Night Below (IC)

[ProudGrognard]

Avaris

Avaris nods

"This is very true. I have been negligent.

We could also ask if they know the person who attacked us. His attitude probably changed recently, if they do. Carlanis was the ringleader's name."

[Xihirli]

"Carlanis?" Barthelew confirms as he stops by with a sweet pie for the table.
"Crazy fellow. Goes about describing himself as a 'knight errant, in seek of adventure and good deeds.'" Barthelew snorts.
"When he's in town, he stops by the Silver Crown where some of the patrons are fool enough to go with him on his little adventures."

[Xihirli]

Spoiler: Avaris, and I suppose others

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If you have more questions for Barthelew put them in a Spoiler tag marked Flashback and we'll say they've already happened while I move us on a bit.

You all eat your meal, then get directions to Jelenneth's home, a wooden but sturdy house built near the Mill House you passed by on your way in. When you knock on the door, a woman about the same age as Haldelar opens it. Her eyes are puffy and her nose is red from being rubbed raw, but her back is straight.
"Haldelar told me about... some of you," she says, looking to Mirafa and Avaris.
"I'm mistress Parella, at your service. How can I help you?"

[Lentrax]

Mira bows at the introduction. My lady. I am Mirafa, a servant of Helm, and these are my compatriots. We have only recently arrived in town, but arrived in time to hear of your daughter’s disappearance. We have agreed to take on the search for her, and we’re wondering if you would be so kind as to answer a few questions and perhaps allow us access to her things that we may search for any clue as to where she may have gone.

[Xihirli]

Parella steps back to let you all in.
"Of course. You'll excuse my husband's absence, he couldn't bring himself to stay home while Andrea organized a search around the outskirts. I suppose it may be best to talk in Jel's room." She leads you all unsteadily up a flight of stairs which do not creak, a sign of good craftsmanship.
She opens the first door up the stairs and leads you, only pausing a moment, into a bedroom. This is likely the first house that is not an estate you've seen wherein a daughter has a separate bedroom, and the interior continues the trend of surprising wealth without nobility. The bed has a mattress of straw wrapped in sheets. Folded neatly in the corner are two dresses - one white, and one black - and a traveller's cloak dropped haphazardly next to them. Next to the doorway is a desk which would look quite nice if it weren't for all the clutter. An emptied component pouch and all of its contents are shoved off to both sides while pages of notes are underneath the beginnings of a spellbook. About the only part of the desk that isn't touched by ink, ripped paper, mangled spell components or a faint burn mark is a miniature portrait leaning on the wall where it and the desk intersect. It's clearly of Andrea.
Parella sits on the bed, leaving the rest of the room to you.
"I'll... I'll take your questions," she offers, resolve overcoming the fear and sorrow on her face.

[Lentrax]

Well, first a few details would help. When did you notice she was missing? I am guessing that she isn’t the type of gir to just run off without notice, but has she done this before? And we also know she is the apprentice to the mage, Tauster. Has she ever received an urgent summons from him before?

Spoiler: OOC

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I know I just jammed these all together, but for role play sake, I am saying that I let the mother answer before I continue to my next question.

[Xihirli]

When did you notice she was missing? I am guessing that she isn’t the type of girl to just run off without notice, but has she done this before?

"No, not run off, exactly. This town is very small most of the time. The miners haul off in the morning, come back at night, and those of us who maintain the town have a quiet place to ourselves. She memorized Milborne shortly after she could run, and we saw no need to stop her as long as she was content to stay in the town. We often awaken - as we did this morning - to find that she's already gotten a fresh start. Generally she either meets us up at the Millhouse - she runs our finances." Parella's brave face slips for a moment.
"She's such a smart girl." A deep breath.
"-or we find her at the Baron of Mutton. Today, my husband tried doing just that and... well, I heard that's when you met him."

And we also know she is the apprentice to the mage, Tauster. Has she ever received an urgent summons from him before?

"No, he's never involved her directly in his research. It's a bit beyond her, at least he says. He has her run errands and such, but that's generally after she's already arrived in Thurmaster."

[Ricky S]

"If I may?" Liara waits for a gap in the conversation before indicating she wants to look through items.

Spoiler

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Assuming she is allowed to go through her things, Liara will read through the pages and try to discern if there is anything that could notify them of her whereabouts.

(1d20)[8] +5 investigation check

[Xihirli]

Well, first a few details would help. When did you notice she was missing? I am guessing that she isn’t the type of gir to just run off without notice, but has she done this before? And we also know she is the apprentice to the mage, Tauster. Has she ever received an urgent summons from him before?

Spoiler: OOC

Show

I know I just jammed these all together, but for role play sake, I am saying that I let the mother answer before I continue to my next question.

The scattered notes are botched attempts at spell formulas, while the spellbook has four completed spells: Comprehend Languages, Silent Image, Unseen Servant, and Identify. The last of these two are found in various incorrect forms throughout the desk along with several failed tries to replicate the Magic Missile spell.

