"Shelter and food is more than adequate under the circumstances", 'Tace' responds with a smile likely unseen under his helmet.
"You saw the body of the husband?", he says curiously. "I know it is a lot to ask, but would you tell me exactly what you saw? And the circumstances. We are travelling through the mountains once the weather clears, and it would help us greatly to have something more accurate than the rumours circulated by someone called Wyler. And if there is a genuine monster problem, be it creature or person, we might be able to help. Or at least have help sent".
"Oh, so you're not here to take care of it?" Zaba replies, surprised. "And here I thought our requests were finally received. But, well, if it could help getting aid eventually, I'll gladly tell you what I saw:
"It wasn't long after sundown, there were still remnants of light outside. I was just cleaning after dinner when I suddenly heard a scream from outside, shortly followed by another. I quickly headed outside to see what happened when Wyler stumbled out of 'The Stewpot', drunk as a skunk. He told us - me and others who arrived at the scene early - the story you probably heard already. An innocent-looking person enters the tavern, suddenly crouches on all four and turns into a monster. Kills Emma's husband in an instant right in front of him, then disappears with Emma out the front door."
He pauses, pours himself a glass of water from a nearby container and drinks it all in one shot. "We went in to see the scene, not quite believing the story as you might imagine. But Emma was indeed gone, and her husband was lying in a pool of his own blood. He had very deep wounds that reminded us of a beast's claws in their shape, but I've never seen a beast this powerful.
"We buried Emma's husband the next day, and closed 'The Stewpot' for now. It's not locked, by the way, since only Emma had a key. But we didn't want strangers walking in so we shut it from inside with furniture. The back door is still open, though, so you could walk in and investigate if you think you can find clues in there that we missed. That fool Wyler forgot we did that and keeps climbing through the window. Well, I'd rather he didn't go in at all, but he paid for that room and I can't give him one here instead."
"We are just passing through....hm...what was the name of your town again?", 'Tace' replies. "But the Sergeant and I are inquisitive fellows, so we'll see what we can find out before the weather clears". At least the Sergeant appears inquisitive.
"So that was the story we heard, even before we arrived here. That story has certainly travelled. But to have someone respectable, like yourself, corroborate even part of it is helpful", he continues. "That is good to know about the back door. We will certainly go and have a look. I just hope Wyler hasn't disturbed the scene too much, and kept to the upstairs".
"Last couple of questions before I leave you in peace. Did you get a feeling for the direction the monster fled with Emma? You didn't see it, so I assume they went out the back door, but where from there? Did Wyler say? I assume he didn't say he recognised the innocent looking person? Did he give any more of a description than that?". Ok, more than a couple of questions.
Once Zaba replies, he will once again give him his thanks, before heading out the kitchen back the way he came.
"I suggest you speak to the man himself." Zaba answers. "If he's not too drunk, he might give you better answers. I told you what I remember he told us, but that's all I know."
When Bryn leaves the kitchen, he finds Arren who've been waiting for a few minutes already, the Commandant in her work and Walnuts gone - to the restroom, as Arren saw while waiting.
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."
Arren has used this time to recover and equip his weapons. He adresses the Corporal, and then adds, "Any findings on your side?"
"Tace' nods to the Sergeant but sends a meaningful glance at the Commandant before motioning to the outside door, hoping that he gets the message that he will fill him in once outside. With that he retrieves his raincoat and puts it back on. Once more into the rain.
Once outside and away from the Three Frogs a little, he gives the Sergeant the abridged version, having to lean fairly close and speak a little louder than he would like to be able to be heard properly.
"It seems Wyler did see something, but what exactly can't be corroborated. The husband of this Emma was the fatality, and Emma herself carried off. The body of the husband was found covered in beast-like claw marks, and was buried soon after. It all went down in the Stewpot, and as fortune has it, the back door remains unlocked. Zaba back at the Three Frogs was quite clear he has no issue with us going in, and he was one of the ones who sorted out the mess. He was also Emma's mentor, so he approval means more than most I think".
He waits for the Sergeant to respond to his suggestion, hoping he will.
The Elf's glance is clear. Arrendoesn't need more of a sign, he grabs his raincoat and follows him outside. He's almost glad it's still raining — it'll buy them more time to investigate. His curiosity had already been piqued, but meeting all those people in The Three Frogs only made him more determined to shed light on the murders.
Listening to what Tace says, Arren thinks for a moment. If only it meant Emma was still alive... Though, why would the "monster" kill the husband and spare Emma? Could he have held a grudge against the man? The old fellow had implied the husband wasn't exactly a good person.
