I will seek out any hunters of the town or the near area and inquire with them if there has been any unusual wolf or other unusual predator activity in the area.
To the group I will go have a work with the local hunters about unusual predators in the area.
Accompanied or not, Svetlana will head to the family of the suspected victim to offer condolences and see if they knew anything. Others in the party are far more proficient in ascertaining wildlife involvement, and the priestess isn't convinced this is actually the work of a literal lone wolf.
Damen looked up at Brigid as she announced her intentions to ride off. "Stay safe," he said simply.
As she left, he glanced at Zasha, who followed him, ears laid back meekly, as he joined Svetlana. His voice was low: "I'd like to tell Petra's family that we don't know how she died. At... ah, at least until we know more." He sighed. "If word gets out that a wolf did this - and no doubt it will, sooner or later - people will blame Zasha. If we can find out what happened, maybe that can stop the rumor mill." He looked up at Svetlana, eyes intent.
As they made their way towards Petra's family's house, Svetlana interacted playfully with Zasha as best as the wolf would allow. Sensing the animal's tentativeness, she hoped to add some cheer to Damen's companion. The priestess nodded though in response to Damen's request. I will say nothing of wolves to Petra's family. You know I am a city girl at heart. I love animals but a true understanding of the nature and the wilds...I leave that to you and Brigid. But everything you both have said does not suggest wolves here. Tracks, yes. But one wolf? You say they are pack animals. Could the wolf have been desperate for food? Unlikely, as Brigid mentioned that the sustenance typically eaten by wolves is plentiful now. Could have it been Zasha? Not unless you were involved yourself, which I would rebut with my dying breath. Otherwise, Zasha would be caked in blood right now. Thinking a bit more she added, I still believe that a sentient being was involved here. One with malicious intent. I hope against hope that Petra's....embrace of my guidance....was not the cause here, but we cannot be sure yet.
As they arrive at Petra's family's abode, Svetlana takes a deep breath, and knocks on the door.
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Still a bit of an outsider, and practicing a weird (to the locals) religion, you are not able to get much out of the close-knit hunters and trappers of the area. You do gain one bit of information, called out to you in a jesting voice, but quickly hushed up by the other hunters.
"Beware the North Wind!"
Svetlana & Damen
You arrive at the slightly rundown looking shack that is the home to Petra and her father, Gregori. When you knock, a muffled and slurred voice calls out.
"Go away! She is out with someone else and I don't know who or where..so just get lost!"
Svetlana frowned a bit at the answer; this was going to be harder than she thought. Gregori? It's Svetlana...I need to talk with you about Petra. Can you come to the door? Gregori, I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, but Petra is dead. We found her body in a clearing near town. We need any help you can provide regarding who she may have spoken with recently or any other leads. We, I, will do everything I can to locate her killer.[/b]
Diplomacy, as needed
Svetlana didn't need to feign a serious, somber expression as the man answered the door. Gregori...I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, but....Petra is dead. We found her body today in a clearing near town. The priestess waited for a moment, gauging the man's reaction, before continuing. We still are not sure how her death happened, but I intend to find out. Please, if you can think of anyone she spoke with recently, had an argument with, or any other unusual correspondence it would help immensely with getting to the truth.
Damen again nodded at Svetlana's thoughts as to the killing, Zasha grateful for the comforting play. "I agree it is a strange attack for an animal, but Petra may have intruded on territory or otherwise done something to provoke the offending creature - there is simply not enough yet to know. Whatever the truth, the mere involvement of wolves is a danger to Zasha," he continued, the animal glancing up at her name. "But she has been with me these past several days. Even if I thought she were a danger, there was simply no time for her to do it."
He kept his peace at Grigori's belligerence, letting Svetlana's social graces lead the way here. Still, he braced himself to restrain the man if necessary.
I will seek out Brigid. When I find her. Hello Brigid, I approached the local hunters but I was given the cold shoulder. I wonder if you might go follow up on my initial questioning. "man" Looked to have some information that he might reveal to a fellow hunter.