[BobMacBobson]

"Have other people left suddenly and without a seeming reason?"

[Xihirli]

She shakes her head.
"No, not from inside the town before. The disappearances have taken place on the roads, in the mines."

[Lentrax]

And she’s always been content to stay in town? Aside from when she goes to study with Tauster, I am assuming?

[Xihirli]

"She's never been anywhere that doesn't lie between here and Thurmaster," she confirms.

[Lentrax]

Mirafa absentmindedly reaches up and rubs a spot just behind one of her horns.

Thank you, mistress. You have been a great aid to us. Anything, Liara?

[ProudGrognard]

Avaris

Listening carefully to the conversation, Avaris is searching discreetly the room.

Spoiler: OOC actions

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Investigation (1d20+3)[23]

"Do you know if she ever had any track with Carlanis, the eccentric fellow in Silver Swan?"

[Xihirli]

Spoiler: Avaris

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The blankets are not strewn apart, but they are lifted to allow somebody to get out of that bed. If there was a struggle, it was cleaned up perfectly.

Parella blinks once.
"I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with any Carlanis, though I think you may be referring to the Silver Crown."

[Ricky S]

Liara looks up from the papers and books "Mmm? Oh, no, sorry I was just absorbed in reading. There is nothing that I can see which would help us. A spell book with some spells and notes"

Liara closes the book "If people have been going missing it is surely related. If we find one we will find them all. We need to make haste and find them.

Should we head to the thurmaster and make his delivery? Perhaps he can aid us in finding her?"

[Lentrax]

I was thinking that we needed to be quick myself. If we don’t have anything else for the good lady here, we should take our leave, and make plans.

[Xihirli]

Parella nods, somewhat relieved that the questioning is over, and walks you back out.
"Thank you so much for your help. I don't..." she stops there, not sure of what to say.

Spoiler: OOC

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Where to?

[Lentrax]

Hush, dear lady. Do not worry. We will find your daughter. You have my word as a servant of Helm. Go. Try and rest.

After Parella goes inside and closes the door, Mirafa walks away for a few steps before turning to the others.

I do not like this. I am fairly certain that it was those brain things that are abducting these people. The question though, is why haven't they come back? Carlanis did, and he had one of them in him. But either way, I do not think we have time to wait. We need to go now.

[BobMacBobson]

Emrig waits until the group is outside to speek. "Aye, I believe ye may be right about the reason of the disappearances. Though we ran into Carlanis outside of town; we should ask around, maybe he'd been gone for a bit. I still think we should speak to someone in charge as well."

[Ricky S]

"I think if we tell someone in charge what occured we shouldnt tell them about the brain thing. One it could mean a panic and two we dont know if they are one of those things. We dont yet know how to check if someone is possessed. We should tell them Carlanis attacked us though.

We could maybe question them and see if they are lying to determine if they are possessed.

Ok, so notify the town guard and then make our way to the mines?"

[Lentrax]

Yes. We can find the town guard, inform them that we were attacked, and then get directions to the mines.

[Xihirli]

You haven't seen anyone you'd describe as a "guard" since you've arrived, and that continues for a little while. In towns of this size, particularly one where most of the residents have physically active jobs like mining, the town has a militia that can be called by one or two people. Asking around for that person, you quickly receive directions to the carpentry shop of a man named Garyld.

[Ricky S]

"Let us speak quickly with Garyld and inform him of the attack before moving to the mines. Did we want to rest for the evening or make our way there tonight?"

[Lentrax]

As much as I would like to rest for the night, I fear that if we are to have chance at rescuing anyone who has been taken, we need to go now.

[Ricky S]

"Agreed" Liara nods with conviction, "As the old human adage goes, time is of the essence"

Spoiler

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Is my mage armour still active? If not I will cast it again

[Xihirli]

Most of the Carpentry shop is a work studio, littered with planks and shavings of wood. The station has two people inside of it at this late hour: a 50 year old man with graying hair and a young lad, cutting away at what looks like will soon be a chair leg with a sawblade. The fifty-year old man is sitting down, but has a cane loosely held in one hand. He is absently observing the young man's work but turns toward you all when he arrives. He takes in your arms and armor in just a moment with quick, keen eyes.

"How can I help you all?"

[Lentrax]

I am Mirafa, a servant of Helm, and these are my companions. You know Carlanis, yes? What kind of person was he?

Mirafa puts a slight emphasis on the ‘was,’ hoping to convey that this was a matter best talked about alone.

[Xihirli]

Garyld stares at you for a moment, then speaks without looking at the boy.
"Terence, it's nearly sunset. Why don't you head home early, pick up a loaf of bread from the Millhouse before it closes."
After the boy filed out, Garyld motions you all in nearer. There are chairs scattered throughout the studio, with enough of them finished that you could all sit.

"So I take it he's dead. I figured this would happen eventually, but... I really thought the kid had what it took."