"Excuse me, I'll gather mine as well."
Landon then leaves to collect his own belongings.
Soren returns with his meager belongings, and also invites anyone who wishes to search his person and room -- he has nothing to hide.
Amestri turns to Matthias, takes a deep breath and bows her head. Softly she speaks:
Matthias nodded as they walked, his kind eyes also sad. "We have seen much stress over the past tendays. It is not so strange that you should be on edge." He gave Amestri a quick hug before going.
Landon returns and deposits his gear to be searched.
Belgrin returns with his pack on his shoulder. "Here ye are, folks. Just put back what ye rummage through."
Hope we catch the fool who thought it wise to pilfer somethin' at a time like this...
My lord Hezar? Miss Belina? You've been in there a long time ... the Lady wishes to inspect your bags immediately. Would you open this door, please? A male voice, a guard presumably. He continues to knock persistently at your door!
Hezar heads over to the door and opens it, once Belina settles again.
Everyones' bags are eventually collected and deposited in the centre of the room. Evaline takes charge and begins going through them; she tries to be discrete, and does not toss around your items, but rather tries to gingerly go through your possessions.
After going through several bags, she comes upon Belina's bag, tied shut with string in elaborate knots. This one ... appears to be sealed, mistress. Should I...
Open it! answers Lady Stendarr, clearly irritated that the necklace hasn't already presented itself.
Sighing, Evaline begins cutting the knots (much to Belina's chagrin) and then goes through the pack. She feels something .... wrapped in a silk skirt, the necklace - beautiful, with many diamonds and a delicate platinum chain - finally reveals itself.
The guard segeant lifts it and shows it to the Lady. The lady turns on Belina. How DARE you? You come into my home and steal from me? Evaline, Cassandra - arrest her! The two female guards approach, clearly intending to take the young bard into custody.
Janiries keeps her eyes locked on Evaline as the guard sergeant goes through the bags, mostly for reassurance that Evaline isn't doing anything dodgy.
As Evaline pulls the necklace out of Belina's bag, Janiries eyes go wide with shock, clearly surprised at her actions.
Hezar steps between them.
How dare she? How dare you! This woman almost died twice in defense of the ungrateful citizens of Tilver's Folly. She arrived here to listen to whispers of bigotry from the staff here. Just this morning it was shown again with the Lady Amestri as well. Do you really think if she had stolen anything from you she would have walked right back here now? We had plenty of time to escape to run had we done anything.
The only time she has been out of my sight is when I was on the wall. And during that time she was preparing our room for a special ceremony. She has been set up. Sir Crane warned me this morning it might happen this way, but I ignored his advice.
Hezar struggles to control himself. Perhaps we should be speaking to the girl Hannah from Tilver's Folly. She was the ringleader of hate there, and has been mysteriously absent since we have been here. As has Lafali, her consort, who also has shown incredible bigotry towards Belina and myself as well. Or perhaps it is the work of these agents of Shar running amok in the house. There are a thousand possibilities other than this innocent girl stole the necklace, perhaps you should entertain some of them.
Hezar takes Belina's hand. I shall escort her to the holding cells. Your guards will not lay a hand on her.
[b] I will solve this Belina, I promise you. Hezar says to her, holding her tight.
The Lady quakes with anger at Hezar's words. You dare lecture me on law in my own house? I will arrest criminals as I see fit, if you can prove her innocence, then so be it! Until then, she will be treated as any criminal would - with arrest, the binding of her wrists, the search of her to ensure no hidden weapons or thieves' tools, and confinement! Guards, arrest the girl!
Belina quivers in fear but strives to calm herself. My lord ... Hezar ... please, do not fight them. I will go with them to their cell. I know you will do everything you can to prove my innocence. I swear upon our love that I did not do this ... I know I have no alibi, no witness for my presence last night ... but you must believe me. Please say you believe me.
Hezar is swayed by her words and steps aside.
I dare call out folly and bigotry where it exists. I dare call out a good and noble woman who is blinded by rage, and refuses to see any logic. Unless you intend to arrest me, I will go ahead and try to find the culprit and carry out justice.
Hezar waits for Belina to be taken away then he makes straight for their room. As he leaves he says. I would appreciate assistance from any of you willing to assist in clearing her of this accusation.
