Tandlara takes Riddleskin out of his pouch and places him on her shoulder. The old rat blearily stares around at the clearing, watching out for danger.
'I don't think regulations are always going to have answers Verik. Laws are written by men, and most of those men are interested in improving their wealth and power and little else. If the law says its legal to shoot and kill the last members of a species of songbirds is it okay?
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Verik shrugs looking uncomfortable, "I know law and morality are not the same thing Tandlara, but our actions have to be lawful. While we could chastise someone from doing it, even prevent them, we could not hurt, or take their property. But the scenario you posit does not seem to fit this situation, bears are not endangered. And while we may not enjoy the thought we have no right to say men who make their lives trapping them must stop, nor to seize their property. However, they have no right to injure innocent travelers and must pay the consequences for doing so... And yet they must be allowed to trap bear... Hmmm."
'Doesn't mean I have to like it. You saw what that trap did, it wounded and caught the horse. It didn't kill it. And bears tend to be tougher than horses. The bear may not be endangered, but it would still be caught for hours, maybe days in agony. It'd starve to death or eventually be put out if its misery from a distance by the trapper. Thats not making a living, its torture,' Tandlara replies, conviction in her voice.
'And this particular trapper left the traps loaded and unmarked. What if some traveller had stepped in it, one without the luck to be travelling with a preist who can heal wounds.'
A dark expression begins to cover the elf woman's face, reminscent of the vicious change that overcomes her in battle. 'I think maybe we should find this trapper and have a stern talk with him.'
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"Well we do agree on that. I imagine our best bets would be either waiting here, or heading back to Oleg's and asking about him there. And since we cannot know how long it will be before he comes back to check his trap I would rather go on back to the trade post." Verik says, giving the trap a distasteful look. Barbarous certainly, but how else is a normal man meant to take on a bear? Trappers need to make a living I suppose, I had best refer to some existing regulations...
Zander re-mounts his horse as the others have their little discussion on the morality of trapping bears. When Verik makes mention of heading back to Oleg's however, he speaks up, "We shouldn't let something like this end our explorations so soon. We have no indication that this trapper will be back anytime remotely soon and we'd accomplish nothing by going back to Oleg's at this point. Men hunt and trap game, there is nothing wrong with that. We're out in the wilderness, not some country road. It's unfortunate that we stumbled into this trap, but I don't believe the trapper could have suspected that a group of travelers would be out in these woods. We should be extra watchful traveling through this area though. Perhaps instead of riding single file, we could ride abreast of each other to give ourselves a better chance of spotting any more traps along the way?"
"We're in the wilds. The most this place sees of travelers are bandits anyway. I fugure you lot won't care if that thing cought one of them right? But we should ask Oleg about B. Orlivanch, the least we can do is return the mans trap to him."
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"Well if we want to return it to him we ought to leave it here. But I think I would like a word with him. So lets take it, to return after we have had a word." Verik says, "It would not do to antagonize the few locals there are, but he did seriously injure one of our horses after all. He's lucky I don't charge him for healing, it would cost more than his trap I am sure."
Jemini sniggers for a moment, "I'm not really familiar with the laws the way your are Verik, but would seizing the trap here now constitute a breach in the law?"
She eyes Tandlara's efforts carefully. "What does it do? Are you putting some form of hex on him?"
She eyes Tandlara's efforts carefully. "What does it do? Are you putting some form of hex on him?"
"Huh? What?" Berrin looks around and sees what Tandlara is leaving behind. "Wait. What are you doing? Ther's no need to curse the place just becouse of some trapper now."
'Its just a little present. No magic, just telling the trapper that he has been brought to attention. You needn't worry about it. Shall we leave? I don't want to spend any more time on this trapper than we have to.' Tandlara mounts up and gets ready to ride abreast with Taispar and Zander. She keeps her eyes peeled for traps as the day goes on, Riddleskin on her shoulder, adding his eyes to search.