"Sounds like approval enough to me," Arren agrees. "I'm not holding my breath for what Wyler has to offer, but it may be a blessing that the Commandant kicked him out of the Three Frogs. That might mean he's sober enough to talk." He pauses before adding, "Emma seems to have been well-liked around here. Her husband, on the other hand, not so much. Scum, the old man I spoke to called him. Emma's mother could tell us more, though I was warned she's old, and not easy to deal with. She lives by the Sole Mate. We can head there afterward."
With that, the Sergeant nods once and strides quickly toward the Stewpot. The less time they spend under the rain, the better.
'The Stewpot' is right across the street, and running quickly Bryn and Arren pass it and circle the building until they find the backdoor, unlocked as Zaba told Bryn to expect. On a normal day, it seems this door is used mostly to get to an external restroom - a small wooden structure which consists of two stalls.
Once Bryn and Arren enter the tavern, they see a standard-looking tavern with many small tables which fit about four to five people each, and one larger, long table by which many people can sit at once. There are chairs placed around the smaller tables, and a pong bench at each side of the longer table. The tall counter also serves as a bar, and there are a few taller chairs standing next to it. All in all it seems the tavern can accommodate about 40 diners, when it is at its fullest. Perhaps a few more if people on the long table squeeze in.
Behind the bar-counter, a half-open kitchen can be seen such that, if someone were cooking inside now, they'd see and be seen from the entire dining hall. Unlike the kitchen in 'The Three Frogs', this one is larger and seems more fitting for handling more patrons simultaneously. It looks a little messy, but you see no clear signs of blood at a quick glance.
A narrow flight of stairs leads up to a second floor where two doors lead to rentable rooms. One is numbered '1', the other '2'.
"Scum? That seems a little harsh", 'Tace' replies as they circle around the Stewpot, moving quickly to get back into the dry. Once inside, he removes his raincoat and finds place to leave it before going too far inside and making a mess.
"It sounds as if the creature entered the tavern, and then attacked, so I would expect whatever happened did so in here", he says as they look around the room. He makes his way to the main entrance, before turning and surveying the scene. "Unless they have done an amazing job of clearing up there must be some blood or scratches or something".
He moves slowly from the front door towards the counter, assuming that is where Emma and her husband would have been at the time, examining the floor and any furniture in a direct path.
"Worth a quick check before we head up to find Wyler".
"Who knows. Maybe he was scum."Arrenreplies as he follows Tace, scanning the floor and walls for any trace of blood or claw marks. "There should be something, yes..." he adds under his breath.
Carefully, he shifts paintings—if there are any—and slides a few chairs aside, moving them as quietly as possible so as not to alert Wyler to their presence just yet. He reasons that if whoever cleaned up the scene had found a particularly nasty bloodstain or deep scratch, they might have tried to cover it up. After all, no one would want to be constantly reminded of a murder, especially if someone as well-loved as Emma was involved in it.
After that, Arren makes his way toward the bar counter, and even into the kitchen. Standing a little apart from the common room, he doesn't really expect to find signs of a struggle there, but there might be a registry book or order notes from diners that could offer some useful insight.
"I take it Emma and her husband didn't live here, if there are only two rooms to rent," he remarks. If they had lived here, it would have been worth checking the couple's room as well, just in case.
Can Arren give help to Tace so he can roll at advantage? In case he can't, I will leave an Investigation roll as well: 11+1 = 12
((Notice that the 2024 version of the Help action requires you to have proficiency with that skill. Even if he had it, though, I'm not quite sure how one might assist in a search, except searching as well.))
In the common room, neither Arren nor Bryn finds any suspicious signs of blood or claws. There are some scratch marks on some of the tables, but they're shallow and don't fit the description given. They might as well be signs of wear from the many visitors the tavern has accommodated over time, and you've seen such signs in other taverns. You see that, as Bryn was told, the front door is blocked from the inside by a table and a few chairs. It doesn't look like a very strong blockade, but you guess it would hold the door closed against non-forceful attempts, giving the impression that it's locked.
The bar smells of alcohol, as bars always do, and it is slightly sticky. It seems nobody cleaned the last spilled drink here. But no strange claw marks or blood stains catch your eye. On the server's side, you find there are glasses, mugs, cups and the like, as well as a few bottles of various beverages, which seem like they can be locked inside, but the compartment in which they are stored is currently open. There are no signs that it was broken open.
