Quest A Troubled Coast

[Keiran MacArthur]

She moved with haste through the brush, terror strangling her heart as she fled into the darkness, sobs of fear trailing behind her. Her legs wobbled, threatening to give out from beneath her yet she powered through the spasms of fright that threaten to rob her of her mobility. The stinging pain of wearing no shoes was the only thing that kept her moving as the unkept wilds mangled her body. The cold earth provided little comfort, instead tearing at her exposed flesh as she raced by. Her upper body did not fair well either as she moved on through the thick foliage. Rogue branches and thorny bushes saw their fair share of blood as she continued with reckless abandonment, the simple shiv she wore torn to shreds. Though she felt every scrap and cut she earned, the fear in her heart saw to keep her moving. She was driven by one basic instinct. Survival.

A beacon of light called out to her in the dark a golden sign of safety that teased her through the tree line. A single candle set upon a window, beckoning her with each rugged step she took forward. She called out for help and was surprised that her voice failed her, horse and low from screaming. Had she been screaming this entire time? Her mind was foggy and she couldn't recall. She stumbled forward, noticing now she limped with each step she took towards the single house beside a large cluster of trees. It was a beautiful sight. It would be her safe haven. She approached the house from behind, emerging from the thick brush to stumble towards the back door. If she couldn't very well scream for help she would pound on the door.

She took one bloody step forward and was plucked backwards, back into the darkness of the forest by an unseen force. It took her a moment to realize that she was on her back, staring upward into the web of branches above. Her body jerked the movement sudden and so very alien to her. She felt a numbing pressure on her stomach followed by an odd sensation. Her skin felt a strange warmth pooling around her midsection yet she was aware her body was quickly growing cold as well. Fatigue settled in and she grew tired by the moment yet she still was able to summon the strength to pick her head up and look down towards her stomach. Her eyes grew wide at the horror scene she was witnessing. Her insides spilled out of her body! Her fragile little body... She had been torn open leaving a gory mess of flesh and organs yet that was not the most terrifying part. Her eyes were locked onto the object of her fear now. The reason she ran wildly into the forest to begin with. The creature she had believed to be so beautiful earlier that night. It clambered over her dying body as if it were a predator claiming it's prey. It's eyes glisten with pure malice as their gaze connected.

"Shhhhhh." Was the last thing she had as the creature tried to calm her but all she could see was it's toothy grin, sharp needle like teeth filled with hate staring down at her.

Tears faced down her face and her lips were trembling. She wanted to scream. To fight... To not be this weak... But as she tried to scream nothing left her mouth save a small whimper. She closed her eyes one final time, feeling the creature's lips against her neck.. And then, she felt no more.

***Three days later***​

The coastal town was small, it's population barely touching over 200 since the last consensus taken three years ago, and three years before that as well. West of Vel Anir, it sat on a bluff, beside a small forest, over looking the sea below where each mourning the men of the town would venture down to board their small ships and fish for clams, crabs, and lobsters depending on the season. Picturesque was the best way to describe the cluster of single floor houses that saw little traffic outside of tax collectors and the occasional traveling merchant. The town was so small, that despite having been settled some 200 years ago, it had only been named on maps 10 years ago. The town of Seaview was just as dull and unimaginative as it's name proving to be ever peaceful and quite often, boring.

Seaview was one of many towns in the area that dotted the coastline that stood away from Vel Anir but was afforded the occasional patrol and protection from the garrisons from marauding nomads. Not that had much to fear, nothing seemed to happen there. A town of simple people who lead simple lives it seemed.

That changed a few days ago however. When he first received his summons, Keiran was simply told he may be needed to help in searching for a missing Governess. Belonging to House Banick, Lady Cerilian Grimes shared a relation with the dread lords by why of being a distant cousin. Such connections afforded her favor in Vel Anir and the attention of many many men. She enjoyed a lavish life, wanting for nothing, until of course she found something she could not have. Thus began her courtship to Levis Grimes, noble and wealthy land owner who was betroth to another. She fell for his charm, his wit, and his drive, but most of all, the fact she could not have him. It angered her to no end that he did not give way to her suggestions and flirtatious jibes. All men wanted her. She was fragile in appearance, lithe dainty frame with dark her, fair skin, and striking blue eyes. Innocent in appearance though what a devil lurked inside. She knew how to drive men wild. She played to their lust, taking but never giving. Levis was different however. Honorable. Kind... He talked her like a equal, seeing past beauty and connecting with her in such a way no one had before. He was betrothed... Promised to another however.. And so naturally, finding her advances would not win this man over, she got rid of the competition in another way. In Vel Anir, wealth could buy much, for example, someone to poison your rival.

With no competition, remaining Ceril was able to claim her prize albeit a bit broken. The pair soon wed after a respectable mourning period and they shared a happy and despite the nature of their union, loving partnership... That came to a end two years later when her husband died from a sickness. Coincidence? Which ever the case, the mourning widow now saw herself in control of her husband assets which meant she was no longer just the spoiled relative of one of the most powerful houses in Vel Anir, but someone of growing importance. Governess of a small portion of the western lands.

