Elise (cont'd), Farmhouse Search, What to do next?
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (2)
Mission grimaces at Rennik's aggression. The wizards, apparently, aren't the only ones who will need watching.
Mission steps forward with an easy smile. "We don't really want to die. I'm sure a solution can be reached, wherein you find it in your heart to spare our FIVE lives, and where the TWO of you explain what business you have here."
He keeps his eye on the cabin door, though.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (3)
The woman smiles at you, and holds both hands in front of her in a calming gesture. She turns to the man at her side and says in a voice loud enough for all of you to hear, "Lenny, go bring the horses around, would you?"
She turns back and crosses her arms, she speaks directly to Rennik. "The names of my men are not important, but you may call me Dame Elise if you wish, little one. Our business here is our own, but it may be the same business you are on. Your temperament tells me that we may in fact be on the same side in this matter."
"When Lenny returns with my horses, my men are going to come out the door and mount up to leave. They will not draw a weapon."
"If you are considered valuable, then I do not wish to damage you before our new master has a chance to look you over. If, after that time you still wish to test yourself against me, I'm sure I can make myself available."
Then she just stands there, waiting with her arms crossed and a pleasant smile on her face. She possesses an astounding personal magnetism. She is beautiful, of course, but she also seems wrapped in a cloak of absolute self confidence. Rennik is thinking that she might make a powerful enemy. The rest of the men are wondering what it might be like to call such a creature 'friend'.
(I am going to pause here, in case anyone wants to take an action prior to Lenny's reappearance with the horses.)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (3)
No action. Sa'id defers to Garyth's authority.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (3)
"New Master?" Farron asks, but otherwise takes no action. He will wait until he sees how Garyth responds to this information.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (3)
Rennik calms somewhat and eases the tension on his bow string an inch or two, letting the point of the arrow aim at the ground some feet in front of Dame Elise's feet. Something else is afoot here that has nothing to do with lycanthropes, he decides.
He whispers to Garyth before calling out to Elise again.
"From the looks of it, I'm just glad she can't see your rank and unit from your armor through the fog. We'd best play along - we don't know what her men are capable of just yet."
Turning back to Elise, he calls out.
"I will hold you to your word, lady warrior! I am Rennik, warrior of the Chorrdath, and the day of that test will surely come! Especially if your 'business' interferes with ours again! Tell our master I am still waiting to be properly presented before him!"
Again whispering to Garyth and the group, he says "Something larger is at play here than beasts. After we search the farm, I will track this band... I don't like her look..."
From: Mike
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (3)
Garyth opens his mouth, then closes it, tightening his jaw. He clearly isn't happy about being ignored, but, for now at least, he goes with it.
He whispers to Rennik without turning, "Agreed, this does not seem right."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (3)
A slightly puzzled look crosses Elise's face when Rennik mentions being "presented" to the master, but she says nothing.
In a few moments, Lenny returns leading a group of four horses, one of which is a powerful war horse in chain barding. Elise gestures back at the house, and two more men come out. Both have the same ruffian look as Lenny, dressed in rough leather armor and carrying a variety of worn and well used weaponry. They look at you with a mixture of curiosity and aggression, but say nothing as they mount up. When all three are on horseback, Elise gives a small bow and says, "Until then, master Halfling."
She then swings nimbly up into her saddle, and the four ride off to the east.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (3)
Garyth unclenches his jaw, taking a deep breath. He glances at Rennik, then heads toward the house. He waves the rest of the party on, "Come on, we don't have any time to spare."
From: Matt
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (3)
Rennik stares after the four until they are out of earshot, then proceeds to the farm.
"What was *that* all about?"
Turning toward Sa'id, "What did you make of that, friend Sa'id? Your mind works faster than mine, but it feels that the attack on this farm might not have been random. This Elise did not have noble intentions. I will search for evidence of Horan and the other devil-boar, but I fear that we are dealing with something else entirely. It might be best if you searched the house to see what it was they were looking for - or taking."
Turning to Garyth, "Did you recognize her at all? Or know her name? She seems to have been a soldier once, from Nesalin perhaps? Could you tell from the armor?"
From: Karl
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (3)
Farron says, "I'm afraid it may have been a mistake to let them go without even questioning them. But for now the point is moot." He pauses to see if Garyth is going to take charge. If not he says simply, "I'm not sure it's a good idea for us to split up until we have checked the house and farmyard for dangers." With that he walks over to Sa'id and asks, "How do you think we should proceed with our investigation?"
(ooc- Ty, Farron will be looking over the grounds for anything that looks suspicious or out of place. Does he see anything?)
From: Karl
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (3)
Oops, I missed this one.
