Valerie raises her eyebrows and looks at Ioben. She is curious about what he means, but she does not say anything. She just stands there and waits for Mary to answer. 

Quote from Sixfoot10 >>

As they walk back toward the front door, Ioben pauses one more time by the portrait in the hallway. The large eyes caught his attention, looking lost. "We will do our best to find her." As he is about to leave, something pricks at his mind. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but notice that those locks were on the outside of the door to Gertruda's room. What exactly were you trying to keep inside there? Were you scared of her?"

Mary eyes Ioben suspiciously, "The locks were there to protect her.  I was worried that she might..." she cuts her thought off midway through, "... that she might be abducted, yes.  It looks like I was right to try and shield her from such evils!  Not that it matters now.  Please find her, make sure my little girl is safe and returned to me."  She proceeds to cradle the doll she is holding tightly to her chest.

Dormark - You and Ismark are able to swiftly dig the grave for the corpse you found in the woods - it takes you no longer than 10 minutes.  Your sturdy warforged frame means that the activity barely tires you, however you notice that Ismark is sweating profusely.

"Pfff... Hard work, isn't it friend?  I reckon we're about done here."  Ismark says breathing heavily.  "Best we go get Donavich and the corpse.  He'll be able to say a few words to the Dawnfather on behalf of the stranger.  Were you looking to say a few words yourself?"

"Yes very," says Dormark being polite, but since he doesn't need to breath and doesn't sweat he looks about the same if dirtier. "I do not know his religion, and I can't say I know the man. It is probably more proper for your priest to say the words," he says getting out of the hole, and helping Ismark up.

Sandu stifled a yawn as he leaned against the tree. His head was tilted back, resting against the cold bark. From the corner of his eye he could see the window on the first floor, with some silhouettes moving around he presumed to be Valerie, Ioben and Mary. An idea popped into his head.

'Hey, big guy!' Sandu shouted at Alder. 'Could you give me a hand here?' He gestured at the tree, indicating that he wanted to climb it. 'I want to test something.'

Alder perked up from his own thoughts at the sound of Sandu's voice. There certainly weren't a lot of others that could be referred to as "big guy" in the immediate vicinity. Unless Parriwimple had returned, of course. Glancing up at the tree that Sandu was indicating, Alder shrugged and made his way over. Bending his knees, he fixed his hands into an interlaced stirrup for the smaller man to stand on and prepared to lift him upwards when ready. 

Valerie does not want Ioben to press any further. She puts her hand on his shoulder. "Should we go and look for other?"

Then she turns to Mary. "Don’t worry. We will do everything we can to find your daughter. In the meantime, you should have some rest." She smiles and nods to Mary then leaves the building. 

'Thanks.' Sandu smiled at Alder. Putting one foot on the impromptu stirrup, Sandu hoisted himself up into the tree. He crawled through the branches and leaves until he came up to the window.

'Now let's see here.' His eyes wandered from the window to the tree branches and back.

OOC: there are a couple of things I'd like Sandu to inspect here
- how easy is it to open the window from the outside?
- can someone get in or out of the window without being spotted?
- are there any traces of Gertruda's abscond, like a piece of cloth ripped from her dress by a twig, broken branches from passing through, that kind of thing?

Then she turns to Mary. "Don’t worry. We will do everything we can to find your daughter. In the meantime, you should have some rest." She smiles and nods to Mary then leaves the building. 

"We will do our best to find out if Gertruda is safe." Ioben turns and follows Valerie outside. Beside a nearby tree, he sees Alder. "Hey, good timing. We were just heading off to go follow a lead from Mary. Maybe you should come with us."

Alder looks up as Ioben and Valerie emerge, nodding. He glances up into the tree where Sandu is poking around before looking back to the others. 

"What did you find out? Anything that might help us figure out what's happening here?"

Quote from Furujiru >>

 

OOC: there are a couple of things I'd like Sandu to inspect here
- how easy is it to open the window from the outside?
- can someone get in or out of the window without being spotted?
- are there any traces of Gertruda's abscond, like a piece of cloth ripped from her dress by a twig, broken branches from passing through, that kind of thing?