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Verik sniffs, "No, it is not our responsibility to look out for hidden potentially lethal traps it is the trappers to ensure he does not leave them unsignposted by my judgment. The fact the someone stumbling into it was improbable does not excuse that. If he had killed someone with it he would be responsible - a very real possibility - and he is responsible for the horses injuries. The least he can do is explain himself to us. We can check what the local laws are with Oleg, but I think it likely there are none; and in that case, I hold him responsible and liable - the trapper not Oleg. And I will bloody well write some laws and get them legitimized one way or another."
He looks disapprovingly at the fetish, "I am not sure that thing sends the correct message, but I suppose its, ah, cultural."
"Is it possible that we just didn't see it? I mean, the trapper would not be required to have a flag hoisted here. Maybe all the necessary signs are up, but we don't notice them due to not knowing what the local trapping customs are."
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"If we cannot see them when we are looking for them any sign are plainly inadequate. And any customs which only account for knowledgeable locals are plainly inadequate." Verik says firmly. "We will of course be reasonable about it, but I will not leave it without at least speaking with the fellow and looking into the manner. After all we are not stealing the trap we intend to return it to him."
As they continue to travel and discuss local trapping laws, Tandlara's keen eyes spot another trap. At first glance, it is a barely-noticeable depression in the ground covered by leaves. She dismounts and softly brushes the leaves away, revealing a pit with another trap inside. Its placement is more reckless than necessary.
Berrin kneels down by the trap to see if he can find any tracks to follow. Getting up he shakes his head in frustration. "I'm not finding any traks to follow."
"In Lebeda we had a series of accidents, but after a while it became apparent that it was more than just mere accidents," Jemini looks down at the handiwork Tandlara found. She continues, concerned: "Some sick religious nut named Tarvin Haddon had orchestrated it all. From the suicide note it was clear that he was a follower of Zyphus - but the explosion destroyed everything. We never found the body."
Jemini laughs at the idea, "What? Isn't that like saying that you should be a cleric of Abadar in a place that is more civilized like Absalom?" She sobers up, "There were rumors that he was responsible for a lot of things. Every time something went wrong, some injury, some accident, some death - maybe it became a bit of a witch hunt. No offense, Tandlara."
"Yes! It's possible, isn't it? Tarvin Haddon was not even a local lad; for all I know, that was an assumed name. On the other hand - nothing was ever conclusively proven." Jemini sighs, "Though admittedly, out here in the wilderness," she looks askance, "it would require some exceptional circumstances. This is not exactly ideal hunting grounds. For a follower of Zyphus I mean."
"Are you serious?" Berrin asks, arching an eyebrow. "You honestly believe some nut-case is harvesting animal deaths out here?"
"A death is a powerful thing." Taisper offers. "That's what they taught us anyway. They say that the last thing a dying person sees is etched on the inside of their eyes, and that some necromancers and others can, sort of, not sure the word...realize? Find? Those images. So your face could be in some corpse's eyes, or their ghost's. Forever and ever. They told us that a murdered corpse could start bleeding if its killer walked by. Things like that. Harvesting a death, could be powerful."
Not a mile past the last trap, the expedition finds another. This one was very well-hidden, placed cannily in the only way through a particularly dense bunch of trees. It takes them almost no effort to spot the trap, namely because of the humanoid corpse laying with its leg trapped in the sharp edges. The body has been there for weeks at least, if not months. Animals have taken most of the body's flesh off, making it difficult to tell any details. It's not clear what race or gender the body is, though the mostly intact clothes would suggest a human male.
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"Right, we need to find whoever is doing this. But I am at a loss as to how, Zander, Berrin, what do you suggest? Should we comb the local area? Or try heading up onto the high ground to see if we can spot any signs of habitation?" Verik says as he dismounts, covering his face with his cloak. He approaches the corpse cautiously, and begins using his morningstar to search around for possessions which might give a clue to it's identity and origin.
"Well, no I'm not saying that I'm sure it is the same nutcase, necessarily. But it's a possibility, right?"
Jemini studies the corpse while Verik pokes it. "Don't you think it is suspicious that this body has been lying here for a really long time? What kind of trapper would leave his traps unattended for so long? He wouldn't have left the body here out of guilt - it is too easy to just hide it, if necessary. This guy here," she points to the corpse, "could be our B Orlivanch."
She looks up guiltily. "Too much conspiracy theory for one day?"