Farron will follow Garyth to the house. He will be checking for anything out of the ordinary or suspicious.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (3)
(Out-of-character: I have read Garyth's, Rennik's, and Farron's responses to this message.)
Sa'id follows Rennik and Garyth toward the farmhouse, his eyes following the departing group.
"I'll wager that they have ruined the place for any investigation we could conduct. To believe this 'Elise' is not my inclination," he says to Rennik. "But nonetheless I must investigate the farmhouse to see what damage they have done. Garyth, was there any investigation done by the authorities in Overlook? Did they send anyone here? And has it rained since the attack took place?"
At the sound of Farron's voice, Sa'id stops walking and turns to him. "Prudent, as always, Farron. It is certainly possible that they have left traps for us to stumble upon." (OOC: And us with no rogue!) "However, when we venture inside I think we must leave someone out here to greet Cadfael on his arrival and to warn us in case Elise's group should return. Why don't I go inside with Garyth while Rennik checks for evidence of the wereboars or other tracks? You and Mission can either come inside or look around out here as you see fit."
Sa'id turns back to Rennik. "If you see anyone other than Cadfael coming, or if you find anything of import, whistle. I will come outside."
Sa'id then follows Garyth into the farmhouse.
(OOC: Ty, were the members of Elise's group carrying anything -- e.g. sacks, backpacks -- that could have contained things taken from the farmhouse? Saddlebags on the horses?)
From: Mike
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (3)
"No, I don't know who she was. Still, there was something about her...familiar..." Garyth trails off, halting his advance as he searches his memory.
He turns back to Rennik. "There is an order of knights in Nesalin that I remember from my time there. Her armor looks like theirs, though she seems to have removed the symbols of their faith." He shakes his head. "I don't like how this looks." He turns and continues on to the house. "Come on, we can't delay too long here if we mean not to let them get too far ahead."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (3)
Farron will remain near the door to the farmhouse, checking the immediate area and keeping a lookout for the cleric. "Likewise, Sa'id, call me if you need my assistance. I will keep an eye out for Cadfael." (And an eye ON our halfling friend, he thinks to himself.)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Mission has not checked in, but his actions will not affect the following description, so I am going to send it out.
The farm:
Fortunately for the rogue free party, there are not traps. In fact, it appears that the group was just preparing to leave when you showed up. There are some signs that the house was 'tossed' but it's fairly obvious that the other group used it to camp for the night. There are signs that a fire was burning in the fireplace as recently as last night, and there are the remains of a meal scattered about. Dusted spots on the floor show that bedrolls were laid out, and lots of traffic to and from the water closet. The rummaging was probably an afterthought, as it is unlikely a farmer like this had many valuables.
The neighbors had already taken care of the animals here, so the barn is empty, and shows no signs that the group entered it at all.
It really does look like they just stopped for the night, and you caught them as they were leaving.
(Matt is being emailed the details of his tracking attempts)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (3)
were the members of Elise's group carrying anything -- e.g. sacks, backpacks -- that could have contained things taken from the farmhouse? Saddlebags on the horses?
They were indeed carrying bedrolls and packs. The horses all had saddlebags.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Sa'id laughs. "It seems we've been the victims of a well-executed bluff! But they have also conveniently ruined any investigation we could have done here."
(OOC: Ty, is there an 'upstairs?' Sa'id will try to find the bedrooms.)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
OOC: Is everyone getting my emails?
Hm. . . I replied to the Femme Fatale, but my sweet words had no affect on her or on Rennick, apparently. :)
IC:
Mission bites the inside of his lip at being ignored. . . but he allows the strange woman to ride off with her entourage.
He will search around the outside of the home.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Farron will continue watching for Cadfael and looking for anything out of the ordinary. He sends Jack (the weasel) out with instructions to look around the farmyard for anything not normal and come back quickly if he finds anything.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
As expected, Rennik finds little of any value regarding the beasts that attacked the farm. It has been a week since the attack, and there have been many on the farm moving animals from the barns since then. At least one group has camped for the night, which may have been the recent party or no.
The tracks of Elise's band, however, lead off toward the East... as to all other tracks to and from the farm. At least any that remain from the past week. The halfling approaches Farron and reports what he has found - effectively nothing.
"There is little use in my searching the house. I trust Sa'id would be far more observant of such intricasies... but I fear if we delay too long that we may lose our new 'friend' Elise. That all depends on whether she wants to be tracked or not, judging from the company she keeps. I'd wager at least one was a ranger."
Rennik fidgets and looks into the distance for any trace of Cadfael. Sitting on a bale of hay near the door, he gnaws absent-mindedly on the toothworn, leather-bound haft of his axe while gazing blankly down the road to Overlook.
