Brus glares at Mari. He’s clearly heard the village gossip, even if his mistress hasn’t.
”Like I said, was throwin’ rings for exercise. Maybe I threw one in dem bushes, so cur’s gotta go in, nettles an’ all, but then she just gots runnin’ off down hedge.”
Robert can certainly follow the trail, though it’s easier to follow it on a parallel course along the hedge rather than crawl along it, at least, until it ends, at which point, whomever wishes to can crawl in. The area here is more open, and there are several interesting signs. A long area in the ground clear of leaves suggest that someone had lain there for awhile. Scattered broken twigs from plants all along the furrow, some with tiny shreds of meat stuck to them, lies next to a hunk of discarded venison, I cured, bus at least a day old. Of Tricia, there is no sign, but what’s even more peculiar is, try as he might, Robert can find no trace of a person getting up from the place they had lain, not leaving the little area, despite being completely surrounded by thorns and brambles. Even a dog as small as Tricia should have left some trace (snapped twigs, fur caught in thorns) but there’s nothing.
Maria didnt like the implication that suddenly the dog had just simply vanished, "Not a sound or a sudden cry. Did you pursue the animal at all, I suppose it was in your care after all?" she continued to question Brus, giving him back a passive stare.
that's weird... Leeka can walk through grass and gardens and not leave a single leaf out of place... I bet she could vanish from a spot like this without a trace, but she definitely wouldn't need meat scraps to get a dog to come to her... maybe if we hit a dead end here we should go ask her if she knows anyone else around here who could do that...
The odd girl continues to quietly observe while Robert investigates the tracks and Maria interrogates the butler.
”I followed a bit but can’t get in them nettles. No time to prune them thorns, what with exercises and walksies, and cleanin’ it’s…” Brus snaps his mouth shut, glaring at you all.
”Besides, I know who’s out there, and if she wants a stupid fat dog, I says let ‘er have it!”
"How valorous of you to flee in the face of protecting ones property, especially that of your employer. Didnt realize Abadar taught that?" she spoke obviously sarcastic in tone as the conversation seemed to grow heated but behind the even faced facade, Maria could only wonder if the escaped killer was closer to home than many thought, "What is next, small children?"
”’ey now, ‘ardly that! You don’t know what that cur be like, whats I got to go through every day, makin’ sure it don’t got prickle-paw or flop-bot or whatever other fool thing lady says dog’s got. So someon’ else want it, fine by me!”
"Well this is curious... Is that the same kind of meat that was found where the dog entered the hedge?"
At Brus mention that the dog is ill, Fezzan raises an eyebrow. "Tricia is sick? We should probably get the details from Mrs. Pumpherus."
Fezzan also takes a moment to think for rumours or gossip he's picked up about the Pumpheruses or the dog.
”Nah, it ain’t sick, ‘cept when lady feeds ‘er too much.”
Fezzen knows that Mrs. Pumpherus is notorious for both over-feeding her dog and over-obsessing over its health, insisting Mistress Numida tend to a host of made-up illnesses with ridiculous names. Rumour around the Public House is that she even once took the thing to Banker Triarius for magical healing, an affront for which the Banker’s wife Drusilla despises Mrs. Pumpherus deeply.
Robert looks around shaking his head, "Someone laid here and waited for that dog. This isn't an animal grabbing the little dog and making off with a meal. Brus, did you have anything to do with the kidnapping of the dog and if you didn't do you know who would want the dog?"
Brus holds his hands up and snarls. ”No way! I had nothin’ to do with no kidnappin’ and don’t know who’s want that dog neither. I was just glad it were gone. I didn’t see no meat and no person lyin’ there. I don’t claim to be sad it’s gone: made my life ‘ell every day but I wouldn’t hurt nothin’, not even that miserable wretch.”
"Can't have gone too far. Might as well see what is behind all this shrubbery and maybe we might have a trail to follow beyond it," the Half Elf says towards the rest of the group.
Robert says "We can look, but from the indications here it just laid here and then flew away." Robert then looks around again for anything out of place or signs of any other creatures in this area.
Searching the area carefully, Robert finds nothing.
While Maria talks about checking out the other side of the hedges, and Robert continues searching to avoid talking to the half-elf, Euda makes her way over to the aged butler and quietly offers, ”If you don’t have enough time to take care of the hedges, I could help. You could send for me at Sir Eustus’ home, and you wouldn’t have to pay me much. If you don’t get fired for all this, I mean.”
”Have you ever seen anyone out here in the garden who didn’t belong?”
