Elizabeth Hann disappeared three days ago. Up until now, danger had a face, and it lived in the woods. Never before has this danger encroached upon the safe haven that is Perdition's Point. When the Carevin child first went missing nearly a month ago, the townspeople figured he had gotten lost in the woods when sneaking out with the lumberjacks and rangers, but no evidence was found that he had ever left his room the night before. The scouts searched Cadaverwood for days, but nothing came up. In a final act of desperation, his father descended into the well, but to no avail. With no hint of foul-play, the townspeople shuddered to think it was the evils that lie in the forest. While most of the town did their best to move on, the Carevins found it hard to ignore the newly formed hole in their family, especially their daughter, who no longer had anyone with whom to make mischief.
When he found out another child had mysteriously disappeared, Oliver Ebonlocke felt he had to act, taking it upon himself to investigate the fate of these children. However, unlike the first disappearance, which left no clues to be found, Elizabeth's room was marred with large muddy boot-prints. Unable to make sense of what he found, Ebonlocke decided he would assemble a small party to investigate her disappearance. The churchbells gave three long rings to call together a meeting in the townhall. The empty streets were soon filled with the heavy footsteps of a somber population. The meeting hall was silent, and after a quick headcount, Ebonlocke began to speak.
"The recent events that have transpired have shaken Perdition's Point to its core. After the first tragedy that occured nearly a month ago, we tucked away the idea that the spirits who reside in the forsaken woods may be invading our peaceful home. But when the same tragedy repeated itself only days ago, I devoted my time to discovering the truth behind these horrendous crimes. However, it is not a task for a man to take alone. I have called you all here today to see who of you would be willing to join my efforts and put an end to these unforgivable acts. As I am sure you all wish to provide support, I need those with the time and resources to devote to this cause. For everyone else, continuing your work and providing for the town will be just as supportive. If you would like to join, please rise."
Eva didn't even take a moment to think before she stood. She had already decided to help out with the search for the children. She would not stand for her friends being sad. If there was still a chance to find the children, she would take it.
Climbing up onto her seat so she could be seen, she spoke "I will go." Her violet eyes were serious and determined.
'Perhaps I can convince Mahb to help too. She does know the forest.'
Lineera hesitates before standing, then addresses the mayor directly as she stands. "Uh, Mayor Ebonlocke? I know I'm still a stranger to you, and this may not be my business, but I want to do anything I can to help. I would go, if you would have me."
Looking directly into her father's eyes, Elena raises from her seat. "I'd like to join. I'm sure my abilities will prove useful in the search, and I am ready to help."
She pauses for a moment, as she looks around to the gathered people. "Those poor boys... I promise you, I will not rest until they are found!"
With a deft, heavy-beaked, strike the hackle-feathered raven tears the heart from the rotting field mouse and wolfs it down. Virtually unnoticed on the roof's pinnacle, the black bird watches the activity in the small village of Perdition's Point at the behest of its mistress. None of the warning signs she spoke of are in evidence - no pitchforks, no boiling tar, no plucked feathers, and no mobs talking angrily about witches. The peals of the church bell causes it to jump to the left, leaving its meal unfinished. The bird hunkers down and watches the townsfolk head towards the church. Seeing a single figure it recognizes from her numerous visits to its mistress' cave, the raven deliver a croaking chirrup to get the gnome woman's attention. The bird ruffles its feathers at her and then launches itself from the roof in two beats of its powerful wings. It wings away silently over the forest.
As fortune would have it, Mahb is digging for tubers not too far from the village when the raven alights on a nearby branch and fires off a subdued, rattling caw at the old woman. Mahb wipes her muddy hands on her threadbare dress and nods. She picks up her gnarled walking stick and waves it at the bird. "A'right. Let's see what they're about."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A short time later, the crone cautiously enters the nearly empty village - visiting during the day was a rarity for her; It tended to cause more problems than it was worth. Raven on her shoulder, Mahb makes her way to the church, drawn by the sound of serious conversation. She pauses briefly before the church door. The old woman chuckles to herself, and speaks to her companion "I 'spect half these folks think I'll burst into flame just from steppin' in to their sacred space. Let's see if that's true."
