The map wasn't very detailed. Even Ersta doesn't appear as much more than a small circle to mark its location alone. This mark was placed on the border of a larger forest, closer to the size of a proper city. So, even the town's exact proximity to the forest was more an estimate than pure information. Nothing as small as a pond would appear on this map; even streams that you crossed/drove along on the way didn't appear.
Arren knows Commandant Nattensbarn has a collection of such maps without many details in them for most of Katto. As your crew uses them only to navigate between towns/military camps, the roads and significant roadmarks are just enough. More detailed maps would take up a lot more space in the small carriage.
The 'Three Frogs' isn't far from where you are now, and it doesn't take long to get there. A pleasant scent of the dinner still cooking fills the inn, and candles placed in designated spots illuminate the small hall where the Commandant and the Lieutenant sit as they did when you left the place. It isn't dark outside yet, but the single window in the room doesn't allow enough light inside. The Lieutenant is reading some paper, which looks like one of the Commandant's, and she is working hard as ever. They raise their eyes for a moment to see who has come into the inn. When they recognise their comrades, the Commandant seems to ignore them and resumes her work, while the Lieutenant silently raises a questioning brow. "Anything interesting?" He asks.
Please make an Insight check; Arren can make it with an advantage. If you pass DC13:
The Commandant looks restless, more than usual. She bounces one of her legs mindlessly, and she has produced a large pile of crumpled paper balls, more than you'd expect. Some have rolled on the floor, but she doesn't seem to care about them now. She furrows her brows, and you can see she's trying to concentrate, but it doesn't come as easily as it usually does.
She tries to ignore Walnuts' question, but since you noticed she tried to ignore it, there's no doubt it disturbed her. She doesn't say anything, though. Lieutenant Tireur doesn't seem bothered by all that, and you have no doubt he'd have noticed it too, sitting here all this time.
Once inside the inn and free from the rain—if only for a moment—Arrenlets out a long sigh and says quietly for the Corporal to hear, "I'm starting to doubt we will ever be dry again." A slight joke, meant to distract his thoughts from Emma and the murder.
After shedding his raincoat, the Half-Elf starts to move toward their superior's table. He stops mid-step when he notices the Commandant's restlessness and the unusually large pile of papers before her. Frowning slightly, he glances at Walnuts with a silent question. This time, though, instead of leaving it unasked, he approaches, sits down, and carefully asks, "Is... everything alright, Commandant?"
He doesn't really expect an answer, so he clears his throat and decides to answer the Lieutenant's question instead.
"We've spoken to Wyler and Emma's mother and they have both proven difficult to speak to, each for their own reasons. Wyler was too drunk when everything happened, and Mrs. Pesa's memory is too broken. She believes her daughter is still in Pyorre—and unmarried, for that matter."
He pauses briefly, then continues, "Despite that—and correct me at any point if my summary is wrong, Corporal,"he adds, nodding toward Tace, "everything points to the attack being aimed at Hickey, Emma's husband. It seems he was a cruel man, especially toward his wife. Whoever attacked him went straight to the Stewpot's kitchen to find him, and then and took Emma away, most likely into the forest. They didn't flee through the front door, which would have been the quickest exit, but through the back, the one leading to the forest."
He pauses again, gathering his thoughts. "Mrs. Pesa told us that Emma had a favored spot in the forest where she would run whenever she was upset. We also found some drawings she made—depicting her parents, another person we believe is the cook," he nods slightly toward the inn's kitchen, "and another figure: a Wood Elf, by the looks of it. He's always depicted in the forest."
"Looks like Emma and this Wood Elf were close. He may have been the one who took Emma away. We've also come across some landmarks in the drawings—a pond, a clearing with a large rock, and a cave—that we believe could lead us to her. We'll need to ask the cook a few more questions to help us find the first of them, the pond. But after that, " and at this point Arren looks straight toward the Commandant, "we would like to investigate the forest. It's the most probable place she could be."
'Tace' also takes off his raincoat and gives it a little shake before hanging it on entering The Three Frogs. He then looks across to the Lieutenant and the Commandant, and instantly notices how agitated the Commandant seemed to be. And how the Lieutenants simple question exacerbated that agitation. Ok, this is new. Not a good time to draw attention to myself.
The Sergeant obviously noticed as well, judging by his question. Not sure calling out her mood is wise, but he knows her better.
When the Sergeant goes full into the explanation, he is a little unsure what to do. He doesn't want to add another voice to the story, and risk the ire of the Commandant, and so just listens. Everything seemed mostly in order anyway. Did the creature take Emma to the forest? Wyler doesn't remember what happened to it, but I guess that is the best assumption.
At the end of the Sergeant's report, he wonders whether staying quiet is the right thing to do. Perhaps the Commandant will think me meek and too passive if I let the Sergeant do all the talking. She doesn't look like she will be happy about a delay in leaving though. And is there really an imminent threat here?
He watches the Commandant's reaction carefully before deciding to pitch in. "The picture drawn by the young Emma may have looked like a Wood Elf, but the description of the attack was of something unnatural and dangerous. Both Emma and the people of the town might be at risk, Ma'am", he adds if she seems on the fence.
Arren, please make a straight Charisma check. The check might have varying degrees of success. Also include a separate Persuasion check. Bryn may either Help with the second check or roll as well.
Arren's silent question is answered by the Lieutenant's smirk, and nothing else, before he resumes his reading. When Arren addresses the matter directly, Commandant Nattensbarn stands up sharply and slams her quill down on the counter, and for a brief moment, Arren expects her to snap at him.
But she doesn't. And, knowing her well enough, Arren knows it is not that she wasn't about to, but simply that she caught on and restrained herself before she did. Instead, she takes a moment to recollect and calm down a bit. "This deuced cook filled the entire place with the smell of whatever this agent of Aleshi here had him make," she gestures towards Lieutenant Trieur, who seems to consider that a compliment. "And I can't concentrate as a result." Arren knows she's not usually bothered by just any odour, but there was no doubt the smell was especially strong and appetising, hunger-provoking. He feels it strongly himself, having eaten nothing but a few cookies since morning.
