listen to the quiet of the forest while he keeps watch, listening to the occasional birdcall, the wind in the trees, and the sound of Tace working on the manacles. (ooc: I'll take a short rest if that is okay? To recover the expended Second Wind.)

At one point, breaking the silence, he asks the Corporal quietly, "So, you have a kid? How old, if I might ask?" He doesn't press further. It's just a quiet question, meant to get to know him a little better, if he feels like sharing.

When Emma finally returns, he listens as Tace speaks to her, and then adds, "Maybe it was the Commandant's questions that triggered the change?" He pauses. "She can sound rather cold when analyzing..." he catches himself about to say the word problem  "...a situation," Then, more thoughtfully, he asks, "The tail. That was new. At least for us. Has that happened before? Or was it new for you too, Emma?"

When Arren notices his Elf companion looking for something to cover Emma, he says, "Since we'll have to return to Ersta, we can bring more clothes. And more food than just potatoes." He glances at Emma as he says that. Maybe it'll cheer her up a little.

He avoids mentioning the convoy, at least for now. Though he doesn't doubt she'll ask what comes next soon enough.

Arren can take a short rest. Bryn, too, if relevant.

Emma seems conscious of the slit in her dress, but since she cannot see it herself, she doesn't know that it's actually rather small and that, beyond perhaps the colour of her skin, nothing can be seen through it. But should Bryn insist, he could use any of the clothes they've been wearing so far (including the coats which they may have doffed during the day), as well as the bedrolls. Not exactly its intended purpose, but it can be wrapped around her waist. There are also Emma's discarded clothes she wore before Arren brought her a new set, but you believe she'd refuse to use those again.

"I told you before," Emma remarks on Bryn's thoughts, "sometimes it happens... without any clear trigger. It just... happens. And it is exactly during those times that I can direct it. It's also because there was no trigger that I was able to warn you, even if only at the last moment. I told you before. If it happens as a response to something... There will be no warning.

"As for the tail, that was new for me, too. Like I said, I... I direct it, but I do not control it. The destination is the same, but the path is... I'm not the one who chooses it. Not entirely. And so, when I... turned, I wanted to first get away from you. I feared that you, or the other two, will respond and that if you hurt me, I'll lose control entirely. So I wanted to get away, but then it tried to move my hands, which... it couldn't. And in response... In response, the tail came out." She seems a little uncomfortable talking about the whole matter, as if it is embarrassing that she had a tail. More embarrassing than the rest of the things she's going through. "But it hurt. It hurt a lot. I nearly blanked out. That's why, even after you didn't immediately react to my change, I felt I had to get away. I didn't know what would happen if I lost it from the pain."

When Arren suggests bringing more clothes and food, Emma's face brightens slightly. "I'd appreciate that, thank you. Though I hope I won't need to change my clothes so often. Else, I'd run through the whole wardrobe within a few days." Arren and Bryn both doubt that, since, for starters, Emma will probably not need her old clothes a few days from now, and second, for a woman in her standing, she has quite a lot of clothes. Probably thanks to Hector's connections with other merchants. "As for the food... Just... don't bring me anything with meat. Please. If you must, could I ask that you eat in town? The mere thought of it makes my stomach turn."

Tell me once you're done interacting with each other/Emma, and if there's anything else you'd like to do within the next 3-4 days. In particular, mention if you want to play anything out in detail or just mention that it is something that your characters did during that time. 

'Tace' looks over to the Sergeant at talk of his child, a little taken aback by the question but making sure not to show it in what is visible of his face. Of course, Emma unwittingly revealed more about Tace's personal life in her questioning.

Quickly thinking back to the letters he read and what Emma had mentioned, he tries to piece it together. How did the real Tace feel about being away from his child so much. When was the last time he saw him?

"Carmelo", he ends up saying, not quite answering the question in one go. "He's a teenager now", he then adds a little vaguely but offers no more. Let's hope the Sergeant mistakes my vagueness for emotion at being away from him so much.