She knocks the door open with her walking stick and steps in decisively, despite her stooped form. The hag surveys the room with her good eye, black as her raven. Her other eye, the rheumy white one, seems focused on something unseen in a corner of the room. She lets the reactions play out for a moment, paying particular attention to her greatest detractors, and then clears her throat.
"Forgive this old woman's lateness. I only just heard you were holding a gathering." It is a polite phrase with the barest hint of a rebuke. She waves her stick at the assembled crowd, then uses it to shut the door. "Carry on."
Mahb takes a place near the wall and remains standing.
Elijah looked around at the hall, he shook his head, and let out a sigh."Ye think that with the young missing, it would garner more of a response. I understand the dilemma, but if these disappearances continue our lil' town here won't have much of a future." He thought solemnly to himself for a second. "I think the chaps down at the logging camp can handle themselves for a while, I can lend my services in the search."
He looked at the others that were standing in the room. Great a kid and a drow in the mix. Seems like I'll have my work cut our for me again. Just like last week when Jethro Sanders decided to not show up to the camp, and I had to work his share. He stood almost statuesque with his woodcutting axe between his legs. Waiting for a response.
Eva had smile some seeing Mahb come in, even if it was a risk to her. Jumping down from where she had been standing in a chair to make herself more visible, she made her way over to Mahb to catch her up on what was going on.
Whispering to be less over heard by the crowd, "I saw Pyewacket earlier when I was heading here to the meeting. Wasn't sure if you'd come or not. They are putting together a group to track down who is taking the children. Maybe we can even find them and not just the culprit."
Whilst giving his speech to the townsfolk, everyone is given a small start as the door opens to reveal the suspicious hag, Mahb, hobbling into the room. You notice most everyone stirring in their seats, the room quickly filling with an air of discomfort. Aah, Mahb, you means of gathering information are always quite surprising." Ebonlocke tries to calm down the worried population with a calm and collective voice. "Perhaps your arrival is a blessing, as your skills may yet prove useful in this investigation." The crowd seems to be sated by the mayor's willingness to enlist her aid, although hushed whispers can be heard here and there.
You get the sense that the rest of the citizens still seated are doing so out of fear of what may come should they get involved, and not so much lack of interest. The mood is made all the more grim as a clash of thunder sounds the beginnings of a storm soon to come. The wind picks up harshly and a light drizzle patters on the roof of the town hall.
"So far, this what I have determined. After speaking with the Hanns, we can be sure that Elizabeth was put to bed by her parents the night before her disappearance. Her vanishing does not seem to be marked by violence or aggression, as there was no destruction of property or, Erastil be thanked, blood to be found. However, there were large muddy boot-prints tracked across the room. Hopefully, one of you with better eyes and mind than mine can piece together some sort of significance. If no one else wishes to volunteer, than I would like to conclude this meeting with a prayer." After calling out to Erastil for aid, Ebonlocke closes the meeting and sends the townsfolk on their way. To those of you who volunteered, he stops you at the door and asks for you to follow him.
Rain is not uncommon for the people of Perdition's Point, most continue on with their business, despite the rain. The weather is cold - 58°F (14°C) - as the season begins to change from fall to winter. Even when the sky is not blackened by thunderheads, it is shadowed by an almost supernatural and perpetual cloud cover.
Ebonlocke leads the group out along the western road, turning down a small road leading the various homes. He stops at a simple home, smoke pouring out of the chimney. The gloomy atmosphere made better by the warming smell of squirrel-gibblet chili and the prospect of a hot meal. Ebonlocke knocks on the wooden door, which is quickly answered by a broad-shouldered man, "Come in, her room is still as it was." It was Francis Hann. You get the sense he did not want to focus on the matter, getting it over with as soon as possible. He leads you to a small room in the southern end of the house. The room is simple, a small bed, fit for a child, a wooden rocking horse, a small set of shelves with a few books and toys on them. And just like you were informed, large boot-prints track mud across the floor, leading to and from the window and bed.