She intended to be fair but stern with her lands. They would come to know a kind ruler who expected much from them. She had a vision to bring prosperity to the shore towns. She was wise enough to know however that they would need some prodding. Those she now governed were known for their less then ehtusiastic approach life and she intended to change that attitude by showing them her face. She was to tour the land and let everyone know who now controlled their lives.

All was well up until a week ago when her letters back home stopped coming. That was when House Banick called upon Keiran to begin his search, however, 3 days ago that changed when he received new orders. Word had traveled that Lady Grimes was touring the small town of Seaview and had spent one night there before turning up dead. Her naked form had been found just outside of town, beside a small house that rest alongside the surrounding forest. From the report he read, the sight of her body was alarming. Ordered to leave her body undisturbed, it sat there, alone in the cold save for the guards who kept a watchful eye on the scene. The town folk wanted to give her to the fire, citing it was heathen thinking to let her body sit, however Keiran's betters knew the importance of having him see her body.

Before he could do so, Keiran waited for for the others to join him. His uncle had served as an agent for House Banick, a duty that now belonged to him, and had arranged for help in this matter. Already there were rumors surrounding the death, talks of runaway mages and a magical artifact used on Lady Grime's body. Because of this, Keiran could only imagine what horrors the woman faced before death claimed her and knew these rumors would serve to drive an interesting and curious lot in his direction. So there he waited, just down the road with a grim look worn upon his brow. When told he was going to serve House Banick, this was not at all what he imagined, though in truth, he wold discover in such time his mind lacked the imagination of the horrors to come.

Phillipa Ebonheart Liam Silvern Nerisyrre Silvern Abjurer Kerastrina

 

[Kerastrina]

When Kerastrina heard that there was an investigation into the murder of a woman she almost left that moment, but what kept her was the tale that the woman was a noble, and that the murder had happened out in the woods, or something, not in the dock warehouses. It was her luck to be in the same place as another murder, and the murder of a Lady no less. Kerastrina knew that that would mean money for those that followed the case. The chance of getting a magic artifact would be a nice bonus. She held no hope of actually finding the culprit. The body being in the woods meant there was a good chance an animal was the killer and if there was a real killer they obviously would have left by now. After all, who would stay in a town where you just committed a murder? Hel, if she got extra luck she might even find a lead from one of her underworld contacts. Criminals love to brag too much for their own good.

With all that in mind Kerastrina volunteered to help look into Lady Grime's murder. She found herself a place at the local inn, and waited for the inevitable rest of the investigatory force. Passing the time by drinking, or throwing her knives.

Soon her anxiety began to reach her. How was she supposed to know who she was working with again? What if she got recognized? What was taking so long? Was this a trap for her? Maybe she should try to sneak back to her room to set up a decoy, and make a break for it before it was too late.

Phillipa Ebonheart Liam Silvern Nerisyrre Silvern Abjurer Keiran MacArthur

 

[Phillipa Ebonheart]

Phillipa had been in her office when a letter arrived from Vel Anir was handed to her. It was marked for her directly, bearing the name Ebonheart on the folded parchments face. Eyes darted between the person delivering the letter and the folded parchment, an unspoken question in her eyes as the other person nodded. With a gloved hand she took the letter and opened it, fingers pinching opposite corners of the letter as she scanned it briefly before actually beginning to read.

A precaution that she had learned from those that ran the research department of the college. They had suggested upon her asking the best way to open an unknown piece of parchment to minimize skin contact, as well as holding the corners. Was a far less often occurrence for the creator to completely fill the item with triggering marks at the corners than where a person typically held a letter to read.

The letter itself innocuous and she dismissed the delivery boy when she began to read it. It seemed to simply be a request for help with a matter that may have pertained to a magical item along with a possible rouge mage that had connections to the passing of a noble around Vel Anir. The huff of annoyance mild as someone knocked on her door. The small arch of her brow as they entered all the more question she needed to ask as they informed her of a student that had been asking around about the very topic she had only just read about.

She sat back in her chair, puzzled as to how this student could have learned of the event prior to her own knowing. She gathered the name, and it stuck with her for a moment. The tilt of her head suggesting that she was trying to recall something that she may have only heard in passing.

Whispers among a few of the more, respectable hired hands the college kept in their pocket had whispered something about a large bounty that had been posted. They had assumed large anyway by the lack of an actual number for a noble that had gone missing? Was it missing? She silently asked herself as she pushed aside papers on her desk. The ongoing case of the long missing tome would having to wait, as this issue was fresh and pressing to those involved.

With a careful curiosity, the next few days she had found another mercenary and asked about the bounty she had heard about. A few coins loosened the tongue as she shared a drink with the man, learning that a noble girl had gone missing from Vel Anir not to long ago and that her family was hoping to have her returned.

The name caught her attention as she thanked the man and expressed that she had lost interest. When asked why, she had believed with that large of a bounty, the person was likely to have a dangerous or renowned item on them to garner such a large fee. The man shook his head and they parted ways. A sharp chuckle coming from Phillipa as she entered her office once more to plan her next move.