A search of the area shows the body's former possessions are mostly worthless items ruined by exposure. A small backpack has 200 gold pieces in it. Most of them were minted in Brevoy, but a handful are from locations further away. Close examination shows that the bear trap nearly severed the body's leg, probably killing him fairly quickly.
Jemini looks at the nearby vicinity to spot a suitable place to bury the unfortunate soul.
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Verik looks dubiously at the money, and hands the bag to Berrin, "I suggest we find a hollow under a tree or the like to speed the process, of burying the poor fellow. If I were him I would be more concerned about being avenged than being properly interred - it seems a bit late for that to be honest." He casts about seeking such a place.
...Zander, Berrin, what do you suggest? Should we comb the local area? Or try heading up onto the high ground to see if we can spot any signs of habitation?"
"Well, our best bet is asking Oleg I rekon. He is, after all, the only trader in the area. The trapper would have to at least pass through the tradingpost if not actually trade there." Berrin says as he dismounts and makes his way to the corpse.
"If these are his hunting grounds, then it would make sence for him to have a cabin in the area. Is the trap marked?" Berrin kneels down to examine the trap, looking for markings.
"Higher ground makes sence. It could be we could spot the cabin from a better vantage point." Berrin looks about for a suitably high tree or a high hill in their line of sight.
"Nonsense. What is important now, is that he finds his way well into the afterlife - to whatever god's fold he belongs to. A vengeful spirit will just give rise to a ghost or other undead abomination. By giving his mortal remains a burial, we do our bit to lead his soul to the afterlife." Jemini locates a likely spot and begins to prepare a grave.
"Ghosts? Realy? Heck, I'll help you bury him." Berrin gives a hand in digging the grave, feeling relieved when the body is in the ground and words have been sayd.
It doesn't take much time to find a suitable place under a tree to inter the body. There are a number of rocks that can be used as a makeshift grave common to the Ulfen ancestors of Brevoy. It takes a bit of prying to get the trap off the body's leg, especially making the effort not to further damage the body and gave it a bit of dignity.
The trap is marked the same as the first two: B. Orlivanch.
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Verik places the trap carefully in Virtue's saddlebags, as evidence, in case it is required. He then moves over and helps pile stones upon the unknown man's grave.
"May you find the peace you deserve." He says, still wondering if the man might be a bandit. He then remounts and looks about for some high vantage, or signs of habitation - as well as traps!
"Yup. Stay put now ya hear." Berrin mutters as he claps his hands to get the dirt of them. Looking about he finds the tallest tree he can see that offers some handholds and starts up the tree, jumping up to reach the lowst braches Berrin grabs a hold and tries to pull himself up. His wight results in the branch braking off, sending Berrin flt on his ass, sending off a string of curses.
Getting up and brushing off he gives the tree a hatfull stare before turning and heading back to the group. "This armor is to heavy for climbing properly, plus it restricts movents so much one can hardly breath in it, mush less climb."
Solemnly Jemini places a small twig with fresh leaves on the grave. She bows her head in silence. May you find peace.
Tandlara becomes angry again when they find the second trap. He does not care for any other? Any creature could fall into this, not merely a bear. Not that I'm at peace with that either. She clears off and marks this pit in the same way she marked the first. Remounting her horse with a dark expression.
When they find the body however, she is incensed. Fury covers her face and she gets down from Avansatra and takes a few moments taking deep breaths to calm herself down.
When she rejoins the party she asks 'Can we find tracks from here? Though this trapper probably knows the woods too well to leave traces.'
'I'm as eager to capture this man as any other, but the first thing we need to do is travel this area to find other traps he's left and disable/mark them. Who knows what other collateral damage has been done. But he surely wouldn't have left only three traps. Clearing this area is very important.'
Berrin shrugs at Tandlara's seething, he understands her feelings on the matter but hasn't fully conceeded to the arguments of why he's not allowed to trap game. "Judging by the condition of the corpse these traps have been here for weeks, maybee months, theres just no way we can find usable tracks by them. Granted, he should have marked them for passebys but it's not like this area is well traveled and a trapper has the right to make a living. The amount of traps in the area tells me he's laying them in the hopes of more game. I'd call him industrious rather than reckless."