It is in the kitchen, however, where Arren catches the scent of blood, faint yet present. There is no pool of blood as Zaba described to Bryn, but after a focused search, perhaps asking Bryn to aid him in looking, you find some blood stains. It looks like anything that could have been washed away was washed away. But harder to reach spots like corners or cracks between planks on the floor, as well as some of the legs of the furniture in the kitchen, haven't been perfectly cleaned, and with a close look, you manage to spot them. With this finding, you manage to determine where, more or less, Emma's husband died: at the back of the kitchen, a spot slightly hidden from the common room.
"It would not make sense for them to live elsewhere, I don't think. Not whilst there are guests under their roof. From a security and financial point of view. Perhaps there are more rooms elsewhere", 'Tace' replies.
"Interesting", he says as he and the Sergeant stand in the kitchen. "From what we have been told thus far, the attack was quick, deadly and over in an instant. The monster must have moved through the common room in their unassuming form, passed at the very least Wyler, if he was truly a witness".
"So it stands to reason it targeted the husband, this wasn't just some random attack. Perhaps this was done because someone else thought he was scum too. But then why take Emma alive? And it doesn't explain what the monster is", he says, voicing his thought process.
He looks from the spot where the husband died back towards the common room. "From this point if Wyler was in the common room he wouldn't have been able to see the killing blow. Or much of anything if it happened so quickly".
"Perhaps it is time to see if Wyler is here. And then we should look for the staff living area, if such does exist. Their personal effects might go a long way to explaining why they were targeted'.
"Agreed,"Arren replies, falling in step with the Corporal's line of thought. "This looks more like a targeted assault than a random one. Why leave Wyler alive? If this was just some wild creature acting on instinct, it would have attacked whoever was in the common room first before moving on to the kitchen." As for why Emma was taken alive, he shakes his head, uncertain. Could the killer have been trying to protect her? Maybe. But it felt too far-fetched, and they still knew too little to make assumptions.
Arren takes a moment to look around, scanning the layout of the building. Was there another room where Emma and her husband might have been living — either on this floor or perhaps upstairs? Could they have missed anything?
Heading upstairs, Arren knocks firmly on both doors, raising his voice enough to be heard, while sounding calm but commanding. "Wyler. Katton Army. We’re investigating what happened to Emma and her husband. Come outside. We need to ask you a few questions."
He waits a few seconds for a reply. If none comes quickly, he tries the handle of the one of the doors — starting with whichever one shows signs of movement, or simply the one labeled "1" if there's no sound at all.
There's one last locked door in the kitchen. You also recall passing by a side door to the tavern when you tried to circle the building looking for the back door. But it was locked, and since Zaba told 'Tace' the door should be unlocked, you kept going until you found the back door.
Arren's knocking receives no reply at first, and after a few moments, just as Arren is about to try the door labeled "1", without any locks unlocking with a forewarning 'click', the door labeled "2" suddenly opens. A young Human man stands there, one hand on the doorknob, the other holding a bottle of cheap wine, half empty already. The rags he wears as clothes are torn and dirty and reek of alcohol and vomit. His disheveled long hair and unshaved bristles do him no favour either. But despite all that, he stands straight and looks attentive.
"I thought you lot didn't want to see me," he raises the bottle of wine slightly as if it were a sign of some sort. "Though I do enjoy your gift. How may I help you?"
The room behind him, to the extent that you can see, isn't very big and is fairly simple. A bed, a desk with a few empty bottles lying on top and beneath it, an empty open chest, and finally the window - currently closed, but a small puddle of water already pooled underneath it.
The Sergeant has to make an effort to hide his disgust at the sight—and the smell—before him. What a shame. A man so young, with so many good years ahead of him, wasting them away in drink. What has driven this man to do this, Arren wonders.
His gaze lingers briefly on the bottle. Did the Commandant give it to him before kicking him out? Or more likely, was it Walnuts? Either way, it had succeeded in keeping Wyler from trying to enter the inn again — at least until the bottle ran dry. And by the looks of it, that wouldn't take long.
Despite these thoughts, Arren's face remains neutral, showing no more than a slight frown. To Wyler's remark, he replies, "Commandant Nattensbarn still doesn't want you showing up at The Three Frogs." "I wouldn't have wanted him there either. Not the greatest spectacle for the kids", he thinks.
Shifting his focus to the business at hand, he continues, "As I said, we're investigating what happened to Emma and her husband, and it seems you're the only witness. Can you describe exactly what you saw? What did this person look like? Did it seem like he knew the couple?"
'Tace' is also far from impressed by the human in front him, and the state of the room he can see beyond them.
"Perhaps we should go and sit in the common room and have a proper chat", he suggests, not wanting to have to enter the room Wyler spends all his time in just now. "We want you to really think back to that day before you answer, to make sure you don't miss out any details". Was he like this before the incident with the monster, or did witnessing it push him over the edge.
