Nsizi stepped gratefully inside, shaking the rain from his neswambi. He wondered what the Count would say, and how much risk they were placing themselves in.
Osbun thought to ask "Before you go to wake the Count can you tell us if Miss Gadd is staying here this evening?"
"Dear Count, we have only come and disturbed your sleep out of concern for your heath and safety. Why it has only been a matter of a few 10's of minutes since we received word from Miss Gadd herself that you had taken ill and that we could come to try to help you. Here is the note. You can see for yourself. It is true that Miss Gadd suggested that tomorrow morning would be soon enough but we could never have slept while worrying about you. So we are here." Osbun looked at the Count with big blue eyes full of concern. "You must at least let us examine you for our own piece of mind."
Evalina nodded as the halfling spoke, "As Oz mentioned, we only wish to make sure your lordship isn't ill like Miss Gadd let us to believe with her message. Nsizi is an excellent healer... I'm sure he will take no time examining if so we can all go back to our beds..."
This was the first time she was in the presence of the count without Hamsa around to control him so she wondered if they should take this opportunity to speak frankly about their suspicions... she looked to the others, trying to know if she should tell the count everything...
Bowing low to the Count, Nsizi said, "Please, would let me examine you? I am certain that Miss Gadd would not have called us here needlessly."
tag
Action 2
Nsizi glanced at the others. This could be their opportunity to surprise the woman, and perhaps get a measure of the truth. "The lady is so beautiful already, surely she will not miss a few minutes of rest. Surely she can easily explain what is going on, and we can get to the root of the matter."
Action 2:
Zeljka added, "If anyone can make sense of this, it's Miss Gadd. I would like to speak with her. Only she knows why she wrote what she did."
"If you'll permit Nsizi to examine you for illness, Your Grace," Min requested, "will you mind if I take a look for magical ailments? It's entirely non-invasive; I'd just stand here and take a quick look at your aura. Even if this has all been some sort of misunderstanding, we may as well not waste a long, dark walk through the rain. Presuming that you're well, we can at least reassure Ms. Gadd that she was anxious for no reason."
Count Narsus shook his head, "I am sorry but I have indulged you long enough. I do not know what this letter means or who wrote it but I am perfectly fine. Thank you for you concern."
He then added, "Moreover, I think your impromptu audience has ended. Since the colony owes you, I will be more than happy to entertain any other request you have but please come back at a reasonable hour."
He waited for the companions to leave...
"I am sorry to have disturbed you, your grace," Min apologized. "You'll tell Ms. Gadd not to expect us in the morning then? As there's no real health problem?"
Nsizi bowed again, and pulled a glass vial from a fold in his neswambi. "Indeed, we are sorry for the misunderstanding. Let me leave this with you - a curative potion, just in case." Handing it to the guard, the Bas'o man bowed a final time, and turned to leave.
Min frowned. "I am concerned as well. It doesn't seem like her to disappear. Would you permit us, Your Grace, to examine her room and see if there are any signs that she was taken against her will or any clues that might indicate where she may have gone?"
Action 1:
Zeljka reluctantly went with the others back to Stone Hall. Personally she wanted to stake out the estate and watch for Hamsa but in the end, the weather deterred her.
She frowned, uncertain what to make of their trip to the Count's. "I guess we wait to see what happens tomorrow. Either we've alienated the Count or we've kept him from harm."
Action 2:
The half-orc looked up from her breakfast in surprise as Count Narsus sought them out. I guess we didn't tick him off after all.
What wasn't so surprising was that Hamsa was gone. If she figured that her plan had been interrupted by them last night, maybe she thought she'd cut her losses and disappear. "Are Miss Gadd's belongings gone too or just her? Were there any signs of a struggle? One may expect that if she was kidnapped."
Narsus was confused, "That's just it. There didn't seem to be much of a struggle so it must have been some sort of inside job"
He shivered trying to get dry, "You are welcome to come back with me and check her room."
He sighed, "I fear the worst. Do you think whoever took her will ask for ransom?"
-------
sense motive checks please...
OOC:
I'll wait for Nsizi to post because it's just the three of you for the next couple of days.
Once she posts, I'll move the scene to where you go with the Count to inspect Hamsa's room/belongings unless I hear otherwise.
Questions?
Game on!
Action 2
Min frowned. "I am concerned as well. It doesn't seem like her to disappear. Would you permit us, Your Grace, to examine her room and see if there are any signs that she was taken against her will or any clues that might indicate where she may have gone?"
Nsizi nodded, "That might be helpful. Her behaviour has been quite odd - we need to gather what clues we can."
Narsus was confused, "That's just it. There didn't seem to be much of a struggle so it must have been some sort of inside job"
He shivered trying to get dry, "You are welcome to come back with me and check her room."
He sighed, "I fear the worst. Do you think whoever took her will ask for ransom?"