'Tace' listens as Emma explains once again how the transformation happens and how she sometimes changes without reason and in those times has a little warning. And that she can guide the actions of the beast a little, but is not in control.

She seemed to have more control this time. And if not for the pain, perhaps she needn't have run away. Not that I want to test that theory.

He offers the makeshift padding for the manacles, if she agrees looking to place it without removing the manacles by threading it through around her wrist.

Looking to the Sergeant, "Am I to stay, Sir, whilst you collect what you need from Ersta. It seems like you have things in mind".

He is in fact happy with that arrangement, rather than being the one to report back each sunrise, but will not argue if the Sergeant assigns him the task.

If 'Tace' is ever alone in Ersta during the next few days, he will look to do a bit of shopping, and perhaps take another look in Emma's house (with her consent but without mentioning it to the Sergeant). If he gets to, he will make sure to cast detect magic as he does so. He will also take up Emma's suggestion to eat in town at least once as well, to get a decent meaty meal.

When he is alone with Emma, he will ask what she knows about the real Tace Peite, and if there is anything she can tell him to avoid being tripped up by the Sergeant's inquisitive nature. As the days pass, he will also speak to her again about what is to come for her, and ask if there is anything he can do for her. He will also tell her that he will look for the man who did this, and come and find her if he ever gets answers.

He will of course follow through on the plans for the new manacles / shackle point if he is able.

Arren is surprised to hear that Carmelo is a teenager. He'd pictured the Peite's son as younger—not a baby, perhaps, but still more child than teenager. He notices the Corporal's slight pause, likely because the question came out of the blue. Or maybe it's simply because the Elf misses his family.

Arren feels a twinge of guilt for having questioned the couple's choice to live so far apart. What if it's out of necessity rather than preference? Perhaps he's inclined to think that way because of his own experience.

"It must be hard, spending so much time away from them," the Sergeant says, not really expecting a response, but wanting to offer more than a nod. Brief as it is, he finds himself appreciating the exchange—something personal, rather than work-related.

To the Corporal's question about reporting back to the Commandant, Arren—long accustomed to the task and, in truth, inclined to do it himself—suggests that the Corporal take it on at least once. "I think it would do you good to be the one reporting to the Commandant at least once, so you get used to it as well. And I think she'll appreciate seeing us both. That way she will see we're both doing fine."  

He doesn't say it aloud, but he also thinks the task of watching Emma shouldn't fall solely on Tace's shoulders. (*)

During the following days, Arren wakes early each morning. Thirteen years of army life have made it second nature, and he can't even recall the last time he overslept—if he ever has.

On the days he is scheduled to report to the Commandant, he departs early and takes the opportunity to have a warm breakfast at The Three Frogs. He also uses those trips to bring fresh ingredients back to the forest so the three of them can have better meals than army rations—slightly better, at least, if he can surpass those potatoes he cooked the first time. As per Emma's request, he always brings vegetables, fruit, eggs… anything he can cook easily and without meat, given his limited skill and the fact that they won't remove Emma's manacles — except when she needs to excuse herself— which means she won't be doing any cooking herself.  Since the ingredients come from The Stewpot, he tries to find any recipe book Emma might have, quickly scanning it to know which ingredients to take. Perhaps this will also help him memorize a few recipes, even if he never has the chance to cook them while they're in the forest.

He also brings clothes back for Emma, preparing a small backpack with some of them. She might not use them in Ersta, but perhaps—just perhaps—the soldiers from Tus will let her keep the backpack, so she'll have clothes of her own once she's forced to leave behind the life she's known so far.

When both Sergeant and Corporal are in the alcove, Arren takes the opportunity to train a little on his own while his companion watches Emma. Even the most basic movements—cutting nothing but air—help keep his skills sharp. Still, he reminds himself that a proper visit to the training grounds in Pyorre would do him good, once they're back and he has a bit of free time.

One of the day, he proposes to Tace that they try look for clues about the Etanan ranger. Now that the storm has passed, they might have a better chance on finding anything during the day. Perhaps even Emma could join them; manacled though she may be, she might appreciate stretching her legs after so many days in the alcove. 