If it seems like Arren is about to comment on the matter, the Lieutenant quickly makes a clear sign for danger from behind the Commandant, indicating it's better to keep any thoughts to yourself.
"I hope your investigation proved more beneficial?" She changes the subject, inviting Arren to report on his findings. She listens as attentively as she can, but Arren notices he doesn't hold her attention, which would normally be strange. Despite everything, Commandant Nattensbarn always gave anyone who spoke to her her full attention and respect until they finished. Nonetheless, he feels she at least got the important bits, and he knows better than to repeat anything if not asked to.
"If the husband was the target of murder committed by another person, our involvement here isn't needed." She answers once Arren is finished. "I'll write to whichever military post is closest and have them deal with the matter. Capturing criminals isn't our job."
Perhaps now Bryn adds his comment, and the Commandant attempts to evaluate the matter again based on this input. She examines each of you briefly, as well as Lieutenant Tireur. "Are you certain our involvement is necessary?" She emphasises this last word clearly, directing the question to both of you, but mainly to Arren, whom she knows and trusts more. "Our Lieutenant can't fight well in his condition, and neither can I. If the two of you run into trouble, we won't be able to help you. If it is just a person with a grudge, it's better to let someone else deal with it. If it's too dangerous, it's better to let someone else deal with it. I'll ask again, are you certain you must deal with it right now? If you are, I'll allow it this time."
Arrenstiffens when Commandant Nattensbarn slams the quill down, instinctively bracing for the reprimand that doesn't come. The tension lingers in his posture even after she collects herself.
What the hell, he thinks. The smell of cooking can't be the reason for this, and he can't see how his simple question could deserve such a reaction, even if she reined it in quickly. Have they done anything wrong? Didn't she say they were two soldiers on their day off investigating a supernatural story? Didn't they do everything by the book? To his knowledge, they haven't earned this, and the unfairness of it is plain on his face, as reflected in his pursed lips, frown, and the flush of red creeping up his tanned cheeks.
Rolled an insight check, but got a 2+1.
He is about to reply, but the warning in Lieutenant Tireur's face cuts him short. Arren doesn't even open his mouth. Instead, he inwardly counts to ten, takes a breath, runs a hand through his hair, and tries — with some effort — to let the flash of anger pass, along with the frustration that she doesn't even seem to be paying full attention.
Once Arren feels he's found his balance, he replies to the Commandant's question. "Yes, I think we must deal with this right now. This happened two weeks ago. The townsfolk have called for help, and haven't received any. As you all know, the story has even escaped the borders of this town and reached other villages. How long before someone decides to take justice into their own hands, and probably end up hurt? Those families there,"— he points to the room with the kids and their parents — "deserve the peace of knowing what happened. And not to mention Mrs. Pesa, who is now aware that her daughter is missing."
Arren takes a breath. "We are here now," he stresses the last word. "We can solve this now."
After this, the Half-Elf falls silent, aware that he's said enough — and that he still needs a little more time to calm down. He glances toward the kitchen. "We should probably speak with Zaba. And I need some food. Mrs. Pesa's cookies aren't enough to get through a day."
'Tace' involuntarily leans back slightly at the Commandant's near outburst, completely taken aback by even that loss of control. She is wound up tight, that's for sure. He shifts about a little uncomfortable.
When it turns out to be because of the smell of cooking, he is a little puzzled. She is normally so focussed, and uninterested in food. Certainly puzzling.
When asked if their involvement is necessary, he frowns under his mask. Necessary wasn't the word he would use for the situation, or must. They could just leave without any further involvement. But that wouldn't satisfy his curiosity. It is also a little worrying planning to walk the mountain pass when there are unknown dangers in the area.
If the Commandant looks to him after the Sergeant has his say, he will speak up. "The truth is we don't know for certain if it is a person with a grudge or too dangerous for us to handle without further investigation, Ma'am. But I agree with the Sergeant, the sooner something is done to resolve this the better for the people of this town. And if there are dangers in the area, it makes sense to me to know more about them before we move on. The more we know, the better we can protect you, Ma'am".
"If that's your conclusion on the matter, you may act to resolve it." Commandant Nattensbarn answers after hearing both your opinions. "Including venturing into the forest if you must. But if it seems you're in over your heads, I want you to retreat immediately. Dismissed."
Unless one of you has anything else to say, or after you say it, the Commandant turns away and walks towards the restroom door under the staircase, vanishing behind the door. Lieutenant Tireur waits a few seconds more, making sure she doesn't head back out, before he leaps from his chair and walks towards Arren, placing the paper he was reading from on the counter when he gets there.
"Don't think too much of it, Sand," the Lieutenant speaks in a low voice, making sure the Commandant doesn't overhear them. Bryn hears them well enough even without straining to listen. "I don't think she's angry with you, but you happened to be there at the wrong time. Well, not that I think she's behaving maturely, but don't forget she's our superior. It's also partly my fault, I suppose. I asked the cook here to... entice her hunger. You know? I figured I could use this chance to get her to eat more, perhaps, but I didn't expect it to work this well. She wouldn't admit how hungry she is, but her body has its demands, and sitting here for so long, she can't ignore them. Almost makes you believe she's Human, huh?"
He clears his throat, then speaks in a normal tone. "Anyway, I'm sorry I can't help you with your case. It sounds like a serious matter, but if I go with you, the Commandant will have to tag along, and I don't think that's a good idea. Besides, my abilities are limited at the moment." He raises his arm in the splint as a reminder. "On the bright side, while it's raining, I imagine you won't run into any wild animals. Just be careful."
If you try talking to Zaba, asking for dinner, he'll respond: "As I told your comrades before, I'll tell you when it's ready. It should be ready by the time the sun sets, which shouldn't be too long now. Look, it's already got so dark outside. It may be the clouds blocking its light, but that just means that the sun's light isn't as bright now."