Brigid spurs Zelter to close the distance when she sees the dwarf hustling toward her. She dismounts and pulls the stag's helm off before he reaches her. She frowns when he describes the hunter who gave him the cold shoulder. Strange that he did not talk vith you. Did he say anything?
She invites Rangnar to ride with her to speak with the hunter he described. When she approaches, she hails him. You, there! I am hunting volves in the area. Have you seen the signs of them?
"You know Svetlana I have to ask. Why don't you just ask the victim using your own clerical powers?"
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sorry retcon-ing back to before Rangnar meets Brigid...
Gregori looks stunned, then rushes past you and is violently ill in the yard. He stayed hunched over, his shoulders shaking as his grief pours out of him. After a few moments he straightens and, wiping his face with the sleeve of his shirt asks,
"How did it happen? Where is she now? How...how could this happen? She was just going into town to get me...to get me another bottle!" He says this last part through clenched teeth, anger and shame warring over his face.
We...we are still trying to determine what exactly happened. Her body was found just outside of town, in a clearing that...people frequent, sometimes. As we speak an investigation team is tracking down leads to bring justice to the situation. Taking a deep breath, she continued. Any help you can provide about who she was talking to, or anything out of the ordinary of late would be tremendously helpful.
"She was getting him a bottle..." Damen mused quietly as the sot gathered himself. "So why was she in the clearing?" For a moment he looked perplexed, but quickly his face cleared, and with a quiet breath he returned to watching Svetlana and Grigori.
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He turns back to Svetlana and Damen, better in control of his emotions.
"She was always going off with the town boys. And they were always sniffing around her. After awhile I just could not care...nothing seemed to be going right for us. I guess I was hoping one of those boys would take her away from me. She deserved so much better than caring for an old drunk."
He lapses into a silence, staring off into the distance.
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Not without animal empathy, sorry. The feeling of being watch seems to go away, and in the distance you can see the lights of the town as you crest the final rise.
Unfortunately something darts from the bushes right in front of you, startling Zelter.
Make a riding check DC-15 to stay mounted
Also make a perception check please.
Svetlana nodded sympathetically, trying as best she could to be a comfort to the man. In the back of her mind a bit of guilt gnawed, the priestess had encouraged Petra's dalliances, but the state of the body seemed to make it unlikely that one of the local boys was her killer. Gregori, has there been any unusual interest in Petra lately, or anything else odd you can think of? Also, would you mind if I looked through her possessions? If there are notes, or anything else that could help if would be of great value. Her face grim but determined she added, you know I am a devotee of the Savored Sting. Vengeance is my domain. Know that I will bring retribution to whoever did this. Svetlana's eyes shown as she spoke the last words; she needed none of her guile to express it.
Despite the feeling of being watched going away, Brigid stayed on edge and kept her bow in hand. The comforting lights of the town within sight was, unfortunately, enough to let her guard down just enough to be taken by surprise. Zelter rears at the flash of movement, and she is pitched out of the saddle onto the ground. As soon as she is able, she scrambles to her feet and has an arrow nocked.
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Gregori shakes his head.
"I don't know. She has had so many young men following her, I have lost count. There was a young guardsman who seemed to be a favourite for awhile. Blast, now what was his name? Other than that, I have no idea who was her 'sweetheart' this week. Now can I go and collect my daughter and take her to the shrine...please?"
When it's my turn, I stand up and send two arrows at it.
Svetlana paused for a moment. You shouldn't press yourself with such matters yet, Gregori. Let me handled it for you. I'll have the priest of Erastil get her body to the shrine, and send word when it is ready for blessing. Please take some time to embrace your sorrow and know that I am seeking the revenge you deserve. The priestess knew that the body was in no condition for Gregori to see at this point, and hoped by delaying the man the situation would not need to come to light just yet. With no other leads at this spot, Svetlana nodded to Damen to depart. To the ranger she said, let us head to the priest and begin preparations. Gregori will want to see his daughter's body soon, and that may make Zasha's position...more challenging.
I will return to the Inn for a warm drink when Brigid and I have finished our inquiries. Nothing like a mulled wine to shake off the cold. While I am there I will catch Kent up with any new details I have gained.
Brigid rides into town at dusk, face in a scowl and grass in her hair.
