Hearing the description of the only witness to the monster, Arren arches a brow. A drunk? He doesn't expect to gather anything useful from someone like Wyler. Still, asking won't take much of their time—he's likely in the same place where they must reunite with their superiors anyway—so the Sergeant glances briefly at the Corporal and replies, "Won't hurt to ask." Then he turns to the cobbler. "How many victims have there been so far? And when did the attacks start?"
Regarding the owner of The Stewpot, Emma, the Sergeant shares the Corporal's line of thought. He's left the question unfinished, but its meaning is clear: Did this woman die? Was she a victim of the monster? Arren says nothing and simply looks to the gnome, awaiting his response.
When the topic shifts to shops, the Half-Elf adds, “I'd be interested in buying some seasonings for our rations. Is there a specific shop selling that near the smithy, by any chance? If not, I guess The Three Frogs may be the place to get them."
At this point, Arren is more than ready to be on their way. It's not as if he's eager to step back into the rain, but he doesn't want to keep the Commandant and the Lieutenant waiting for long. He offers the cobbler a grateful nod. "Thank you for your time. We'll try to gather more information on this monster problem.” He refrains from saying anything about hunting the creature down though, since that decision isn't his to make. "Apologies again for dampening your floor."
"She was a kind lass and a great cook. I've only ever known one man who couldn't appreciate such a woman." The Gnome answers. "But she's gone now." He pauses his work for a moment. "We didn't see a body, but I think she's dead. Along with her husband, they were the first victims we know of. It happened a few weeks ago."
The Gnome resumes his work and seems grateful for the change of subject. "There's a trading post where we sell our exports and buy imports, it's not far from the smithy. You'd find what you seek in there."
The road to the smithy is short now, and with the cobbler's directions, you find it quickly. It's easy to see how you missed it the first time since there is no sign or indicator for it being a shop, other than a few artistic statues made of leftover iron that stand on the windowsills. You assume it's easier to spot on a clear day.
If you try to enter, the door is unlocked. If you knock and wait, you'll hear a response calling you to go inside. On the inside, the place looks like any other smithy you may have seen before: A large furnace, several anvils of different sizes, many hammers of different sizes, a large container filled with water and many creations lying around - either complete, half-done or ruined. A Human man works by the furnace when you enter. He looks large and strong, and despite the cold, perhaps because he stands by the furnace, he wears only short, thin clothes.
((I'm assuming you act the same way you did earlier, in posts #83-84. Otherwise, tell me what you do and ignore anything below.))
The man eyes you silently and expressionless. After 'Tace' is done detailing what he seeks, the man lowers the air intake to the furnace to a minimum and motions for you to follow. He approaches a large cabinet and unlocks a few of the drawers. "Daggers here, and here you can find scimitars and shortswords." You notice that the drawers are far from full, and there are only 2-3 units of each weapon left. There are a few larger drawers, but it doesn't look like any large weapons are stored in this cabinet. "The bows are all sold out, unfortunately. This monster craze has everyone stocking up on weapons. I suppose that's why you're here too?"
The prices for the weapons are as the official 2024 rules state. If Arren (and/or Bryn) wants to roleplay the encounter in the trading post, feel free to do so. Otherwise, it is a standard trading post with all sorts of goods, both imported and exported. He can buy [equipment]Cook's Utensils[/equipment] (Cook's Utensils, if the tooltip fails) for the normal price or only the seasonings for half that price. If there's any other standard equipment that you want to buy, ask if it is available.
(OOC: Happy to go with the events of the previous post)
'Tace' will peruse the cabinets and pick out a pair of daggers and a short sword, paying the requisite 14 gold pieces from that given to him by the Commandant. As he is looking around the smithy at the many creations, he will also keep his eye out for a piece of copper wire the is loose and lying around. He also makes sure to capture a little soot from one of the surfaces. Just a pinch will do.
"That is a shame, but understandable", is all he says in response to the lack of bows. He knew he didn't have the money anyway. "Quite so. How many have fallen victim to the monster now?", he asks conversationally when monster hunting is mentioned.
At the trading post he will make sure he acquires a pinch of salt, to go with his pinch of soot.
"Should we look for some ink for the Commandant", he asks the Sergeant. "I do not have enough gold spare, but we could make sure some is put back if you don't have enough either", he suggests, trying to be helpful.
(OOC: Let me know if Bryn has trouble getting his components)
At the smithy's, Arren waits patiently while Tace searches for his preferred weapons. A couple of daggers and a shortsword are certainly a good combination, though it's clear they'll need to find him a shortbow before long. It's a pity the Corporal can't handle his longbow and he's about to ask the smith about selling it —Arren doesn't use it that much, really— but ends up abandoning the idea. Letting go of the bow would surely invite a situation where he needed it, sooner or later.
Later, the Sergeant is pleased to find the utensils and seasonings he was looking for. As he examines them, he unconsciously flashes a satisfied grin, already thinking about the next opportunity to put them to use. He'll probably need to run a few tests to get the flavor just right, but he's confident he'll succeed in the end. Why didn't he think about this before, he wonders.
When the Corporal suggests buying ink for the Commandant, Arren says, "Mm. Good idea, Corporal." The Elf can see a brief flash of doubt cross the Sergeant's face when he learns how much inkwells cost. Arren imagines the Commandant will reimburse them, but even if she doesn't, he decides to go forward with the purchase. He'll just try not to think too much about the gold it costs if he has to forgo it. (ooc: removed the 11 gold)
After making the purchase, Arren hands Tace the inkwell. "You give it to the Commandant. She'll appreciate it."Then he asks, "Time to go to the Three Frogs, yes?"
(ooc: does Arren spot Bryn gathering the components?)
"I don't exactly keep count," the smith answers plainly, "but I only saw one body. A rabid animal, a monster, call it what you want. Whatever it was, it didn't come back into town since." The smith might answer any other questions, but other than that, you see he's not as talkative as the cobbler.
The inn isn't far from the smithy, but the shortest way is through a narrow 'alley'—rather a passage between two neighbouring houses—which is a bit hard to find. But with proper directions from either the smith or the person at the trading post, the pair are able to find it. When you get there, you see on one side of the street a building with a cast iron pot hanging above the door. Across the street, a building whose door is adorned by a drawing of three frogs. One in the middle, looks like any normal frog. To their left, one wearing a black jacket, and on the right, one wearing a bandana.
Once you enter, you find a small room, and a few towels placed by the door for you to try your feet on, as well as a row of coat hangers, partially occupied by coats ranging from dripping to completely dry. A flight of stairs leads up, probably to the rooms that people can normally rent for a few nights. On this floor, there are three doors: one by the base of the stairs, where dampened noises of children playing can be heard from behind it, and one underneath the stairs. Lastly, the room has a reception desk and the third door behind it. All doors are currently closed, and only two people occupy the room - Commandant Nattensbarn working over the reception desk, and Lieutenant Tireur sitting by her side, playing some solitary card game.