"Certainly, Ma'am."Arren says, and he's glad to see the Commandant leave. He would have walked out himself if she hadn't, and they need to head to the kitchen anyway.
When Walnuts approaches him, he vents some of the pressure, quietly so she can't hear them, but loud enough for the Corporal to hear. He's part of the team, after all. "I'll be damned if I ever understand her. So it was really about the food? Godsdamnit, it sounded so absurd I couldn't believe it. I thought we'd done something wrong!" He pauses, rubbing his forehead tiredly, "What's wrong with her showing she has the same needs as the rest of us? As if that would make her look weak. It's just frustrating. What are we supposed to do—ignore it and watch her wither away? Because talking to her sure as hell hasn't done the trick."
Arren shakes his head and feeling he has no answer for that, he exclaims, "Ah, damn it! Let's talk about something else." He notices the paper Walnuts was reading and takes a quick look at it (ooc: only if it seems like something he's usually allowed to do with Walnuts around) "Anything important there?" he asks.
When the Drow says he can't accompany them into the forest, the Half-Elf simply gestures for him not to worry. "Don't worry about it. It doesn't make sense for you to come with us. We should be good on our own. Right?" he asks Tace. "We'll be careful... mostly because if we dared to get badly hurt, she'd scream at us on top of it," he adds with a smirk.
After speaking with Lieutenant Tireur, both Sergeant and Corporal (ooc: I assume!) enter the kitchen. Arren can't help but salivate, and is deeply sad to realize that he won't be able to taste the nice dinner Zaba is preparing. "Gods, that smells delicious. But we can't wait that long. We need to leave as soon as possible so we can get at least a bit of daylight before we enter the forest to keep investigating. Would you be able to prepare something quick for us to eat on the way? We also need to ask you a few questions about some drawings we saw at Emma's mother's house."
As The Lieutenant and Sergeant discuss the Commandant, 'Tace' inwardly sighs. What have I got myself mixed up with here? Such a strange dynamic for soldiers.
He waits patiently as they move on to discussing the paper the Lieutenant is reading. He looks around to see what the situation is with the Commandant's discarded paper. With no fire to dispose of them in he might get an opportunity to retrieve one.
As talk turns to their investigation, he nods in response to the Sergeant. "So far all we know is that something killed an unarmed man, taking him by surprise. We are armed and wary, so should be fine".
After the conversation, he follows the Sergeant into the kitchen and gives Zaba a small wave as the Sergeant begins speaking.
"I can wait", he says waving away suggestions he needs food to go, having already eaten. "The pictures are interesting though. Especially one that shows a pond, with three large broad leaves floating in it. I couldn't help my mind drifting to the conclusion that the leaves were missing frogs. Three Frogs to be precise. Any chance the pond is related to your Inn?", he asks hopefully.
"The Commandant asked me to read it and give my opinion on what's written," Walnuts responds, regarding the paper he was reading. "But honestly, I don't understand much of what's there. Too much formality, I read the first paragraph more than four times and still don't know exactly what they meant there. It's something about firearm maintenance practices, but just because I know how to shoot 'em doesn't mean I know everything about 'em. I mean, I do know how to keep 'em working, but that's not the matter they've written about here. I'm surprised they just throw matters like these on her. I'd bet two rounds of drinks she has no prior knowledge of maintaining firearms, and she just has to glean information from all those texts she carries around."
Arren knows that in general, if the Commandant let a piece of paper be within his reach, it is not classified enough that he isn't allowed to read it. However, only on very rare occasions does she ask either of you to read or give your opinions on matters related to her work. Your gut tells you she gave Walnuts the text only because she couldn't focus, and not because she thought he was knowledgeable about firearms. As for the Lieutenant, as well as Arren himself, they don't get any personal letters while on the move. If there are any, they'll be waiting for them when they reach the capital.
Bryn estimates that, while the Commandant isn't there, it shouldn't be too difficult to snatch away one of the discarded paper balls, as long as Walnuts and Arren both don't focus on him while he does it. With so many of them lying around, he's also pretty sure she wouldn't notice one of them gone.
"If it's urgent, I believe I can get something ready in haste," Zaba replies to Arren's request, "but it shouldn't be too long before the broth is ready. Would you not rather wait? If it's sunlight that's a concern, I think you're too late anyway, especially if the forest is your destination. It's not very dense, but the trees still shade the ground. At this hour, with the weather as it is, it would be about as dark in there as it will be in the middle of the night. But perhaps your eyes see better than mine can, I wouldn't know."
"Pond? We don't have a pond here. I don't think there's anything like a pond in Ersta at all, though I could be wrong." He pauses to check on his broth, drawing a bit with a long ladle, picking out a small potato piece and blowing on it a little to cool it down, before tasting it. "Not ready yet, but close. Those potatoes always take the longest. Anyway, while there's no pond here, if it's Emma's drawings you saw, it could be related to this place. She has been here quite a lot before she moved to Pyorre, after all, and the sign outside is older than she is. Actually, now that I think of it..." He pauses for a moment. "I think she did once ask me to paint lily pads under the three frogs on the sign outside, but I suppose I must have refused if it's not there anymore. Or maybe I'm just imagining to match your idea. If it did happen, it must have been long ago."
Arrenconsiders Zaba's suggestion to wait until the broth is done, but not for long. As the conversation with the Corporal shifts to Emma's drawing, his focus follows.
A sigh escapes him, and his shoulders slump slightly when the cook explains there's nothing like a pond nearby. But then a thought strikes. He recalls the background in the drawing—orange and red, yet no sun in sight. "What if that wasn't a pond?" the Half-Elf wonders aloud, gesturing to the broth. "What if Emma was drawing this? She learned to cook here, after all, and the background was all red and orange. Could that be the fire this is being cooked on? Though… this doesn't connect to the other drawings we saw."