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"Well I would call him a murderer, or at best murderously inept, incompetent feckwit, who needs to be punished." Verik says hotly, "You seriously think this is acceptable behavior?" He asks Berrin incredulously.
Turning to Tandlara he nods in brisk agreement, "Yes we need to clear this area, put up warning for any and all traps."
'That pit was reckless. A good cautious trapper does not catch human's in their traps. I'll admit that my attitude is clouded from an elven perspective. I don't like trapping, but I understand the need. This man though, he doesn't care one witt for others. He was thrown traps wily nily throughout the forest, he doesn't care about collateral damage, and he has to know its likely. No amatuer built that pit, or hid those traps. This man has commited at least criminal negligence. My feelings on trapping aside, this B. Orvlivanch has something serious to answer for.' Tandlara replies, looking over at Berrin.
'I didn't think you'd find any tracks. Its a shame though. Thank you for looking.'
'Verik said it right. This man needs to be stopped. I wouldn't vote to hang him, but he needs to be made to reckon with this greivious crime. A man lies dead because of his over-zealous, irregardless trapping.'
"Irregardless.." Berrin shakes his head in disbelief. "And you. Hot-head." Berrin points a finger at Verik. "You wanted civilization, well, there you are. The civilization of the wild." Berrin nods as he gestures to the trap, "A mans gotta make a living and a mans gotta eat. What do you want him to do? Catalouge his traps and send a request to the lord mayor in Restov? For crying out loud man! The trapper is probably an ilitarate who's just doing what he can to get by. Do you want him to buy his food with gold he doesn't have? He has to make a living somehow right?" Berrin is getting red in the face now. "Or maybee he should be plowing this area to grow crops? Get real. The animals of the region would eat his harvest after they finished eating him! That is if the bandits would leave anything for them. Come on man, get serious. Do you honestly belive the drivel your spewing? Explain to me how you would hold a trapper acountable for trapping? Do you seriously propose to wisk the food out of the mans mouth becouse we were stupid enough not to expect a trapper in these parts? WE WERE WARNED! We were told this area was inhabited by bandits, trappers and beasts. Frankly I'd be surprised if the man won't be angry at us for disturbing his property. Thats right. His property! Frankly I'd think he should be filing a complaint about us ruining his living. How is he suposed to get furs and meat of animals he can't trap? Ask them nicely to hold still while he works on them with a knife?"
"And you." he turns to Tandlara, "How is trapping a blatant disregard for life? We hunt to maintain life not to quench it. We need food, skins and the peace to occupy our lands. You may not have noticed but this land isn't exactly hospitable. Every bear or wolf he traps is a bear or wolf less that will attack your home in an attempt to get to your larder. You want the balance of nature? Well, there you are. Eat or be eaten. Plain and simple."
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"Literacy has nothing to do with it! A simpleton could scrawl a danger sign, and draw a pit, or a pair of jaws - I may not be well versed in the ways of the wild, but I am pretty darn sure that should not deter a bear. Now bandits are a better argument, but that is why we talk with him. And even if he is after bandits if his traps cause the death of an innocent it is his fault and I will see him punished for it. Now I am not saying that man was innocent, I tend to doubt it infact, but I am sure he is not the only trapper to travel these lands and he appears to have shown no care for them - though again its possible there is some code we are unaware of. Civilization of the wild? Pah, that is like saying the wisdom of the stupid." Verik replies, giving Berrin a pointed look.
"We would all do well to hold our judgment until we have more information though, you are right in that. But we do need to speak with him. And I have not harmed his property, merely removed it from an area of danger, we are probably doing him a favor if anything since he does not appear to have checked them in weeks."
'Eat or be eaten. How many animals kill wildly and zealously to give the extra to others? Trapping is not hunting, and killing. And setting traps that leave and animal tortured and in pain to die a slow death? How natural is that. Regardless of the morality of trapping however. This man is not some hard-working trapper just trying to make his way. He's reckless and callous. Any tracker can set traps safely, with warning on animal trails. This man was littered the area indiscriminately with traps that are clearly danger to all. And the poor soul we just buried is an example of what happens because of negligence.'