Kneeling down while reaching out to let the over grown dog sniff her hand, assuming the dog seems willing, she happily rubs his face.
Seeing the tall René move to start collecting the sleeping dogs and their drunk master Aurora stands back up. Speaking softly to the three men around her, I can help with the one still standing but I doubt I would be much help with the others.
With that said she walks over to the drunken and now wet man, How about no more ale and I help you inside? Back to your bed. If he has not objection she tucks herself under his arm and wraps one arm around his waist and the other hold the wrist of the arm slung across her shoulders. Once secured in her grip the short woman guide the taller drunk inside.
The ulfen narrows his eyes at Cordwin, trying to focus his vision. "Volves bite me! Dere vas a gnome rrigh' verre ya arre standin' master dvarf! Vell, I tink I need no help now... I'm grreat..." he spits on the ground. "Just grreat... my head vill stop spinning inn bout an hourr."
At Ameiko's words, the ulfen is visibly disappointed, and even a bit embarrassed. "Rrite... ve arre not in the Lands." He turns towards Ameiko. "I am sorry for de trrouble... in de norrth tings arre differrent... it is a norrmal ting, a distrraction, to brrawl vith ourr brroderrs... I vill cause yah no more trrouble fairr voman."
The man looks at the sun when the small girl comes towards him to 'help him to his bed'. He looks at her before joking. "I am not a good dancer sveet girrl, but if yah vant to hug me, go ahead!" He laughs hard. "It is too soon forr me to go to my bed... my ancestorrs vould trramble in deir grraves! If I cannot drrink and I cannot hit stupid horse-f!$@errs like dat big man, I have noting to do 'till de nite..." The man puts his head into the barrel of cold water once more for many seconds before emerging. He then moves towards the other three. "So... I am not surre if I hearrd rrite but ya arre de Herroes of Sandpoint! Frrom de rrecent rraid, rrite? I tink I hearrd people talking about ya inside de hall... I'm Olaff, Olaff Olaffson!" He extends is big hand towards you. "So goblins, uh? Back in norrt ve fite trrolls, giants and vicked fey but I tink goblins arre a prrety nasty bunch to, rrite?" Olaff laughs to show that he means no harm with his words, just a small provocation... at least in the north it was always a common thing.
He helped up the large Ulfen when he overheard René's weird comment. "Cordwin bad news?" his head motions to the letter in his hand.
He looked at the northerner unsure what to make of this brute. He was loud, an obvious drunk – even if he was grieving – and looked haggard. He politely took the northerner's extended hand and gave it a firm shake. "Your accent is difficult to make out. But yes..we are the Heroes of Sandpoint. Do you have business with us that you needed to discuss?" He wasn't sure if he liked using that title but he had already let it so he figured why not continue using it especially since the others had not made any comments about it.
Shaking her head at his dismissal of her suggestion. Ok. It is your head that will be filled with pain not mine.
Moving to leave until she hears Olaff start talking about Giants and Fey with those Heroes, Where in the various layers of Hell am I going. I need people to travel with and Heroes never stay in one place. And Kendra did say I should show them around. It is only polite after all.
Grinning to herself and walking over to the now group of four men. How nice of him to ask. Reaching out to tap Tylur on the shoulder, Actually I do. My cousin, Kendra Deverin the mayor of this lovely little town, is swamped with work and asked me to show you around the town. While I have not been here very long I have been here before.I like the dwarf. only one that does not make me feel like a halfling.
Olaff laughs at Aurora's comment. "Ha! Like de rrest of my body! Aurrorra, rrite? Yah have a differrent name girrl, different but strrong."
To Tylur he simply nods, offering his hands than to Cordwin and René. "Yah, ya could say dat I do... see, I'm stuck herre in de sout, and I have noting to do! Vasn't even lucky enouf to arrive beforre to kill some nasty grreen goblins, so afterr I burried my moderr I tougt 'vat am I going to do in dis forrsaken varrm-as-Linnorrm-balls of a place?'..."