He runs a hand through his hair, brow furrowed in thought, then gestures for them to wait a moment. Arren heads back into the main room, where Walnuts is sitting, and grabs a couple blank papers and uses the Commandant's ink to try to reproduce Emma’s drawings—the pond, the forest, the large rock in a clearing, the cave opening, and the characters in them—as best he can. He glances at Walnuts, smiles slightly, and mutters, "You never saw this." Then returns to the kitchen.
Back inside, he shows the papers to Zaba. "Veda told us Emma had a special place in the forest, somewhere she run to when she was too upset. We thought these might be a sequence that could lead us to that special place. We want to see if she might have retreated there ... or if it gives us any kind of lead, really. Do any of these remind you of anything near the Three Frogs? Or around Ersta in general?"
Arren's drawing are, of course, all in black, but he explains Zaba the colours the original drawings had. And he points in particular to the large rock in the clearing, where some black marks are drawn on the ground, hoping it might spark the cook's recognition.
'Tace' is more convinced by the sign theory, and is now quite confident that the starting point for their treasure hunt is indeed The Three Frogs.
"I think the inn is actually quite a suitable answer for the first picture. I would also suggest the fact we cannot see the setting sun could perhaps lead us to a direction we need to go", he muses as the Sergeant leaves for a while.
Whilst the Sergeant is gone, he asks Zaba, "In relation to the inn and the forest, where does the sun set? Which direction?". He tries to work out if there is a route into the forest which doesn't put them in view of the sunset, and whether once in the forest you could turn so you do see the sunset. Of course, his questioning assumes there is cloud cover blocking his own vision, otherwise he could simply look or go outside.
By the time the Sergeant returns with her copies of Emma's drawings, he hopefully has the sunset and forest mapped out so he can then use the pictures to help determine if there is a route.
Knowing the Sergeant used the Commandant's paper and ink, he is a little concerned. The mood she is in, we could end up no better off than Hecky!
"Who is going to investigate our murder?", he whispers to the Sergeant with a nervous chuckle.
Fortunately, the Commandant hasn't returned yet when Arren tries to copy Emma's drawings using her supplies. Walnuts looks at Arren with surprise and curiosity, but turns his hand over his mouth as if locking a lock with a key. 'My lips are sealed.'
While Arren is drawing, in the Kitchen, Zaba points towards one of the windows, facing the same way as the front of the inn. "The sun sets in the west, over there." It's impossible to see any signs of it at the moment, due to the clouds. Bryn notices the Stewpot is visible from here. "The forest is large, but I suppose the most direct route from here would be heading west, more or less.
Arren quickly sketches the drawings as he remembers them and slips back into the kitchen before the Commandant can catch him in the act. They're not beautiful, but with Arren explaining what is shown, it's easy to understand, and they're not too far off the originals, except the colours, of course.
"I knew she'd run into the forest sometimes," Zaba says after looking at the drawings for a while. "Though I didn't know she had a 'spot'. Though I suppose that's not too surprising. But ah... none of these look familiar. Like I said, there are no ponds in Ersta that I know of, and I haven't been to the forest very often to recognise landmarks in there. Especially not if they're sentimental alone, which they could be. But umm..." He studies the 'forest' drawing closely. "This one reminds me of what the forest looks like from here. Or rather, what it looked like before 'The Stewpot' and houses behind it blocked most of that view. I hope this helps."
"So if one were to stand by The Stewpot and look East, away from the setting sun, they would see The Three Frogs? And then if they were to turn to see the setting sun, it would be over the forest. I think that is the direction we should try", he says to the Sergeant.
"With luck, if we follow the setting sun, we would find the rock, and hopefully be able to identify the markings on the ground. I am not sure how we get from there to the cave, but it makes sense to head towards the mountains from there. Or maybe we just wait and decide when we are there?".
"Of course all of this would be easier if there weren't so many clouds blocking out the sun! But we have to work with what we have".
He looks to the Sergeant. "It is now or never, what do you think?"
"It's now or never,"Arren repeats in his mind, a twinge of concern settling in his chest. He had hoped for more concrete information than a simple follow the setting sun. With better skills in navigating unfamiliar terrain, he'd feel more certain they wouldn't get lost. And if the weather were better, at least he'd feel reassured that the ground wouldn't be so treacherous. Still, if Walnuts is right, the rain might at least keep wild animals at bay.
The Sergeant glances at the Corporal and gives a short nod, keeping his doubts to himself. This is what they set out to do, after all, and they have to see it through despite the difficulties. With any luck, they'll find the clearing, and the black marks will still be visible, even through the mud that surely awaits them.
Without a word, Arren folds the paper with his drawings and slips it into his pocket. As he does, he casts a quick glance at the broth. Funny—the one who can eat doesn't want to, and the one who wants to can't stop to enjoy a proper meal. A slight sigh escapes him. Then he looks at Zaba, "Thank you for your help, Zaba. We should get going. I think I'll just have a few bites of my rations on the way. I wouldn’t really be able to enjoy your dinner properly with all this on my mind anyway." He offers a small smile. "But if you save a bit of that broth for when we get back, I'd really appreciate it."
With that, he's ready to go. On their way out, he'll exchange a few parting words with Walnuts, and offer a simple "Ma'am"and a nod to the Commandant—if she's there—before stepping outside.
'Tace' bids Zaba farewell for now, and follows the Sergeant out. He lets the Sergeant do the talking with the Commandant and Lieutenant, and simply puts on his rain coat.
Before they do leave, he has a thought and addresses the Sergeant with it, but loud enough the Lieutenant and Commandant will be able to hear.
"Perhaps we should take a lantern?".
(OOC: FireCat - is there a lantern in the carriage? Is it a storm lantern type that has shutters? Does the carriage lock, and if so, is the key to the lock box the same as that for the carriage itself?)
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The map wasn't very detailed. Even Ersta doesn't appear as much more than a small circle to mark its location alone. This mark was placed on the border of a larger forest, closer to the size of a proper city. So, even the town's exact proximity to the forest was more an estimate than pure information. Nothing as small as a pond would appear on this map; even streams that you crossed/drove along on the way didn't appear.
