Pekk's moustache twitches as he chuckles;
So not quite a bumpkin simpleton...
"Excuse em moi; Silverhold it is. The Lord and Lady? Ah... I have a proposition for them..."
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Isabel is making her, somewhat slower, way to the river bank - trying to track down her husband when she hears the conversation. As she arrives and sees Darian in his work clothes apparently bantering with a boatmaster she straightens her back and adopts her most regal tone.
"I am Isabel Aulamaxa, Lady of Silverhold. Well met to you stranger, how may I assist you?"
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When Isabel approaches, Darian smiles, but his eyes betray a mischievous glint.
Bah! I wasn’t finished having fun with this guy!
He chuckles and says, ”Hey, Darling. This fellow is seeking us out to offer us a proposition...and is flying our banner of his own volition, so it would seem...” Darian calls out, his voice now carrying a Chelaxian accent. He keeps his eyes on the gnome before adding ”And I am Darian Aulamaxa, Lord of Silverhold. What is your name, friend?”
When Isabel appears and makes her introduction, the gnome wryly smiles, then bows theatrically allowing his flamboyant hat to brush the ground;
"Enchanté Lady Aulamaxa... Lord Aulamaxa. My name is Pekkonjorum Tyvett Carndellvyn... Simply "Pekk" to those who know me. My vessel does indeed fly your banner... 'Tis customary to display the pennant of the nation upon whose waters you traverse it is not?"
He straightens, absent-mindedly grooming his moustache before continuing with a good-natured smile;
"Why am I here? Opportunity. The River Kingdoms are a chaotic and uncompromising set of realms. To be successful one must seek out opportunities to serve and to self-serve Oui? Even as a fledgling nation your repute and deeds have flowed through the currents to those who would care to listen. I am here to offer my services and those of my vessel Le Fortune Capricieuse... If of course you will 'ave us."
Darian eyes the gnome warily, looking to Isabel to gauge her own reaction. ”Truly? And what about Silverhold, and our own reputation, has imposed itself so fondly on you that you seek to align yourself with us? Aside from the already stated reasons. Which, I do believe Restov had commissioned more groups than ours to explore and likely settle these lands.”
He then turns to Isabel, ”Speaking of, we really should try and contact them. Establish good relations with our neighbors early.”
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"I see no harm in giving this... charmer a chance." Isabel responds to Darian, without taking her gaze from Pekk. Feeling the full force of her attention is surprisingly difficult, an almost physical weight presses down and Pekk finds tearing his gaze from hers unusually difficult. "I believe that everyone deserves a chance to do good, regardless of their past. Katrina and Ludi prove the value of that."
She addresses Pekk again, with a smile, although her gaze doesn't waver. "So, Monsieur Carndellvyn. What news can you tell of us of the wider world? How go things in the Stolen Lands?"
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”Charmer!?!?” Darian says with a smile and mock hurt. ”Ready to cast me aside, my wife?”
He chuckles a bit before adding ”Come. Let us take this up to the Castle for a proper talk. Let the others get the measure of this fellow too. And give me a chance to change out of these work clothes.”
Whatever your discussion with the new arrival might lead to is interrupted as a group of the Townsfolk approach you, looks of distress and concern on their faces.
"Your Lordships, there's been some murders!" Says Hanson the innkeeper with a very worried look.
A few days ago, some livestock were brutally slaughtered in their pens at an outlying farm; then two people were killed as well—a maid named Saki, who never made it home after her shift at the inn, and a shepherd boy named Beven, who (along with his flock) was attacked on his way back to town.
What are you doing now?
At Isabel's suggestion of clemency Pekk smiles and bows once again;
"Merci Lady Aulamaxa. I do not claim to be from the right or wrong side of the river... Merely one who has travelled it - with all the twists and turns it presents oui? I would tell all I know... but my throat is parched, perhaps a wine from the royal cellar could whet my words... "
He nods at the prospect of the castle and collects his box;
"Bien. It would be good to formally present myself and my intentions..."
The flamboyant gnome's words are cut short by the clamour raised by the townsfolk, and the grim news they bring;
Sacré Rivière! Murdered you say..!?"
Pekk turns to the rulers;
"Lord and Lady. Please allow me to assist in this matter! I 'ave a keen blade and keener eye... and feel certain one or both will be needed in dealing with this most foul series of events."
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"I think you have indeed found your audition Monsieur." Isabel responds to Pekk's offer. "We will need your help for this I think."
With the rest of the leadership council gathered Isabel begins to give out tasks. "Freya, Lisl - you are the best qualified people to leave town and investigate the scene of Beven's disappearence. Darian, you had best go too. Josef and I will take Monsieur Carndellvyn to the Silver Raven and try to find out what happened to Saki. We should meet here in, say six hours, and gather what we have found."
Darian listened to the gnome quietly as they walked to the castle. Once inside, he gathered the others together to meet with this newcomer.
Darian hadn’t even gotten changed yet before news of the murders arrived. He sighed and looked to the others, ”Is this the first news we’ve received of this? Then we had better see to finding the perpetrator of these acts.”