"It seems obvious that whatever made its way in did so through the window, but that was just about all I could come up with, and why I decided to put together a team." Ebonlocke sounds disappointed with his inability to come up with something more meaningful. Francis has left the room to be with his wife, Fanferella, who is preparing the chili. She approaches the room to address the party, "When you are finished with Elizabeth's room, join us in the kitchen for a modest supper."
Elijah tugged at his coat's collar trying to divert the rain from flowing down his neck. His footsteps were proud and profound, just as his character was. "Never like to be in the rain when I'm not working." His eyes looked to the sky and his eyebrows furrowed. With a grunt he followed Ebonlocke out the door, while asking a question bluntly, "Any suspicious types been around town lately? Would stand out like a knot in wood if there had been i reckon." Looking up to the sky again he grumbled, "We should hurry, before any tracks outside of the house be swept away."
Elijah bent down in one knee and inspected the footprints, mumbling to himself. "Interestin'" He got up and inspected the remainder of the footprints. Completing his analysis he looked said matter of factually "The foot prints, have a smear that trails each step. Could be any matter of reasons, whether it was a person with a shuffled step or any other reason."
He walked over to the window and inspected it thoroughly as well as looking out to see if there were any other items of interest outside. "Is the window locked and shut at night, or is it left open at night?" Speaking his mind he seemed content at the moment. Leaving himself to quietly analyze, with the smell of fresh rain in his nostrils. He took a deep breath and continued his silence.
Elena follows her father closely, at the head of the group. Along the way, she looks back over her shoulder a couple of times, as if assessing her companions.
'Good thing Eva is here, I like her! I'm sure her concoctions will come in handy, one way or another... And I'm glad Elijah is here too, another strong arm is always welcome... Old Mahb, I didn't even expect her to show up! Still, her knowledge of the forest is profound, and if worst comes to worst, well, her powers, strange as they may be, would be a huge boon for us... But the drow? She seemed friendly enough... But her beliefs are so twisted and unnatural!... Can we really trust her to help us?... I'd better keep an eye on her...'
When the group arrives at the house, Elena greets Francis Hann putting an hand briefly on his shoulder, awkwardly trying to give the man some comfort, then follows him to Elizabeth's room.
Elena kneels near the footprints and examines them closely. "Elijah is definitely right. Something smeared these footprints... The kidnapper was carrying something with him perhaps?"
She look up at the others to hear their opinion.
Lineera takes no direct answer from the Mayor as acceptance enough. People are typically vocal when they wish for you to not participate, and follows quietly to the Hann's household. Upon inspecting the room, Lineera pauses at the tracks, and kneels to examine them.
Standing up, Lineera voices her observations. "No, it's not a matter of the gait. The footprint was made clearly, and then it was smeared not long after. Whomever came in here likely was wearing a long cloak, or cape of some kind that was dragging the ground behind whomever was wearing it."
Beginning to simply think aloud, Lineera talks to no one in particular. "I'm not sure who would wear a cloak like that, it would just get it messy. I try to make sure mine always hangs a bit above my ankles."
Then more purposefully to those around her, "I don't suppose anyone wears anything like that in town? I haven't seen anyone wearing anything that long and dragging myself."
Eva glanced at the sky after they were outside. She did have to agree with Elijah about they needed to move quickly or anything left outside would be washed away.
"I must agree with that it appears to be a cape or something of the sort that smeared the footprints, but perhaps it was on purpose. Could they not have intentionally done so to make it harder to identify these footprints?"
Eva pondered for a moment before moving closer to the window to inspect it.
"Anyone notice anything strange about the window? If this was the means of entry, shouldn't there be marks either here or outside the window? Even on the ground?"
She took some time to give the window a good through look over.
"Maybe, but it doesn't seem like something they would do intentionally. At least if it was me, I'd disguise my tracks by just rubbing them out with my foot. Otherwise I'd have to detach my cloak, drag it across the ground, then reattach it, and hope no one enters the room or wonders later why my cloak looks like its been dragged through mud when it isn't long enough for it. It's possible, but I think this wasn't intentional, the smearing just isn't forceful enough to be a conscious effort to disguise the tracks."