It seemed the student had a few secrets to keep, and a source in Vel Anir that had informed them. She bit the end of her thumb for a time, pondering which of the mercenaries she was going to ask the company of without tipping them off to the bounty that would be sitting in front of them. Her eyes wandering over the various cabinets of paperwork as the aha moment struck her. The ones associated with the church might not have heard of the offer yet, and they still liked her even after the pointed questions about a goddess that didn't seem to exist.

She nodded, content with that course of action and began to think of the next move. The next day she contacted the the third highest ranked healer, seeing as it was an investigation rather than a simple find and fetch trip. Ilona was a human woman like herself, and Phillipa was not troubled to ask for her cooperation with the task that had been sent from Vel Anir. After a promise of some additional funding, and a light threat for severe lack thereof, it was also made clear that they should take the elf girl that was still fairly new to the college.

Protests about the student being so fresh and new were dismissed readily, and when questioned about the reason for this choice, the promise of funding slipped away from the projects Phillipa knew were personal projects rather than college sanctioned. Ilona bowed her head for a moment before agreeing with Phillipa, ensuring they would bring the elf along. A sickeningly sweet smile was with a word of thanks was all that Phillipa left it at when she returned to her home that evening.

The next morning, she traveled to the church and asked for Duron, finding the pale man tending to the gardens outside. With a small bit of coin in his hand and a request for his services, he gave her a respectable bow before assuring her he would be ready by tomorrow. Expressing her joy with his quickness, she left him to his business and returned to the college.

Ilona returned and after asking the student to accompany them, expressed their concern for missing the classes that would take place in their absence. With a small huff, the other woman was waved off as Phillipa made her way to the department heads office to discuss the matter. After a bit of discussion pointing out that her family had contributed to the budget numerous times. As well as assisting in a number of personal projects paired with her stellar record of retrieval, save for one case, permission was granted to use half of the budget as she saw fit. A sincere thanks was given as she tracked down Ilona and informed the woman of the arrangement to pay for the missed classes. The rest of the details she would discuss with the student herself, as her superior had told her to be discrete as possible with the details.

Once that was secured, and the time to meet had been arranged, Phillipa left her office and went to her own estate to arrange transportation for them. It wouldn't do for them to keep this MacArthur waiting any longer and she was loathe to travel by any other means. She asked her butler to fetch the families travelling carriage, and to thank her mother for volunteering its use for this trip and to assure her that it would be returned as it was borrowed.

The next day arrived, and Duron was the first to arrive as he always was. The man had worked with her before and she found that he complimented her own skills rather well. His silent company was also quite pleasing as she didn't have to idly chatter to pass the time with him. To her surprise, Ilona arrived within the hour behind Duron with two following her rather than one.

After a brief exchange and figuring out details, she had the man accompanying Syrre sign the usual but of paperwork Phillipa made all of the mercenaries she hired out sign. Details about life threatening or altering circumstances, possible lingering magical side effects from exposure to unknown magical items, the unexpected chance of dismemberment or life altering injury were all included in the paperwork. Along with the implicit statement that Phillipa was not in any way responsible for his safety should he come along.

After discussing details about the payment to him, and throwing a bit more coin as hazard pay, they were off.

The trip was rather boring for her, as Ilona made sure to quiz Syrre on her studies while they travelled. Duron made conversation as best he could with Liam or Syrre if they spoke to him, but otherwise kept to himself. His half plate armor and chainmail paired with a sword and mace were all the more statement about his abilities as a mercenary that he felt needed to be discussed.

Nearing their destination, Phillipa opened the flap of a window and cupped her hand before her face. A gentle breath produce a shimmer of lilac energy that transformed into a black iridiescent bird as she spoke to it.

"Find Keiran MacArthur, and show me where he is." She spoke quietly as she sent the bird skyward as best one could from a moving carriage.

The driver took note of the bird, but did not alter course as they came to a stop on the road Keiran looked over. The bird flew about him, trilling every so often as the group exited the carriage.

Phillipa did not wait for the others to join her as she dismissed the bird and gave a faint smile to the man before her. Her steps were quick and concise, her expression seeming to fall between displeased and disinterested.

"Phillipa Ebonheart. Where should we begin?" The woman quickly introduced herself, glancing about at the place. She hadn't seen details in the letter about a location as she pulled the cloak around her a bit better. In this small of a place though, it was likely one could hardly walk a few steps without hearing about the murder of a noble.

 

[Abjurer]

Thump.

The butt of the stave came down on the hard earth. The wizard holding the unadorned length of wood stopped, leaning his weight against the stave as he fixed his pointed cap. The darn thing was a blessing in the sun, but the ease with which it seemed to become crooked almost made it more trouble than it was worth.

Thump.

The wizard continued on his way with a sure, if slow gait. He had heard of the Lady Grimes, if only in passing. 'Twas truly a shame that such a promising young'un had been taken from the board. Yet, it was intriguing, the manner in which she had perished. Even more so were the rumors of the involvement of a magical artifact of some kind. Yes, this would most certainly be something to take a personal look at . . .

Thump.

The wizard's musings carried him to the edge of the forest, the site of the murder.