Arren knows Commandant Nattensbarn has a collection of such maps without many details in them for most of Katto. As your crew uses them only to navigate between towns/military camps, the roads and significant roadmarks are just enough. More detailed maps would take up a lot more space in the small carriage.
The 'Three Frogs' isn't far from where you are now, and it doesn't take long to get there. A pleasant scent of the dinner still cooking fills the inn, and candles placed in designated spots illuminate the small hall where the Commandant and the Lieutenant sit as they did when you left the place. It isn't dark outside yet, but the single window in the room doesn't allow enough light inside. The Lieutenant is reading some paper, which looks like one of the Commandant's, and she is working hard as ever. They raise their eyes for a moment to see who has come into the inn. When they recognise their comrades, the Commandant seems to ignore them and resumes her work, while the Lieutenant silently raises a questioning brow. "Anything interesting?" He asks.
Please make an Insight check; Arren can make it with an advantage. If you pass DC13:
The Commandant looks restless, more than usual. She bounces one of her legs mindlessly, and she has produced a large pile of crumpled paper balls, more than you'd expect. Some have rolled on the floor, but she doesn't seem to care about them now. She furrows her brows, and you can see she's trying to concentrate, but it doesn't come as easily as it usually does.
She tries to ignore Walnuts' question, but since you noticed she tried to ignore it, there's no doubt it disturbed her. She doesn't say anything, though. Lieutenant Tireur doesn't seem bothered by all that, and you have no doubt he'd have noticed it too, sitting here all this time.
Varielky
(ooc: Insight 8+1 and 14+1=15)
Once inside the inn and free from the rain—if only for a moment—Arren lets out a long sigh and says quietly for the Corporal to hear, "I'm starting to doubt we will ever be dry again." A slight joke, meant to distract his thoughts from Emma and the murder.
After shedding his raincoat, the Half-Elf starts to move toward their superior's table. He stops mid-step when he notices the Commandant's restlessness and the unusually large pile of papers before her. Frowning slightly, he glances at Walnuts with a silent question. This time, though, instead of leaving it unasked, he approaches, sits down, and carefully asks, "Is... everything alright, Commandant?"
He doesn't really expect an answer, so he clears his throat and decides to answer the Lieutenant's question instead.
"We've spoken to Wyler and Emma's mother and they have both proven difficult to speak to, each for their own reasons. Wyler was too drunk when everything happened, and Mrs. Pesa's memory is too broken. She believes her daughter is still in Pyorre—and unmarried, for that matter."
He pauses briefly, then continues, "Despite that—and correct me at any point if my summary is wrong, Corporal," he adds, nodding toward Tace, "everything points to the attack being aimed at Hickey, Emma's husband. It seems he was a cruel man, especially toward his wife. Whoever attacked him went straight to the Stewpot's kitchen to find him, and then and took Emma away, most likely into the forest. They didn't flee through the front door, which would have been the quickest exit, but through the back, the one leading to the forest."
He pauses again, gathering his thoughts. "Mrs. Pesa told us that Emma had a favored spot in the forest where she would run whenever she was upset. We also found some drawings she made—depicting her parents, another person we believe is the cook," he nods slightly toward the inn's kitchen, "and another figure: a Wood Elf, by the looks of it. He's always depicted in the forest."
"Looks like Emma and this Wood Elf were close. He may have been the one who took Emma away. We've also come across some landmarks in the drawings—a pond, a clearing with a large rock, and a cave—that we believe could lead us to her. We'll need to ask the cook a few more questions to help us find the first of them, the pond. But after that, " and at this point Arren looks straight toward the Commandant, "we would like to investigate the forest. It's the most probable place she could be."
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
Insight: 18+5=23
'Tace' also takes off his raincoat and gives it a little shake before hanging it on entering The Three Frogs. He then looks across to the Lieutenant and the Commandant, and instantly notices how agitated the Commandant seemed to be. And how the Lieutenants simple question exacerbated that agitation. Ok, this is new. Not a good time to draw attention to myself.
The Sergeant obviously noticed as well, judging by his question. Not sure calling out her mood is wise, but he knows her better.
When the Sergeant goes full into the explanation, he is a little unsure what to do. He doesn't want to add another voice to the story, and risk the ire of the Commandant, and so just listens. Everything seemed mostly in order anyway. Did the creature take Emma to the forest? Wyler doesn't remember what happened to it, but I guess that is the best assumption.
At the end of the Sergeant's report, he wonders whether staying quiet is the right thing to do. Perhaps the Commandant will think me meek and too passive if I let the Sergeant do all the talking. She doesn't look like she will be happy about a delay in leaving though. And is there really an imminent threat here?
He watches the Commandant's reaction carefully before deciding to pitch in. "The picture drawn by the young Emma may have looked like a Wood Elf, but the description of the attack was of something unnatural and dangerous. Both Emma and the people of the town might be at risk, Ma'am", he adds if she seems on the fence.
Arren, please make a straight Charisma check. The check might have varying degrees of success. Also include a separate Persuasion check. Bryn may either Help with the second check or roll as well.
Varielky
(OOC: Bryn will help again)
Straight charisma: 6+3=9 ... probably against my better judgement, I will bump it with my last Second Wind, if possible. That would be a 19
Persuasion is 19+5 = 24
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
Arren's silent question is answered by the Lieutenant's smirk, and nothing else, before he resumes his reading. When Arren addresses the matter directly, Commandant Nattensbarn stands up sharply and slams her quill down on the counter, and for a brief moment, Arren expects her to snap at him.
But she doesn't. And, knowing her well enough, Arren knows it is not that she wasn't about to, but simply that she caught on and restrained herself before she did. Instead, she takes a moment to recollect and calm down a bit. "This deuced cook filled the entire place with the smell of whatever this agent of Aleshi here had him make," she gestures towards Lieutenant Trieur, who seems to consider that a compliment. "And I can't concentrate as a result." Arren knows she's not usually bothered by just any odour, but there was no doubt the smell was especially strong and appetising, hunger-provoking. He feels it strongly himself, having eaten nothing but a few cookies since morning.