Sandu - There are certain things that you would be able to tell at a glance, others you will need to make an Investigation check for.

At a glance you can tell that the window looks clearly accessible, but would be hard to enter / exit from stealthily.

Quote from IrRy0 >>

Quote from Furujiru >>

 

OOC: there are a couple of things I'd like Sandu to inspect here
- how easy is it to open the window from the outside?
- can someone get in or out of the window without being spotted?
- are there any traces of Gertruda's abscond, like a piece of cloth ripped from her dress by a twig, broken branches from passing through, that kind of thing?

Sandu - There are certain things that you would be able to tell at a glance, others you will need to make an Investigation check for.

At a glance you can tell that the window looks clearly accessible, but would be hard to enter / exit from stealthily.

One Investigation check coming right up: 22

EDIT: hmmm, yes. This tree is made out of tree.

Dormark - Moments pass as the stranger's body is prepared for burial; it is cleaned and positioned next to the grave.

Father Donavich's face is sombre, his robes are white save for a setting sun emblazoned on the front, "Let us begin." he says meekly, "We, three, are gathered here today to commit this poor soul to the Dawnfather.  Though he remains an enigma to us today - he was indeed someone's son, possibly another's brother, father, husband.  As such, we think of those that are currently grieving this man's death - whoever and where-ever they may be - may they find solace and comfort in their lives.  Dawnfather, it is by your power that the sun sets every evening and rises in the morning - as is the cycle of life.  We ask that you would guide this man's soul into your eternal radiance... May he find warmth in your embrace."

Ismark shifts uncomfortably as the priest waffles on.  As Donvich comes to an end Ismark kneels next to the corpse - "Looks like you got dealt a bad hand in life", he says to the corpse, "If it'll put your soul at rest - I dedicate my life towards working for a day that Barovia is safe and free from the grasp of the Devil."  

At that, Ismark and Dormark slowly lower the body into the grave and start to shovel soil over the top, filling it in.

Sandu's Investigation Check ((oof - unlucky)):

Valerie looks around and turns back to Alder. "And where are the others?"

Quote from Archaeolexi >>

 

"What did you find out? Anything that might help us figure out what's happening here?"

 She shakes her head and sighs. "Not much. Her daughter was taken or... ran away. And she believes that might had something to do with the Dust family. Also..." She pauses for a moment thinking how to put it right. "Hmm... She said she wanted to protect her daughter from the people in town. And she is serious about this. She even locked her daughter up in the room. I wonder why she is so afraid of them."

"The golem took that bloody corpse off someplace with the fella from the inn. Sandu, well..." Alder gestures up into the tree. 

He listens to Valerie's description of what was going on inside Mary's house with a heavy frown. "Sounds like the girl ran away. Probably doesn't want to be found. Who would want to live like that?"

As Dormark begins to bury the body he says softly, “May you find peace on the  other side.” After the were done burying the body. Dormark nods toward Ismark and says, “Thank you for helping, we better go find the others, and it may be a good idea to let us rest in your house for the night. Thinking about what you said, I don’t think the count is after your father’s body, but I’ll tell you my suspicions once we have everyone gathered. Also if you find a map of the current area that would be most helpful.”

Ioben glances up the tree and shakes his head. "Looks like he had a similar thought to me, only I managed to keep my feet on the ground. I guess our next step is to go speak to this Dust family. Valerie, Which way did she say it was?" 

Dormark - Ismark looks at you quizzically, "Whatever the Count's intentions are I'd rest easier knowing my father could be laid to rest.  I can draw you a rough map of the area - know this though, I too am unable to escape the mists that surround this land.  We are trapped here, all of us.  The only people that are seemingly exempt are those that have made pacts with the Devil - do not trust the Vistani.  The brightly coloured women that were at the tavern.  Many of them are servants of the Devil."

Ismark bids his farewells to Father Donavich and invites him to the Burgomaster's Mansion.  Donavich, however, chooses to stay at the church with his son.

Valerie looks around finding the right direction. "She said they are in the northeast of the village. But should we find the other first? We have been separated for quite awhile now."

(OOC: What time is it now?)