During his reports to the Commandant, Arren watches to see if she still seems unnaturally shaken—whether from Emma's transformation or from the weight of having to report what they saw to Tus and Pyorre. If she does, he'll ask her about it, choosing his words carefully, unsure how she might take it. If she seems back to her usual self and busy with work, he'll likely hold his tongue. Either way, he quietly checks with Walnuts, asking the Drow if she has eaten and rested a bit more than usual.

Finally—if he ever finds a spot where it can be done safely, and away from adult eyes, especially those of his superiors—Arren wouldn't mind showing Olive his longbow, perhaps even letting him hold it. The soldier knows full well it takes strong arms and at least some training to draw a longbow string to its proper position for an arrow's release. Still, he has the feeling that even seeing the weapon up close would interest the young Wood Elf.

OOC: (*) Which is kind of funny, because Tace has no problem with it at all. But since Arren is blissfully unaware of what is going on, let's keep him in his bubble, lol!

'Tace' doesn't immediately turn away from the Sergeant when he mentions how hard it must be for Tace to be away from for his for so long, but he doesn't reply, a little lost in thought. It certainly wasn't for lack of feeling or affection. And he sent his salary home, it wasn't like he abandoned them financially. I wonder what truly drove them to live apart. And how he got the scar. I wonder if Emma knows that.

He eventually wordlessly turns back to what he was doing.

"Very well, Sir. I will ensure I have finished my trance early, so I am always ready to make the trip", 'Tace' replies to the Sergeant. So I will get some opportunity to do things in Ersta alone, that is good.

During the days that follow, 'Tace' pays attention to the Sergeant's routine during the times they are together, trying to pick up on the behaviours of a soldier. Having no idea how long he would need to keep up the charade, he feels it is better to keep prepared.

He is not at all averse to looking for the ranger, but has no idea how they would go about it beyond simply walking around and hoping they spot something obvious. I assume a ranger is better at covering tracks than we are at uncovering them, but we have to fill the days somehow.

(OOC: He would still like to do the individual things mentioned in the last post of course)

Emma allows Bryn to thread cloth around her wrists. It should hopefully keep them protected to some degree, and it seems Emma is at least pleased by the effort.

On the first day following the Commandant's meeting with Emma, Arren reports to the Commandant while Bryn watches over Emma. When Arren reaches The Three Frogs, he finds that the Commandant is waiting for the sun to rise so that she can work under its light. If she's still stirred from the other day's events, she doesn't show it in the slightest. Walnuts reveals to Arren, out of earshot, that she skipped lunch entirely that day but ate a whole bowl of stew in the evening, and slept about as much as always. While he, too, shows concern for her following those recent events, he also tells Arren he believes they should not probe her about that. He says she puts up a strong act and maintains distance for a reason, and believes she should be the one to break it, if she chooses to (though Arren suspects this will never happen).

Following that, Arren can visit Emma's house and The Stewpot in search of a recipe book. He finds, perhaps surprisingly, almost none at all. Only after an extensive search through the Acunars' house does he find something that might qualify as a recipe book.

The first is a collection of old papers bandled up inside a leather casing tied closed by a simple string. Arren finds it in the kitchen, but in a hard-to-reach spot that drives him to believe it hasn't seen much use, at least not recently. Each sheet of paper contains 1-3 different recipes, which don't seem to be ordered in any particular way. It is all written in a simple, large handwriting and full of lines crossed off. From the looks of it, it was either written by a child or someone who was not practised in writing. There are plenty of notes and remarks on each recipe. From suggestions for improvements, clarifications, or ratings of each recipe from "tasteless" to "tasty", always in 1-2 words.

Arren, please also roll an investigation check.

Meanwhile, at the alcove, Emma tells Bryn a little about the Peites. It appears that, when she met them, Carmelo was already a young child, about five years old. From that, Bryn realises that Carmelo is a little older than a teenager. Since Emma was nineteen when she met them and is now thirty-six, Carmelo should now be about twenty-two. It appears Tace got his scar in a training accident only a few years after Emma first met him. She can't tell Bryn much about why he chose military life, but she can tell him that he didn't serve so far from home when Carmelo was younger, though it was still far from home nonetheless. ((If there's anything else you'd like to know in particular, just tell me. Emma will tell whatever she can. Otherwise, should something come up in the future, I'll tell you if Emma had told Bryn about it.))