He gestured to excuse himself, so he can deal with a sudden burp, before continuing. "...so I looked forr de firrst fine hall to drrink my ass off... ya know... and den I hearrd about ya! So I tougt 'Hey, I vas a trrackerr and figterr back in de nort so dey migt need someone vit my skills'... so..." He looks at you, trying to disguise the fact the he seem to have lost himself in his own narrative.
"... so, do ya need a trrackerr? I see ya have figterrs among ya..." He points to Tylur and Cordwin. "...but vat about a trrackerr?" He then turns to Aurora. "I tink ya need a trrackerr to show dem around town!" He then laughs loudly.
Not able to keep the grin off of her face at the heavily accented words of Olaff. That grin fades when he mentions the reason he is here. Then sighs at the loud belch. I am deeply sorry for your loss. But I would be more than happy to show you around as well Olaff.
It must be René that attracts these people. He smiled at both of their offers and turned to look back at René and Cordwin but then stopped.
"Your offers are most appreciated. Myself and the others would welcome any assistance you can offer. There is another that I am not sure when she will arrive but it's best to have more than less in times like these."
He knew he should have asked René and Cordwin first than to immediately accept these newcomers' offers but Tylur knew better than to upset officials. Slighted officials had a way making people disappear in Egorian and while he did not think the Mayor would go that far here it was best to stay on her good side.
As for the brute well it was always better to keep an eye on people like this. Sheriff Hemlock had wanted Tylur and the others – he was worried where Sabina had gone off to – to keep their presence seen about town to help calm the nerves of the townsfolk. He doubted that letting this brute walk about from tavern to tavern would do anything but cause trouble in a time when assurances were needed. Plus what little he knew of northerners were that they liked to fight better that Tylur guide the brute to take his energy out on the goblins than the innocent townsfolk.
René stifles a snort of laughter as Olaff introduces himself. Olaff son of Olaff? How...imaginative. Should I call him 'Junior,' I wonder?
Glad that the big man was in such a good mood, all things considered -- Or more likely faking a good mood at least -- René joins in with the general light hearted banter, hoping to lift any downward spirit Cordwin might have at the loss of his previous traveling companion. If Cordwin doesn't bring it up, I'll fill Tylur in later, out of earshot. "I'm jus' a-hopin' yer a betta tracker sober'n drunk. Don't go fancin' meself huntin' down 'volves' only ta be findin' we gone an' set a trap fer some little girl's puppy dog." He winks at the big fella before addressing both him and Aurora.
"But where I done put my manners? I'm René." He lifts his battered top hat in greeting, briefly revealing a sleepy looking black bunny hiding underneath. "Don't go payin' no mind ta Hadley; it's his nap time." His smiles broadly before continuing.
"Now, I figger it's good we done come along when we did, sonna Ol'-laff: we just gone heard 'bout a lady supposed ta be right handy with thems that ail ya afore drink. T'wouldn't be right if we didn't at least walk ya ta Miss Hannah's." René points to the East of their current location.
I am defiantly out of the city. Grinning at the taller mans idea of tracking gone wrong. That grin turns in to a wide eyes and a broad smile when she spots the bunny. Will Hadley be friendly when he wakes up?
Olaff laughs at René's joke. "Ha, I am just a bit druunk... I am still no idiot... mostly. Good to meet ya Rrene." He then eyes the rabbit with amusement. "Ven I vas a small boy I had a frriend who had a rrabbit and it alvays peed and crrapped on his lap... ya should have some fun storries!"
At the mention of a heal for hangover, Olaff shakes his head. "Na forr me, tanks! Everry bit o' crrap ve do in life has consequences... I drrunk too much? Den I feel de pain... if not, I'd alvays drrink 'til de end of de vorld... na I harrvest vat I have seeded."