He looks between the Sergeant and Wyler to see whether they agree with his suggestion to head downstairs, and if so he leads the way, finding a table and sitting down.
((Clarification: By 'young' I meant in his mid-twenties. I realise now this may not be the age range everyone think of when they hear this word, and I can't promise this word will consistently be used only for this age range. I apologize in advance if this causes any misunderstandings.))
"The woman soldier? She was generous enough with her gift, and I appreciate generous people," Wyler replies to Arren. "I promised I won't return before breakfast tomorrow, and I intend to keep my word. I can skip one dinner just fine."
In response to "Tace's" suggestion, Wyler steps out of the room and closes the door behind him, without locking. "Lead the way then."
He walks with his opened bottle in hand, but he walks as straight and steady as either of you does. When you reach the common room again, he'll follow you to sit where you direct.
"Well, that night again... Let's see." He gulps down one mouthful of the wine, but not before allowing it to linger in his mouth for a monent. "I was pretty drunk at the time, I guess I did drink quite a lot. They had this new beverage imported and I wanted to try it. Something strong, much stronger than this wine. I didn't even eat dinner yet, since there was still some light outside, so it hit me pretty hard.
"I was sitting there, waiting for Emma's great stew to cook. She was a wonderful chef, really. Was the only reason I stayed here for so long. She was in the kitchen, working her magic on the food. Not real magic, but you know what I mean. I saw this person walk into the tavern. They entered through the front door, then headed into the kitchen."
Perhaps here you stop him, asking for more details, but he just shakes his head. "I was pretty much out of it, and I didn't concern myself with every person in here. It wasn't strange for folk to come here at this hour if they wanted to eat from Emma's dinner. Would you think it strange?
"Anyway, I was lying there on the bar, tormented by the fragrances produced by the cooking-but-not-ready meal, when I heard shoting from inside the kitchen. Sounded like a fight alright, and then I heard a loud 'smack!', followed by a heavy 'thud' and a few 'clanks'. It sounded like something fell, and a the kitchenware with it." He plays out the sounds by snacking his thigh, and banging on the table. He then takes another short sip of his bottle before resuming the tale.
"I raised my head to see what happened, worried that my meal might have gone to the floor. Fortunately, it hadn't. The stew was still there, cooking above the fire. But then I saw it, whatever that thing was, rising from the floor on four legs and lunging up. It was hidden from view, but I'd later realise it lunged and killed Emma's husband. Then, I heard Emma's scream and, just a moment later, the thing darted out of the tavern along with Emma. I assume you know the rest already?"
'Tace'is hardly surprised to learn that Wyler was drunk that night, but so far his description was proving useful. There has to be more he knows.
"Absolutely, you are right. Nothing wrong with someone entering wanting food. But one important clarification, had you seen this particular person before they entered on that occasion?".
He thinks through the rest of the retelling. Either Emma or her husband had fought back before the killing blow. And there had been an argument.
"And you mentioned shouting. Do you remember anything that was said?".
He has one more line of questioning for the moment. "You mentioned the thing darted out of the tavern. Which door did it go out of? And you said 'along with Emma'. Was she forcibly carried or dragged, or chased out. Or did she follow it willingly?".
Arren is a bit surprised to see how well Wyler moves, and how articulate he is, considering he's consumed a good part of a bottle of wine. Perhaps he has a high tolerance to alchohol, though ... not high enough to tolerate what he drank that day?
“What was that new beverage you wanted to try?” he asks. If Wyler describes it, Arren will try to remember if he noticed that bottle earlier, when they inspected the bar counter and the kitchen. And if it is really that strong.
Then, when Wyler continues speaking and reaches the part of the attack itself, Arren blinks, even more surprised.
"Wait — are you telling me you didn't actually see the attack?"He asks, then shoots a glance to the Corporal that clearly says "Hell of a witness!" His mind races. "Everyone's assumed the person on all fours committed the killing, but no one has actually witnessed it. What if we're blaming the wrong person? Or what if the husband attacked that person — or worse, Emma — and what followed was self-defense?"
With this in mind, Arren adds more questions after Tace finishes.
"Emma’s husband — what was his name? It's strange to keep calling him 'the husband.' What was he like? He wasn't from around here, right? Did he and Emma get along?"
As he and the Corporal continue questioning Wyler, Arren will keep an eye on his body language. Does it seem like he's hiding something? Or that he might be lying? (Insight: 12)
"Shelter and food is more than adequate under the circumstances", 'Tace' responds with a smile likely unseen under his helmet.