"They're here," Lieutenant Tireur announces once you arrive. The Commandant raises her head briefly to look at the two of you before resuming her work. "The place is full," Walnuts explains, "and the tavern across the street appears to be closed. The room over there is a shared room," he motions to the door at the base of the stairs, "and the restroom is over there." He motions to the door under the stairs. "We'll sleep here if the rain doesn't end soon, so make yourself comfortable. We're going to squeeze in with a few families in there. Oh, and don't let their children lay a hand on your weapons. They were really excited to see us, but I don't think a soldier with a broken arm and the Commandant can excite them as much as you can."
The Commandant pauses and gives the Lieutenant a stern look and a nod towards the door to the outside. 'Be silent or go outside, ' Arren interprets. She resumes her work, but adds: "Just make sure not to go in there all wet like that, the mattresses cover the entire floor."
Arrensteps inside, glad to hear the murmur of rain dull as the door closes behind him. He gives a short nod in the Commandant and the Lieutenant's direction as he spots them alone in the room, and proceeds to shrug off his raincoat, giving it a few firm shakes over the towels before hanging it neatly on the emptiest hook. Taking a moment, he runs a hand through his damp hair, smoothing it back, and adjusts his uniform, brushing off whatever water he can. At last, he walks toward the table where they are sitting and can't help a tired sigh as he finally sits, relieved to be free of the soaked raincoat's weight.
Despite clearly noticing the warning look from the Commandant, he breaks the silence. "If I may, Commandant" he begins, "We've heard a little of what is going on here. I assume you have heard this already, but the inn is full due to the earthquake a couple of days ago that utterly destroyed some of the townfolk's homes. And the other inn, The Stewpot, is closed because the owners were..."— he considers his next words — "supposedly the first victims of a monster that has terrorrized the town."
Arren lets the words hang in the air as they settle on his superiors, then nods. "Yes, it would appear the woman and the boy from before were not making that up. The attacks seem to have begun a couple of weeks ago, and we've been told of a potential source of more information, though I'm not quite sure how reliable he might be. The name's Wyler, and he used to spend his time drinking at The Stewpot, but now that it's closed, he does so here. I imagine he'll end up appearing at some point."
Arren falls silent for a moment, then eyes the Commandant. "I think it would be a good idea to try to gather more information. I know we are on a tight schedule, but we could try to help these people. They deserve a safe town. And we could have a safer journey when we decide to leave."
He doesn't add more, leaving the decision to their superior, but also eyeing her with hope that she will allow them to investigate further.
As they make their way to the inn, 'Tace' ponders the mystery of the monster. The cobbler seemed to think the owner of the Stewpot and her husband were both dead at the hands of the thing, but didn't think the bodies were found. The smith said only one victim, and that he saw the body. And we are leaving in the morning if the storm has cleared, so likely we will never find out the truth.
When they get inside the inn, news of the setup is a little disheartening. Sharing a room with a few families, children included, was not ideal. Children were far too inquisitive, and would likely throw questions at him about not removing his helmet.
He takes off his raincoat and shakes it down in the same manner as the Sergeant before producing the bottle of ink, "As we were in the store anyway, we thought it might save time if we got the ink you needed, Ma'am", he says, using Ma'am after hearing the Sergeant address her like that. "It was the Sergeant who paid", he adds, and place it down on the desk in a place it won't be in the way.
He then waits to hear what the Commandant thinks of the Sergeant's plan to investigate the alleged monster. He has to admit he hopes she agrees, simply because he is curious to know if it is real. And helping them deal with something like that can't hurt my charade.
The Commandant and the Lieutenant sit at the reception desk, rather than next to a proper table, as there don't seem to be any such tables in this tiny room. The Commandant sits on a tall chair which seems to be intended for those who sit next to the tall desk, but Walnuts sits on a lower chair which does not seem to belong there.
The Commandant gives you her full attention while you speak, though she doesn't seem pleased with the interruption. "While it rains," she answers once Arren finishes, "we're stuck here. I don't need all three of you sitting here all day, one is already plenty. During our stay, if you believe there are solid grounds for these rumours, you may investigate as you like. But the moment the rain is gone, I want you here reporting on your findings. If you have a reasonable suspicion that our involvement is needed here, I'll consider whether we should send word or deal with the matter ourselves."
"This Wyler person was here earlier, but he made a lot of noise, so we kicked him out." She continues. "But I imagine he'll return later, as they always do."
Commandant Nattensbarn looks a little surprised when 'Tace' presents the inkwell they bought. "Thank you, Corporal, Sergeant. We already bought what we needed, but I suppose some extra won't hurt. But don't forget that the military budget can't be spent on a whim. If you buy something like this, consult me first." Nonetheless, she pays Arren back the full price and places the inkwell carefully in her backpack, leaning against the reception desk beneath her. You notice that the inkwell she uses now is about a fifth full.
'Tace' listens to the Commandant and wonders at her powers after she mentions evicting Wyler. Does she actually have the authority to evict someone from an inn for being noisy?
"Yes, Ma'am", he responds to her final statement. It hadn't had the intended impact, buying her the ink, but no matter.
"When you say investigate as we like, Ma'am. Does that extend to potential locations the monster might have been present at?", he asks carefully. Rather than wait for this Wyler to reappear, or not if he has been totally put off by the Commandant, he would rather do something right now. And if I can avoid the children all the better.
Arren can't help but smile a little when the Corporal’s gesture is met with a lightly thankful and overly stern response from the Commandant. As she turns back to her writing, he glances at the Corporal and gives him the slightest of shrugs, as if to say, "And that’s about all you're going to get."
The Half-Elf shifts his attention back to the Commandant, watching her as she concentrates on the report. Arren wonders—not for the first time and probably not for the last—whether her sternness is born from necessity: a young woman holding her ground in the Katton army, where men far outnumber women, specially in the higher ranks. He imagines she’s had to work harder than anyone else, and be more unyielding than most, just to be taken seriously.It is a mystery he doubts he’ll solve anytime soon, though.
When Tace asks another question, Arren thinks that the Commandant might reprimand him for asking further. If she does, better that the scolding be shared between the two of them. So he backs up the Corporal, adding, "It soundsbetter to do that. I don't think we could question Wyler quietly here, and he might distract not just the Commandant, but scare ... or excite ... the kids in the other room. If we're going to talk about monsters, better to do it away from them—even if it means getting soaked again."
Arren says "again" as if they were already dry, which isn't exactly the case. Despite not enjoying the thought in the slightest, he adds, "We can give it a few minutes and if Wyler doesn't show up, I can ask the townsfolk in the other room where he lives, and then we can go look for him."
"It means I permit you not to stand around me all day." The Commandant answers. "But bear in mind that you're soldiers, and I expect you to behave accordingly even when I'm not there to supervise. On top of that, this is not an official military investigation, even if the townsfolk might think otherwise. Do not take any action which I will later need to explain to my superiors. You're two soldiers on your day off, interested in a supernatural story. Exert your authority only if necessary for the safety of the townsfolk. If you find substantial clues but cannot proceed due to these limitations, report to me on your findings.