Amestri watches the packs of the others being opened and searched with a stony demeanor. When the Lady ordered the knots to Belina's bag to be cut rather than asking her to open them, she frowned. The discovery of the necklace surprised her, much as it did the others, but the fire remained in Amestri's eyes at the way the Lady handled things, and found herself nodding during Hezar's angry tirade.
After he had stormed out, Amestri turned to the Lady, "You had best be sure that she is well cared for until we have been given the opportunity to prove her innocent. Any harm comes to my countrywoman, and you can be sure there will be a reckoning, and I expect that I will have to line up behind Hezar for the opportunity."
She then moves to pick up Belina's pack, along with any stray knots that were cut off prior to the search and hefts it beside her own. "We were told how the Stendarr estate would be a safe haven in times of need. Clearly, we were misinformed." She then leaves, to follow Hezar back to his room.
After the distraught ranger leaves, Soren turns to the group while repacking his things.
"I must confess, I know nothing of this place, its customs, or its laws, nor why we dawdle on such things when a great evil is amassing nearby. I should think we'd need every able body to combat this threat, theft or no, though I understand the Lady's indignation at the act. If you all deem it absolutely necessary to devote our efforts to this task, I'll offer my aid as needed."
Evaline seizes Belina and pushes her over a table. She binds the lovely young bards wrists with a thick, rough cord; when Belina cries out in pain, Evaline looks to the Lady, who says: Loosen her bonds - I do not want her in pain, until her guilt is confirmed. Evaline relents and loosens the rough cord a bit, and Belina visibly relaxes.
Belina is then searched: a dagger is found strapped to her thigh, under her long, full silk skirt; it is taken from her, as is any article of jewellery found upon her.
Evaline expresses concern about the lockup. My lady, it would be best not to have this one in the holding cell, surrounded by drunkards and worse. Perhaps we can keep her in your drawing room? I fear for her safety in the dungeon. Lady Stendarr rolls her eyes and consents, though she notes that all items of value should be removed first to ensure they do not mysteriously go missing, as well!
Landon merely stands there watching the evens unfold with a frown.
During the search of Belina's bags...
Evaline seems simply to be doing her job. She has cast some dark glances at Belina, likely due to her race, and her hand seems to instinctively go for the braided whip she wears at her side when she looks at the young bard.
Belina ... is very hard to read. While she seems genuinely sweet, there's a secretiveness to her ... she did seem surprised by the discovery of the necklace in her bag, at any rate.
Lady Stendarr seems to be just what she looks like - a decadent, bored noble. She does look often at Janiries, and the looks aren't merely friendly - something has happened between the two....
.... and your examination of your companion Janiries confirms it. Janiries is wearing the Stendarr signet ring, and her dress has recently been fitted to her more slender body - it was originally designed to fit the Lady herself. The two are lovers! Talking to Janiries might be a way to help Belina, as she probably has some romantic sway over the lovely young noblewoman - the ring was probably offered as a romantic gesture, a symbol of the permanence of their relationship.
Madame Amestri. I would appreciate the second set of eyes. Thank you.
With that he systematically checks the room for both clues and perhaps even a track of some kind.
If we are lucky we might be able to find something that Apollo can track by scent. Though he is still quite young, but we might try it.
"You mentioned a ceremony that she was preparing the room for, while you were out on watch. Do you happen to know what the ceremony was called, or what it was meant for?"
Amestri then passes her fingers across her eyes intoning "Cigam T'ceted" and begins looking around the room, including Belina's bag and the lost knots.
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Belgrin remains a bit stone-faced through the proceedings, cocking an eyebrow at the newest revelation and the arrest. "The best thieves are the ones who wait for the perfect moment, so they say...but..." He furrows his brow a bit seeing Belina hauled off. "Maybe I'm not the one to say so, but somethin' feels a bit off here, don't it? Seems to me if she really wanted to steal a necklace she'd have made off with it, rather than comin' back and allowin' her things to be searched, aye? Seems a little too obvious, wouldn't ye think?"
He finishes a chunk of cheese and washes it down with some juice before rising from his seat. "Seems like this lot's ill-fated to have every nice meal threatened by some drama or other. I'm no hunter or tracker, but if ye think a fight's about to break out, I'll be standin' guard on the wall. We got bigger fish to fry, and every one of ye knows it."
Cleaning off the last vestiges of crumbs from his beard and clothes, Belgrin bows just a little to Lady Stendarr. "'Twas tasty, in any event, my lady. Just try not to let this whole thing darken yer hearth more than it has to." He then collects his pack, heads back to his room, and begins to suit up.