"You saw the body of the husband?", he says curiously. "I know it is a lot to ask, but would you tell me exactly what you saw? And the circumstances. We are travelling through the mountains once the weather clears, and it would help us greatly to have something more accurate than the rumours circulated by someone called Wyler. And if there is a genuine monster problem, be it creature or person, we might be able to help. Or at least have help sent".
"Oh, so you're not here to take care of it?" Zaba replies, surprised. "And here I thought our requests were finally received. But, well, if it could help getting aid eventually, I'll gladly tell you what I saw:
"It wasn't long after sundown, there were still remnants of light outside. I was just cleaning after dinner when I suddenly heard a scream from outside, shortly followed by another. I quickly headed outside to see what happened when Wyler stumbled out of 'The Stewpot', drunk as a skunk. He told us - me and others who arrived at the scene early - the story you probably heard already. An innocent-looking person enters the tavern, suddenly crouches on all four and turns into a monster. Kills Emma's husband in an instant right in front of him, then disappears with Emma out the front door."
He pauses, pours himself a glass of water from a nearby container and drinks it all in one shot. "We went in to see the scene, not quite believing the story as you might imagine. But Emma was indeed gone, and her husband was lying in a pool of his own blood. He had very deep wounds that reminded us of a beast's claws in their shape, but I've never seen a beast this powerful.
"We buried Emma's husband the next day, and closed 'The Stewpot' for now. It's not locked, by the way, since only Emma had a key. But we didn't want strangers walking in so we shut it from inside with furniture. The back door is still open, though, so you could walk in and investigate if you think you can find clues in there that we missed. That fool Wyler forgot we did that and keeps climbing through the window. Well, I'd rather he didn't go in at all, but he paid for that room and I can't give him one here instead."
Varielky
"We are just passing through....hm...what was the name of your town again?", 'Tace' replies. "But the Sergeant and I are inquisitive fellows, so we'll see what we can find out before the weather clears". At least the Sergeant appears inquisitive.
"So that was the story we heard, even before we arrived here. That story has certainly travelled. But to have someone respectable, like yourself, corroborate even part of it is helpful", he continues. "That is good to know about the back door. We will certainly go and have a look. I just hope Wyler hasn't disturbed the scene too much, and kept to the upstairs".
"Last couple of questions before I leave you in peace. Did you get a feeling for the direction the monster fled with Emma? You didn't see it, so I assume they went out the back door, but where from there? Did Wyler say? I assume he didn't say he recognised the innocent looking person? Did he give any more of a description than that?". Ok, more than a couple of questions.
Once Zaba replies, he will once again give him his thanks, before heading out the kitchen back the way he came.
Zaba tells Bryn that the town's name is "Ersta".
"I suggest you speak to the man himself." Zaba answers. "If he's not too drunk, he might give you better answers. I told you what I remember he told us, but that's all I know."
When Bryn leaves the kitchen, he finds Arren who've been waiting for a few minutes already, the Commandant in her work and Walnuts gone - to the restroom, as Arren saw while waiting.
Varielky
Arren has used this time to recover and equip his weapons. He adresses the Corporal, and then adds, "Any findings on your side?"
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
"Tace' nods to the Sergeant but sends a meaningful glance at the Commandant before motioning to the outside door, hoping that he gets the message that he will fill him in once outside. With that he retrieves his raincoat and puts it back on. Once more into the rain.
Once outside and away from the Three Frogs a little, he gives the Sergeant the abridged version, having to lean fairly close and speak a little louder than he would like to be able to be heard properly.
"It seems Wyler did see something, but what exactly can't be corroborated. The husband of this Emma was the fatality, and Emma herself carried off. The body of the husband was found covered in beast-like claw marks, and was buried soon after. It all went down in the Stewpot, and as fortune has it, the back door remains unlocked. Zaba back at the Three Frogs was quite clear he has no issue with us going in, and he was one of the ones who sorted out the mess. He was also Emma's mentor, so he approval means more than most I think".
He waits for the Sergeant to respond to his suggestion, hoping he will.
The Elf's glance is clear. Arren doesn't need more of a sign, he grabs his raincoat and follows him outside. He's almost glad it's still raining — it'll buy them more time to investigate. His curiosity had already been piqued, but meeting all those people in The Three Frogs only made him more determined to shed light on the murders.
Listening to what Tace says, Arren thinks for a moment. If only it meant Emma was still alive... Though, why would the "monster" kill the husband and spare Emma? Could he have held a grudge against the man? The old fellow had implied the husband wasn't exactly a good person.