"In other words, you cannot officially enter the tavern across the street, as it is still someone's private property." She continues. "If the owners of this 'Stewpot' had any relatives, you could ask them if they have access to it. Now," she raises her quill exaggeratedly and resumes her work. "Either investigate, go entertain the children quietly or take a stroll in the rain. I need to concentrate. If you're hungry, the owner of this inn is in the kitchen back there." She briefly indicates the door behind the desk, before drowning herself in work again.
Lieutenant Tireur shurgs apologetically in silence, soundlessly making the words with his lips, and Arren can roughly understand: "We ate, very little." Indicating the Commandant with the second half of the phrase.
"Will do, Ma'am,"Arrensays before the Commandant buries herself back in her papers.
At Walnut's silent words, Sand rolls his eyes. It seemed the Commandant wasn't interested in what he'd asked of her after all. One might think that, if rations were really the problem, she'd welcome a meal cooked by a proper chef — but clearly, that wasn't the case. Either way, Wyler could show up at any moment, and until then, it would be worth checking the room where the families were resting to see if they had any information that might help the investigation.
"I'll go ask the families where Wyler lives, and whether Emma has any relatives we could talk to"he tells the Corporal. Whether Tace follows him or he prefers to stay where he is, Arren stands up and heeds Walnut's warning about the weapons: he carefully leans his shield, longsword, and javelins next to the reception desk where the Lieutenant and the Commandant are seated. Straightening his uniform, he then heads for the room by the base of the stairs.
Once inside, the Sergeant scans the crowd, looking for whichever person seems the least busy with the children, hoping to speak with them first. "Excuse me," Arren begins, lowering his voice so as not to alarm the little ones, "Do you know where Wyler lives? We need to speak with him. And about the owners of the Stewpot,"he adds. "Emma and her husband — do they have any family here in town we could speak to?"
'Tace' listens to the Commandant answer his question in great detail. She makes it sound like we are children that cannot be trusted. I mean, she has a point with me, but surely the Sergeant has earned some faith. Perhaps that spiel was just for my benefit.
"As you say, Ma'am", he replies.
He nods to the Sergeant when he mentions going into the family room. "I will see what the owners here have to say", he says, grateful to avoid the family room and children. It is a shame I have to avoid them, but it is for the best.
With that, he wanders across behind the desk to the door to the kitchen, briefly flicking his eyes down to see what the Commandant is writing this time before opening the door and disappearing inside. Of course, if it is locked he will knock.
If he makes it inside, he will shut the door behind him so as not to disturb the Commandant, and to get some privacy to speak freely for a change.
"Greetings", he says and inclines his head. "I apologise for my rudeness in not removing my helmet, but be assured it is for the best", he adds. Best for me at least.
"You have my gratitude for providing shelter from the rain. It appears you are literally packed to the rafters. Such unfortunate times, what with what happened to the owners of the Stewpot and the earthquake destroying so many homes. You are doing a grand job though in trying circumstances".
He waits for some sort of acknowledgement or reply.
Bryn only gets a glimpse of the report the Commandant is working on. The report is currently almost a whole page long, and its title suggests it is a review of some decision. Next to it, Bryn can see a stack of neatly written papers containing a transcript of some discussion, not in the Commandant's handwriting as far as he can tell. If she noticed he glanced over her work, the Commandant showed no sign of it.
Behind the door, Bryn finds a simple kitchen. A little too simple, perhaps, as it seems closer to the kitchen of a normal family than one that needs to feed many guests. Nonetheless, the pots on the fire seem large enough to feed more than just one family, and the man who stirs them, quietly whistling to himself, turns his head to see who entered the room. "Hello there! You must be one of the other two soldiers. Your friends asked us to save some of the stew we made for lunch, if you're hungry."
Although his hair is graying already, the man seems rather lively. "Well, thank you. That's how it used to be before Emma opened 'The Stewpot', though, so while I may be out of shape, my body remembers going through such times often. Well, perhaps not earthquakes, thank Gaitha's mercy for that, but cooking for many, I did that plenty in the past." He pours stew into a bowl and serves it to Bryn. "It may not look and taste as well as Emma's did, but I hope it will suit your taste."
Arren enters a large room, its floor lined with bedrolls, thin mattresses, and other flat, soft objects like clothes one might use to soften the floor they sleep on. Actually, there's a chance the clothes are there just as part of the overall mess in the room. There are about twenty people inside, most of whom are children. Counting by adults, Arren estimates there are four families inside the room. There are three human families, with several children each, you guess, though it is impossible to tell who belongs to whom. The last family is a family of Wood Elves, and they seem to have one young-adult child and a baby, which the mother is breastfeeding at the moment. Other than one elderly man, you don't see adult men here.
The children, who seem to have been busy in some kind of play when Arren entered the room, drop everything and rush to surround him almost immediately. "It's a soldier!" or "He looks stronger than the other two!" are just some of the things they shout around him. Before he even realises it, one quickly circles him and announces: "He doesn't have any cool weapons! What kind of soldiers are these?" He's a younger boy, in the early teen years, it seems. Some of the children soon begin to argue whether he is an Elf or a Human, each pointing out the features that support their claim.
The children - both boys and girls - flock around him. Some pulling on Arren's uniform, trying to draw his attention to themselves. One is trying to climb over his back, and the rest are just excited. But not all children came to bother Arren. The Elf boy, along with another Human boy who appears to be about the same age and older than the rest, remain sitting where they are playing some card game, though they paused it to look at Arren curiously from their sitting spot. There are also three girls of varying ages in another corner of the room, who don't appear to be interested in Arren much.
Eventually, one of the mothers calls to the children: "Stop that! You'll bother the lady in the other room! Not to mention this soldier here." For some children, that is enough. Others need some more personal attention, but eventually, they let go of Arren, though he feels many small eyes following him throughout the room.
While the mothers work to keep their children away from Arren, he can approach the elderly man who sits on a chair at the side of the room. "What did you say? My hearing isn't as good as it used to be, you'll have to speak louder for me." Once Arren repeats his questions, the elderly man answers: "Wyler? That good-for-nothing, you'll find him where the booze is. Hmm." He talks slow, but he has a strong voice, one that characterizes those whose hearing isn't well anymore and need to speak loudly to hear even themselves. "He's been renting a room at Emma's ever since he appeared in this town. Even now that she's gone, he climbs into that room through the window, if he doesn't pass out somewhere else.
"Emma was born here, her husband, that scum, was not." He almost spits the words 'her husband' as if it were a rotten piece of food. "Her mother still lives in her small house by 'Sole Mate' - do you know where that is? - but she's hard to talk to, that one."
Arren, having heard the muffled noises while he was in the previous room, is not too surprised when he is suddenly surrounded by children—if perhaps a little overwhelmed, at first. Then he quickly relaxes his usual straight posture and smiles, staying silent for a few moments, as the kids throw their questions and tug at his uniform.
Before he can answer, he feels one particularly determined child trying to climb up his back. Arren reaches behind him, "fishing" the boy up with one arm and gently flipping him over in a slow, slightly exaggerated arc before setting him down on the floor, trying to make it a little more fun for him.