Staying in the saddle, she rides urging the townsfolk to head indoors and to stay in groups of three or more if outside. She shouts for her companions, specifically Damen.
If she sees any of them, she tells them urgently, Come! Ve must make haste. The beast is about. Is Zasha trained to track?
"Thank you for protecting her, even if it's only for a short time." The ranger ruffled the wolf's fur affectionately. "I hope it's enough."
As they approached Jhod's home, Zasha's ears pricked up, and after a few moments Damen could hear someone calling out for him and shouting warnings. He warily scanned until Brigid came into view, explaining her situation. He glanced from Brigid to Zasha and back.
"Sh-she tracks as well as any wolf. Between us... perhaps we can find our murderer."
Brigid takes them to the outskirts of town, looking for the spot marked by one of her arrows jutting in the ground.
I did not see vhere the beast came from, but it vent in that direction, she points to a nearby copse of trees. She peers into the gloom. Ve need light.
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As Damen and Svetlana are heading for the church, and Ragnar is looking for Brigid, they hear the warrior woman calling out. When they arrive, they can see that she has been in some sort of scuffle. Overhearing the commotion, Kent also wanders out to see what is going on.
With all of you gathered, and a few townsfolk as well, Brigid tells of the attack and of what she could see of the beast.
Asking Damen if Zasha can track, the group heads back to the site of the assault.
In the darkness, not much can be made of the area. Zasha sniffs about for a bit and seems to catch a trail, but soon starts to whine and shy away from the trail. You also find a few huge paw prints the, while unmistakably are wolf prints, still look too big and irregular for a normal wolf.
Svetlana pauses in letting Jhod know about Petra's death and her father to hear out Brigid and make sure she is unharmed. Rather than head out with the rest of the tracking expedition, the priestess will assist Jhod in preparing the body for last rites and a proper send out into the Great Beyond. She also advises Jhod about Petra's father.
Once complete, Svetlana will attempt to track down the guardsman Gregori mentioned was involved with his daughter for time, to see if he knows anything.
Brigid looks around in the fading light. Her face is dour, frustrated that the creature cannot be found. She thinks a bit about Zasha's refusal to follow the tracks. I may have been right about it being diseased, if Zasha does not follow it. I do not think ve are dealing vith a pack. Just the one.
Perhaps ve should spread out, but not farther than ve can hear?
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Like Brigid, you follow the tracks a short way, but then loose them in the darkness. They do look ...odd to you, but you cannot quite put your finger on it...
Svetlana: Where do you go to look for Gregori? He might be on patrol, at the newly mads barracks, or in the only new tavern in the settlement, The Trapper's Lodge.
[ooc]@Daniel: Svetlana wasn't going to look for Gregori. Rather, she was looking for the guardsman he mentioned. If that is what you meant, then she'll check all three possibilities. She'll start with the Trapper's Lodge, then go to the barracks and if he is in neither of those places then see if she can determine where he might be out on patrol. I'm assuming they'd know that at the barracks.
Shaking her head, Brigid takes Zelter's reigns. She starts walking back to the village, alert, but resigned that the beast had slipped away.
If ve cannot track it tonight, ve must vait for light. Perhaps then ve vill have some luck.
Svetlana offered a wink and a smile to the bartender who helped her locate Petra's former paramour, Eric Oxcut. She knew the bartender was a bit smitten with the priestess, and she was unafraid to use it to her advantage. Svetlana then proceeded to head in the guard's direction. When she found Oxcut, she smiled sympathetically at the man. Greetings Eric, I'm sure by now you've heard about Petra. Know that I am devoted to finding vengeance for her. Any information you might have about her, when you last saw her, or anything else you may know what be a tremendous help. In asking the question, Svetlana was keen to assess the man's reactions. She knew the power of passion, and that Eric may not be innocent in this matter.
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You find the guard out on patrol with another member of the town watch. You come upon them speaking in hushed tones, and both jump guiltily as you announce your arrival.
"It is a dern shame and all, m'am. I should stop by and give my condolences to her father. I had not seen Petra for a few days now...I guess I had fallen out of favour with her...'