At Aurora's comment the big man laughs even more. "I'd bet on dat little girrl! Vat vould a rrabit do if not be frriendly? It is all dey do: dey eat, dey pee and crrap everryverre, and dey arre frriendly! I'd not tink it vould starrt grrowling and starrt biting everryone... people scrreaming everryverre 'Bevare de terror! De black deat! De demon of de nite'..." Still laughing, Olaff gives a couple stepd towards the direction René is pointing. "Ha, I don't know de vay, I forrgot... Arre ya coming?"
Looking down and mumbling, I was bit by a rabbit as a child.
Looking at where Olaff is heading, I am not sure that is the right way.
"Too bad 'bout yer friend. Guess this mean we ain't got no place ta stay in Maggy-mar, eh?"
Cordwin smiles at the good-natured ribbing. Not if I can help it! I hope to make more acquaintances!
I can help with the one still standing but I doubt I would be much help with the others.
Corwin walks over to one of the sleeping dogs and gently picks it up so as not to wake it. We'll help ye, Miss Warin! He moves the dog to a shaded area off of the road.
"Volves bite me! Dere vas a gnome rrigh' verre ya arre standin' master dvarf! Vell, I tink I need no help now... I'm grreat..."
Cordwin pats the sleeping dog on his head. Well there ain't no gnome here now. Ye don't look right. Methinks you don't look to good!
"Cordwin bad news?"
Corwin almost forgot that René handed him a letter. It had gotten a little crumbled as he had picked up the sleeping dog. He smoothes it out and begins to peruse it quickly. Not really. It says that Sabina does not think she will find the answers to her quest here in Sandpoint, and would rather search somewhere else instead of investigating a long-ago fire. She hopes that someday she'll meet us again. He absent-mindedly folds up the letter and places it in a pocket. I hope she finds the answers she seeks. Cordwin says wistfully. Cordwin thinks on the turn of events. A few days ago he was a stranger to this town, made some friends, lost those friends and seem to have made new ones. He was supposed to wander the lands seeking to learn all he could and instead everyone else had moved on and yet here he was.
"... so, do ya need a trrackerr? I see ya have figterrs among ya..." He points to Tylur and Cordwin. "...but vat about a trrackerr?"
Fighter? Now I know he is still drunk! Nevertheless, Cordwin stands a few inches taller after the compliment.
"Your offers are most appreciated. Myself and the others would welcome any assistance you can offer. There is another that I am not sure when she will arrive but it's best to have more than less in times like these."
I agree! We kind have been wandering around this town, and it will be good to have some companions who know what is where and where is what!
Cordwin sees Olaff head off to one direction and Aurora wanting to head in another. Uhhh...I think the Lass wants us to go another way! Cordwin calls out to Olaff.
Upon hearing of Sabina's departure Tylur goes quiet and then nods, "Yes hopefully she finds the answers she she was searching for."
Tylur walks with the others his thoughts clearly on other matters than wherever the young woman was taking them. She left like that? I owe her my life. Maybe I should leave as well to find her? How am I to repay my debt? Will our paths ever cross again?
Questions continued to ramble through his thoughts mixed in different emotions. He was a child of the streets he knew better than to get attached to things, but this one stung. He had actually found someone he was slowly opening up to and now she was gone. Had he started to have feelings for this woman he'd only just met? It doesn't matter. I swore to the Sheriff that I'd protect this town. And that is what I'll do.
Deep inside he knew he hoped that their paths would cross again. Maybe the next time they would be under more favorable circumstances, but secretly he knew that was very unlikely. Wherever his path took him he figured it would lead him away from Sabina and whatever ailed her.
Stirring himself from his thoughts he could hear the northerner still talking – whether that was to himself or the others Tylur could not say. What have I gotten myself into? he sighed and kept walking.
Aurora leads you in the correct direction toward the healer's place. Olaff takes a few tries at wandering off in the wrong direction, but with the Heroes worried about his level of inebriation, they manage to herd him along too.
