"It will be a comfort to know what happened to him instead of waiting forever. Thank you for that." Grayden answers. "What about his body? Would it be possible to retrieve him to give him a proper burial?"
The body is not in great shape, but yes. Everyone deserves a proper burial, so I at least would be willing to accompany you back to pick his body up.
Graydon stops short with a raised brow but then replies "I would appreciate if you could accompany Kroitzer to the place or give him a description to find and retrieve the body. I would ask the porter to organize that."
And there it shows the little difference where nobles would talk about my servant can show your servant that you're not used to. Partly due to a lack of servants.
"Do you wish to continue or do you need a time to grieve?" Stam holds off moving another piece.
"A break would be nice. Would you join me for a drink?" Graydon asks.
Stam stands, offering his hand to the man to thank him for the game.
"Maybe later you can show me some fancy moves in chess so as to be a better opponent next time. Might I ask why you are at the lodge? Not out hunting Werewolves?" Stam will order a glass of wine.
Spugnoir finishes his cigar and just ambles around the lodge looking important.
"I enjoy some hunting now and then, but I leave the werewolves to Duristan. I'm not going to poach in his hunting grounds." Graydon replies. "But enough of me, you haven't told anything about yourself. What's your business in the lodge. It's obvious that you are not the common noble on a retreat."
"We are here following up on an incident that happened in Lepidstadt, we visited Schloss Caromarc, talking with The Count before being directed this way." Stam takes a drink from his wine.
"I hail from Cheliax myself."
"The Count sent you here, that's quite interesting."
"Do you know Count Alpon?"
"I'm active in politics. Of course I know Count Caramarc, former leader of Vieland." Graydon replies with a raised brow. "How are you associated with him?"
The Count? Oh, My companions and I did a small service for him, which freed him to look after his own affairs.
He was of course grateful for our assistance and in return provided us information that lead us here. Not that I say I mind, with all the uproar in the city over recent events, having a quiet place to retreat is a welcome change.
"What are you after?" Graydon asks and you can almost see the gears of his mind starting to spin faster.
Someone, we believe it is a man, who took an idol from the university. It's a small effigy that was taken in the chaos of the events recently in the city. We understood that the person who took the effigy came this way recently.
You wouldn't have happened to have seen someone carrying something like that come through here would you?
Downing his drink and demanding another Graydon replies "No one walked around offering stolen goods if that's what you mean. But if you want to know who visited the lodge in the last weeks I'd ask the porter. Or the stable master. But I wonder who would be involved in such activities AND be welcome at the lodge?"
Soemone with either good connections or little care of breaking protocol I reckon.
"The more interesting question is: Who would risk his job or reputation and why?" Graydon ponders.
"If I had to get into the lodge, I would go for Duristan. Easy to impress and his only concern are werewolfs. Besides that one could try the porter with a bribe or go for Estovian himself. But what for? What does the lodge have that would be worth the hassle? Maybe they simply went past the lodge and didn't come in at all. But if you find they were indeed here I would be most interested in hearing that!"
Grergof muses out loud:
Many people hold other things in higher reguard then their political reputation. Perhaps that is the case here: that they built up a reputation but then found something they consider more important. It could be so important that they are willing to throw what they worked for away.
I have seen this happen with various church members in the past. They were in one line of work, then felt the call and came to one of the Gods. That could be what we are looking at here.
He looks up at Cilas and says:
Thank you, I suppose we must talk to the servants to find out who came through here.
"You're welcome." Graydon replies and to Stam he adds "If you find the time I'd be glad to continue our game."
"It could just be a simple place to stop, nothing more. We will head to the Porter and ask him if we can see the list of guests that came though in the last 2 weeks. This man might have also been in Ravengro seeking magic or something there."
Stam will again Shake Cilas' hand.
"All politics and scheming." Corvin gripes.
What is Politics except Mankinds attempt to find order in the Chaos the Gods have permitted. Would you rather live in a world where we had no choice or no control? Some Politics are good for the group as a whole.
Ahh, but there I go discussing philosophy. Something I'm sure you don't want to hear me ramble on about. So tell me sir, if you don't like politics, nor strategy games, what does interest you?