"Sounds like approval enough to me," Arren agrees. "I'm not holding my breath for what Wyler has to offer, but it may be a blessing that the Commandant kicked him out of the Three Frogs. That might mean he's sober enough to talk." He pauses before adding, "Emma seems to have been well-liked around here. Her husband, on the other hand, not so much. Scum, the old man I spoke to called him. Emma's mother could tell us more, though I was warned she's old, and not easy to deal with. She lives by the Sole Mate. We can head there afterward."
With that, the Sergeant nods once and strides quickly toward the Stewpot. The less time they spend under the rain, the better.
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
'The Stewpot' is right across the street, and running quickly Bryn and Arren pass it and circle the building until they find the backdoor, unlocked as Zaba told Bryn to expect. On a normal day, it seems this door is used mostly to get to an external restroom - a small wooden structure which consists of two stalls.
Once Bryn and Arren enter the tavern, they see a standard-looking tavern with many small tables which fit about four to five people each, and one larger, long table by which many people can sit at once. There are chairs placed around the smaller tables, and a pong bench at each side of the longer table. The tall counter also serves as a bar, and there are a few taller chairs standing next to it. All in all it seems the tavern can accommodate about 40 diners, when it is at its fullest. Perhaps a few more if people on the long table squeeze in.
Behind the bar-counter, a half-open kitchen can be seen such that, if someone were cooking inside now, they'd see and be seen from the entire dining hall. Unlike the kitchen in 'The Three Frogs', this one is larger and seems more fitting for handling more patrons simultaneously. It looks a little messy, but you see no clear signs of blood at a quick glance.
A narrow flight of stairs leads up to a second floor where two doors lead to rentable rooms. One is numbered '1', the other '2'.
Varielky
"Scum? That seems a little harsh", 'Tace' replies as they circle around the Stewpot, moving quickly to get back into the dry. Once inside, he removes his raincoat and finds place to leave it before going too far inside and making a mess.
"It sounds as if the creature entered the tavern, and then attacked, so I would expect whatever happened did so in here", he says as they look around the room. He makes his way to the main entrance, before turning and surveying the scene. "Unless they have done an amazing job of clearing up there must be some blood or scratches or something".
He moves slowly from the front door towards the counter, assuming that is where Emma and her husband would have been at the time, examining the floor and any furniture in a direct path.
"Worth a quick check before we head up to find Wyler".
Investigation: 9+5=14
"Who knows. Maybe he was scum." Arren replies as he follows Tace, scanning the floor and walls for any trace of blood or claw marks. "There should be something, yes..." he adds under his breath.
Carefully, he shifts paintings—if there are any—and slides a few chairs aside, moving them as quietly as possible so as not to alert Wyler to their presence just yet. He reasons that if whoever cleaned up the scene had found a particularly nasty bloodstain or deep scratch, they might have tried to cover it up. After all, no one would want to be constantly reminded of a murder, especially if someone as well-loved as Emma was involved in it.
After that, Arren makes his way toward the bar counter, and even into the kitchen. Standing a little apart from the common room, he doesn't really expect to find signs of a struggle there, but there might be a registry book or order notes from diners that could offer some useful insight.
"I take it Emma and her husband didn't live here, if there are only two rooms to rent," he remarks. If they had lived here, it would have been worth checking the couple's room as well, just in case.
Can Arren give help to Tace so he can roll at advantage? In case he can't, I will leave an Investigation roll as well: 11+1 = 12
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
((Notice that the 2024 version of the Help action requires you to have proficiency with that skill. Even if he had it, though, I'm not quite sure how one might assist in a search, except searching as well.))
In the common room, neither Arren nor Bryn finds any suspicious signs of blood or claws. There are some scratch marks on some of the tables, but they're shallow and don't fit the description given. They might as well be signs of wear from the many visitors the tavern has accommodated over time, and you've seen such signs in other taverns. You see that, as Bryn was told, the front door is blocked from the inside by a table and a few chairs. It doesn't look like a very strong blockade, but you guess it would hold the door closed against non-forceful attempts, giving the impression that it's locked.
The bar smells of alcohol, as bars always do, and it is slightly sticky. It seems nobody cleaned the last spilled drink here. But no strange claw marks or blood stains catch your eye. On the server's side, you find there are glasses, mugs, cups and the like, as well as a few bottles of various beverages, which seem like they can be locked inside, but the compartment in which they are stored is currently open. There are no signs that it was broken open.