Lineera returns to musing quietly, muttering a spell in a language unknown to those who're gathered except Eva. She glances through the room, looking for something seemingly. Then, once finished, a bolt of inspiration seems to take her, and she drops back down to kneel and holds her hand over the prints, and quietly says a prayer. "Oh blessed and holy Pharasma, please guide me and these generous souls who've gathered to our goal swiftly. Please guide us so that these poor children who're not yet meant for your embrace be kept from being sent there before their time. If it is your wish, blessed goddess, please show me where these tracks have come from, let me see if they've walked through anything as foul as their heart."
"They are putting together a group to track down who is taking the children. Maybe we can even find them and not just the culprit."
The hag stoops over her walking stick bringing her head down to the gnome's level. She grunts her agreement quietly, not entrusting her thoughts to words in front of the villagers.
After calling out to Erastil for aid, Ebonlocke closes the meeting and sends the townsfolk on their way. To those of you who volunteered, he stops you at the door and asks for you to follow him.
Mahb suffers silently through the prayer then hobbles along after the group in the downpour, even though she hadn't actually volunteered. She turns her gnarled hands up to collect the rain water and rinse the mud from them. The raven on her shoulder crouches down, irritated at the dousing. At the Hann home, Mahb stands quietly at the back, looking about the house's furnishings curiously even as she considers the story of the missing child and Hann's words far more carefully than he could possibly imagine . She sets the rocking horse in motion, gauging his reaction.
At the sight of the smears, the hag chants to herself briefly then swipes a knobby finger along one of the smear marks. She runs the muck between her fingers, sniffs it, and licks it - rolling it around in her mouth. She nods at the Drow and Gnome. "They are right. This tastes of fabric, though which one can't be said." She turns her investigation to the room itself, checking beneath the bed and looking for anything odd that may have escaped the mayor's eyes.
"Maybe, but it doesn't seem like something they would do intentionally. At least if it was me, I'd disguise my tracks by just rubbing them out with my foot... It's possible, but I think this wasn't intentional, the smearing just isn't forceful enough to be a conscious effort to disguise the tracks."
The ghost of a smile crosses the hag's creased countenance, emphasized by her yellowing and bent teeth. "Unless these prints are the disguise. A small person wearing large boots... a wolf in sheep's clothing."
The ghost of a smile crosses the hag's creased countenance, emphasized by her yellowing and bent teeth. "Unless these prints are the disguise. A small person wearing large boots... a wolf in sheep's clothing."
"Maybe, but..." A smile of Lineera's flashes across the Drow's face as she continues her musings "But if that's the case, that may explain the cloak as well! If the shoes are too large, then maybe the cloak was too, maybe whoever did this was wearing clothing that was all too large for them! Lineera's grin widens for a second, before faltering. "Oh, excuse me. I don't think we've met before, I don't recognize you from in town. I'm Lineera, priestess of Pharasma. It's a pleasure to meet you." She finishes the greeting with a short bow.
Something in the oracle's greeting amuses the old woman, or perhaps it is just the novelty of its formality. She bobs her head as does the bird on her shoulder which seems to be following the conversation rather closely. "I'm Mahb. Rare is the day when I'm in the village which is why we've not met. Hereabouts they call me witch or hag when they aren't callin' me something worse." She says this last with no small measure of pride. She gestures to the raven, "This is Pyewacket."
The raven bobs its head again and lets out an odd purring rumble in its throat.
"Is the window locked and shut at night, or is it left open at night?"
The mayor steps into the kitchen to ask the parents, and returns to relay the information. "They are not kept locked. They never thought something like this would happen to one of their own."
______________________________________________________________
"I don't suppose anyone wears anything like that in town? I haven't seen anyone wearing anything that long and dragging myself."
Ebonlocke thinks back on the question, "Not that I can recall. Most people avoid robes and the like as they just collect mud and grime, like we see here."
Recalling If Anyone Wheres Long Robes Or Cloak
_______________________________________________________________
The raven bobs its head again and lets out an odd purring rumble in its throat.