When he brings up her imminent future, Emma seems a little grim but not particularly surprised. When he asks what he can do for her, she remains quiet but looks at him with a face that says: 'You already know.' She replies with a short "Thanks" when he mentions finding the person responsible for her state and helping her if he can, but Bryn doesn't feel she is being earnest. She doesn't seem to believe it'll actually be that simple.

Arren can find plenty of ingredients to bring for Emma, and she instructs him to cook simple yet satisfying meals for the three. Unless Arren brings her what he found in her house, Emma seems to either make everything up on the spot or to already know everything by heart. ((Before you decide whether to bring the book with you or not, I'll need the investigation check mentioned before.))

During the evening, while the sun is still visible in the sky but already paints them in soft oranges and reds, Emma turns again, without any clear trigger, and once again grows a tail, an ordeal that looks as painful as it did the first time. She manages to give Arren and Bryn a brief warning before turning and immediately runs to climb one of the nearest trees. Seeing (I assume) that they do not attack her, she will dash away northwards from the place, ignoring any requests that she stop. She'll return just a little after sundown, again unharmed and thankfully clean. 

Beyond that, the night passes quietly.

Before I move on to the next day, since this post has already turned long with just one day, I'd like to clarify a few things.

but has no idea how they would go about it beyond simply walking around and hoping they spot something obvious

Do you have a better plan than that? If not, do you still try to search for the ranger in this manner, knowing that the chances of finding anything are slim?

Arren knows it is strictly forbidden for him to give his weapons to civilians, even briefly. Does he still wish to let Olive fire his bow (the boy will be thrilled)? And if so, where/when does he do that?

Seeing how the Commandant is looking today—and after speaking with Lieutenant Tireur—Arren decides not to press her with further questions. Still, one thought lingers at the back of his mind: that this doesn't look like the most assertive way of working for a group of people that need to spend so much time together.

Strangely, what didn't nag at him much in previous years has become more important lately. Perhaps it's the fact that Walnuts won't be around forever to be the next one in the chain of command after the Commandant that has raised this concern.

Of course, I should have imagined that a studied cook would have the recipes on her mind rather than on paper,  the Sergeant thinks, as he initially fails to find any recipe book. Still, he decides to spend more time than he first expected making sure there isn't one at all.

(Investigation check: 6+1+ a very lucky 'Tactical Mind' 10 = 17)

Regarding searching for clues about the hunter, Arren suggests they could try to retrace Emma's movements over the last eight days (the time since Olive first saw him). Since the hunter was allegedly investigating the monster, they might not need to look for the hunter himself, but rather focus on what he was trying to study: the monster. They could attempt to follow Emma's steps as best as she can remember, and perhaps this will lead to a fortuitous finding?

In any case, if the Corporal doesn't seem convinced, Arren can be easily convinced to let this idea go. He understands the chances are really slim.

Regarding Olive and the longbow:

Bryn will make sure to let her know he told the Sergeant Carmelo was a teenager.

He is a little shocked about how old Carmelo really is, and how wrong he had been. It was a guess based on the things he could remember.

He will ask Emma if she knows what Carmelo is doing now, being that he is an adult. And if he is located in Pyorre still.

In terms of searching for the hunter, being a city person this is a bit out of Bryn's wheelhouse, but the Sergeant's idea sounds like a good one. He would likely also want feedback from Emma who was from these parts and is exceptionally perceptive.

If given time to think a bit, he would probably think that being out in the wilderness would require access to certain resources, most important of which would be fresh water. Unless of course the others thought the hunter could drink rain water (likely boiled to make it safe).