When the gnome offers his services to join in the investigation, Darian narrows his eyes appraisingly at him as he considers it. ”Very well, let us see what sort of assistance you can offer, Master Carndellvyn.”
Darian heads down into town once the others are ready and begins gathering what information he can.
As he meets the other council members Pekk replicates his dramatic bow with a sweep of his feathered hat;
Enchanté Ladies and Gentlemen. Pekkonjorum Tyvett Carndellvyn at your service. Please call me Pekk. As Lord and Lady Aulamaxa state I am here to offer service and skill in whatever fashion I can!"
The gnome places his flamboyant hat back on his head, the purple velvet offering a garish contrast to the silver heron feathers which decorate it.
"Lead on Lady Isabel. Let me prove my worth!"
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Isabel heads straight for the Silver Raven, with Pekk and Joseph in tow. "Pekk, you are an unknown here - make friends with the locals, see what they tell you. Josef we'll talk to the tavern keeper and then you can perform any searches you need to, investigate Saki's way home, that sort of thing."
Isabel herself begins with the tavern keeper, a balding man named Moffis. "So Moffis, what happened here? How did poor Sakis end up dead?"
Pekk tips the nod to Isabel, then moves to engage the tap-room's patrons trying to gauge their mood.
What bouquet pervades the air here? One perhaps of curiosity? Fear perhaps? Anger? Indifference?
:
After being notified of the murders, Freya heads off toward the site where Bevan's body was found, with her ever-present raven and wolf in tow.
At the inn.
Both the victims were killed outside the town. Saki as she gathered berries for breakfast. Beven as he was returning his sheep to town. You will need to go and search the sites for any information.
Freya: Upon examing the site of Bevens death you find that a half dozen of his sheep were slain as well, with the remaining 10 sheep scattered throughout the surrounding area.
Examing Bevens body reveals that he was killed by a large, man-sized
animal—likely a wolf or worg.
You discovers the presence of tracks that appear to be those of a large wolf. The tracks lead into a nearby copse of trees, from which they do not emerge.
Yet a closer search of the copse reveals a set of bare human footprints
leading out of the trees and toward town; unfortunately, the tracks become obscured by traffic upon entering town.
What are you doing now?
Darian makes his way to the murder site of Saki, seeing that the Inn and Beven's crime scene are covered.
(free use of inspiration)
(free use of inspiration)
Investigating the body and determining that Bevens fell prey to a large wolf, Freya continues to investigate the surrounding area. Picking up the trail of the large wolf, she follows the tracks into a nearby copse of trees but sees no sign of exit of the wolf. The Ulfen woman is a bit more disturbed to find a set a barefoot human tracks leading out the trees and back toward town.
Frustrated by the tracks eventual marring by the town's traffic, she turns to Fenrir. "Any chance you've got this one's scent, my friend?" she asks.
The large wolf sniffs around trying to pick up the trail.
Freya the trail is older than 4.5 hours I'm afraid. Back to the Silver Raven it is.
Seeing that nothing more is forthcoming Pekk reports back to Lady Isabel with little to show;
"My Lady. The crimes took place away from the inn, and little is known of their nature... Do you wish me to stay or seek your 'usband?"
The gnome looks somewhat forlorn at his shortcomings at this first test;
"Once we learn more, I will pillor the river-folk. Murder most foul is not uncommon in the River Kingdoms, but killing of both folk and flock is strange..."
When looking for someone behaving erratically a name keeps coming up. A wandering Kellid tribesman named Kundal has recently arrived in town. Though he’s taken a room at an inn and drinks himself into a stupor every night, he’s been seen coming into the town from outside in the early mornings, looking bedraggled and quite the worse for wear.
Freya scratches Fenrir between his ears. "Trails too old, eh? No bother we'll find it eventually."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Returning to the Silver Raven, Freya approaches Isabel. "It would appear that Bevens and his flock were savaged by a large wolf." she begins before adding with a gesture toward Fenrir, "And certainly not by that one."
"We followed a trail into a copse of trees, but did not see the wolf's trail leave the trees, only those a bare-footed man heading back into town. It would seem that we have a werewolf problem."
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Isabel takes the news about the kellid tribesman with a considering look. "This sounds like a lead. We'd best investigate."
Freya's report simply adds layers to Isabel's worry.
"So we have an unusual tribesman who appears exhausted every morning and coming into town, and a werewolf problem... We need to find this man at once."
As instructed, Lisl packs her traveling gear and accompanies Freya on the trail, though her skills do not readily lie in that direction. For the most part she simply follows Freya and gives her room to do her work, quietly watching.
Once the group returns to Silverhold, she notes, "We don't have much time. I do not have the power to cure an infected lycanthrope - only a potent high priestess could perform such a rite. Our only hope is that he has been infected for a short time. Otherwise we may have to imprison or kill him. Assuming that it is a him."
"Any idea of where in town we can find this Kellid tribesman?"
Pekk stands quietly impressed by the way Isabel garner's information that is scarce and obscure.