She leads you all down Salmon Street, where you pass by The Pixie's Kitten, Sandpoint's local brothel. A few sturdy looking Shoanti bouncers stand by, flanking the entrance. Your group gets a fair number of hand waves and beckoning gestures from the unoccupied professional ladies within, and from a few gentlemen as well. The sight of the Heroes of Sandpoint once again proving to draw attention among the locals.
You round the corner once more, and finally you spot the small shop near the coast of the harbor. The modest sign out front simply proclaims it "Hannah's". And as luck would have it, a fair haired elven female is just opening the door. Over her arm hangs a basket heavily laden with freshly harvested plant materials in a wide variety of leaves, berries, seeds, roots and flowers. Many more of the like are hung drying in the window and doing a better job of advertising what Hannah's business is all about much better than her simple sign. She is the picture of elven beauty and gives you all a nod in greeting and a serene smile before she enters her shop and turns the sign on the door to "Open".
Cordwin bobs along following Aurora. He tries to keep thoughts of Sabina, Paldak, and Alexei to the back of his mind. He helps Tylur and René corral Olaff on the straight and narrow-well as straight and narrow as the still inebriated Olaff could manage!
He waves to the soiled doves, but is not interested in their wares. He did not see a lass with a beard like a good dwarven woman has!
When they reach the shop, Cordwin bows courteously. Seeing her flip the sign he smiles and says, Looks like we are here just in time!
"Hey... I vas just checking dat corrnerr... ya neverr know if derre arre dark fey hidden behind a barrel. Have ya seen a grremlin? Nasty crreaturres... oh nice and beautiful crreaturres..." Olaff wanders off towards the girls from the Pixie's Kitten before he is corralled again. Even so, he waves at them more than once.
When he arrives at Hannah's, he eyes her suspiciously before whispering to Cordwin. "Carreful master dvarrf don't trrust de fey too much..."
As they walk though town the grin on her face refuses to leave as Aurora watches the heroes corral the still rather drunk Olaff. Oh he is one of the funny drunks! Though we could leave him with the whores.. Poor man would have even less gold than the drink stole.
Once they are at Hannah's, So what were you all needing here and do you want me to stick around to show you more of the town when you are done?
Cordwin whispers back, She seems harmless enough, if she gives us any trouble, us fighters will take care of her! He says with a wink.
He then turns to Aurora, Please stick around, Ms. Warin. We shouldn't be too long.
Awestruck by the beauty of this woman Tylur clears his throat like that of a adolescent boy talking to a girl for the first time he squeaks out, "Ummm. Are you Hannah Velerin by chance?"
Nodding to Cordwin, Of course.
Shooting a quick glance at the Tylur with a smile on her face. Aurora will keep quiet since they needed to come here no her. That was just precious.
Awestruck by the beauty of this woman Tylur clears his throat like that of a adolescent boy talking to a girl for the first time he squeaks out, "Ummm. Are you Hannah Velerin by chance?"
The elven woman nods graciously, smiling. "None other, this is my shop. Do you have need of my services? A remedy, perhaps? I am running a special on night tea." She seems to direct this last primarily at Miss Warin.
Raising an eyebrow, I do not seem to recall the medicinal qualities of night tea. Which tea is that?
Hannah looks surprised and comes out from behind her store counter and gently leads Aurora away from the listening male company. "Oh! I would be happy to explain, I have some fresh leaves just in this corner I can show you, if you'll join me." Once she has gained some distance she speaks in a low voice meant for just Aurora's ears.
Turning back to the men in the room, she asks in her lilting elven accent, "And now, what can I do for you good people?"
As the women move away Tylur looks at Cordwin. "Cordwin ask Lady Velerin about the fire when she returns with Aurora."
Tylur steps back and gives Cordwin a friendly nudge as the beautiful elven lady returns.
Olaff looks puzzled to Cordwin and Tylur, still suspicious about the elf. "... but vy vould she offerr a child-killer tea to a small girrl?... She is just a small girrl, not vore, rrigt?" He changes his attention to Aurora "...Unless ya in de south start earrly... And I tougt norrtenerr vomen starrted earrly..."