If it seems like Arren is about to comment on the matter, the Lieutenant quickly makes a clear sign for danger from behind the Commandant, indicating it's better to keep any thoughts to yourself.
"I hope your investigation proved more beneficial?" She changes the subject, inviting Arren to report on his findings. She listens as attentively as she can, but Arren notices he doesn't hold her attention, which would normally be strange. Despite everything, Commandant Nattensbarn always gave anyone who spoke to her her full attention and respect until they finished. Nonetheless, he feels she at least got the important bits, and he knows better than to repeat anything if not asked to.
"If the husband was the target of murder committed by another person, our involvement here isn't needed." She answers once Arren is finished. "I'll write to whichever military post is closest and have them deal with the matter. Capturing criminals isn't our job."
Perhaps now Bryn adds his comment, and the Commandant attempts to evaluate the matter again based on this input. She examines each of you briefly, as well as Lieutenant Tireur. "Are you certain our involvement is necessary?" She emphasises this last word clearly, directing the question to both of you, but mainly to Arren, whom she knows and trusts more. "Our Lieutenant can't fight well in his condition, and neither can I. If the two of you run into trouble, we won't be able to help you. If it is just a person with a grudge, it's better to let someone else deal with it. If it's too dangerous, it's better to let someone else deal with it. I'll ask again, are you certain you must deal with it right now? If you are, I'll allow it this time."
Varielky
Arren stiffens when Commandant Nattensbarn slams the quill down, instinctively bracing for the reprimand that doesn't come. The tension lingers in his posture even after she collects herself.
What the hell, he thinks. The smell of cooking can't be the reason for this, and he can't see how his simple question could deserve such a reaction, even if she reined it in quickly. Have they done anything wrong? Didn't she say they were two soldiers on their day off investigating a supernatural story? Didn't they do everything by the book? To his knowledge, they haven't earned this, and the unfairness of it is plain on his face, as reflected in his pursed lips, frown, and the flush of red creeping up his tanned cheeks.
Rolled an insight check, but got a 2+1.
He is about to reply, but the warning in Lieutenant Tireur's face cuts him short. Arren doesn't even open his mouth. Instead, he inwardly counts to ten, takes a breath, runs a hand through his hair, and tries — with some effort — to let the flash of anger pass, along with the frustration that she doesn't even seem to be paying full attention.
Once Arren feels he's found his balance, he replies to the Commandant's question. "Yes, I think we must deal with this right now. This happened two weeks ago. The townsfolk have called for help, and haven't received any. As you all know, the story has even escaped the borders of this town and reached other villages. How long before someone decides to take justice into their own hands, and probably end up hurt? Those families there," — he points to the room with the kids and their parents — "deserve the peace of knowing what happened. And not to mention Mrs. Pesa, who is now aware that her daughter is missing."
Arren takes a breath. "We are here now," he stresses the last word. "We can solve this now."
After this, the Half-Elf falls silent, aware that he's said enough — and that he still needs a little more time to calm down. He glances toward the kitchen. "We should probably speak with Zaba. And I need some food. Mrs. Pesa's cookies aren't enough to get through a day."
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
'Tace' involuntarily leans back slightly at the Commandant's near outburst, completely taken aback by even that loss of control. She is wound up tight, that's for sure. He shifts about a little uncomfortable.
When it turns out to be because of the smell of cooking, he is a little puzzled. She is normally so focussed, and uninterested in food. Certainly puzzling.
When asked if their involvement is necessary, he frowns under his mask. Necessary wasn't the word he would use for the situation, or must. They could just leave without any further involvement. But that wouldn't satisfy his curiosity. It is also a little worrying planning to walk the mountain pass when there are unknown dangers in the area.
If the Commandant looks to him after the Sergeant has his say, he will speak up. "The truth is we don't know for certain if it is a person with a grudge or too dangerous for us to handle without further investigation, Ma'am. But I agree with the Sergeant, the sooner something is done to resolve this the better for the people of this town. And if there are dangers in the area, it makes sense to me to know more about them before we move on. The more we know, the better we can protect you, Ma'am".
"If that's your conclusion on the matter, you may act to resolve it." Commandant Nattensbarn answers after hearing both your opinions. "Including venturing into the forest if you must. But if it seems you're in over your heads, I want you to retreat immediately. Dismissed."
Unless one of you has anything else to say, or after you say it, the Commandant turns away and walks towards the restroom door under the staircase, vanishing behind the door. Lieutenant Tireur waits a few seconds more, making sure she doesn't head back out, before he leaps from his chair and walks towards Arren, placing the paper he was reading from on the counter when he gets there.
"Don't think too much of it, Sand," the Lieutenant speaks in a low voice, making sure the Commandant doesn't overhear them. Bryn hears them well enough even without straining to listen. "I don't think she's angry with you, but you happened to be there at the wrong time. Well, not that I think she's behaving maturely, but don't forget she's our superior. It's also partly my fault, I suppose. I asked the cook here to... entice her hunger. You know? I figured I could use this chance to get her to eat more, perhaps, but I didn't expect it to work this well. She wouldn't admit how hungry she is, but her body has its demands, and sitting here for so long, she can't ignore them. Almost makes you believe she's Human, huh?"
He clears his throat, then speaks in a normal tone. "Anyway, I'm sorry I can't help you with your case. It sounds like a serious matter, but if I go with you, the Commandant will have to tag along, and I don't think that's a good idea. Besides, my abilities are limited at the moment." He raises his arm in the splint as a reminder. "On the bright side, while it's raining, I imagine you won't run into any wild animals. Just be careful."
If you try talking to Zaba, asking for dinner, he'll respond: "As I told your comrades before, I'll tell you when it's ready. It should be ready by the time the sun sets, which shouldn't be too long now. Look, it's already got so dark outside. It may be the clouds blocking its light, but that just means that the sun's light isn't as bright now."