"We only waste time here. The lady warrior knows more than she lets on, and I feel there is some connection between her band and those that disappeared. Possibly Horan and the other devil-beast are in league with her unknown "master" or employed by him. Perhaps this family was murdered for a reason, rather than randomly slaughtered..."
He pokes his head inside the door to see if he can find Sa'id and ask what he can tell about those who lived in the house. What they might have been involved with "besides" farming...
From: Scott
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Mission speaks up at last.
"Where is the other farm that was raided by the lycanthropes? Is it possible that Elise is headed there? Or came from there?"
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
The other farm is to the southwest. It is further from Overlook that this one, but not in the direction Elise traveled. A look at your rough map will let you know that this particular farm is almost exactly one day's hard ride from Nesalin if you are traveling to the interior of the island.
Further searches inside the farmhouse yield no answers. These people look like they lived the normal lives of moderately successful farm folk. A few minor luxuries, and all the necessities of life, but nothing more.
The only thing of note, is how little blood was spilled inside the farm. Even with the son being able to get away to Overlook, there were still four more people in this family that were carried off. At most, you can find a few random spatters from minor wounds. Nothing that would indicate four people were killed, unless they were bludgeoned without breaking the skin.
You spend the rest of the hour poking around, but turn up nothing.
After enough time has passed, Cadfael is spotted walking briskly down the road toward the farm.
(turn 5 should be Cadfael's meeting with the group, and your decisions on where to proceed from here)
From: Mike
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
When Cadfael reaches the farm, Garyth recounts the events that passed in his absence. "There's nothing here, and I doubt we'd find much more at the other farm. If we're to track that Elise woman, we should be off before her trail becomes too cold."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Farron agrees that if we are to catch up with Elise and her band we need to leave quickly.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Rennik is slightly annoyed at the delay and heads into the woods tracking Elise's trail.
"We have lost time. I doubt she would hide her trail, as she does not see us as enemies, but Elise is a cautious and dangerous woman. It is possible that she has left her man Lenny, or one of the others, back to discourage trackers."
"I assume I am the most experience tracker here, and I will go ahead to scout as a precaution. My axe will warn me if there is anyone very close, but I don't want any of you calling unwanted attention to us."
He stops and turns to Garyth.
"Make sure they stay together. I will leave more obvious marks on the trail if it gets difficult to follow... I'm sure even those unskilled in the lore of the wilds can track these hoofprints. Don't fall too far behind."
With that, Rennik moves off after Elise's tracks, his axe glowing faintly.
(OOC - Rennik will have shouldered his bow and taken out his axe before proceeding. He will be employing his Track feat (though it doesn't look like it'll be too difficult) and also Move Silently. At points, he will try using Listen to see if he can hear them up ahead, and if anything seems out of the ordinary, he will use Hide and Listen until he can figure out what's up)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
If he has a moment, Mission will run ahead of the halfling to try and dissuade him from leaving the group.
"I don't like this business of beautiful women disappearing into the mists," he says, and his eyes are suddenly, but only momentarily, distant. He swallows and then continues. "But where is our guarentee that Elise has anything to do with the murders that have gone on here? What evidence do you have that she has anything to do with the lycanthropes? And if she has nothing to do with them, why do you abandon both us and your quest for vengeance to hunt her?"
"We have a diviner," his lips take a momentary downturn as if tasting something disagreeable. "Rennik, let us see if Farron can use his. . . powers to uncover something from this place. If he can tell us nothing, than we have not lost anything we do not have. If he can, however, we may save ourselves both time and blood."
"Elise said much that was woven in with half-told truths. She hinted we shared similar goals. Perhaps she hunts the lycanthropes as well."
Mission smiles calmly, easily. "As much as I wish to chase a pretty woman off into the bush, I can't help but think we may be acting a bit hastily to lay all our problems at her feet."
"Let us try the diviner's power, and see what it yields."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
At the statements of Farron and Rennik, Sa'id looks somewhat incredulous, but he does not immediately speak. He nods as Mission makes a suggestion of his own, though.
"I feel that it is more important to investigate the other crime scene before we go chasing off after a band of rogues on horseback for no particular reason. First, the only association between them and the murders is their camp in the farmhouse. Second, it is clear from the house's interior that they merely used it as a rest stop and might not even know of the family's fate. Third, it's entirely possible that Elise simply spoke as she did to avoid a confrontation. As such, I would prefer that we not jeopardize our mission on the off chance that this group may turn out to be associated with it. What do you mean to do if we somehow catch them? Beat them into submission?"