Olaff shakes his haed, which causes his guts to protest, resulting in another contained burp (contained in sound, not smell). "Nah... dis does not make sense... dis is fey trrickerry..."
The attention taken away from her she wonders around the shop but stays close enough to hear what it being said.
Cordwin does not mean to eavesdrop, but his curiosity gets the better of him. As he listens he turns a deep shade of red. He is just at a loss for this as Olaff. I don't know why something like this would be used? At home, it is the duty of each dwarven wife to keep her beard neat and provide as many children as possible to work the mines, the forge or protect the clan from drow, druegar and other invaders!
He shrugs his shoulders at Olaff not wanting to give away to the elf and Aurora that he had overheard their conversation.
When the elf and Aurora do return, Cordwin is surprised that Tylur is now behind him nudging him forward.
His mind is still trying to wrap around what he had overheard that he stumbles over his words like Tylur did. Uh...Yes..We wanted to ask ye about the fire that burned down the cathedral and prevented babies being born..uh..I mean..uh..killed Father Tobyn and his baby...er..daughter...uh..yeah... His face continues to redden.
The blush that had been fading returns with a vengeance, Damnation! When is my luck going to improve? Keeping her head and but continuing to stand far to close for a conversation she is not in under the guise of looking around.
Not knowing a crap about the business the others were investigating, Olaff left the man to talk to the elf and moved after Aurora, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Humm... I know it is not my business but I tink ya arre too young forr babies... " He measures Aurora a bit before continuing. "I've also hearrd frrom de elderrs frrom Trrollheim dat ya need a biggerr hip bones... derre vas a voman called Lorra who had tirrteen babies, all strrong warriorrs and shield maidens and she got no trrouble at all in any of herr laborrs... she had big hip bones and my grrandmoderr used to say dat Lorra spilled babies like pits!"
Staring up at Olaff with wide eyes as he starts to talk. Her voice is a little louder and has a hint of anger to it. Poking Olaff in the chest with a gloved finger, I am 23 so I am jabbing him again, not to young! Jabbing a little harder this time, And my hips are none of your concern!
Yup, sounds about like what I might have expected given the earlier comments. At least it sounds like one of the better methods I've heard of for dealing with such issues.
René raises an eyebrow, both at Tylur's sudden bashfulness and Cordwin's apparently inability to talk. He attempts to come their rescue. "What he's tryin' ta say is, we was talkin' with some locals about that fire a few years back. Someone said not everyone was a fan o' that Nualia girl. Said it all suspicious like mebbe there was a connect 'tween th' two. Someone said ya might have an inklin' why she 'parently weren't all popular."
He didn't really like this line of inquiry given that he knew so little of this woman. It made it a lot harder to figure out how to phrase his questions. Should he appeal to her as a friend of the deceased helping to right a wrong? Or as an enemy of the girl, looking for "the truth" about the apparently perfect child? This probably would have been easier without the babbling. Then we could have looked into why some people didn't like Nualia independent of any inquiry about the fire. Hopefully it won't matter too much. And in her line of work, I would imagine she's at least somewhat discreet.
Olaff raises his hands and thinks about looking closer to be sure if the 'little girl' was indeed a woman but since she seemed to be a bit angry, he straightened himself, imagining if with his almost 6 ft. 6 in. high she would be able to reach his face for a slap. Having another though, he looked at her feet, smiling this time. Hum... she is wearing boots...
"I am sorrry if I upset ya... I mean no harrm vit my vorrds. I vas just confused... I have neverr seen a gnome so tall beforre. I tink ya arre tallerr dan most dvarrfs I have met!" Olaff smiles, truly believing he is making a compliment this time. Not sure, but I think 23 IS too young for a gnome... perhaps she is a precocious one...
Staring at the taller man for a moment with a look of shock on her face. Opening her mouth to speak and then shutting it. It takes a moment for her to speak, I.. I am not..