Lineera smiles, as she nods a smaller bow to the crow. "Well it's nice to meet you too, Pyewacket."
Ebonlocke thinks back on the question, "Not that I can recall. Most people avoid robes and the like as they just collect mud and grime, like we see here."
Lineera nods distantly. "That's what I thought" As she murmurs this to herself, the dark elf drifts nearer to the window, lightly nudging Eva to the side, then peers down at the sill. "How odd" Lineera glances back into the bedroom. "Elena, Mahb, take a look at this symbol. Have either of you seen anything like it?"
When her gaze sets on the window, the light glow catches Elena's attention. Quickly crossing the room, she approaches the window and muses over the symbol for a bit, perplexed.
As Lineera asks for her opinion, she mumbles "I... I am not familiar with it. Never seen something like this before". Her brow settles into a frown as continues. "It looks unnatural... That 'eye'... I don't like this..."
As her father explains why robes and the like aren't really used around town, she nods and chimes in. "That's true. A long robe or cloak would be most unpractical... That's not something you'd see around town."
Lineera nods, listening to what Elena said in response to her question, biting her lip, then quickly stops and just presses her lips together in a thin line. Then she slowly begins to speak. "I think I may have seen something like this before myself. Back at the Temple, I read many books they had on religion, both ours and others. This symbol looks like... something I saw in one on Old Cults, the symbols all represent heaven and earth in some way. See the moon here? Heaven, but also night for that, or maybe the focus is the moon, I'm not sure. This part beneath must represent the earth. This eye... I feel I've seen it before, but... I think it's specifically associated with... 'The Lord of Things Which Are Buried.' I don't remember much about them though."
Lineera finishes her explanation of everything she remembers about the symbol, but pales slightly as she finishes. "I... I think I need to get my things packed." Then, hurriedly approaches the mayor, pulls him slightly aside, and leans in closely. The mayor likely smells Lineera's perfume, as she whispers "Mr. Ebonlocke, I think the children may have been kidnapped by..." She trails off, and glances over her shoulder to ensure that the Hanns are not listening in. "necromancers, from a cult to a dark god! Please, think hard, has ANYONE you know of left the village? Travelers, someone on holiday, anyone? If we are to find the children, I believe we may find and return the children yet if we set out at once, but we'll be slowed if we have to try and track them out of the village. So if we at least have some idea of which way they would be going, then we could move with much greater haste.
Lineera steps back, giving the mayor space to think before he replies, but nervously wrings her hands as she waits, clearly wanting to go ahead and begin preparing for the pursuit.
Eva wracked her brain to think if anyone in town wore a cloak so long it drug along the ground. She couldn't remember much about who wore what cloak. She just never paid much attention to that.
She looked at the symbol as Linerra explained it. "Maybe this was for some sort of magical ritual? It was both a boy and a girl, and they are both children. Could either of these factors been a key to the ritual?"
"We should check the boy's room too. The same symbol could be there."
Mahb is out of her element when it comes to the vagaries of the locals or religions. She inspects the symbols but offers no opinion on their origins.
She pops the window and looks outside the house briefly.
Pyewacket hops through the window and glides to the ground near some water-filled tracks. He caws stridently at the old woman and hops over the tracks several times.
Mahb nods, "Clever bird. Follow the tracks if you can, then come find me."
The bird glares, clearly not a fan of flying in the rain but, dutifully, he takes off.
Elijah looks out into the rain, shrugging his shoulders and letting out a deep sigh. "Could possibly be something outside, but i'd rather not go outside unless we are finished up inside" He then turns around to join to the current topic of interest. The symbol on the window.
Taking a quick peek on what the others were observing, he spits "Magic...never brings much fortune to anyone. Especially when kidnapping is involved." Hearing Lineera's description of the symbol he is visually disturbed. He sighs "Necromancy...you think that all we would have to worry about with the children would be wild animals. Dead things should stay in the ground."
"Can't think of anyone that would be wearing a cloak that long around here." He gathers himself and hoists his axe to his shoulder, "Time is important, we should take advantage of pursuing any leads that we have. The longer we wait the shorter time the young ones may have. Don't necromancers usually like to be in and around dead bodies? The graveyard may be a good start."