It is in the kitchen, however, where Arren catches the scent of blood, faint yet present. There is no pool of blood as Zaba described to Bryn, but after a focused search, perhaps asking Bryn to aid him in looking, you find some blood stains. It looks like anything that could have been washed away was washed away. But harder to reach spots like corners or cracks between planks on the floor, as well as some of the legs of the furniture in the kitchen, haven't been perfectly cleaned, and with a close look, you manage to spot them. With this finding, you manage to determine where, more or less, Emma's husband died: at the back of the kitchen, a spot slightly hidden from the common room.
Varielky
"It would not make sense for them to live elsewhere, I don't think. Not whilst there are guests under their roof. From a security and financial point of view. Perhaps there are more rooms elsewhere", 'Tace' replies.
"Interesting", he says as he and the Sergeant stand in the kitchen. "From what we have been told thus far, the attack was quick, deadly and over in an instant. The monster must have moved through the common room in their unassuming form, passed at the very least Wyler, if he was truly a witness".
"So it stands to reason it targeted the husband, this wasn't just some random attack. Perhaps this was done because someone else thought he was scum too. But then why take Emma alive? And it doesn't explain what the monster is", he says, voicing his thought process.
He looks from the spot where the husband died back towards the common room. "From this point if Wyler was in the common room he wouldn't have been able to see the killing blow. Or much of anything if it happened so quickly".
"Perhaps it is time to see if Wyler is here. And then we should look for the staff living area, if such does exist. Their personal effects might go a long way to explaining why they were targeted'.
"Agreed," Arren replies, falling in step with the Corporal's line of thought. "This looks more like a targeted assault than a random one. Why leave Wyler alive? If this was just some wild creature acting on instinct, it would have attacked whoever was in the common room first before moving on to the kitchen." As for why Emma was taken alive, he shakes his head, uncertain. Could the killer have been trying to protect her? Maybe. But it felt too far-fetched, and they still knew too little to make assumptions.
Arren takes a moment to look around, scanning the layout of the building. Was there another room where Emma and her husband might have been living — either on this floor or perhaps upstairs? Could they have missed anything?
Heading upstairs, Arren knocks firmly on both doors, raising his voice enough to be heard, while sounding calm but commanding. "Wyler. Katton Army. We’re investigating what happened to Emma and her husband. Come outside. We need to ask you a few questions."
He waits a few seconds for a reply. If none comes quickly, he tries the handle of the one of the doors — starting with whichever one shows signs of movement, or simply the one labeled "1" if there's no sound at all.
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
There's one last locked door in the kitchen. You also recall passing by a side door to the tavern when you tried to circle the building looking for the back door. But it was locked, and since Zaba told 'Tace' the door should be unlocked, you kept going until you found the back door.
Arren's knocking receives no reply at first, and after a few moments, just as Arren is about to try the door labeled "1", without any locks unlocking with a forewarning 'click', the door labeled "2" suddenly opens. A young Human man stands there, one hand on the doorknob, the other holding a bottle of cheap wine, half empty already. The rags he wears as clothes are torn and dirty and reek of alcohol and vomit. His disheveled long hair and unshaved bristles do him no favour either. But despite all that, he stands straight and looks attentive.
"I thought you lot didn't want to see me," he raises the bottle of wine slightly as if it were a sign of some sort. "Though I do enjoy your gift. How may I help you?"
The room behind him, to the extent that you can see, isn't very big and is fairly simple. A bed, a desk with a few empty bottles lying on top and beneath it, an empty open chest, and finally the window - currently closed, but a small puddle of water already pooled underneath it.
Varielky
The Sergeant has to make an effort to hide his disgust at the sight—and the smell—before him. What a shame. A man so young, with so many good years ahead of him, wasting them away in drink. What has driven this man to do this, Arren wonders.
His gaze lingers briefly on the bottle. Did the Commandant give it to him before kicking him out? Or more likely, was it Walnuts? Either way, it had succeeded in keeping Wyler from trying to enter the inn again — at least until the bottle ran dry. And by the looks of it, that wouldn't take long.
Despite these thoughts, Arren's face remains neutral, showing no more than a slight frown. To Wyler's remark, he replies, "Commandant Nattensbarn still doesn't want you showing up at The Three Frogs." "I wouldn't have wanted him there either. Not the greatest spectacle for the kids", he thinks.
Shifting his focus to the business at hand, he continues, "As I said, we're investigating what happened to Emma and her husband, and it seems you're the only witness. Can you describe exactly what you saw? What did this person look like? Did it seem like he knew the couple?"
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
'Tace' is also far from impressed by the human in front him, and the state of the room he can see beyond them.
"Perhaps we should go and sit in the common room and have a proper chat", he suggests, not wanting to have to enter the room Wyler spends all his time in just now. "We want you to really think back to that day before you answer, to make sure you don't miss out any details". Was he like this before the incident with the monster, or did witnessing it push him over the edge.