"Halt!" came the cry from one of the loitering guardsmen, "Y'can't come farther. House business."

"Ah, my good man!" the wizard exclaimed cheerfully, ignoring the command with an equal measure of cheerfulness. He continued his approach, coming to clasp the guardsman's shoulder with a surprisingly firm grip. "I come on such business all the way from Elbion! And what dreadful business it is! Darn shame what happened to the young lady, a darn shame I say. Really, I must say it reflects poorly on the state 'o this wonderful land. Back in my day, well, we didn't have this sort 'o trouble! We walked leagues for bread each day an' none 'o us got eviscerated! Why, if any dastardly creatures tried, we'd've eviscerated them, I tell ya!"

The wizard continued to prattle on in the manner that only the elderly can, patting the guardsman's shoulder and half-mumbling comments that amounted to variations of 'back in my day. . . ' and 'a darn shame'. It served as a perfect distraction while he breezed past the overwhelmed guardsman, having conveniently never answered exactly why he was allowed to be there.

He breezed all the way up to the group of official looking persons past the guardsmen. A veteran of inserting himself in places where he didn't belong, the wizard merely offered a short nod to the others gathered as he came to stand with them and did his best to look appropriately serious and official.

Phillipa Ebonheart Liam Silvern Nerisyrre Silvern Kerastrina Keiran MacArthur

 

[Nerisyrre Silvern]

The events surrounding her presence in this carriage had been strange. Syrre herself wasn't even quite sure just how she'd gotten so tangled up in this mess, and explaining it to Liam had been even more challenging. Yet here they were, pressed should-to-shoulder in Lady Ebonheart's fancy carriage, riding toward a seaside village near Vel Anir, the place they'd spent so much time escaping -- all because she'd sent a letter.

She'd only written to Selte in the first place after a great deal of deliberation. They had always been close, but her identical twin had always been the fiercer of the two. Where Syrre had been born with their collective gentleness, Selte seemed to have been born with all of their fury. A flower and a flame, they were the balance to the other, and yet the utter contrast that drove the other mad.

But Syrre had left so suddenly, and she couldn't imagine leaving her twin in the dark. They'd been in confidence since their birth, and there was nothing she had ever hidden from her. How could she have been expected to be parted from her and hide from her? The note she had penned had been cryptic and vague, but she had prayed to Astara that she would understand. And she had. The letter she'd written back had been filled with joy and sorrow, and the burning passion with which Selte experienced all of her emotions.

Yet something she'd written as an aside had concerned her. A distant cousin of theirs had been slain, and the circumstances of her death were unknown but suspicious. It said little else, but the death of such a notable up-and-coming member of Vel Anir society should have warranted more than a few passing words. Intrigued, she'd pursued her curiosity elsewhere. There had been a number of people in the college hailing from Vel Anir. She discreetly pressed a few of them on the matter, to no avail. It seemed that she was among the first to have heard of Lady Grimes' death. She'd gone about her usual business of studying and missing Liam, throwing herself into practicing and lessons.

The invitation to accompany Ilona on a specific college errand had been sudden and an uncomfortable coincidence. Syrre had done her best to thwart it, apprehensive of venturing so near to Vel Anir -- and on a special investigation regarding a magical artifact surrounding the suspicious death of a certain Lady Grimes. She'd backpedaled hard, but Ilona and the college, particularly the Lady Ebonheart, seemed highly motivated to have her along.

Syrre hadn't been able to refuse. The experience, the monetary gain, the waive of payment on classes she'd miss during the excursion, Liam's inclusion... She couldn't have reasonably refused without losing face and causing more suspicion than she wanted at the moment. And so, she and Liam had come along.

Syrre had done her best to veil her connections to Vel Anir on their journey. She'd taken the precaution of braiding her hair over her ears, subtly covering the rounded tips of her long ears that would tell locals plainly to which family she belonged. Hopefully, they wouldn't encounter anyone too close to the Banick family. The Evenlights were connected to the Banicks through her mother, whose human mother was a lesser Banick. If she was recognized... She'd broken off her engagement with a son of one of Vel Anir's Seven Houses. Her thwarting Avin Sirl would have been a slight between the houses of their connection, and Banick might have take offense. Not to mention the risk of discovery by her family.

The journey itself had not been particularly interesting, boring in the way that travels often were. Being so anxious made her chatty and overly friendly. She'd been the vision of civility, chatting to everyone with a brightness that was sometimes overwhelming. Syrre wiled away the time with idle chatter well enough, however. She and Ilona engaged in a great deal of conversation on the subject of her studies, most likely boring the rest of the carriage occupants to death with chatter of magical theory and herbalism.

The carriage finally came to a stop, and when Lady Ebonheart stepped out, Syrre craned her neck to peer out. She could smell the salt of the sea, and there was a cool breeze.

"Are we here?" she asked nobody in particular.