High stakes mind game we got here. The ranger'll just about shed blood for the bard if he has to, guilty or not. The Calishite might, but I don't know her well enough to say. Landon'll go by evidence alone. The elf...no, she could do it easy enough, but why bother? Haven't seen a grudge 'tween them so far. Bah, it's all a boiling pot bout to bubble over. Soon as someone calls someone out it's likely to get bloody. Just hope it doesn't put us all in arm's reach of that rotting deity.
As to the ceremony... Hezar blushes Belina is a master of belly dancing and she had prepared the room for...for our first night in safety...and a demonstration because I did not know what belly dancing was...she was quite elaborate.
Hezar sets down Belina's pack and brings Apollo to it. With a little luck he might pick up a new scent from inside it.
Apollo becomes distracted by the lether straps and chews them instead of sniffing.
Perhaps he will sniff around in a bit. As I said he is still very young. Hezar smiles slightly in spite of himself.
Matthias was saddened to find that there was, after all, a thief among them... or so it seemed. Certainly her lover seemed to believe in her innocence, but that wasn't exactly proof one way or the other.
Sense motive on Lady Stendarr:
Sense motive on Evaline:
Sense motive on Belina:
He quickly repacked his possessions, then hurried after Evaline and Belina when they left. Addressing Evaline, he said, "Evaline, wait! It does seem odd that a thief would bring her stolen goods back to be found in her belongings, does it not? Perhaps there is some foul play at work here, to divide us when we should be strongest in our fight against this Lassathor. Perhaps the light of Helm can shine on the answer. Would you allow me to question Belina in the drawing room?"
Diplomacy:
Knowledge (Arcana)
"Ah, yes! The gods can grant their servants truthtelling divinations, can they not? They're rarely used among we who follow the Seldarine, but we have different laws and different ideas about falsehood, to put it mildly."
"We never seem to get a decent meal down us without some drama." Janiries sighs rather audibly, picking at the remnants of the breakfast, her desire for food rather gone. Her desire for wine, on the other hand, hadn't disappeared, as she kept drinking the rather delicious alcohol on offer.
"Should we go and get the refugees organised, my Lady Stendarr? We still need to get them out of this estate and some place far safer. Is there any way of contacting the Helmites at Zazesspur about finding a more permanent place for them to settle?"
"Lady Stendar may I have a word with you before you go? In private?"
Once out of earshot of everyone else, "M'lady, considering the current events should no evidence of Belina's innocence be found what do you plan to do with her?"
On a stone floor, like here, tracks would be all but impossible to pick up. But...your keen eyes do find a long, brown hair on the floor in the immaculately clean room. Not belonging to either you or Belina - perhaps a servant ... or the real culprit!
Belina herself though - there is something hidden in her actions, something difficult to discern - she seemed less surprised than you might have thought at seeing the necklace pulled out of her bag!
@ Matthias - Evaline listens to your words and nods. You're right, it does seem odd - she should have attempted to flee, or at least hide her ill-gotten gains elsewhere. That is what I aim to determine in my questioning - if she did it, who else might have motive, all of that. As we are in the estate of the lady Stendarr, interrogation of this girl will be handled by myself and, if she wills it, the lady. I do appreciate the offer, but please ... respect the royal will of the Lady, and let me do my job.
Matthias sighed. "As you wish. If you do change your mind, Helm grants His servants the ability to discern truth from lies. I am at your disposal..." he hesitated a moment, "as, no doubt, is saer Landon Crane of the Order of the Vigilant Eye." Though Belina might not like his questioning so well as Matthias'!
Knowing his suspicions would find no welcome with Hezar, he went in search of Landon.
When he found him, he nodded to the passing Lady, then approached the inquisitor. "Saer Landon. In the interest of seeing justice done, I would speak with you. Will you walk with me?" He motioned for Landon to walk the halls of the keep together with him.
Apollo find this person.
Hezar sighs and scruffs his head as he goes right back to chewing.
Hezar tries to recall if the servant that left the night of the dance had that color hair, and if not if any of those that he witnessed making comments about Belina did either.
Amestri smiles sadly at the description of the ceremony Ahh, my Kastian... "I know of it. You must be very special to her. I hope we can discover the truth and reunite you both."