"We're the kind of soldiers concerned with keeping kids safe, of course," he explains. "We don't carry our weapons around in front of human or elven people unless they are at least..." — he places his hand just above the head of the boy who asked about the weapons, then raises it a little... and then a little more... and then some more — "...this tall," he finishes with a wink.
The Half-Elf chuckles at their arguments over whether he is Human or Elf and simply says, "A little bit of both."He feels a lightness in his chest. It's nice to be seen through the simple curiosity and innocence of children’s eyes, instead of the judging looks he's received from adults many times.
Once he gets to speak to the elderly man, the Sergeant nods at the information he shares. "Hmm, thank you. We'll try to look for Wyler. Regarding Emma and her husband, we heard a bit of what happened to them. They were..." he eyes the kids and doesn't finish the sentence. "We heard only one body was found. The husband's, right? Was he not a good man?" He lets the man answer before continuing. "We were by the Sole Mate before coming here, yes, and spoke a little to the owner. Why is Emma's mother hard to talk to? Because she's grieving her daughter, perhaps?"
Arren pauses a little before adding, "Can't help but notice there's mostly women and kids here. Where are the rest of the men?"
Then, gazing at the older kids and trying to see if they are paying any attention at all, Arren adds, "We're trying to figure out what's happening in town, with all the, well, losses. If we find enough evidence that the military should get involved, our Commandant might allow us to take action. So please, whatever clue or piece of information you might have, share it with me, or with my companion — the one with the helmet." He makes sure to say this a little louder, so that not only the older kids but also the Elven woman can hear him.
'Tace' accepts the bowl of stew gratefully, and ponders for a moment how to best to eat it whilst being discreet with his helmet. Assuming the man is the only person in the room, he will simply turn away from him, and any entrances, and slide the helmet up to perch it so he can drop it with a quick jerk of his head. Not that it matters too much unless it is the Sergeant, Lieutenant or Commandant who comes in.
"Thank you", he says after taking his first mouthful. "It is most welcome, especially having been limited to trail rations. In truth this is my first visit to town, so I have no idea what Emma's stew was like anyway". And after months of prison slop.
After a moment of silence, he adds, "Do you think someone else will take over the Stewpot? It is obviously competition for you, but on the other hand it seems right now at least the town could use it open. Whose is it now, the Stewpot, with Emma gone? It was tragic what happened, not that I know the full story", he says in such a way as to show interest in being filled in on the story.
He doesn't dawdle in cleaning his bowl and dropping his helmet again.
Arren notices the man's gaze shifting from him for a moment. Turning his head to see what the man is looking at, Arren sees one of the mothers giving him a scornful look and nodding slightly in the children's direction. "I'd like to help you, sir soldier," the man continues, "but my daughter doesn't want me to talk about these things next to the children. And she's right, it's not a pleasant business. Emma's mother's mind isn't as clear as it used to be, but if you're lucky, she might answer your question regarding Emma's husband.
"As for the fathers, despite the rain and hardships, a man needs to provide for his family. I'm too old to work, but they can't sit around here all day. Besides," he adds in a lower voice, "the children have been sitting here for well over a day and have too much energy to unpack. For some, it's easier to leave these little monsters to the wives, and work is a very convenient excuse, don't you agree?" His roaring laughter announces to the whole room that what he said just now was funny. Some of the youngest children join in on the laughter, having no idea what was said but mimicking the elderly man.
The man, busy with work, doesn't face Bryn while they speak. He stirs the boiling pots, tastes them, adds one thing or another into them, and for the rest of the time, works on cleaning the dishes that have piled up on one end of the kitchen. "Emma was a quieter kid, but she always loved eating. She loved stews more than anything - a little strange for a kid - and begged me to teach her mother to make tasty stews. When I refused, she asked that I teach her. I refused at first - gotta keep family recipes secret - but she kept begging, and I eventually took her as an apprentice. She wasn't satisfied with my simple cooking, though, and eventually left for the capital to study at some chef's side.
"When she returned several years later, she had a man with her." He pauses briefly, sighs, and then continues. "They bought the house across the street and renovated it into 'The Stewpot' as it is today. A little insolent, if you ask me, to compete against her mentor like that. But I must admit, she cooked better and charged a lower price, too. She was mostly interested in the cooking part, but they also had two spare rooms that they rented out over there. Fewer customers came here to eat, and 'The Three Frogs' unofficially became 'The Stewpot's' sleeping rooms. Well, it also meant I had to work less, and I could focus on things I was more interested in, so except for my pride, maybe, not much was lost.
"But now with Emma gone, I suppose I took my old job again. I hope Emma shows up again one day, but otherwise, her closest kin would be her mother. Maybe her husband's family, but I never saw any of them. Emma's mother is old, though, and she cannot run a tavern." If Bryn is finished by now, he'll take away his bowl - either to clean or to refill if Bryn asks for it. "Beyond that, I can't tell you what might happen."
Arren follows the man's glance toward his daughter and nods. "Understood. We'll take it from here. Thank you for your help."
At the man's final comment about the convenient excuse to leave the kids with their mothers, Arren only purses his lips, not laughing along. He mutters, "Convenient." in response.
He gives the old man a final farewell and turns to leave. At the door, he pauses and glances back at the children. It had only been a brief moment, but he'd found a quiet joy in it. So different from the rigid seriousness of military life.
Once outside, the Sergeant waits for the Corporal to reappear and, trying to speak quietly so as not to disturb Commandant Nattensbarn, shares his findings with him, "Since the Stewpot is just across the street, we could try calling for Wyler. And if he doesn't show up, we can try Emma's mother. She might have a key to the building—and more information to share."
"Studying in the capital under a chef sounds grand", 'Tace' muses. "But yes, to come home and set up across from you is a bit insensitive. It is strange for her to undercut your prices as well. You would think she could charge more with her fancy food".
As the man clears his bowl, he says, "Thank you, that was a fine meal. Do I owe you anything, or did the Commandant settle up? I didn't catch you name, by the way. Mine is Tace. Or Corporal Peite in front of the other soldiers".
He pauses for a moment after the man replies, digging out the coin if required.
"What do you think happened to Emma and her husband? You think they will turn up ok? Not victims of this rumoured monster?", he asks, a little confused. Were they not the first victims of the monster? The cobbler did seem unsure mind.
"Oh, it wasn't fancy." The man replies. "She only cooked simple dishes, but she made them well. She wanted everyone to enjoy her food, which is why she charged very little for it. I'm sure she knew how to make fancy meals too, but it wasn't her style, and besides, fewer people can regularly afford such meals."
Once Bryn is done, the man takes his bowl and starts washing it along with the rest of the unclean dishes. "My name is Zaba. My mother said it translates to 'Frog' in a language that used to be spoken near the area of Pravice. Hence the name of this inn. Your friend paid for all of you: bed and board. Well, I can't provide a decent bed at these times, but a roof from this rain should be better than nothing."