As the count sighed and shivered, Nsizi narrowed his eyes. His behaviour was suspicious - why had he come himself instead of sending a guard? Was this another plot to get them to the estate, since Miss Gadd's initial ploy had failed?
"Your grace, please, come and sit by the fire a moment. Any clues can wait until you are warmed up. Have a hot tea, and tell us all you know. When did you see her last? What were the last things you spoke of?"
"Your grace, please, come and sit by the fire a moment. Any clues can wait until you are warmed up. Have a hot tea, and tell us all you know. When did you see her last? What were the last things you spoke of?"
Narsus sighed and sat down, "We had dinner together last night and she then retired to her quarters. Like she always does."
He tried to remember, "Our dinner conversation was about the plantation outside my estate and how the fever bark trees were coming along. We then briefly discussed the gathering storm. That was about it. Nothing earth-shattering. She certainly didn't mention that she was leaving."
Narsus looked at the companions, "I'll be honest with you and tell you that I have been courting Miss Hamsa and though that she was warming up to me but I just don't know."
----------
Nsizi: you sense guilt and shame in Narsus.
Evalina frowned a bit at the count's refusal but then bowed her head and got ready to leave. "As you wish, my lord, have a good night and once again sorry for the interruption."
Once outside in the rain she turned to the others, "Well, that was weird... But at least we know the count is healthy... We just need to figure out what Hamza aimed to get by making us to come here in the morning." Then a wild thought crossed her mind, "Hum... What if she did not want us here, but actually away from the Stone Hall... Perhaps she wishes to make sure we are not by Kanjo's side to protect him once more?"
Tag
Like the others, Evalina was caught by surprise by seeing the count there but, as the others have sugested, she agreed to investigate Hamza's room... this is a one time chance to get a look inside our enemy's mind. "Well, we were already planning on visiting your estate once more this morning..." turning to the others she continued, "Should we bring Kanjo as well?"
Tag
Action 3:
Zeljka looked around the room. It was only in slight disarray which suggested to her that Hamsa left in a hurry rather than being taken. But maybe that was her previous suspicions coloring her assessment. She also found it interesting that only clothes and shoes were left whereas other belongings seemed to be missing.
"Before the trail goes completely cold, I will see what I can track. With all the rain, there should be some sort of trail left outside."
Action 2
Nsizi nodded. "I know I would feel better if I could keep eyes on him." Turning to the innkeep, he asked the halfling if he would ask Kanjo to join them.
As the Count hurried them along, Nsizi drew close to his friends and said in a low voice, "I do not know what is going on, but the Count is full of shame and guilt. I don't know if he blames himself for Hamsa's disappearance, or if she is coercing him to do something he knows is wrong. We must be on our guard."
As the group left Osbun looked confused. "Why would Miss Gadd live with the Count, and when did that come to be?" he asked. "She came here basically as an explorer. Even if the Count is romantically involved with her, it seems improper for her to be living in his residency, doesn't it."
"Good Count I too fear the worst. It seems we must at least consider the Miss Gadd might has had other interests in you than the one you wished for and that her disappearance is of her own doing. I hope I am wrong of course, but its best to consider such things."
With permission to search Osbun makes a thorough search of the room looking for clues. He then asks "Might there be some other rooms in your estate that have been disturbed during the night?"
I'll post the results of your search in the turn recap tonight.
Did you all want to search/inspect any other place other than her room?
Drawing Min aside, Nsizi whispered, "Can you see if he is under any enchantments? Without him knowing?"
tag Min
As the others searched, Nsizi sat down with the count. "It would help us to have as much information as possible. Can you tell us, when did you meet Miss Gadd? How long has she lived here? Do you have any other guests staying with you at the moment?"
tag
"Do you know where she came from? Does she have any family here in Pridon's Hearth, or close friends?"
tag
"Has Miss Gadd been on any more expeditions since the one in which she lost her party? Do you know where she was going on that trip, and why? Perhaps it is connected to her current disappearance."
tag
"Did you ever meet the man we discussed at dinner - the cleric called Magdi? His apprentice was nearly killed yesterday - that may also be connected. Do you know how Miss Gadd was connected to Magdi?"
As Nsizi asked the Count questions, Zeljka added one of her own, "Is there anywhere in Pridon's Hearth or surrounding area where Miss Gadd liked to go either to relax or spend time?"
Action 3:
“We enjoyed long walks in the beach and she loved the gardens in the Estate. Oh and horseback riding. We both enjoyed that.”
He picked up a portrait he had commissioned of her sighed, “I can still picture her in her riding gear on her favorite mare.”
"Was her favorite mare stabled here? Where did she keep her riding gear? Would we be able to see those places? I'd also like to see where she spent the most time in the gardens."
She's romantic! OK? :)
Drawing Min aside, Nsizi whispered, "Can you see if he is under any enchantments? Without him knowing?"
"I...," Min wavered. "No - no, I couldn't. He specifically declined to be the target of a spell last night, and as the head of the colonial government, he has the right to have his wishes respected."