Looking at the hair, she shakes her head, "Such magic is beyond my ken. Perhaps Matthias has knowledge of something that could work. I can assist, after a fashion, with any questioning that may be required."
The little gray puppy snuffles at the hair and growls a bit, before going back to chewing on the leather strap. He's not exactly a great tracking dog yet!
Madame Amestri. I know we have just met, and you have no reason to give me your assistance. But I thank you. I am in your debt.
Assuming she leanrned nothing else Hezar will hold the door open for her and go to find whomever is in charge of the refugees and see if he can find out where Hannah might be. Before he seeks her out, however he will seek out Landon to come with him.
"Of course brother, speak freely. "
Hezar leads the growing party to find Landon. Upon finding him.
Sir Crane. I found this hair in my room. It is neither mine nor Belina's. It is the correct length and color to match Hannah. Would you accompany me to speak with her? She has held Belina in contempt since the chapel. Perhaps you have a spell that can identify who this belongs to.
As they strode through the corridors, Matthias shared his suspicions with Landon. "I do not know how well you know your companions, and I would not speak ill of them... but I did notice that Belina did not seem so terribly surprised to find the necklace in her possession as she might have done. Yet at the same time, I cannot believe that she would allow it to be found in her belongings were she the thief. I have offered the aid of our God to Evaline and the Lady, to discern the truth of the matter, but I'm afraid they did not take me up on the offer. Tell me, does the Lady harbor the same anti-Calishite sentiments that her captain does? I begin to fear that there is some conspiracy here-" He broke off as Hezar approached.
Matthias regarded Hezar with a troubled mien. "Who is this Hannah?"
Hannah is a girl from Tilver's Folly. She took exception to myself and Belina getting close and blamed her for the troubles there. She has also been the ringleader amongst those who disparage Belina as witch or temptress.
She seemed quite close to our missing companion Lafali, who holds me in deep contempt for, as he put it speaking his language with my uncivil human tongue. I would not be surprised if she, at the least , knows who is bejind this. Perhaps you have magicks that can help? I will be in your debt for any assisstance.
Apollo yips in agreement.
"I would help if I could, but I'm afraid my prayers this morning were of a more martial nature. I could search for any magical interference, but other than that, we would need to wait until the morrow, when Helm will hear my prayers once more. Still, if we could find this Hannah and perhaps Lafali, we would have a good idea of which questions to ask tomorrow. Of course, saer Landon may have more immediate means of aid," Matthias nodded to Landon, deferring to the inquisitor.
"Let us search for your missing erstwhile companions. We could also question the staff - many times they are not noticed going about their work, and they see much."
The necklace was on a bust of the Lady's dearly departed mother, in a room of family artwork and memorabilia. The room itself is located in the family's wing of the estate - and since only the Lady herself remains, only her room is occupied. There is very little traffic in the area, save for servants and guards.
Hezar scoops up Apollo as he is pawing at Hezar's leg.
I imagine that Sir Crane has his ways as well. Let us waste no time! Hezar sets off to seek out Hannah.
Matthias spoke quietly in Calishite to Amestri as they went in search of the servants who might have seen something. "These people hold a grudge against Calishites, it would seem. Perhaps I should question them in a friendly fashion while you work your magic, and then you can ask them what we haven't learned in... shall we say, a less friendly fashion?" Amestri knew by now that Matthias wouldn't expect her to actually threaten any innocents; he was a kind soul at heart.
@ Everyone: One of the serving girls - Angie - comes to you quietly, when she feels the rest of the household staff are out of the way. Petite, with long dark hair and large expressive eyes, she looks around cautiously before beginning. There is something I must tell you! She whispers conspiratorially. Last night, after the ranger returned to the room he shared with the calishite girl, I went to attend my lady and Miss Janiries in the Lady's bedchambers. To get to the bedchambers, I have to pass the family relics room. I swear to you ... and will be willing to tell the lady, as well ... that the necklace was still there when I went. When I returned this morning, the necklace was gone. None of the night servants reported anyone leaving the rangers room. I think the wrong person has been arrested!
Belgrin finds a good spot on the wall to lean and keep a good view, and takes out his logbook to catch up on his entries. Hope they sniff out enough to get the facts straight over that bauble. Last thing we need is grief distractin' people and side jobs cutting into our plans. Lassathor's probably chucklin' in his sleep right now...