Zaba remains silent for a bit following Bryn's last question. "The husband is dead, I saw the body myself." He finally answers. "But if whatever did that wanted Emma dead too, we'd have found her body there, I imagine. At first, I believed she may have run away, but the more time passed and we saw no sign of her, the less it seemed to be the case. Despite everything, I liked the girl. I hope she's still out there, though I admit it doesn't appear likely anymore."
Hearing the description of the only witness to the monster, Arren arches a brow. A drunk? He doesn't expect to gather anything useful from someone like Wyler. Still, asking won't take much of their time—he's likely in the same place where they must reunite with their superiors anyway—so the Sergeant glances briefly at the Corporal and replies, "Won't hurt to ask." Then he turns to the cobbler. "How many victims have there been so far? And when did the attacks start?"
Regarding the owner of The Stewpot, Emma, the Sergeant shares the Corporal's line of thought. He's left the question unfinished, but its meaning is clear: Did this woman die? Was she a victim of the monster? Arren says nothing and simply looks to the gnome, awaiting his response.
When the topic shifts to shops, the Half-Elf adds, “I'd be interested in buying some seasonings for our rations. Is there a specific shop selling that near the smithy, by any chance? If not, I guess The Three Frogs may be the place to get them."
At this point, Arren is more than ready to be on their way. It's not as if he's eager to step back into the rain, but he doesn't want to keep the Commandant and the Lieutenant waiting for long. He offers the cobbler a grateful nod. "Thank you for your time. We'll try to gather more information on this monster problem.” He refrains from saying anything about hunting the creature down though, since that decision isn't his to make. "Apologies again for dampening your floor."
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
"She was a kind lass and a great cook. I've only ever known one man who couldn't appreciate such a woman." The Gnome answers. "But she's gone now." He pauses his work for a moment. "We didn't see a body, but I think she's dead. Along with her husband, they were the first victims we know of. It happened a few weeks ago."
The Gnome resumes his work and seems grateful for the change of subject. "There's a trading post where we sell our exports and buy imports, it's not far from the smithy. You'd find what you seek in there."
The road to the smithy is short now, and with the cobbler's directions, you find it quickly. It's easy to see how you missed it the first time since there is no sign or indicator for it being a shop, other than a few artistic statues made of leftover iron that stand on the windowsills. You assume it's easier to spot on a clear day.
If you try to enter, the door is unlocked. If you knock and wait, you'll hear a response calling you to go inside. On the inside, the place looks like any other smithy you may have seen before: A large furnace, several anvils of different sizes, many hammers of different sizes, a large container filled with water and many creations lying around - either complete, half-done or ruined. A Human man works by the furnace when you enter. He looks large and strong, and despite the cold, perhaps because he stands by the furnace, he wears only short, thin clothes.
((I'm assuming you act the same way you did earlier, in posts #83-84. Otherwise, tell me what you do and ignore anything below.))
The man eyes you silently and expressionless. After 'Tace' is done detailing what he seeks, the man lowers the air intake to the furnace to a minimum and motions for you to follow. He approaches a large cabinet and unlocks a few of the drawers. "Daggers here, and here you can find scimitars and shortswords." You notice that the drawers are far from full, and there are only 2-3 units of each weapon left. There are a few larger drawers, but it doesn't look like any large weapons are stored in this cabinet. "The bows are all sold out, unfortunately. This monster craze has everyone stocking up on weapons. I suppose that's why you're here too?"
The prices for the weapons are as the official 2024 rules state. If Arren (and/or Bryn) wants to roleplay the encounter in the trading post, feel free to do so. Otherwise, it is a standard trading post with all sorts of goods, both imported and exported. He can buy [equipment]Cook's Utensils[/equipment] (Cook's Utensils, if the tooltip fails) for the normal price or only the seasonings for half that price. If there's any other standard equipment that you want to buy, ask if it is available.
Varielky
(OOC: Happy to go with the events of the previous post)
'Tace' will peruse the cabinets and pick out a pair of daggers and a short sword, paying the requisite 14 gold pieces from that given to him by the Commandant. As he is looking around the smithy at the many creations, he will also keep his eye out for a piece of copper wire the is loose and lying around. He also makes sure to capture a little soot from one of the surfaces. Just a pinch will do.
"That is a shame, but understandable", is all he says in response to the lack of bows. He knew he didn't have the money anyway. "Quite so. How many have fallen victim to the monster now?", he asks conversationally when monster hunting is mentioned.
At the trading post he will make sure he acquires a pinch of salt, to go with his pinch of soot.
"Should we look for some ink for the Commandant", he asks the Sergeant. "I do not have enough gold spare, but we could make sure some is put back if you don't have enough either", he suggests, trying to be helpful.
(OOC: Let me know if Bryn has trouble getting his components)
At the smithy's, Arren waits patiently while Tace searches for his preferred weapons. A couple of daggers and a shortsword are certainly a good combination, though it's clear they'll need to find him a shortbow before long. It's a pity the Corporal can't handle his longbow and he's about to ask the smith about selling it —Arren doesn't use it that much, really— but ends up abandoning the idea. Letting go of the bow would surely invite a situation where he needed it, sooner or later.
Later, the Sergeant is pleased to find the utensils and seasonings he was looking for. As he examines them, he unconsciously flashes a satisfied grin, already thinking about the next opportunity to put them to use. He'll probably need to run a few tests to get the flavor just right, but he's confident he'll succeed in the end. Why didn't he think about this before, he wonders.
When the Corporal suggests buying ink for the Commandant, Arren says, "Mm. Good idea, Corporal." The Elf can see a brief flash of doubt cross the Sergeant's face when he learns how much inkwells cost. Arren imagines the Commandant will reimburse them, but even if she doesn't, he decides to go forward with the purchase. He'll just try not to think too much about the gold it costs if he has to forgo it. (ooc: removed the 11 gold)
After making the purchase, Arren hands Tace the inkwell. "You give it to the Commandant. She'll appreciate it." Then he asks, "Time to go to the Three Frogs, yes?"
(ooc: does Arren spot Bryn gathering the components?)
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
"I don't exactly keep count," the smith answers plainly, "but I only saw one body. A rabid animal, a monster, call it what you want. Whatever it was, it didn't come back into town since." The smith might answer any other questions, but other than that, you see he's not as talkative as the cobbler.
The inn isn't far from the smithy, but the shortest way is through a narrow 'alley'—rather a passage between two neighbouring houses—which is a bit hard to find. But with proper directions from either the smith or the person at the trading post, the pair are able to find it. When you get there, you see on one side of the street a building with a cast iron pot hanging above the door. Across the street, a building whose door is adorned by a drawing of three frogs. One in the middle, looks like any normal frog. To their left, one wearing a black jacket, and on the right, one wearing a bandana.
Once you enter, you find a small room, and a few towels placed by the door for you to try your feet on, as well as a row of coat hangers, partially occupied by coats ranging from dripping to completely dry. A flight of stairs leads up, probably to the rooms that people can normally rent for a few nights. On this floor, there are three doors: one by the base of the stairs, where dampened noises of children playing can be heard from behind it, and one underneath the stairs. Lastly, the room has a reception desk and the third door behind it. All doors are currently closed, and only two people occupy the room - Commandant Nattensbarn working over the reception desk, and Lieutenant Tireur sitting by her side, playing some solitary card game.