Corvin gives Grergof a glare and then looks away to ignore him. Because this is a question a Nihilist can hardly answer.
Darius, seeing everyone talking and just taking in all the talk is very suspicious of the two men that Stam and Grergof are talking to. But after a while he figures he needs some air and heads out onto the back deck and takes a look at the stars and the back grounds. Wondering what this mess is that the Pofessor has gotten them into and what does the Whispering way have to do with the events of late.
"Ah Professor, what did you get yourself into?" He says solemnly.
Darius' eyes go wide then a smile spreads across his face and he giggles which then bursts out in laughter, holding his stomach from the pain he just starts laughing.
"Ah Petros. I miss you my friend."
Poor Darius, the stress has gotten to him.
Stam will head off to look for a porter, upon finding one.
"Good day, I have a question to ask. We are tracking a man who recently came from Lepidstadt, he is a wanted man and we have reason to believe he brought stolen goods through here. Is there any way I could get a list of all the guests who came through in the last 2 weeks?"
"I can understand, I wasn't saying you house criminals here. This man or woman wouldn't be coming through telling everyone what they did. Might I speak with the master about this?" Stam smiles down at the porter.
Are there any apples around that one can eat (at the kitchen or anything?) If so then Grergof grabs one and wanders off to talk to the stable man and to check on Ned.
Greetings Good man, I trust you have what you need to take care of my companions Ox? You probably don't get many of his kind here do you.
I would imagine mostly it is fine horses.
If he has an apple: as he talks he cuts a portion of an apple and offers it to Ned as a treat.
If the stableman responds, Grergof will try to get him in a conversations about the various beasts he has taken care of, slipping in the question of what interesting beasts have come through recently.
The end goal is to work around and see if he can get the man talking about who came through recently with animals he had to take care of.
Do you often have people who stop for part of the night and then leave immediately? That seems rather hard on the horses.
You don't happen to remember any of their names? I want to make sure I never let my companion lend them Ned here...
Grergof feeds Ned and another horse some more apple as they talk.
Stam will go off in search of Mr. Lozariv.
"Good day ser, I have a few questions if you have the time."
"Yes - how can I help you?" Lozarov asks, looking up from his papers on the desk.
Of course Miss, I wasn't thinking. You are of course right, if this had been a war trained beast, I may have been bitten.
Well, thank you so much for taking good care of Ned. He may not looks like much, but this ox has been through some experiences that would make most horses bolt, and we owe a lot to him.
He feeds the rest of the apple to Ned, and lets the conversation run it's course naturally before moving off to talk to the rest of his companions and filling in what he learned.
I need to remember to tell Lozarov what a good job his stable mistress is doing.
"We are recently from Lepidstadt we are taking a man who stole from the university there. He was also in Ravengro and caused some issues there. Has there been anyone who came in the last two weeks but didn't stay long?"
"Sorry I don't follow." Lozarov replies, question marks in his eyes.
"Can I have a list of the guests who signed in in the last 2 week period?"
Spugnoir checks out the library and then the noble that they rescued from the werewolves, he wants to make sure he isn't infected.
Lozarov ponders hard if he hands Stam the list but decides not to. "Sorry, but that is not possible. The discretion of our guests has priority here."
"Hmm that is fine, we just feel that he came this way. Count Caromarc asked us to look into this personally."
Stam will leave to the stables to check on Ned.
Upon arriving he notices Grergof with Ned and the attendant.
"How is my large friend there? Hope he isn't causing to much of an issue with the rest of your charges." Stams smile is genuine.
Good evening, Duristan, how are you feeling? I wanted to check in with you after resting a bit after that rather harrowing adventure. Doing a little small talk, Spugnoir works around to the werewolf issue.
I have administered a draught to our doughty paladin and it is working to prevent him from getting far too hairy, I am wondering if you would be willing to let me examine you for any trace of the infection and administering a healing drink to you.
Grergof pats Ned.
Yes he most definitely is. And he seems to be well taken care of. Thank you.
With that Grergof bows and moves on to find his companions.
"I'm fine." Duristan replies "But if it makes you happy feel free to examine. Did Estovion send you?"