 

[Liam Silvern]

Vel Anir was Liam's place of birth. Not just the empire but the capital itself. He grew up on her streets and spilled his own blood for her army. It was where he had met his wife. It was where he had learned both of his trades. It was where death was waiting for him. He had eloped with the daughter of a noble family. It was one with a mixed reputation due to their elvish blood, but even the lowest of noble houses had absolute authority over even the highest of commoners. To make matters worse, he had brought the greatest shame upon one of the Seven Houses by "stealing away" their heir's fiance. Nothing good was left for him there.

Yet one day Liam's wife came to him about a task for the college she could not refuse that took her there. Panic was his first response. Was the college selling them out? Could this just be a trap by her family or worse her ex-fiance's family? He would be killed but she would have a worse fate. She would have to live in an inescapable cage of a life. Her life span was far longer than that of a human's as well. He couldn't allow that, so immediately set out to make himself apart of this task.

After meeting with Phillipa Ebonheart and gaining his place, Liam calmed down a bit. He was going to be with his wife, the most important thing. They would be making a small fortune off of this job as well. It would be a dream come true even despite the Vel Anir aspect of it. If only it didn't have an attachment to the Banick family. That would be what would get them killed or caught on this mission. But he couldn't control matters out there. All he could do was handle what came.

The ride to Vel Anir saw Liam being rather quiet. He was normally quiet, but not so much around his wife. From the beginning of this trip he had been quieter than normal around her and only got more distant the closer to Vel Anir they became. At times looks of pain and sorrow would cross his face as they went through areas he had spilled blood for the Seven Houses and humanity. Only his wife was likely to notice it however as stoic and blank his face was. Far too soon yet not soon enough they arrived where they were going.

Liam was the first out of the carriage. He made sure to help all of the women out with a particularly tender and guarding nature when it was his wife's turn. He began to study the area around them after with his hands on his sword hilts. It was too familiar here. They were definitely in Vel Anir. It was dangerous. It was dangerous for all of them right now. All around them was trees that blocked their vision and hide any stalker within their branches. His grips tightened a bit as a slight frown crossed his face. He needed to teach his wife how to defend herself. He might not be able to protect her here.

Abjurer Keiran MacArthur Nerisyrre Silvern

 

[Keiran MacArthur]

Curious was his gaze as the carriage pulled up and with in moments he was joined by the rest of his promised party. His uncle had sent word that he took measures for him to have aid but this was an odd sort. He expected help in the form of Anirian souls but was surprised the bulk of his help was from Elbion. He was aware his uncle had traveled the land over and from the ledger and journals he provided, his connections were far and wide, still he couldn't help but feel taken back by the oddness of this meeting.

He barley had a moment to acknowledge the wisen mage who suddenly joined him at his side when the carriage rolled to a stop and Phillipa Ebonheart bounded out, quick with her introduction and quicker to get on with the matter at hand.

"My ladies and lords." Keiran managed a polite bow to her and all in her party. "Keiran MacArthur...I serve on behest of House Banick... Thank you for your assistance in this matter..." He looked to everyone, gaze lingering upon Syrre before moving on. She looked oddly familiar. Pushing past the thought he took the lead and moved towards their destination, the singular house where the body had been found.

"Lady Grimes... She is... Was, the local Governess for this fief... She had a total of five territories under her care. She was conducting her annual tour of the land when the correspondence she kept with House Banick came to an end a fortnight ago... They feared she could have been taken for ransom but... I should warn you, what you are about to see is not a kind image." Keiran paused as he lead the group to Lady Grimes final resting place.

Hey skin was dry and leathery, tight against the bones beneath. It was as if she had been sucked of everything and was nothing more then a husk of what she once was. It was hard to identify her as Lady Grimes, as she looked nothing like the beautiful woman she had been before. Pale skin and dark raven locks. The only thing that remained was her hair and the ring on her ringer with the House Banick sigil that pointed at her former life.

"The couple who own the land found her... Wife said she heard a strange noise at night. Sometimes coyotes or wild dogs would track rabbits into their garden and tear into it seems... But what she saw... She said a demon was hunched over Lady Grimes, feeding... It hissed at her and then tore off into the thicket... Her husband was awaken by her screams and saw the remains before fleeing into town with his wife. They are staying at the local inn there under guard..." Keiran was sure to tell them everything he had uncovered so far. When it came to magical creatures and the like, he was out of depth.

Meanwhile at the inn, a guard walked up to Kerastrina with drink in hand, worried expression on his face. "Poor girl..." he motioned upward above them to one of the rooms above. "Heard her sobbing all night... She's terrified the creature of the woods is going to track her down...."

 

[Kerastrina]

Kerastrina watched as a guard approached her. Had he figured out who she really was? Had he realized she was stealing from the dead woman? His words led her to believe otherwise. Wait was he sending her to a trap though? Nah he hadn't asked her to actually go upstairs to check on her, but the normal response would be to try and help her. He might be trying to get her to go there thinking it was her idea, and lower her guard by doing so. Just because that hadn't been the case before didn't mean that this time it was not a trap. In fact, they probably were just trying to lower her guard because it hadn't been the last two times. She did, on the off chance it wasn't a trap, need to get some information from the woman if she wanted to further the investigation however.