Varielky
"Certainly, Ma'am." Arren says, and he's glad to see the Commandant leave. He would have walked out himself if she hadn't, and they need to head to the kitchen anyway.
When Walnuts approaches him, he vents some of the pressure, quietly so she can't hear them, but loud enough for the Corporal to hear. He's part of the team, after all. "I'll be damned if I ever understand her. So it was really about the food? Godsdamnit, it sounded so absurd I couldn't believe it. I thought we'd done something wrong!" He pauses, rubbing his forehead tiredly, "What's wrong with her showing she has the same needs as the rest of us? As if that would make her look weak. It's just frustrating. What are we supposed to do—ignore it and watch her wither away? Because talking to her sure as hell hasn't done the trick."
Arren shakes his head and feeling he has no answer for that, he exclaims, "Ah, damn it! Let's talk about something else." He notices the paper Walnuts was reading and takes a quick look at it (ooc: only if it seems like something he's usually allowed to do with Walnuts around) "Anything important there?" he asks.
When the Drow says he can't accompany them into the forest, the Half-Elf simply gestures for him not to worry. "Don't worry about it. It doesn't make sense for you to come with us. We should be good on our own. Right?" he asks Tace. "We'll be careful... mostly because if we dared to get badly hurt, she'd scream at us on top of it," he adds with a smirk.
After speaking with Lieutenant Tireur, both Sergeant and Corporal (ooc: I assume!) enter the kitchen. Arren can't help but salivate, and is deeply sad to realize that he won't be able to taste the nice dinner Zaba is preparing. "Gods, that smells delicious. But we can't wait that long. We need to leave as soon as possible so we can get at least a bit of daylight before we enter the forest to keep investigating. Would you be able to prepare something quick for us to eat on the way? We also need to ask you a few questions about some drawings we saw at Emma's mother's house."
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
As The Lieutenant and Sergeant discuss the Commandant, 'Tace' inwardly sighs. What have I got myself mixed up with here? Such a strange dynamic for soldiers.
He waits patiently as they move on to discussing the paper the Lieutenant is reading. He looks around to see what the situation is with the Commandant's discarded paper. With no fire to dispose of them in he might get an opportunity to retrieve one.
As talk turns to their investigation, he nods in response to the Sergeant. "So far all we know is that something killed an unarmed man, taking him by surprise. We are armed and wary, so should be fine".
After the conversation, he follows the Sergeant into the kitchen and gives Zaba a small wave as the Sergeant begins speaking.
"I can wait", he says waving away suggestions he needs food to go, having already eaten. "The pictures are interesting though. Especially one that shows a pond, with three large broad leaves floating in it. I couldn't help my mind drifting to the conclusion that the leaves were missing frogs. Three Frogs to be precise. Any chance the pond is related to your Inn?", he asks hopefully.
"The Commandant asked me to read it and give my opinion on what's written," Walnuts responds, regarding the paper he was reading. "But honestly, I don't understand much of what's there. Too much formality, I read the first paragraph more than four times and still don't know exactly what they meant there. It's something about firearm maintenance practices, but just because I know how to shoot 'em doesn't mean I know everything about 'em. I mean, I do know how to keep 'em working, but that's not the matter they've written about here. I'm surprised they just throw matters like these on her. I'd bet two rounds of drinks she has no prior knowledge of maintaining firearms, and she just has to glean information from all those texts she carries around."
Arren knows that in general, if the Commandant let a piece of paper be within his reach, it is not classified enough that he isn't allowed to read it. However, only on very rare occasions does she ask either of you to read or give your opinions on matters related to her work. Your gut tells you she gave Walnuts the text only because she couldn't focus, and not because she thought he was knowledgeable about firearms. As for the Lieutenant, as well as Arren himself, they don't get any personal letters while on the move. If there are any, they'll be waiting for them when they reach the capital.
Bryn estimates that, while the Commandant isn't there, it shouldn't be too difficult to snatch away one of the discarded paper balls, as long as Walnuts and Arren both don't focus on him while he does it. With so many of them lying around, he's also pretty sure she wouldn't notice one of them gone.
"If it's urgent, I believe I can get something ready in haste," Zaba replies to Arren's request, "but it shouldn't be too long before the broth is ready. Would you not rather wait? If it's sunlight that's a concern, I think you're too late anyway, especially if the forest is your destination. It's not very dense, but the trees still shade the ground. At this hour, with the weather as it is, it would be about as dark in there as it will be in the middle of the night. But perhaps your eyes see better than mine can, I wouldn't know."
"Pond? We don't have a pond here. I don't think there's anything like a pond in Ersta at all, though I could be wrong." He pauses to check on his broth, drawing a bit with a long ladle, picking out a small potato piece and blowing on it a little to cool it down, before tasting it. "Not ready yet, but close. Those potatoes always take the longest. Anyway, while there's no pond here, if it's Emma's drawings you saw, it could be related to this place. She has been here quite a lot before she moved to Pyorre, after all, and the sign outside is older than she is. Actually, now that I think of it..." He pauses for a moment. "I think she did once ask me to paint lily pads under the three frogs on the sign outside, but I suppose I must have refused if it's not there anymore. Or maybe I'm just imagining to match your idea. If it did happen, it must have been long ago."
Varielky
Arren considers Zaba's suggestion to wait until the broth is done, but not for long. As the conversation with the Corporal shifts to Emma's drawing, his focus follows.
A sigh escapes him, and his shoulders slump slightly when the cook explains there's nothing like a pond nearby. But then a thought strikes. He recalls the background in the drawing—orange and red, yet no sun in sight. "What if that wasn't a pond?" the Half-Elf wonders aloud, gesturing to the broth. "What if Emma was drawing this? She learned to cook here, after all, and the background was all red and orange. Could that be the fire this is being cooked on? Though… this doesn't connect to the other drawings we saw."
