Embir looks at the woman concerned, the dog isn't quite her concern at the moment. "She left. . . ?" She moves so she is in front of the woman, so both hands are on her shoulders. "Ma'am? We want to help you, I want to help you. Will you let us?"

"Tried...to keep...her safe....help...would be...nice...but...I don't...know where...she is...."

"Then we can help you find her. Why don't you wash up, I'll clear a space for us to sit, and we can come up with a plan of action. How does that sound?"

She nods slowly and weakly stands, weak from a bit of malnutrition from not eating for days and also from having been in that position for an extended time. She shuffles sadly to the room across the hall and pours water from a pitcher into a basin, then proceeds to scrub her hands and face. After a few minutes, she returns to her daughter's room.

She... grew? We're going to need more information, Mary.  Who is Gertruda, what does she look like,  you know, anything?

Zander leans over to Lae and Zennas and whispers, Not to mention she's just been sitting here not doing anything to try and fix it.

She nods a bit. "I tried to keep her safe here in the house since she was a small child. I wouldn't let her leave when I saw what Barovia was becoming. She is a teenager now. A week or so ago, she managed to slip out of the house, but I have no idea where she could have gone. When I found out she was gone, I was so racked with grief I came in here and couldn't bring myself to leave. She has been gone so long now that I fear she is dead--or worse."

Embir takes out a blanket and spreads it on the floor, then proceeding to take out some ink and paper for notes. She gestures everyone to sit down in a circle around the blanket.

"We will find her ma'am. May I have a description of what she looks like?"

"She is young, dark hair, light eyes. This doll was hers."

Embir copies down the words.

"Did she have friends? In the village or out of it. Any family outside she might have run to?"

"She never left the house. No friends. If there is still any family, she wouldn't know where to find them. I probably wouldn't even know where to find them."

Embir takes this all down as she talks.

Zennas, remember when we would use dogs to hunt? I'll bet it would help to find Gertruda if we could borrow the doll, and the dog. Could we do that, Mary?

(Roll persuasion)

Persuasion 13

"The dog was Gertruda's. He doesn't really listen to me. Here, though. If you find her, please send this back with her. If you don't, I would like it back eventually." She reaches out and hands the doll to Embir.

Embir takes it carefully, giving the doll a quick once over before looking up at her and nodding. 

"Of course. I promise we'll do our best. May I ask the dog's name?"

She begins sobbing agiain. "I....I don't even...know...the dumb....dog's....name..."

Embir immediately jumps to her aid and envelopes her in a hug. 

"That's okay. It is going to be okay, you can ask your daughter yourself when we find her."

Zander, who was initially a little harsh to Mary for not doing anything, seems to soften up a bit. Mary, we will get to finding your daughter immediately. We will be back with any news, hopefully good. You have my word. He nods to everyone and exits the home. Embir, you should hold the dog, it'll probably like you best.

Embir nods, releasing the woman and packing up the blanket, carefully putting the doll in her bag. 

"Stay well Ma'am. Perhaps do some shopping, turn this back into a home Gertruda can return to. Coming back to a clean kitchen and a hot meal was my favorite thing when I was a kid. I'm sure she'd appreciate it."