Kerastrina had seen the victims body, it had not been a pretty sight. After seeing the body she knew it was at the very least not a common animal. Plus the wounds to the body didn't seem right, Her midsection had been brutalized. So it appeared the attacker was probably not an animal. The problem that then arose was it did not seem to be a human either. The wounds did not line up quite right with weapons, and the way she was killed, the killer also did not appear humanoid. Unfortunately that eliminated all the options she could think of. Kerastrina had not however gotten much of a clear story from the woman, and she hoped that she could get more than, "The most horrible demon I've ever seen" from the woman as a description.

Kerestrina realized she had been just staring off into space for a moment there. She'd just been running on auto while she was thinking, as her cup was now empty, and her hand was, while still making the movement, out of knives to throw. She probably should respond,

"Yeah... Me hounding her to try and remember the demon that terrified her probably isn't helping... Well I should get back to hou... comforting her some more."

If they had set a trap for her, she fully intended to walk right into it without causing any trouble. Trouble makers end up dead, dead people can't escape. Kerastrina got up, and retrieved he knives and breastplate from the wall. She took the cup from the guard, and chugged it. If she was going to walk into a trap she would enjoy a drink first. She paused,

"Thanks for the drink, but you should have brought a second one, you know, to ease her worries."

The guard just sat there, staring at his now empty cup. He had hoped to have a drink with this caring woman who continued to return to the wife's bedside and try to comfort her. He wanted to understand what could motivate someone to be so good for a stranger. This wonderful woman who immediately after hearing that a woman had been murdered in the woods volunteered to help. He had heard that she had leapt into her investigation at once, discovering her home had also been robbed. He would have to ask her to help look into the death of a dock worker once she had finished this investigation.
Phillipa Ebonheart Liam Silvern Nerisyrre Silvern Abjurer Keiran MacArthur

 

[Phillipa Ebonheart]

Phillipa had done little more than nod at Liam when he helped her out of the carriage, not allowing the small pleasure of seeing a man capable of being a gentleman be known as the other man spoke. His gaze lingered a moment on someone behind her. The small smirk of knowing likely unnoticed by him as she confirmed what she had already guessed at. She quickly removed the smirk as she shifted enough to attempt drawing his attention back to her.

"An agent of House Banick you say? A pleasure for the college to be working with someone so capable." She kept the detail of his association locked away for future reference as they moved along. He warned them of that it would be an unpleasant sight and the warning was not ignored. Phillipa reached into her cloak and produced a pair of gloves as she looked upon the body.

Her face twisted a bit at the sight. It looked as though the poor woman had been drained of everything and left to bake in the sun. A noble woman, slain in such a manner might have been the work of some enemy of her house or even of her personally. Phillipa dropped low, keeping het clothing well away from the corpse while she examined the husk. She produced a small monocle and placed it before her eye as she examined the wounds and marks. This was not her area of expertise, but she did not want to cut into Ilona's cross examination with her student. Experience and lack thereof between two healers was more commonly able to discern more details than an inexperienced eye.

"Ilona, bring your student over to have a look. Prepare your stomachs, it's not a pretty sight." Phillipa was kind enough to inform them as she stood and put away the monocle. She spared a look at Kieran before thinking aloud.

"Is the woman that found the body known in town for spinning tales, or is she a reliable source? I don't want us to waste time chasing a worthless lead." She didn't put any inflection into her voice. These were likely people he felt some responsibility to and it would not do for her to bury herself in animosity before they began. "Also, are there any caves or large hollows in the land around here? If it is truly a beast of some forsaken origin, it will likely have gone to ground somewhere to hide from all of this...help that has arrived it it has any sense."

 

[Abjurer]

The interloper kept a banal, professional smile firmly affixed to his face. Meanwhile, internally, he was swearing like a sailor. He had strolled into this particular endeavor expecting few complications. The murder of a mere aristocrat was hardly worth the attention of anyone who moved in the kind of circles Ambroz Baros did. Even the magical nature of the crime would only elevate the event to 'barely notable'. And yet, to his incredulity, there were two members of the College of Elbion that he recognized among those assembled.

Two. And, Ambroz had no doubt, that most of the others were also from the College. At the very least the majority assembled would be from Elbion. That just seemed to be how luck was going today. 'Twas a small mercy that of the two he knew were from the College, one was a small fry. A teacher or something of the sort, if he remembered correctly. Not someone he would've interacted with. That was good. What was decidedly not good was the presence of the other one, the human with the raven hair. She worked for Acquisitions. His speciality as an Abjurer frequently brought him there to dismantle traps left on reacquired items. He didn't interact much with the staff, his work being done after the majority had left at the end of the day -- safety reasons, in case of particular nasty surprises. Still, there was a chance she might have seen and remembered him, even if only vaguely.

Maybe, Ambroz thought, she would just assume he had also been sent out to Seaview to investigate? He doubted it; his luck wasn't that good. Still, this situation was salvageable, he just needed to distract from questions about why he was there. But how to do so? He could try to fade into the background, but that just begged for idle chatter. And idle chatter lead to questions. Alternatively, he could try to dominate the social dynamic as he had done with the guard, steer conversations away from any questions. Fun, but not suited for the atmosphere of a murder investigation. Hm. Perhaps a middle ground, with a sprinkle of competency? Harmless old man, not really important, but who knows just enough to justify being present? Yes, that'd work. Lead with a bit of competency, establish ethos, and then work on selling the 'harmless old man' bit. Rambling about the olden days should do the trick.