As the others arrive and quietly bows in his trademark fashion, flashing a smile at the bevy of powerful women;
"Enchante My Ladies. I heard that Silverhold was a nation of treasures... I see now they meant The Council itself!"
As talk turns to hunting the lycanthrope, Pekk demeanor sobers;
"Some who are afflicted by such a curse know not what they do... Others revel in its power and blood-letting. Let us 'ope this Kellid is the former and not the latter no?"
The Kellid has taken a room at the inn, but has left the building for the day.
What are you doing now?
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"Werewolf? Seriously?" Josef seems uncertain, but then a slightly malignant grin spreads across his face. "Think we can make a peace treaty with it, Darian?" The look that flashes across his face suggests he regrets having said it as soon as he did.
He hesitates and looks towards a window. "How's the moon? Should we be resting and preparing to hunt the thing tonight? We should probably actively engage the guards to find this Kellid, if he's in town, right? That would be part of their job, wouldn't it? Probably shouldn't say why, though."
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"We'd best split up again." Isabel decides. "Darian, Josef, Freya, Monsieur, alert the guards and begin a search of the town - we need to find this man at once. Lisl, you and I should investigate his room for clues."
Isabel requests the room key from Moffis and heads upstairs to begin investigations.
Alerting the Guard turns up the information that this man is known to them by his description, and that he has left the town earlier in the day, heading off into the hills.
Isabel & Lisl The door to the room opens to your key, the room is a simple and plain single, your search does turn up something disturbing, tucked out of sight under the bed is a severed human ear, still with a gold earring in it.
What are you doing now?
Pekk acknowledges his orders with a simple "Bien sûr!" then looks to the others to lead the way.
As he passes Josef he tips the nod to the swordsman;
"Aldori? Of which school may I ask Monsieur... Traditional or Mivonian?"
"I wonder if this earring has a match," says Lisl as she and Isabel search the room and find the grisly remnant. "There's no sign of a struggle here. It wasn't torn off in a fight in this room."
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"That's an ugly thought..." Isabel responds. "I imagine it used to belong to Saki... we need to find this wolf, immediately!"
Once the search is concluded and turns up nothing else Isabel turns to Lisl again. "There's almost no sign of this room being lived in, or of personal belongings. It looks like he's not planning on coming back here... We should find Darian and the others - we have to know where this man has gone."
Darian shoots Josef a glare at his smart remark. He says nothing, but the look alone was enough to make it clear the comment wasn’t taken well. He looks to Isabel and says ”I agree. But keep Kesten and Akiros close. Until we find him and determine his nature, we shouldn’t split up too much.”
He then leads the others in search of this Kellid.
Following along with Darian, Freya comments. "Based on the information Isabel had gathered, the Kellid is typically found staggering back into town in the mornings after drinking himself into a near stupor of an evening. If we aren't able to find him quickly I would post watches at any drinking establishment in town. If are still unable to find him from there, then we post watches at set distances around town to watch for him."
”The guards said that he was spotted heading into the hills. You think you could track him, Freya?”
"We can certainly give it a try" Freya says.
(free use of inspiration)
Josef looks at the gnome with some surprise. "Traditional. I was a student at the Sky Academy. One of my great-uncles helped found the place, actually, so they had little choice but to accept me as a student." He looks away from the gnome, keeping his eyes down. But, that is behind me at this point. It seems a werewolf is ahead. Know anything about were wolves?"
While the ground at the gate is too trampled by constant traffic to give you any leads, once away from it Freya soon picks up the trail of a single man heading north into the surrounding hills.
With the time spent investigating these crimes it it now early afternoon.
From the tracks the man appears to be setting a good pace and shows no signs of slowing that you can see.
After an hours following the trail Freya can see the man has begun to turn in his wandering and is heading back to your town, his route will bring him close, but from a different direction than that he left from.
What are you doing now?
Pekk wryly smiles at Josef;
"Bein. Old School is the best I think... Although some in Mivon would argue otherwise!"
As the group being to track the werewolf, the gnome hustles to keep up with the longshanks on a mission.
When they pause to discern the tracks, he grabs a breath, wafting himself with his heron-feathered hat;
"Tracking is 'ard work non? Once we catch up with this loup-garou, how do you want to play it? Parler or En Garde!?"
"Given the fact that he has murdered at least two people, he needs to be brought down. Whether that is by capture or death, doesn't matter to me." Freya says in response to the gnome's question.
"Looks like he's heading back to town. We'd do well to try and cut him off before he gets back to town."
"I don't know a lot about lycanthropy, but isn't it possible that he doesn't know what he did? I'd at least like to try to find that out first," says Lisl. "I don't want to kill him if he didn't know what he was doing. He may also be a victim in this drama."
(free use of inspiration) -
”If he’s headed back to town, let’s head straight here immediately. Can your raven fly ahead and alert Kesten and Akiros to be on the lookout for the man and to try and peaceably bring him in and hold him until we arrive?” Darian asks as he looks back towards town.
"I can." she says, before whispering something to Muninn. "Hopefully one of those two speaks Skald as that is the only language Muninn speaks."