He looks between the Sergeant and Wyler to see whether they agree with his suggestion to head downstairs, and if so he leads the way, finding a table and sitting down.
"Good idea, it might help you remember." Arren beckons Wyler to start walking down, nods to Tace and follows after.
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia
((Clarification: By 'young' I meant in his mid-twenties. I realise now this may not be the age range everyone think of when they hear this word, and I can't promise this word will consistently be used only for this age range. I apologize in advance if this causes any misunderstandings.))
"The woman soldier? She was generous enough with her gift, and I appreciate generous people," Wyler replies to Arren. "I promised I won't return before breakfast tomorrow, and I intend to keep my word. I can skip one dinner just fine."
In response to "Tace's" suggestion, Wyler steps out of the room and closes the door behind him, without locking. "Lead the way then."
He walks with his opened bottle in hand, but he walks as straight and steady as either of you does. When you reach the common room again, he'll follow you to sit where you direct.
"Well, that night again... Let's see." He gulps down one mouthful of the wine, but not before allowing it to linger in his mouth for a monent. "I was pretty drunk at the time, I guess I did drink quite a lot. They had this new beverage imported and I wanted to try it. Something strong, much stronger than this wine. I didn't even eat dinner yet, since there was still some light outside, so it hit me pretty hard.
"I was sitting there, waiting for Emma's great stew to cook. She was a wonderful chef, really. Was the only reason I stayed here for so long. She was in the kitchen, working her magic on the food. Not real magic, but you know what I mean. I saw this person walk into the tavern. They entered through the front door, then headed into the kitchen."
Perhaps here you stop him, asking for more details, but he just shakes his head. "I was pretty much out of it, and I didn't concern myself with every person in here. It wasn't strange for folk to come here at this hour if they wanted to eat from Emma's dinner. Would you think it strange?
"Anyway, I was lying there on the bar, tormented by the fragrances produced by the cooking-but-not-ready meal, when I heard shoting from inside the kitchen. Sounded like a fight alright, and then I heard a loud 'smack!', followed by a heavy 'thud' and a few 'clanks'. It sounded like something fell, and a the kitchenware with it." He plays out the sounds by snacking his thigh, and banging on the table. He then takes another short sip of his bottle before resuming the tale.
"I raised my head to see what happened, worried that my meal might have gone to the floor. Fortunately, it hadn't. The stew was still there, cooking above the fire. But then I saw it, whatever that thing was, rising from the floor on four legs and lunging up. It was hidden from view, but I'd later realise it lunged and killed Emma's husband. Then, I heard Emma's scream and, just a moment later, the thing darted out of the tavern along with Emma. I assume you know the rest already?"
Varielky
'Tace' is hardly surprised to learn that Wyler was drunk that night, but so far his description was proving useful. There has to be more he knows.
"Absolutely, you are right. Nothing wrong with someone entering wanting food. But one important clarification, had you seen this particular person before they entered on that occasion?".
He thinks through the rest of the retelling. Either Emma or her husband had fought back before the killing blow. And there had been an argument.
"And you mentioned shouting. Do you remember anything that was said?".
He has one more line of questioning for the moment. "You mentioned the thing darted out of the tavern. Which door did it go out of? And you said 'along with Emma'. Was she forcibly carried or dragged, or chased out. Or did she follow it willingly?".
Arren is a bit surprised to see how well Wyler moves, and how articulate he is, considering he's consumed a good part of a bottle of wine. Perhaps he has a high tolerance to alchohol, though ... not high enough to tolerate what he drank that day?
“What was that new beverage you wanted to try?” he asks. If Wyler describes it, Arren will try to remember if he noticed that bottle earlier, when they inspected the bar counter and the kitchen. And if it is really that strong.
Then, when Wyler continues speaking and reaches the part of the attack itself, Arren blinks, even more surprised.
"Wait — are you telling me you didn't actually see the attack?" He asks, then shoots a glance to the Corporal that clearly says "Hell of a witness!" His mind races. "Everyone's assumed the person on all fours committed the killing, but no one has actually witnessed it. What if we're blaming the wrong person? Or what if the husband attacked that person — or worse, Emma — and what followed was self-defense?"
With this in mind, Arren adds more questions after Tace finishes.
"Emma’s husband — what was his name? It's strange to keep calling him 'the husband.' What was he like? He wasn't from around here, right? Did he and Emma get along?"
As he and the Corporal continue questioning Wyler, Arren will keep an eye on his body language. Does it seem like he's hiding something? Or that he might be lying? (Insight: 12)
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra | Jadzia