Having decided on the persona he'd be using, and having thoroughly forgotten that he could simply lie about why he was there as no one could easily prove his story false, Ambroz tuned into the tail end of the speech being given by the man who looked to be in charge. A 'demon' feeding on the lady and the presence of witnesses back in town? Both interesting and relevant. He opened his mouth to speak, but the woman from Acquisitions beat him to it.

"What kind a'folk monsters do they tell stories about 'ere?" Ambroz asked after the woman finished speaking. "I doubt we're dealin' with somethin' that is jus' passin' through. Probably native, or close enough to've been brought 'ere by an interested party."

Personally, Ambroz was betting on some sort of vampire or blood mage. The way the body appeared to be drained of fluids suggested as much. The 'feeding', as reportedly described by the witness, pointed towards the former but the wizard had heard of blood mages that liked to... Add a personal touch to the gathering of blood from their unwilling donors. In either case, it would be best to find the culprit quickly. A vampire would likely try to spread its disease to distract them while it escaped. As for a blood mage, well. Any mage given time to prepare was dangerous. One that thought it was cornered was even more so.

 

[Nerisyrre Silvern]

Syrre took Liam's offered hand out of the carriage, her hand on her thigh out of the habit of hoisting the skirts of her traveling clothes but lost in the absence of such. She awkwardly brushed nonexistent dust from her breeches and moved to stand near Ilona. As her teacher and overseer on this journey, she expected to mostly live in her shadow. It was a chance for observation she couldn't have possibly dreamed up in her most optimistic fantasies on the journey to Elbion with Liam, but here they were.

She'd been a bit too bright-eyed for the nature of this excursion, but when they were greeted by the Banick agent it was all she could do to press a polite smile. Keiran MacArthur? What a bad stroke of luck! Syrre dropped her eyes as his came to linger on hers, her hands clasped in front of her and inclining her head forward in a gesture of servility. She was doubly glad that she'd braided her hair carefully, covering the telltale elongated round ears of her family.

She should have known that, with Cerilian's connection to the Banicks, the house would have sent someone well-trusted to investigate. She had only heard of Keiran and had never met him, but that didn't mean they'd never been in the same room before. The Evenlight family did not carry the best of reputations in Vel Anir, thanks to their elven heritage and her father's bold posturing to marry into one of the Seven Houses, come hell or high water. She and her sister had been paraded about at every party her parents could find a reason to have them appear at with that purpose since they were old enough to be mannerly.

Perhaps it was luckier that it was just MacArthur, and not a Banick directly. Syrre would cling to that as she kept close to Ilona's side. As the group turned to follow MacArthur toward whatever scene he was preparing them for, she spared a nervous glance at her husband. She'd done her best to spare him of the details of her life in his absence, but her connection to the Banick family was well-known. Her mother's mother had, after all, been a member of one of the lesser families in the House.

It would be alright. Clinging to her optimism, Syrre waited politely near Ilona until the Lady Ebonheart called the pair over.

For a tenderhearted woman who cried over dead birds and butterflies in her garden, Syrre looked over the deceased woman with brows raised in curiosity. While everyone else was concerning themselves with the details of the monster that killed her, she and Ilona inspected the corpse. A pensive frown creased her features, but she let Ilona take the lead of the investigation. Her eyes, however, were no less diligent just because she was of lesser experience. She'd shown great promise in her healing courses this semester, the merit by which she'd been invited. She intended to be as helpful as possible.

Ilona crouched beside the body of the deceased Lady Grimes, her eyes roaming over the body as she pulled on some light, fitted cotton gloves.

"Has anyone touched the body?" she asked, not even bothering to look up at MacAruther. Syrre didn't dare look either, lest it should draw his attention to her instead of the senior healer.

 

[Liam Silvern]

Silence. That was Liam's job right now. He just needed to stand there in his boots with his long leather coat on. A black brigandine made of steel and leather covered his chest and padding the rest. His hands were covered by reinforced gloves and his thighs guards were made in a similar fashion to his brigandine. Nothing covered his head currently, but a chain coif could be partially seen hidden in the high collar of his long coat. All in all it was hard to tell if he had underfunded skill or just thought his current attire was fine out of inexperience.

The only transaction that fully caught Liam's attention that transpired next was the look Keiran MacArthur gave to Nerisyrre Silvern for the briefest moment. It was not jealousy that immediately rose to his chest but concern. His face was unlikely to be remembered by those working for the Banicks. He was a simple commoner. His wife however had a blood connection to them and reason to be remembered. Was she found out?

It seemed not as nothing was said and things moved on towards the examination. Liam followed and made sure to keep close to his wife, and her teacher, just in case. What he saw when they arrived was not something he had ever experienced before. A deep frown crossed his normally blank face. The woman looked like one of those bodies dragged out of the desert tombs he had seen once while serving. It was an attraction for a traveling circus. What was before him was simply a sight of horror made real.