Taking a quick peek on what the others were observing, he spits "Magic...never brings much fortune to anyone."
The crone gives the lumberman a hard look with her cataracted eye. "Only the foolish think ignorance is a virtue."
"Dead things should stay in the ground."
"That may be... but we don't live in a world of 'shoulds'. So keep your axe handy, woodsman."
Ebonlocke returns to the room. A sigh of relief at the amount of progress that has been made, but as he opens his mouth to speak, his melancholy cadence cuts his satisfaction short, "I'm afraid I have much work to do, what with postponing it the past few days. I will be in my estate should you need me. Feel free to browse the few books we have in the townhall if you think they would help. There's a few on the founding of Perdition's Point, others on local legends." He stays for any questions you may have, then bows and takes his leave, bidding farewell to the Hanns and trekking back through the muddy streets.
The witch perks up, as if listening to a distant sound. "Good bird! Pye found something exciting and disappointing, less than a mile away." She closes her eyes and mutters quietly before finishing her thought. "He's coming back now..."
"Was it raining a month ago? When the Carevin boy vanished? Can we see his room as well?"
She had a few theories that she would share with the others about why they wanted the children.
Continuing her quiet conversation with the mayor, Lineera whispers in reply. "Two more things then, did the tax collector wear anything overlarge like this? Something that would drag like we've found? And just so we can pursue as quickly as possible, are there horses we could borrow? I promise to return them once we've found the children, so long as I'm able to."
After receiving answers to these questions, Lineera briefly addresses the rest in the room "I'm going to see what I can't find out on the road, if anyone wants to come with, let me know, I'll be at the Inn getting ready." Wit that, the drow dashes back to the Inn to put on her armor, grab her sickle and shield, and medical supplies. Letting the staff of the Jolly Spirits know that she'll be back soon, Lineera prepares to depart.
Responding to Eva's question, Ebonlocke chimes in, "I don't recall, as far as the weather goes. As much as it rains here, it's entirely possible. I will speak to the Carevins on my out to let them know you might stop by, I'm more than certain they would welcome you."
A few minutes later a dark form wings into view, seen through the gloom and rain haze. The raven alights on a branch, caws, then dives in a straight line. With strong wing beats, Pye arcs in his course and returns to the branch. He repeats the motion again - diving in the same direction before returning to the branch.
Mahb prepares to step out into the wet, pulling the hood of her ratty cloak over her head. She turns eyes on her hosts, the Hann parents, "You have my thanks for the offered meal but another task calls." She nods goodbye and heads outside. There the witch huddles beneath a heavily leafed tree and dries her bird while awaiting the oracle's return.
~ Once the avengers assemble ~
The witch hobbles off along the muddy tracks, looking for telltale clues as she walks. When the tracks vanish she follows the erratic path flown by the raven as he moves from tree to tree through the forest leading the way to what he discovered.
Lineera thanks the mayor as she sprints off to the Jolly Spirits. Once armed, she makes a quick stop to retrieve the horse offered. Now mounted, armed, and with a lead to follow Lineera calls out to all who volunteered to go with her. "I don't intend to gallop, but if you do not believe yourself capable of keeping a fast pace, I'd recommend we go meet Mr. Darris first and see what mounts he can offer us. For now, I'm just planning to go that mile or so out to what Pyewacket found, but if it looks like we'll need to travel further out from there, then we return, do any investigations that are absolutely necessary and prepare for longer travel. We may need to even go as far as the capital if fortune doesn't favor us, so start thinking of everything you'd need if it comes to that."
Elena's eyes narrow slightly as she listens to Lineera talk to her father.
As the drow states her intention to go investigate Pyewacket's findings, she nods. "That seems sensible. Whatever it is out there on the road, it may very well be compromised by animals, the weather... Well, anything really if we wait too long!" She turns toward Lineera, smiling tentatively. "I'll go with you... It's just a few miles, I'm sure we can share a horse for such a short trip..."