Arren knows that avoiding conflict with the Commandant is just Walnuts' way, and there's no reason to believe it is the right way since he hadn't been able to improve much during the few years he had been her second. Arren also remembers the previous second in command who served when he only joined the crew and left about a year later, who had confronted her very often. From what he remembers, that wasn't very helpful either.

After finding Emma's collection of recipes, Arren decides to keep searching for another, perhaps newer collection or book. Arren is already about to give up when he finally finds, among Hector's things, of all places, a neat-looking yet dust-covered book wrapped in a white ribbon. The only words on the cover are the title, 'Simple Recipes'. Without untying the ribbon, there is nothing more Arren can see about the contents of the book.

((I won't narrate the same thing again, but I think how you described the interaction with Olive is feasible, so let's assume it happens just like that. Arren knows it is technically not forbidden, though a certain strict Commandant might still be displeased if she caught him. Fortunately for Olive, she is hard at work in The Three Frogs at that time. I will add:))

Olive arrives to ask Arren about Emma again, despite being told off just two days ago. Perhaps trying to divert him from this topic, realising that the Commandant still haven't told the residents of Ersta what happened, Arren attempts to distract the boy with his bow, which works like a charm. Even though it seems he had already heard some of those things before, occasionally interrupting Arren by completing his sentences, he's still fascinated by everything Arren shows him. Perhaps it is the fact that a trained soldier is showing him these things, and not just some old retired hunter or a rookie in training. Whatever the case, he eventually leaves happy, forgetting what he originally intended to ask.

Emma says she hadn't met the family in a while, so she's uncertain, but Bryn might recall reading in Kone's letters to Tace that Carmelo had returned home after a few years away (she did not see a need to specify where, the real Tace must have known) and was, at the time, helping her in running the bakery. He also knows that this was referred to as a temporary state only, until Carmelo decides what he wishes to do next, but it hadn't been too long since the letter was written, so Carmelo could still be there, maybe.

Emma once again says she had not seen anyone else in the woods, but she'll walk along if the two soldiers ask her to. She says she doesn't know exactly where she's been, especially while turned, but she had tried to stay in the alcove most of the time, perhaps searching for Suillus Granulatus and other edible mushrooms, as well as pine nuts and anything else she could eat in the forest, as well as a small stream that runs not too far from here, farther west, where she'd drink fresh water... or wash herself from the blood, as much as she could. Unfortunately, going there does not reveal any clues about the ranger's whereabouts. If they're still here, they're good at leaving no tracks, and if they're gone, so are their tracks.

The next day, it is "Tace's" turn to report to the Commandant. She seems normal to him as well. Before he leaves, she tells him that she asked the smith to modify a set of manacles he already had ready to make them more comfortable, and that they should be ready, according to the smith, before midday. She asks "Corporal Peite" to pick them up from the smith when he can.

When he arrives at the smith at midday (whether after returning to the alcove once or staying in Ersta until then), the smith turns him towards the cobbler, whom he says had been tasked with padding the manacles. When Bryn reaches the cobbler in Sole Mate, the Gnome gives Bryn the leather-padded manacles, commenting that it is a peculiar request but without asking what they're for. The leather padding seems like it should be more comfortable than the raw iron, and Bryn notices the smith had widened the manacles slightly so that the added leather doesn't press on the hands too strongly. 

If there's anything Bryn wishes to buy (if he has the gold, or can justify to the Commandant why the army should pay for it), he'll have time to do so. Emma said to both Arren and Bryn that she has no intention to return to her house unless she's cured, and since she's doubtful that it could happen, she says they can take anything they think will help them. Is there anything in particular (beyond the below) that he searches for?

When Bryn focuses his magic to see magic, he discovers that the ornate, broken bow in the house has weak, non-active Divination magic on it. Unfortunately, in its current state, this wooden bow will never fire an arrow again. 