The healers went about their work and began to examine the body. Liam kept close yet did not impede them in any way. Instead of keeping his eyes out for danger however, he examined her arms and legs. Both were beaten up in the one someone running through thick undergrowth without any protective clothing on would. The cut across her stomach disturbed him a bit. He was expecting something clean that would be related to a blade of some kind. Her cut was jagged and torn as if done by some kind of wild animal. A single cut and limbs that showed sign of running for her life through the undergrowth. His frown did not go away.

Another detail caught Liam's attention. There was no clothing. Not a single bit of fiber was around her body or on it anywhere. He looked closer underneath her. Nothing. He then began to look around them. No obvious hint of clothing in the trees either. The ground however showed signs of her being dragged to the spot she lay. Pulled further from the house. Pulled closer to her death.

Liam looked at the woman's body again. An old scar on her right shoulder and some wound on her neck. They didn't tell him much. The one on her neck was somewhat fresh but was hard to tell due to the mummification of her body. It was likely just her running into a thorn bush along the way. From there moved he began to look for where she had entered this spot from. Signs of where she had been while running. Foot prints, broken limbs, and fabric or blood still clinging to sticks and leaves. He hoped he could find it, but also feared he would find what he suspected there. He prayed he didn't find what he suspected there when he did.

Phillipa Ebonheart Abjurer Kerastrina

 

[Keiran MacArthur]

The investigation was now underway and Keiran found himself tested in a way he never expected to be. His realm was that of sword and bow, waging war among men and as oppose to using his brains to solve, or rather attempt, a mystery of sorts. However he now was a agent of the Banick's and that meant operating out of his area of expertise. He took a small measure of comfort knowing that he would not have been sent if they didn't believe him capable, and so he listened to the barrage (by his standards) of questions that had been asked and spared a moment of silence to mull over his response.

"According to the questions I raised and the responses I have been given thus far, there is nothing to suggest that the young lady, Gaelle, who found the body is known to spin such tales. She has been described as a sweet and lovely young lass who most would trust with their children... The idea of her lying seemed to be unbelievable to those around these parts..." Keiran answered Phillipa before pressing on. "Her husband, Robert is a trapper of these lands and is very familiar with these lands... I've asked him to drawn up and such dwellings you mentioned as I too believe that any beast that could inflict such a thing would have a den or something of the sort to return to... Though he insists of all his years of working this land, he never once stumbled upon something that could inflict this.... I did press him on local folktales and such but there is no mention of a creature out of what is already expected to dwell in these lands..." He transitioned to Ambroz, meaning local suspicion would be no help in this matter.

Moving besides Liam as the healers began to look over the body, Nerisyrre lobbed another question his way and she earned his attention once more. He couldn't help but have the nagging feeling that he saw her before creep back into his mind, but Keiran pushed the thought aside, choosing to focus on the matter at hand. "Robert and Gaelle were too frighten to touch the body and thankfully the local guards had enough sense follow in their lead. Outside of a tarp that was draped over her, she has been unmolested..."

It was at this point, Keiran realized he should walk the lot through the scene he had constructed upon arriving and so he stepped closer to the healers and the body. "If you don't mind." He didn't want to invade their space nor stop them from their work but realized this may have been helpful to finding out what truly happened. "Upon arriving, I secured the area and looked over the body... it's... Unbelievable to believe this person was living up until recently as the state of the body reflects someone that has been dead for sometime... However what I observed suggests otherwise... Her appearance suggest she has been dead for sometime now, due to how... leathery her skin has become. With my experience hunting game, a carcass usually falls victim to the elements... It will rot and break down as the weather takes it toll on it... However she has the appearance of a body that has been left undisturbed, like a body in a tomb... However that cannot be the case being that she died at this spot... Outside and unprotected... The pooling of the blood around her body points to that as well as the trail she left behind.... " He then pointed to her limbs. "The small cuts on her arms, legs, and feet suggest she had been running through the forest before falling victim here... Also..." He moved back and walked towards the back door of the house they crowded behind. "Her tracks made it this far... before she was pulled back it looks like... Though everyone has kept away from her body, I have yet to find any animal tracks..." He let the last part hang in the air as he looked back to them. Unless the creature covered it's own tracks, he had no explanation at the moment as to why he couldn't find any.

***
​

After she drained the contents of the guards cup, Robert had ventured down from the room he and his wife had barricaded themselves in. She was asleep now and despite the time that past since they discovered the body, she was still visibly distraught over the ordeal. Robert didn't fare better, his appearance palor as if he had fallen ill the last few days. The trapper had been known for his deep voice and long stride, a burly man who did not seem to know how to cope with how his body fared these last few days. He moved in a pained fashion as if he body ached though he did not complain, as his duty was to focus on his wife.

Approaching Kerastrina, he held a rolled parchment in his hand in which he extended to her. "The man from Vel Anir... The MacArthur lad asked me to draw this map... Can you see he gets it... You are working with him." Robert said in a low voice. He was tired and his sunken eyes showed that much.