Crossing her arms and glaring at Olaff, You are so lucky you are drunk and I hope the hangover you have is painful!
Seeing the commotion that resulted from her error, Hannah looks utterly shamefaced. "Oh... I'm so sorry, dear lady. I did not mean to the cause of any trouble! I'm afraid I deal with the women from the brothel so often I forget that most human females are more sensitive about such things."
Trying to be of some help, she inserts herself between the big Ulfen man and Aurora. "And you will keep your hands to yourself, young man! Behave now, or I will be forced to ask you to leave." She glares up at him with eyes that are almost wholly green, the irises taking up nearly her entire eye.
Once the scuffle is settled she does her best to focus on your questions. "Someone suggested that Nualia was not popular? That does not seem right... Why, if anything she was idolized by most. Revered, even... though I suppose that did create some distance between herself and her peers. It often goes that way with Aasimar, their beauty and grace can often set them apart. Father Tobyn thought she was a blessing from the gods and so he took her in and raised her as his own. The poor dear was a foundling, you see. Most Varisian people are quite superstitious and they tended to seek her touch to cure various minor ailments like warts and rashes. It was quite troubling at times for her, but she bore it well."
She pauses in her rambling on and looks at each of you in turn. "You don't think someone targeted the poor girl, do you? How frightful! She was a perfectly lovely young lady and she had certainly had her fair share of strife." She halts a moment ringing her hands and you get the sense she may know more than she is saying. Perhaps she needs some further convincing that you are a trustworthy, well-meaning group of strangers.
Cordwin still flustered points at René with his thumb. Yep! What he said!
Cordwin watches the exchange between Olaff and Aurora and starts to forget his embarrassment. With a courtly bow, he says to Aurora. Ye be tall to me, Ms. He then points to Olaff. To me, that one's a dang giant!
You don't think someone targeted the poor girl, do you? How frightful! She was a perfectly lovely young lady and she had certainly had her fair share of strife.
Maybe it wasn't the lass that was targeted, maybe it was good Father Tobyn. Cordwin says inquiringly.
In response to Hannah, I take no offence.
Aurora does not even try to keep the smirk off her lips when Olaff is threatened.
Curiosity, general nosiness, and the desire to no longer have focus be on her height and narrow hips pulls her into the conversation, Has something happened to the girl you are talking about or Father Tobyn? I have only been in town a little while so I am a little behind on the recent events.
Olaff is once more caught by surprise by Aurora's outburst and once more throws his hands into the air in an exasperated and defensive gesture, looking at Cordwin. "By Grrutvarr's heavy and hairry balls! Vy is she mad vit me, masterr dvarrf?"
As the elf steps forward and threatens Olaff, he steps back, once more in a defensive stance. "But I AM behavin'! I'm alvays kind to nice fey, be it elves or g..." in a rare moment of wisdom, Olaff is able to stop himself before pronouncing 'gnome' once more. "...grraceful women!" he recovers in time.
"And I'm keeping my hands tank ya..." Olaff moves outside and sits in the porch of the shop, muttering to himself. "Even I wish to rreach forr sometin'... my arms arren't dat long... I could bow I tink..."
Aurora glares at Olaff but keeps her words to herself, Drunk and grieving, drunk and grieving. He will have a chance, one chance, to apologize later. I hope his head feels like a horse sat on it. Turning her attention to Hannah and waits for an answer while hoping no one drags this out.
Hannah rolls her eyes at the Ulfen referring to her as 'fey', but she looks satisfied that he used the word 'nice' at least and sat himself down in an effort to be less trouble.
Solemnly, she explains to Aurora. "It was not very recent, but yes. Five years ago, our old chapel burned down in a terrible fire that claimed the lives of dear Father Tobyn and his adopted daughter, Nualia. Many others suffered injuries and property losses because of it. I really can't fathom anyone who would want to hurt either of them... we all just assumed it must have been an awful accident. Honestly, the only person I could even suspect might have motive to do such a thing had left Sandpoint and abandoned poor Nualia weeks beforehand..." She cuts off, again looking hesitant to share too much.