Sa'id smiles. "No, let us carry on as though we had not met them here, even though they did ruin our crime scene."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
(OOC - To clarify, Farron agreed that "If" the group's goal is to catch up with Elise and co., then the best course of action is to leave quickly. However, he is at this point willing to entertain other options. /OOC)
"The scene of the other disappearance is even older than this one. It is likely to be of less use than this one.
"This 'Elise', whether she may have been bluffing or not, has given us reason to believe she may know something about this mystery. We would be foolish to just assume her staying here was coincidence, though it may turn out that is the case. As for jeopardizing our 'mission', I think our mission is to find out what is going on. A mysterious stranger seems to have more potential to help us achieve this end than whatever cold and compromised trail might be left at the other farm.
"I think above all it is important for us all to stay together. Rennik, if the trail is as obvious as you think, waiting for us to accompany you - if we choose that route - won't make that much of a difference."
Farron walks over to Garyth and speaks quietly, "You are our mark of authority here. We will need you to take charge of this investigation. Perhaps you will want to explain to Rennik the importance of working as a team? At any rate, it is your decision I will follow unless you authorize someone else to lead us."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
At Mission's words, Farron says, "I have not seen anything here that is not also apparent to the rest of you." He then adds in a somewhat jovial tone, "No love lost on us Diviner's, eh monk?"
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Sa'id listens intently to all that is said. "Well do I take your points, Farron, but the problem of what to do if we do somehow catch up to this group remains. They clearly had no wish to entertain us. What would be more interesting is where they came FROM. Can we determine this?"
Sa'id's expression darkens somewhat; he is clearly frustrated by the lack of anything useful in the farmhouse. You see a rustle beneath his sleeve, and then the lithe form of a small, light brown serpent slides out past his cuff and coils its way around his quarterstaff, tongue flicking in and out. Curtly, Sa'id nods at Farron and Garyth.
"I will, of course, defer to the judgment of Garyth in this matter, as he is the representative of Overlook."
From: Matt
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Rennik stares up at Mission, then turns back to the group to speak.
"We came to this farm to find information, a direction to travel, some clue as to what happened to these people. It was my assumption of devil beasts that brought us out here, though I have found no evidence of their presence at this farm. I tracked them to this side of the island, yes, but their whereabouts are unknown to me.
"But we came to this farm for clues, for evidence. From what I've seen, the only people who left this farm went to the east. All the tracks lead in that direction. This is also the direction Elise traveled.
"Beyond this, we have no sure knowledge of how long Elise and her band stayed here. They may have arrived shortly after the attack and may have more of an idea of what happened - or they may have had a hand in it. But her man with the crossbow would not have given us the chance to talk, had they had their way. Nor would she have. The group obviously has little regard for the law and decency, or they would have stayed at an inn rather than ransacking a deserted farmhouse.
"Had Garyth strode forward with honeyed words and the polished insignia of the guard, what do you think would have happened? A group of bandits approached by a single guardsman and a group of citizens? I'm sure Garyth is a great fighter, but he was foolish to think he could so easily approach an obvious watchman with a crossbow with kind words. That's a good way to get shot."
Rennik looks up at Mission with a fire in his eye.
"What proof have I that she has anything to do with this? None. What proof have I that she has anything to do with the devil beasts? None. What proof did we find at this farm? None. What more fresh and recent trails and track will we find at the other farm? None. What direction do we have *any* leads down other than east? None. So, monk, what would you have us do?"
"First, I do not abandon you all. We came to this farm to find a lead, we found one. She is traveling east. Will that lead bring us closer to solving our mission? I don't know. I also haven't heard anyone offering useful alternatives. Second, I do not abandon my quest. Whether or not the devil beasts were responsible here or not, they are in this area and I will find them. It is by pursuing weak leads and small rumors that has led me this far on their path, and I have lost them before when they have traveled as men. I will find them again."
Rennik again turns to the group.
"Friend Sa'id, I know your curiosity draws you to the other farmhouse, but the events are long past, and if this farm has had squatters and neighbors visiting, the other will have had more. Also, I mean not to *catch* Elise's group so much as catch up to them. They will speak more freely amongst themselves than they would in public, and I may be able to get within earshot."
"Friend Farron, you have little experience tracking and moving in open country. All my skills at tracking and stealth will be lost if I am bound to the clanging of armor and the sound of untrained footsteps. I did not suggest going off alone, just ahead. I had assumed our obvious course would be east, though possibly there is some major clue someone else discovered at this farm that directs us otherwise?"
The halfling stares at Garyth.
"Is there some other piece of information we should know from the guard that would point us in a direction more likely to find answers?"