While Bryn is in Ersta, Emma turns once again. As before, she manages to give Arren a brief warning just before turning and, after growing a tail, climbs one of the nearest trees until she's out of his reach (except with a bow). Though it's hard to tell, Arren thinks her transformation looked less painful this time than it did the previous two times. She lingers there for a short minute, during which Arren might try to speak with her, but she doesn't show any signs of responding, before she eventually dashes away northwards again. If Bryn stayed in Ersta until midday, she would return before he does. Otherwise, he'll return first, but Emma returns not long after. Again, unharmed and mostly clean. By now, she refuses to change her dresses for fear of tearing them all with the tail she grows when she turns while manacled. 

Olive darts away happily, leaving behind a smiling Arren. Once again, this small exchange gives the Half-Elf a welcome distraction from the otherwise sombre days. He's also glad to confirm that his longbow is still in working order—ready for use if needed—and makes a mental note to train with it more, even if his skill with it it's far from his preferred weapons.

He's surprised to find the recipe book wrapped in a white ribbon among Hector's things. Could this have been a gift meant for Emma, one Hector never had the chance to give her? Dusting it off, he unties the ribbon with care and takes a look inside. Expecting it to be far more useful than the bundle of old papers he found earlier, he decides to take this "Simple Recipes" book back to the alcove, leaving the other behind.

He's not too disappointed at finding nothing about the hunter—it was a long shot anyway. Perhaps the hunter saw the monster and fled in fear. Or perhaps he never found it at all. At least they've passed the time while waiting for the Tus convoy, and Arren has even learned what a Suillus granulatus is after asking Emma about it.

When Emma transforms again, Arren makes no attempt to stop her and does nothing to frighten her—only giving her a nod, as if to say, I trust you can control this. He stays alert, of course, and can't help a small breath of relief when she returns, just as clean as when she left.

Speaking of clean, he reminds himself that when his next reporting day comes, he'll take the opportunity to wash up and shave. He doesn't really grow much more than a light shadow—probably due to his partially Elven blood—but that doesn't mean he is going to ignore it. He's never been fond of beards. He will also wash the blood-stained uniform he left in the carriage after their fight with Emma.

Naturally, Arren will show Emma the recipe book he found. Even though she has told them they may take anything useful from her home, he wouldn't feel right doing so without telling her. He watches her reaction closely. If she seems saddened by the reminder of her late husband, he offers a quiet apology—one that he knows won't fix anything, but he is not so reserved as to say nothing while she is in pain.

On the third day of downtime, when it's his turn to report (ooc: if I'm not mistaken), Arren approaches the Commandant to ask if the townsfolk have been informed of Emma's situation. He assumes the Commandant will want to do so as close as possible to the convoy's arrival. His purpose isn't to press, but to make sure he gives the same information she may have given, in case a certain young Wood Elf asks him again.

'Tace' wastes no time when he is reporting to the Commandant, feeling no need to question her well being or speak to matters beyond the necessary report. He is please that she was true to her word and requisitioned the padded manacles he had suggested though, and confirm he would go and collect them and deliver them back to Emma at the camp.

He takes the opportunity to get a decent breakfast at The Three Frogs and ask Zaba whether the hunter they have been looking for has returned to town. In fact, he asks whether anyone new has arrived in town. He then moves on to the smith, and from there to the cobbler. At each he remains quiet regarding the necessity for the padded manacles, merely thanking each in turn for their part in their fabrication.

Once sorted with the manacles, he once again attempts to find some supplies for making a disguise, specifically making him look more like the real Corporal Peite, complete with scar. Without the Sergeant there, he is able to have a more thorough look.

At Emma's house, he takes note of the ornate bow, and examines it to see if he might be able to mend it with a little magic. He also expects it won't renew the magic, but it doesn't hurt to try, and it is a shame that it is currently useless. He expects it belonged to Hector originally but determines to ask Emma about its origins. He also notes whether he could even use it himself, as he is only able to use a shortbow. He would also need to be able to cover up the magical fix with perhaps some leather wrapping, otherwise the Sergeant would realise something was up for sure. Even then, he might not believe it was fixable.

He would return the camp just before Emma does, revealing the new manacles after she has had time to settle back into camp.

He will choose a time when he and Emma are alone to bring up his questions regarding the bow, possibly even the following day when the Sergeant is in Ersta reporting back to the Commandant.