Seeing their only information for a lead slipping away, Cordwin tries to use all the charm he can muster.
With a look of understanding and nodding his head empathetically, Cordwin says softly, Go on lass, you can tell us the rest of the story.
The elf's fair brow is creased for a moment as her inner turmoil flits across her finely boned features. "Very well... But I must first receive your promise that what I am about to tell you will remain in confidence. I am no rumormonger and I depend upon my reputation for discretion to do business here. Nor do I wish to speak ill of Nualia, who was my friend."
Once you have all agreed not to share the details of what she is about to tell you, Hannah takes a seat and motions for you all to do the same. There are a few low stools, usually used for reaching high shelves, as well as a few chairs. After a deep breath, she continues.
"I am an herbalist and cleric of Gozreh. Father Tobyn was more experienced in his divine studies, so he attended to the more seriously ill and wounded, but I have the ability to heal wounds and tend to many ailments with my herbal remedies. Father Tobyn was a kind and goodly man, but he could be quite stern and had very high expectations where Nualia was concerned. As a result, she often came to me to avoid disappointing her father. Over the years, we became close and she shared much with me. About a year before the tragedy of the fire, she began seeing a local young man named Delek Viskanta. She became quite enamored of him and sought me out for night tea." She smiles sympathetically at Aurora, still regretting the earlier mistake.
"But Father Tobyn knew of the leaf's use and was very angry with her when he discovered it among her belongings. He felt Nualia should remain pure and devote herself to join the Windsong Abbey, a convent located on the shores of the Gulf of Varisia. He destroyed the herb and kept a watch on her to prevent her procuring more. Before long, she became pregnant. She worried over her father's reaction, but she was quite pleased about it until she told her lover. Delek was not pleased... he cursed her for a harlot and denied any responsibility. And then he left Sandpoint and has not been seen here since. Nualia did her best to conceal the truth from her father, but her burgeoning belly eventually gave her away. Unwilling to let her reputation be soiled among the citizens of Sandpoint, he told people she was ill and required her to stay inside to hide her condition. Only I was permitted to see her because I serve as a midwife and already knew about the pregnancy. I tended to her needs as best I could, but she fell into a deep depression. She told me her father bade her to pray for forgiveness nightly and his caring manner shifted to one of judgement and shame." She frowns and shakes her sadly, clearly disproving of the man's reaction.
"The pregnancy seemed to progress healthily for seven months, but then Nualia began to complain to me of pain. I did what I could to ease her, but she miscarried the child. I cannot fathom what was the cause, but the child was dead and terribly malformed. Though I tried to wrap it up and carry it away from her as quickly as I could, Nualia saw and was horrified to look upon it. Before I had stopped her bleeding, she slipped into a sleep like death and would not wake no matter what I or her father did. I checked on her every few days, but she did not show any signs of improvement. And then came the terrible fire. Poor Nualia, she deserved so much better than such a short, sad and lonely life!" Hannah is overcome by the telling of her story and puts her face into her hands, weeping fresh tears of sorrow for the loss of her friend.
"Excuse me Lady Hannah..ehem <clearing his throat>...but after the fire who found the bodies of Father Tobyn and Nualia? As you have confided in us I will confide in you. Father Tobyn's grave was disturbed when the town was attacked by the goblins. There seems to be something we are missing in all these accounts of Father Tobyn's and Nualia's death. Is it possible that there is something more you may have heard whether it was whispered or not during this time or even leading up to it?"
Aurora's blue eyes well up with tears though they do not fall just yet, That is horrifying! I heard about it but not like that. I remember Father Tobyn from visits when I was younger. He was a kind man.
Looking over at Cordwin and mumbling, You all are looking into this fire and the grave desecration?