"They're here," Lieutenant Tireur announces once you arrive. The Commandant raises her head briefly to look at the two of you before resuming her work. "The place is full," Walnuts explains, "and the tavern across the street appears to be closed. The room over there is a shared room," he motions to the door at the base of the stairs, "and the restroom is over there." He motions to the door under the stairs. "We'll sleep here if the rain doesn't end soon, so make yourself comfortable. We're going to squeeze in with a few families in there. Oh, and don't let their children lay a hand on your weapons. They were really excited to see us, but I don't think a soldier with a broken arm and the Commandant can excite them as much as you can."
The Commandant pauses and gives the Lieutenant a stern look and a nod towards the door to the outside. 'Be silent or go outside, ' Arren interprets. She resumes her work, but adds: "Just make sure not to go in there all wet like that, the mattresses cover the entire floor."
Varielky
Arren steps inside, glad to hear the murmur of rain dull as the door closes behind him. He gives a short nod in the Commandant and the Lieutenant's direction as he spots them alone in the room, and proceeds to shrug off his raincoat, giving it a few firm shakes over the towels before hanging it neatly on the emptiest hook. Taking a moment, he runs a hand through his damp hair, smoothing it back, and adjusts his uniform, brushing off whatever water he can. At last, he walks toward the table where they are sitting and can't help a tired sigh as he finally sits, relieved to be free of the soaked raincoat's weight.
Despite clearly noticing the warning look from the Commandant, he breaks the silence. "If I may, Commandant" he begins, "We've heard a little of what is going on here. I assume you have heard this already, but the inn is full due to the earthquake a couple of days ago that utterly destroyed some of the townfolk's homes. And the other inn, The Stewpot, is closed because the owners were..." — he considers his next words — "supposedly the first victims of a monster that has terrorrized the town."
Arren lets the words hang in the air as they settle on his superiors, then nods. "Yes, it would appear the woman and the boy from before were not making that up. The attacks seem to have begun a couple of weeks ago, and we've been told of a potential source of more information, though I'm not quite sure how reliable he might be. The name's Wyler, and he used to spend his time drinking at The Stewpot, but now that it's closed, he does so here. I imagine he'll end up appearing at some point."
Arren falls silent for a moment, then eyes the Commandant. "I think it would be a good idea to try to gather more information. I know we are on a tight schedule, but we could try to help these people. They deserve a safe town. And we could have a safer journey when we decide to leave."
He doesn't add more, leaving the decision to their superior, but also eyeing her with hope that she will allow them to investigate further.
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
As they make their way to the inn, 'Tace' ponders the mystery of the monster. The cobbler seemed to think the owner of the Stewpot and her husband were both dead at the hands of the thing, but didn't think the bodies were found. The smith said only one victim, and that he saw the body. And we are leaving in the morning if the storm has cleared, so likely we will never find out the truth.
When they get inside the inn, news of the setup is a little disheartening. Sharing a room with a few families, children included, was not ideal. Children were far too inquisitive, and would likely throw questions at him about not removing his helmet.
He takes off his raincoat and shakes it down in the same manner as the Sergeant before producing the bottle of ink, "As we were in the store anyway, we thought it might save time if we got the ink you needed, Ma'am", he says, using Ma'am after hearing the Sergeant address her like that. "It was the Sergeant who paid", he adds, and place it down on the desk in a place it won't be in the way.
He then waits to hear what the Commandant thinks of the Sergeant's plan to investigate the alleged monster. He has to admit he hopes she agrees, simply because he is curious to know if it is real. And helping them deal with something like that can't hurt my charade.
The Commandant and the Lieutenant sit at the reception desk, rather than next to a proper table, as there don't seem to be any such tables in this tiny room. The Commandant sits on a tall chair which seems to be intended for those who sit next to the tall desk, but Walnuts sits on a lower chair which does not seem to belong there.
The Commandant gives you her full attention while you speak, though she doesn't seem pleased with the interruption. "While it rains," she answers once Arren finishes, "we're stuck here. I don't need all three of you sitting here all day, one is already plenty. During our stay, if you believe there are solid grounds for these rumours, you may investigate as you like. But the moment the rain is gone, I want you here reporting on your findings. If you have a reasonable suspicion that our involvement is needed here, I'll consider whether we should send word or deal with the matter ourselves."
"This Wyler person was here earlier, but he made a lot of noise, so we kicked him out." She continues. "But I imagine he'll return later, as they always do."
Commandant Nattensbarn looks a little surprised when 'Tace' presents the inkwell they bought. "Thank you, Corporal, Sergeant. We already bought what we needed, but I suppose some extra won't hurt. But don't forget that the military budget can't be spent on a whim. If you buy something like this, consult me first." Nonetheless, she pays Arren back the full price and places the inkwell carefully in her backpack, leaning against the reception desk beneath her. You notice that the inkwell she uses now is about a fifth full.
Varielky
'Tace' listens to the Commandant and wonders at her powers after she mentions evicting Wyler. Does she actually have the authority to evict someone from an inn for being noisy?
"Yes, Ma'am", he responds to her final statement. It hadn't had the intended impact, buying her the ink, but no matter.
"When you say investigate as we like, Ma'am. Does that extend to potential locations the monster might have been present at?", he asks carefully. Rather than wait for this Wyler to reappear, or not if he has been totally put off by the Commandant, he would rather do something right now. And if I can avoid the children all the better.
Arren can't help but smile a little when the Corporal’s gesture is met with a lightly thankful and overly stern response from the Commandant. As she turns back to her writing, he glances at the Corporal and gives him the slightest of shrugs, as if to say, "And that’s about all you're going to get."
The Half-Elf shifts his attention back to the Commandant, watching her as she concentrates on the report. Arren wonders—not for the first time and probably not for the last—whether her sternness is born from necessity: a young woman holding her ground in the Katton army, where men far outnumber women, specially in the higher ranks. He imagines she’s had to work harder than anyone else, and be more unyielding than most, just to be taken seriously.It is a mystery he doubts he’ll solve anytime soon, though.
When Tace asks another question, Arren thinks that the Commandant might reprimand him for asking further. If she does, better that the scolding be shared between the two of them. So he backs up the Corporal, adding, "It sounds better to do that. I don't think we could question Wyler quietly here, and he might distract not just the Commandant, but scare ... or excite ... the kids in the other room. If we're going to talk about monsters, better to do it away from them—even if it means getting soaked again."
Arren says "again" as if they were already dry, which isn't exactly the case. Despite not enjoying the thought in the slightest, he adds, "We can give it a few minutes and if Wyler doesn't show up, I can ask the townsfolk in the other room where he lives, and then we can go look for him."
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
"It means I permit you not to stand around me all day." The Commandant answers. "But bear in mind that you're soldiers, and I expect you to behave accordingly even when I'm not there to supervise. On top of that, this is not an official military investigation, even if the townsfolk might think otherwise. Do not take any action which I will later need to explain to my superiors. You're two soldiers on your day off, interested in a supernatural story. Exert your authority only if necessary for the safety of the townsfolk. If you find substantial clues but cannot proceed due to these limitations, report to me on your findings.