"I agree with Nsizi. Ms. Gadd's disappearance so soon after the assault on the apprentice of another member of her ill-fated expedition is unlikely to be a coincidence. It's quite possible that someone is trying to find the temple they failed to." She fails to add, in Narsus's hearing, that she suspects that someone to be Hamsa Gadd.
"Was her favorite mare stabled here? Where did she keep her riding gear? Would we be able to see those places? I'd also like to see where she spent the most time in the gardens."
The count answered, "It should be here in this room. Everything she owned as kept in her room"
He added, "The mare is mine of course but she loved her. It's stabled here in the Estate."
--------------------
OOC:
Her riding gar is not in her room.
If/when you check the stable, her favorite mare is not there.
"I'm afraid, Your Grace," Min said apologetically, "that it appears she may have left of her own accord. We may only wonder when. Could she already have been gone when we were here last night?" She was struck by a sudden thought. "The boy who delivered the note last night: he may have been the last person to see her before her departure. We must find him. If he can tell us anything about where he met her, her state of mind, her state of dress ... we may at least get a better idea of when and in what manner she left."
"Is there no groom who sleeps in the stables who may have seen or heard something last night, Your Grace?"
While searching the room, Evalina turned to the others, "So, do you think we should tell the count about our suspicions? He might still be smitten by her looks but I believe we have plenty of convincing evidence to expose her... perhaps with his eyes opened he could give us more clues about what might be happening here..."
Once they discovered the missing of Hamza's ridding gear and her favorite mare, Evalina nodded to Min but also added another idea, "Hum, it might be easier to ask those at the gate. If she had been kidnapped, it was actually possible for the perpretrators to have jumped over the walls, but this new evidence that she left the estate riding, means that she crossed the gates for sure! Some guard must have seen her."
"Is there no groom who sleeps in the stables who may have seen or heard something last night, Your Grace?"
Count Narsus called the stable boy after they had seen that Hamsa's mare was gone.
The stable boy's eyes were wide open with fear when the Count and the others came to question him. It was the same boy who had delivered the message to the companions at the Stone Hall.
He quickly spilled his guts, "Miss Gadd gave me the message right before dinner and told me to wait a couple of hours before delivering it. Which I did. I swear I did. You all seen me deliver the message, right?"
He felt like he was going to get fired or worse, "At that time, Miss Gadd told me to prep her mare and that she was going out later at night. I told her it was late and dangerous. Yes sir, I told her. But she said she needed to get something for you. It was a surprise for you sir."
He looked down at his feet, "She came back that night, mounted, and asked me to open the gates for her. She said she be back this morning but she ain't here, is she? I'm sorry sir, I never meant no harm. You gonna whip me?"
Min frowned with concern. "She left and came back and then left again? Well, clearly she left of her own accord, but something may well have happened to her while away from the estate which wasn't anticipated. I can't imagine why she should invite us this morning if she had had no intention of being here."
Timeline of events because it seems I was not clear:
Yesterday
5:00 pm: Hamsa gives note to stable boy and asks him to wait a couple of hours and deliver note and prepare her mare
6:00 pm: Hamsa has dinner with count and retires to sleep
7:00 pm: message is delivered to companions who later get to the Count (7:30 pm)
7:30 to 8:00 pm: companions wake up Narsus and talk to him
11:00 pm: Hamsa rides out
Today
10:00 am: Narsus looks for companions and you are currently
11:00 am: current time
Questions?
Game on!
Osbun added "We do still need to take a look at the gardens. I have a feeling about them and it going to bug me until we look."
Action 1
Nsizi thought about it a moment, then said, "It is possible that now is the time. Let us see what else we uncover."
Action 2
As Oz looked through the orchids, Nsizi said softly, "I think it might be time to tell him. What do you think?" Turning to Min, he said, "Would you like to be the one to tell him?"
Evalina decided to also look around the garden meticulously while keeping her ears up for the conversation between Min and the count.
The meticulous search of the gardens yielded little in the way of clues. The orchids were indeed a sight to behold, which no doubt benefited from the humid climate.
The stable boy accompanied the party and seemed very much trying to help them to avoid any potential backlash for his previous faux pas.
------------
anything else?
where to next?
Action 3:
Zeljka turned to the stable boy and asked, "What direction did Miss Gadd ride when you let her out of the gate? Did you see anyone else waiting for her?"
Zeljka turned to the stable boy and asked, "What direction did Miss Gadd ride when you let her out of the gate? Did you see anyone else waiting for her?"
The stable boy was quick to answer, "She went out the front gate of course. And no, I didn't see noone waiting for her."
The fact that it had been raining non-stop for the past weeks did not help with tracking. Any tracks were obliterated within the hour.
There's a link to a map of Pridon's Hearth in the campaign tab; the Count's Estate is '5'.
Yes, there's usually a guard there to open/close gates.
I'd like to move this along so I need to know what you want to do...