If Lineera notices the daggers being glared at her, she doesn't say anthing. Then again, her beliefs have probably made her used to getting said daggers glared at her, so that makes some sense. Once anyone who's coming along is prepared, Lineera smiles gently down on Elena from the horse. "Thank you Elena, I'd appreciate the company. And this horse seems like a strapping young fellow, so I'm sure he can support two ladies like ourselves!" The smile turns wider as she complements the two of them. Then, teasing finished, her face turns more serious. "Do you have everything you need? If we meet that tax collector, or if something goes wrong, we may need to be ready to fight." With this, Lineera switches from sitting aside to astride to make room, then leans down and offers a hand to help Elena onto the horse in front of her. The Drow still holds the reins, wrapping her arms around Elena somewhat protectively. The action reminds Elena of when she was young, treated like a child, yet affectionately.
Once those who are coming are arrayed and ready, Lineera gently kicks the horse and clicks her tongue, setting into motion. Once on the road, Lineera attempts to kick up some conversation. "I just wanted to let you know, that while we may disagree on many things, I still appreciate what you and Abercrombie Perelli do."
Eva could understand the rush to go after the girl, to follow the fresh trail, but something bugged her so much about this being the second disappearance. What if this lead to a chance to find the boy as well.
She followed Mahb out, wanting to speak to her away from the parents, after thanking the Hann's for their offer though she felt it best to follow up on some leads first. Once there she addressed Mahb.
"I'm going to go check on any similarities with the Carevin boy's disappearance. There might have been clues that were overlooked there that we might can find. I'm going to go take a look there. And I have a bad feeling this is for some ritual, there are rituals out there that use children as hosts. There might be a chance the boy is still alive too. Leave some markers if you can and I'll follow after if you all are not back before I finish."
Mahb strokes the raven's chest feathers with her knobby fingers while she listens to the alchemist's thoughts. In the end, she nods in understanding, "Do what thou wilt, Eva. Your path may prove the wiser and mine might lead me only to a grand soaking." She cackles grimly at the persistent rain. "But guard your tongue - anyone could be a spider in this web. Hann seems true to me, but his wife... I don't know. Look for lies in those who share words with you."
After a moment of consideration, Mahb sketches the odd symbol in the mud, "If you find the sign at the boy's house, we may need to look at the homes of other children and other bedroom windows. It could be a sign placed when the children are taken or a sigil placed to indicate the next child to take. My bones tell me this isn't the end of the disappearances, but they could be wrong."
Elijah grumbles along behind Mahb. He footsteps heavy in the wet mud, sticking with each step. His shoulders hunched slightly to angle himself away from the rain.
"I may not have an appreciation for magic, if you knew what some fey did to woodsmen you would understand. I still can't let this overlook how I was brought up. I can't be letting you wander off by your lonesome there Mahb."
He glances up fighting back the water gliding onto his face. Looking back down he spoke again
"Does that bird of yours have an idea where hes goin?"
"It is why I did not speak of my theory inside. We do not know who listens. I'm going to town hall as well, to look through the books. I'll keep my eye out for other places that symbol may be hidden. It may not be just the children."
Placing a gentle and on Mahb, "Be safe as you search. May you find answers." With a small smile and nod at the others she headed off towards the Carevin's house.
Elijah looked at the small gnome walking away from the remainder of the group all her lonesome. "On the other hand, can't be letting the short one alone. Erastil's name be spoken if the culprits mistook her for a child."
Elijah then reroutes to go along with Eva.
"I may not have an appreciation for magic, if you knew what some fey did to woodsmen you would understand. I still can't let this overlook how I was brought up... "
Mahb eyes the tall woodsman and cracks a hideous smile, one that would make babes wail. "Ha! Well said, son of the Wardis! You've a spine and the makings of wisdom." She seems oddly pleased, "You know from where you come but can see beyond its small horizons. Good, good."
"Does that bird of yours have an idea where hes goin?"
The crone chuckles contentedly to herself until distracted by Elijah's question about her bird, "Heh? Oh, Pye knows his way, but whether he leads us to Heaven or Hell is another matter altogether."