He runs a hand through his hair, brow furrowed in thought, then gestures for them to wait a moment. Arren heads back into the main room, where Walnuts is sitting, and grabs a couple blank papers and uses the Commandant's ink to try to reproduce Emma’s drawings—the pond, the forest, the large rock in a clearing, the cave opening, and the characters in them—as best he can. He glances at Walnuts, smiles slightly, and mutters, "You never saw this." Then returns to the kitchen.
Back inside, he shows the papers to Zaba. "Veda told us Emma had a special place in the forest, somewhere she run to when she was too upset. We thought these might be a sequence that could lead us to that special place. We want to see if she might have retreated there ... or if it gives us any kind of lead, really. Do any of these remind you of anything near the Three Frogs? Or around Ersta in general?"
Arren's drawing are, of course, all in black, but he explains Zaba the colours the original drawings had. And he points in particular to the large rock in the clearing, where some black marks are drawn on the ground, hoping it might spark the cook's recognition.
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
'Tace' is more convinced by the sign theory, and is now quite confident that the starting point for their treasure hunt is indeed The Three Frogs.
"I think the inn is actually quite a suitable answer for the first picture. I would also suggest the fact we cannot see the setting sun could perhaps lead us to a direction we need to go", he muses as the Sergeant leaves for a while.
Whilst the Sergeant is gone, he asks Zaba, "In relation to the inn and the forest, where does the sun set? Which direction?". He tries to work out if there is a route into the forest which doesn't put them in view of the sunset, and whether once in the forest you could turn so you do see the sunset. Of course, his questioning assumes there is cloud cover blocking his own vision, otherwise he could simply look or go outside.
By the time the Sergeant returns with her copies of Emma's drawings, he hopefully has the sunset and forest mapped out so he can then use the pictures to help determine if there is a route.
Knowing the Sergeant used the Commandant's paper and ink, he is a little concerned. The mood she is in, we could end up no better off than Hecky!
"Who is going to investigate our murder?", he whispers to the Sergeant with a nervous chuckle.
"Well..." Arren mutters, "...we might need to desert now. With any luck, we'll wrap up this case before she wraps us in shrouds."
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
Fortunately, the Commandant hasn't returned yet when Arren tries to copy Emma's drawings using her supplies. Walnuts looks at Arren with surprise and curiosity, but turns his hand over his mouth as if locking a lock with a key. 'My lips are sealed.'
While Arren is drawing, in the Kitchen, Zaba points towards one of the windows, facing the same way as the front of the inn. "The sun sets in the west, over there." It's impossible to see any signs of it at the moment, due to the clouds. Bryn notices the Stewpot is visible from here. "The forest is large, but I suppose the most direct route from here would be heading west, more or less.
Arren quickly sketches the drawings as he remembers them and slips back into the kitchen before the Commandant can catch him in the act. They're not beautiful, but with Arren explaining what is shown, it's easy to understand, and they're not too far off the originals, except the colours, of course.
"I knew she'd run into the forest sometimes," Zaba says after looking at the drawings for a while. "Though I didn't know she had a 'spot'. Though I suppose that's not too surprising. But ah... none of these look familiar. Like I said, there are no ponds in Ersta that I know of, and I haven't been to the forest very often to recognise landmarks in there. Especially not if they're sentimental alone, which they could be. But umm..." He studies the 'forest' drawing closely. "This one reminds me of what the forest looks like from here. Or rather, what it looked like before 'The Stewpot' and houses behind it blocked most of that view. I hope this helps."
Varielky
"Interesting", 'Tace' says thoughtfully.
"So if one were to stand by The Stewpot and look East, away from the setting sun, they would see The Three Frogs? And then if they were to turn to see the setting sun, it would be over the forest. I think that is the direction we should try", he says to the Sergeant.
"With luck, if we follow the setting sun, we would find the rock, and hopefully be able to identify the markings on the ground. I am not sure how we get from there to the cave, but it makes sense to head towards the mountains from there. Or maybe we just wait and decide when we are there?".
"Of course all of this would be easier if there weren't so many clouds blocking out the sun! But we have to work with what we have".
He looks to the Sergeant. "It is now or never, what do you think?"
"It's now or never," Arren repeats in his mind, a twinge of concern settling in his chest. He had hoped for more concrete information than a simple follow the setting sun. With better skills in navigating unfamiliar terrain, he'd feel more certain they wouldn't get lost. And if the weather were better, at least he'd feel reassured that the ground wouldn't be so treacherous. Still, if Walnuts is right, the rain might at least keep wild animals at bay.
The Sergeant glances at the Corporal and gives a short nod, keeping his doubts to himself. This is what they set out to do, after all, and they have to see it through despite the difficulties. With any luck, they'll find the clearing, and the black marks will still be visible, even through the mud that surely awaits them.
Without a word, Arren folds the paper with his drawings and slips it into his pocket. As he does, he casts a quick glance at the broth. Funny—the one who can eat doesn't want to, and the one who wants to can't stop to enjoy a proper meal. A slight sigh escapes him. Then he looks at Zaba, "Thank you for your help, Zaba. We should get going. I think I'll just have a few bites of my rations on the way. I wouldn’t really be able to enjoy your dinner properly with all this on my mind anyway." He offers a small smile. "But if you save a bit of that broth for when we get back, I'd really appreciate it."
With that, he's ready to go. On their way out, he'll exchange a few parting words with Walnuts, and offer a simple "Ma'am" and a nod to the Commandant—if she's there—before stepping outside.
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
'Tace' bids Zaba farewell for now, and follows the Sergeant out. He lets the Sergeant do the talking with the Commandant and Lieutenant, and simply puts on his rain coat.
Before they do leave, he has a thought and addresses the Sergeant with it, but loud enough the Lieutenant and Commandant will be able to hear.
"Perhaps we should take a lantern?".
(OOC: FireCat - is there a lantern in the carriage? Is it a storm lantern type that has shutters? Does the carriage lock, and if so, is the key to the lock box the same as that for the carriage itself?)