"In other words, you cannot officially enter the tavern across the street, as it is still someone's private property." She continues. "If the owners of this 'Stewpot' had any relatives, you could ask them if they have access to it. Now," she raises her quill exaggeratedly and resumes her work. "Either investigate, go entertain the children quietly or take a stroll in the rain. I need to concentrate. If you're hungry, the owner of this inn is in the kitchen back there." She briefly indicates the door behind the desk, before drowning herself in work again.
Lieutenant Tireur shurgs apologetically in silence, soundlessly making the words with his lips, and Arren can roughly understand: "We ate, very little." Indicating the Commandant with the second half of the phrase.
Varielky
"Will do, Ma'am," Arren says before the Commandant buries herself back in her papers.
At Walnut's silent words, Sand rolls his eyes. It seemed the Commandant wasn't interested in what he'd asked of her after all. One might think that, if rations were really the problem, she'd welcome a meal cooked by a proper chef — but clearly, that wasn't the case. Either way, Wyler could show up at any moment, and until then, it would be worth checking the room where the families were resting to see if they had any information that might help the investigation.
"I'll go ask the families where Wyler lives, and whether Emma has any relatives we could talk to" he tells the Corporal. Whether Tace follows him or he prefers to stay where he is, Arren stands up and heeds Walnut's warning about the weapons: he carefully leans his shield, longsword, and javelins next to the reception desk where the Lieutenant and the Commandant are seated. Straightening his uniform, he then heads for the room by the base of the stairs.
Once inside, the Sergeant scans the crowd, looking for whichever person seems the least busy with the children, hoping to speak with them first. "Excuse me," Arren begins, lowering his voice so as not to alarm the little ones, "Do you know where Wyler lives? We need to speak with him. And about the owners of the Stewpot," he adds. "Emma and her husband — do they have any family here in town we could speak to?"
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
'Tace' listens to the Commandant answer his question in great detail. She makes it sound like we are children that cannot be trusted. I mean, she has a point with me, but surely the Sergeant has earned some faith. Perhaps that spiel was just for my benefit.
"As you say, Ma'am", he replies.
He nods to the Sergeant when he mentions going into the family room. "I will see what the owners here have to say", he says, grateful to avoid the family room and children. It is a shame I have to avoid them, but it is for the best.
With that, he wanders across behind the desk to the door to the kitchen, briefly flicking his eyes down to see what the Commandant is writing this time before opening the door and disappearing inside. Of course, if it is locked he will knock.
If he makes it inside, he will shut the door behind him so as not to disturb the Commandant, and to get some privacy to speak freely for a change.
"Greetings", he says and inclines his head. "I apologise for my rudeness in not removing my helmet, but be assured it is for the best", he adds. Best for me at least.
"You have my gratitude for providing shelter from the rain. It appears you are literally packed to the rafters. Such unfortunate times, what with what happened to the owners of the Stewpot and the earthquake destroying so many homes. You are doing a grand job though in trying circumstances".
He waits for some sort of acknowledgement or reply.
Bryn only gets a glimpse of the report the Commandant is working on. The report is currently almost a whole page long, and its title suggests it is a review of some decision. Next to it, Bryn can see a stack of neatly written papers containing a transcript of some discussion, not in the Commandant's handwriting as far as he can tell. If she noticed he glanced over her work, the Commandant showed no sign of it.
Behind the door, Bryn finds a simple kitchen. A little too simple, perhaps, as it seems closer to the kitchen of a normal family than one that needs to feed many guests. Nonetheless, the pots on the fire seem large enough to feed more than just one family, and the man who stirs them, quietly whistling to himself, turns his head to see who entered the room. "Hello there! You must be one of the other two soldiers. Your friends asked us to save some of the stew we made for lunch, if you're hungry."
Although his hair is graying already, the man seems rather lively. "Well, thank you. That's how it used to be before Emma opened 'The Stewpot', though, so while I may be out of shape, my body remembers going through such times often. Well, perhaps not earthquakes, thank Gaitha's mercy for that, but cooking for many, I did that plenty in the past." He pours stew into a bowl and serves it to Bryn. "It may not look and taste as well as Emma's did, but I hope it will suit your taste."
Arren enters a large room, its floor lined with bedrolls, thin mattresses, and other flat, soft objects like clothes one might use to soften the floor they sleep on. Actually, there's a chance the clothes are there just as part of the overall mess in the room. There are about twenty people inside, most of whom are children. Counting by adults, Arren estimates there are four families inside the room. There are three human families, with several children each, you guess, though it is impossible to tell who belongs to whom. The last family is a family of Wood Elves, and they seem to have one young-adult child and a baby, which the mother is breastfeeding at the moment. Other than one elderly man, you don't see adult men here.
The children, who seem to have been busy in some kind of play when Arren entered the room, drop everything and rush to surround him almost immediately. "It's a soldier!" or "He looks stronger than the other two!" are just some of the things they shout around him. Before he even realises it, one quickly circles him and announces: "He doesn't have any cool weapons! What kind of soldiers are these?" He's a younger boy, in the early teen years, it seems. Some of the children soon begin to argue whether he is an Elf or a Human, each pointing out the features that support their claim.
The children - both boys and girls - flock around him. Some pulling on Arren's uniform, trying to draw his attention to themselves. One is trying to climb over his back, and the rest are just excited. But not all children came to bother Arren. The Elf boy, along with another Human boy who appears to be about the same age and older than the rest, remain sitting where they are playing some card game, though they paused it to look at Arren curiously from their sitting spot. There are also three girls of varying ages in another corner of the room, who don't appear to be interested in Arren much.
Eventually, one of the mothers calls to the children: "Stop that! You'll bother the lady in the other room! Not to mention this soldier here." For some children, that is enough. Others need some more personal attention, but eventually, they let go of Arren, though he feels many small eyes following him throughout the room.
While the mothers work to keep their children away from Arren, he can approach the elderly man who sits on a chair at the side of the room. "What did you say? My hearing isn't as good as it used to be, you'll have to speak louder for me." Once Arren repeats his questions, the elderly man answers: "Wyler? That good-for-nothing, you'll find him where the booze is. Hmm." He talks slow, but he has a strong voice, one that characterizes those whose hearing isn't well anymore and need to speak loudly to hear even themselves. "He's been renting a room at Emma's ever since he appeared in this town. Even now that she's gone, he climbs into that room through the window, if he doesn't pass out somewhere else.
"Emma was born here, her husband, that scum, was not." He almost spits the words 'her husband' as if it were a rotten piece of food. "Her mother still lives in her small house by 'Sole Mate' - do you know where that is? - but she's hard to talk to, that one."
Varielky
Arren, having heard the muffled noises while he was in the previous room, is not too surprised when he is suddenly surrounded by children—if perhaps a little overwhelmed, at first. Then he quickly relaxes his usual straight posture and smiles, staying silent for a few moments, as the kids throw their questions and tug at his uniform.