As the story begins, René plops himself unceremoniously on the floor, crossing his legs. As the tale unfolds, he pushes away his flashes of anger at, well, everybody involved. Actions had consequences and there was really nothing surprising about anything that had happened (except for perhaps the fire), so the whole thing should have been easily avoided. He takes in a deep breath and lets it out in one big whoosh. Really, what did he care for any of the blasted fools? Though it was a pity that the mistake of two all too often tended to fall flatly on the shoulders of the woman.
Calmer, he started to reflect on what this new information meant. The answer was unfortunately "Not much."
Delek could have started the fire. But honestly he wouldn't have much of a reason to. With the miscarriage, it's not like he would have had to worry about an illegitimate heir, even if he were a noble of some sort. And this sort of thing is easy enough to deny. I'm really not sure he gained much by silencing them all. Although he's obviously not that bright, so I suppose it could have been more of an emotional reaction since he certainly doesn't think with his head.
Father Tobyn's behavior seemed a bit disturbing. It could have provoked the wrath of someone who loved Nualia. Even though they tried to keep things hush-hush, it seems unlikely that Hannah would be the only person to know what was going on. And if there's one thing people like to do, it's talk. I'd be surprised if there weren't all sorts of crazy rumors going around about what was happening.
There is, of course, the possibility that a grief stricken Father Tobyn started the fire himself. I'll have to ask what god he follows later, since I know some look down on such things. Not that that always stops people, but it may have at least been a deterrent for one as obsessed as him.
Those seemed to René to be the most likely motives for the fire, assuming it wasn't an accident anyway. Sure, there were a few other worldly explanations, but those he would leave for later.
"A twisted stillborn? Thems bad juju." René makes a gesture to ward off evil. "Was th' child buried with its mother?" He was sure there were plenty of medical reasons for miscarriage (not that he had ever bothered to learn any of them), but he was just as sure there were dark uses for life snuffed out so early. He would also have to ask about the father. Unless it had been suicide, he still didn't see much of a reason to desecrate the priest's grave.
"I tink she did it..." Olaff was still sit at the porch, now trying to clean his ear using his pinky. "...and ya good faderr Tobyn killed de child wit ya nite tea..." Having succeeded in his cleaning, Olaff now flings the small ball of ear wax across the porch. "De elf lady said de faderr knew de herrb's effect and if he vas vorrried about de girrl's belly, how vould he explain a baby? I say he slowly killed de baby, causing it to be veirrd in shape... ven de girrl voke up, she vas so sad dat she asked evil fey to starrt de firre." In his mind, it made perfect sense...
Olaff shrugs. "Dis or just evil fey..." He turns to the others and raises a finger. "Neverr rrule out evil fey... neverr."
Still glassy eyed but now there is a scowl on her face Aurora gets up when she hears Olaff's contribution. Walking over and standing in the doorway while glaring at the taller man, If you want to be part of the conversation come back inside. No sense sharing with the whole town. Without waiting for his answer she walks back inside.
You all are looking into this fire and the grave desecration?
Cordwin nods solemnly. Aye, we are. We believe that the goblin raid, the fire and the desecration are all connected. We just don't know how.
Cordwin turns back to Hannah. There. There. Lass. We hope to find answers on what happened to ye friend. Ye say this Delek left town. Was there any rumor on where he went?
Hannah looks greatly disturbed to learn that Father Tobyn's body has been stolen. "I am not sure who found the bodies. It may have been Father Zantus... if not, I think he would know. Naffer Vosk takes care of burials at the Boneyard."
"The child's body was burned at Father Tobyn's request. As Nualia was unconscious, I was unable to know her wishes about the remains. I don't know where Delek might have run off to, but he was a performer of some note. Perhaps he has associates at the Theater. I'm afraid I don't know anything else that could help you, but if something comes to me, I'll let you know."
Thank'ee kind Lady, ye has given us more leads to follow. Cordwin states with a bow. He says to the others while motioning to Olaff babbling about evil fey on the porch, Are we sure we don't want to get somethin' for his state?