Arren finds the recipe book does not mention its origin on the inside either. The first page is immediately a recipe, and everything in the book is a recipe with instructions and the author's notes until the final page. Arren realises the recipes themselves aren't necessarily 'simple' as some (though not all) of them require special preparation of the ingredients or instructions written with jargon that Arren is unfamiliar with. Nonetheless, the dishes themselves, so it seems, are simple, as apparent from their names, which are often nothing more than "Rabbit Stew" or "Spicy Mashed Potatoes". The only thing in the book that is not related directly to a recipe is a handwritten dedication from Hector to Emma on the inner side of the cover. It is short and simple, and it appears Hector intended to hand it to Emma on her birthday, though he never did.

Emma makes sure to point out to Arren that picking mushrooms is a dangerous act since many of them look very similar yet can vary from tasty to lethally poisonous. She suggests that, unless he's absolutely certain, he should not try to eat any mushroom he finds in the forest, or even those picked by strangers who do not appear knowledgeable.

When handed the recipe book, Emma looks at it curiously and says she's never seen it before. She opens the book at a random page and reads briefly, nodding along quietly. "The author has good taste," she summarises. She then flips the pages until she's at the first, perhaps intending to check the author's name, when she sees Hector's dedication. She reads it and then returns the book to Arren, closed. "You can take it. I don't think I'll get to try those recipes." But although she tries to put up an unphased act, her voice is brittle, and Arren can see her eyes dampening. When he offers an apology, Emma shakes her head but says nothing. She leaves the book in Arren's hands (or next to him if he doesn't take it) but turns away from him. 

Zaba says he hasn't seen anyone new in town since the soldiers' arrival. He also notes that he hasn't left the inn for much more than buying ingredients for all the meals he now cooks, so he likely wouldn't have seen any visitors who didn't come to the inn, if there are any. He also doesn't recall seeing any hunters in the last few days, though there were a few before the strong rains that came in search of the rumoured monster in the area. If Bryn asks the cobbler or the smith, he'll get similar answers.

Disguises and make-up are rare in small places like Ersta where the average resident doesn't attend balls and other social events for the higher class often. Therefore, Bryn finds no disguise kit or the like. (OOC: If you have some idea for anything Bryn is likely to find in a place like Ersta, feel free to consult me and we'll think whether it can be found.)

Since the magic wasn't lost when the bow broke, Bryn believes he can mend it with appropriate magic. The bow seems light enough for Bryn to use efficiently (a shortbow), but since it was broken into two completely separate pieces, he knows there's no way a trained soldier with even minimal understanding of how bows work will accept that a wooden bow in this condition was fixed. Since bows rely on the wood's tension to fire, a bow in this state is usually no better than firewood. In other words, Bryn is certain that if Arren recognises the bow and remembers it was broken before, he will either question his own memories or how Bryn managed to fix it.

Emma seems grateful for the improved manacles and assures Bryn that they are indeed more comfortable. Bryn can now take Tace's old manacles back. 

The night passes quietly.

The following morning, Arren heads to Ersta and during that time, Bryn can ask Emma about the bow. Emma tells Bryn it was her father's bow. She says the bow broke when Emil used it to fend off a bear that had charged at him, and that he later succumbed to his wounds and died. She had kept it as a memento of him, and thought the bow was beautiful and thus hung it as a decoration in her house. If Bryn mentions that it is magical, Emma says she never knew of it.

Meanwhile, in Ersta, Commandant Nattensbarn informs Arren that she hadn't told the villagers yet. "I plan on telling them that I have concluded the investigation and decided that Emma is to be taken to prison to serve time for killing her husband, Hector." The Commandant explains in a low voice after briefly listening for sounds, trying to gauge whether she could hear the people in the other rooms, which would mean they can probably hear her too. "I imagine they won't take it well, considering how many of them view Emma and Hector at the moment, so I'm waiting with the news until the convoy arrives, and we'll leave the area too immediately after. It won't leave a positive impression on them, but I don't think the whole truth is better in this extraordinary case."