Before he can answer, he feels one particularly determined child trying to climb up his back. Arren reaches behind him, "fishing" the boy up with one arm and gently flipping him over in a slow, slightly exaggerated arc before setting him down on the floor, trying to make it a little more fun for him.
"We're the kind of soldiers concerned with keeping kids safe, of course," he explains. "We don't carry our weapons around in front of human or elven people unless they are at least..." — he places his hand just above the head of the boy who asked about the weapons, then raises it a little... and then a little more... and then some more — "...this tall," he finishes with a wink.
The Half-Elf chuckles at their arguments over whether he is Human or Elf and simply says, "A little bit of both." He feels a lightness in his chest. It's nice to be seen through the simple curiosity and innocence of children’s eyes, instead of the judging looks he's received from adults many times.
Once he gets to speak to the elderly man, the Sergeant nods at the information he shares. "Hmm, thank you. We'll try to look for Wyler. Regarding Emma and her husband, we heard a bit of what happened to them. They were..." he eyes the kids and doesn't finish the sentence. "We heard only one body was found. The husband's, right? Was he not a good man?" He lets the man answer before continuing. "We were by the Sole Mate before coming here, yes, and spoke a little to the owner. Why is Emma's mother hard to talk to? Because she's grieving her daughter, perhaps?"
Arren pauses a little before adding, "Can't help but notice there's mostly women and kids here. Where are the rest of the men?"
Then, gazing at the older kids and trying to see if they are paying any attention at all, Arren adds, "We're trying to figure out what's happening in town, with all the, well, losses. If we find enough evidence that the military should get involved, our Commandant might allow us to take action. So please, whatever clue or piece of information you might have, share it with me, or with my companion — the one with the helmet." He makes sure to say this a little louder, so that not only the older kids but also the Elven woman can hear him.
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
"Thank you", he says after taking his first mouthful. "It is most welcome, especially having been limited to trail rations. In truth this is my first visit to town, so I have no idea what Emma's stew was like anyway". And after months of prison slop.
After a moment of silence, he adds, "Do you think someone else will take over the Stewpot? It is obviously competition for you, but on the other hand it seems right now at least the town could use it open. Whose is it now, the Stewpot, with Emma gone? It was tragic what happened, not that I know the full story", he says in such a way as to show interest in being filled in on the story.
He doesn't dawdle in cleaning his bowl and dropping his helmet again.
Arren notices the man's gaze shifting from him for a moment. Turning his head to see what the man is looking at, Arren sees one of the mothers giving him a scornful look and nodding slightly in the children's direction. "I'd like to help you, sir soldier," the man continues, "but my daughter doesn't want me to talk about these things next to the children. And she's right, it's not a pleasant business. Emma's mother's mind isn't as clear as it used to be, but if you're lucky, she might answer your question regarding Emma's husband.
"As for the fathers, despite the rain and hardships, a man needs to provide for his family. I'm too old to work, but they can't sit around here all day. Besides," he adds in a lower voice, "the children have been sitting here for well over a day and have too much energy to unpack. For some, it's easier to leave these little monsters to the wives, and work is a very convenient excuse, don't you agree?" His roaring laughter announces to the whole room that what he said just now was funny. Some of the youngest children join in on the laughter, having no idea what was said but mimicking the elderly man.
The man, busy with work, doesn't face Bryn while they speak. He stirs the boiling pots, tastes them, adds one thing or another into them, and for the rest of the time, works on cleaning the dishes that have piled up on one end of the kitchen. "Emma was a quieter kid, but she always loved eating. She loved stews more than anything - a little strange for a kid - and begged me to teach her mother to make tasty stews. When I refused, she asked that I teach her. I refused at first - gotta keep family recipes secret - but she kept begging, and I eventually took her as an apprentice. She wasn't satisfied with my simple cooking, though, and eventually left for the capital to study at some chef's side.
"When she returned several years later, she had a man with her." He pauses briefly, sighs, and then continues. "They bought the house across the street and renovated it into 'The Stewpot' as it is today. A little insolent, if you ask me, to compete against her mentor like that. But I must admit, she cooked better and charged a lower price, too. She was mostly interested in the cooking part, but they also had two spare rooms that they rented out over there. Fewer customers came here to eat, and 'The Three Frogs' unofficially became 'The Stewpot's' sleeping rooms. Well, it also meant I had to work less, and I could focus on things I was more interested in, so except for my pride, maybe, not much was lost.
"But now with Emma gone, I suppose I took my old job again. I hope Emma shows up again one day, but otherwise, her closest kin would be her mother. Maybe her husband's family, but I never saw any of them. Emma's mother is old, though, and she cannot run a tavern." If Bryn is finished by now, he'll take away his bowl - either to clean or to refill if Bryn asks for it. "Beyond that, I can't tell you what might happen."
Varielky
Arren follows the man's glance toward his daughter and nods. "Understood. We'll take it from here. Thank you for your help."
At the man's final comment about the convenient excuse to leave the kids with their mothers, Arren only purses his lips, not laughing along. He mutters, "Convenient." in response.
He gives the old man a final farewell and turns to leave. At the door, he pauses and glances back at the children. It had only been a brief moment, but he'd found a quiet joy in it. So different from the rigid seriousness of military life.
Once outside, the Sergeant waits for the Corporal to reappear and, trying to speak quietly so as not to disturb Commandant Nattensbarn, shares his findings with him, "Since the Stewpot is just across the street, we could try calling for Wyler. And if he doesn't show up, we can try Emma's mother. She might have a key to the building—and more information to share."
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
As the man clears his bowl, he says, "Thank you, that was a fine meal. Do I owe you anything, or did the Commandant settle up? I didn't catch you name, by the way. Mine is Tace. Or Corporal Peite in front of the other soldiers".
He pauses for a moment after the man replies, digging out the coin if required.
"What do you think happened to Emma and her husband? You think they will turn up ok? Not victims of this rumoured monster?", he asks, a little confused. Were they not the first victims of the monster? The cobbler did seem unsure mind.
"Oh, it wasn't fancy." The man replies. "She only cooked simple dishes, but she made them well. She wanted everyone to enjoy her food, which is why she charged very little for it. I'm sure she knew how to make fancy meals too, but it wasn't her style, and besides, fewer people can regularly afford such meals."
Once Bryn is done, the man takes his bowl and starts washing it along with the rest of the unclean dishes. "My name is Zaba. My mother said it translates to 'Frog' in a language that used to be spoken near the area of Pravice. Hence the name of this inn. Your friend paid for all of you: bed and board. Well, I can't provide a decent bed at these times, but a roof from this rain should be better than nothing."
Zaba remains silent for a bit following Bryn's last question. "The husband is dead, I saw the body myself." He finally answers. "But if whatever did that wanted Emma dead too, we'd have found her body there, I imagine. At first, I believed she may have run away, but the more time passed and we saw no sign of her, the less it seemed to be the case. Despite everything, I liked the girl. I hope she's still out there, though I admit it doesn't appear likely anymore."
Varielky