”I can take of me hedges just fine, it’s bloomin’ dog that needs taken care of. And no, never seen nobody, but it wouldn’t take much to figure out when dog would be here. Same bloody routine every day for years. Can’t upset the little rat’s routine, oh no sir!”
Fezzan is completely baffled.
"I'm at a loss here. Tricia looks have been dog-napped by someone who laid in wait and baited her in. This person then disappeared with the pupper." He lowers his voice, "Using magic?" He says this last with a touch of awe in his voice.
"Why would anyone steal Mrs. Pumpherus' dog? She's such a nice lady. I know she offended the Banker's wife, but I can't imagine that Mistress Drusilla would be behind this."
Maria would sigh, taking out her wide brimmed hat and placed it upon her head. It was clear to her that she had found as much as could at the current location and that it was time to move on further to investigate, "If you don't mind I would very much appreciate some accompaniment into the surrounding area to search for the missing pet.
How far from the house would Maria like to search, or for how long would she like to search (assuming you don’t find anything)?
The quiet young girl seems surprised by the butler’s insistence that he can manage the hedges after he just said he didn’t have enough time to prune the thorns, but she lets it go without saying anything. When Maria asks about people accompanying her on a wide search, she nods and follows her out past the hedges.
Fezzan shrugs, "Well Tricia isn't here, so we might poke about for a bit while we still have the light."
Robert shakes his head, "You've got me. I see no sign of anyone leaving that hedge but there is no one there. Magic maybe? We should look around and see if there are any other signs of the kidnapper or the dog."
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Gunnar straightens up and then looks at Maria and says after a bit of consideration were you talking with those bushes? Did they answer back? As the investigation continues Gunnar says does the lady have any enemies locally? Otherwise.. perhaps someone has become tired of caring for the dog. Finally again, good to meet you all. I did not expect so many looking for a dog. I am Gunnar Vyrce. Also, I can detect magic
Gunnar will detect magic around the area.
With that, Maria would walk with the group to survey the property for another lead into the case of the missing dog.
You spend an hour or so combing through the undergrowth around Mrs. Pumpherus’ rear gardens. It isn’t far until you find an old country lane leading down to the Brook. Even taking 20 on his Survival check, Robert can find no sign that anybody but you have ever been through that way. However they did it, the dognapper and their victim are gone without a trace.
Mrs. Pumpherus anxiously awaits your return on her back terrace (with sandwiches).
Euda watches with great interest to see how Maria will answer when the handsome stranger asks her about talking to the bushes. When the half-elf completely ignores him and wanders off to look elsewhere for the dog, she shakes her head. "Hello Gunnar," she answers in the wizard's stead, "I'm Eudamonia and I'm new to town too. I wish we'd found the puppy, but if you don't detect anything magic maybe we should head back and let Missus Pumpherus know?"
Maria did in fact ignore him, less so out of pure ignorance and more out of concentration in trying to search. At least if she was going to try and find something she was going put an effort in. Regardless of wither this helpful stranger was indeed handsome, the half elf didnt seem interested.
After searching unfruitful, they'd head back to meet Mrs. Pumpherus, "Sadly ma'am I must inform you that we have not found your pet. My apologies."
Fezzan let's out a low whistle at Gunnar's declaration, his eyes wide. "Wow. You can see magic? What does it look like? Oh, I'm Fezzan, I work at the Public House."
Back at the house, he takes a sandwich with thanks. "Ya, no sign of Tricia yet, but it doesn't look like she just wandered off. Have you noticed anything strange lately, or has anyone been taking special interest in Tricia?"
Robert heads back to the house and once everyone is gathered he approaches Mrs. Pumpherus and says "Unfortunately we did not find Tricia. I looks like Tricia was taken from you. We found a trail through the hedge. It looks like someone dragged some meat to entice Tricia and she followed it. Then Tricia was picked up and the person disappeared. There is no trail or anything leaving that hedge. Do you know anyone that would want to take Tricia from you? Have you seen anyone hanging around that doesn't belong here? From the way they disappeared I would suspect magic was used, either to cover their tracks or fly away." Robert briefly looks at Maria when he mentions magic being used to kidnap the dog.
Mrs. Pumpherus slumps down in her lounger and fans herself. ”Soneone stole her? My Tricia has been dog-napped? Who would do such a thing? No, there hasn’t been anyone around that I’ve seen. This is all so terrible. Maybe, maybe they want a ransom! Perhaps I should post a reward in town?”
Gunnar doesn’t see any residual magical auras in the area.
Maria would pick up on Robert taking a glance at her when magic was mentioned. Silly ignorant folk always did such when it came to magic, though in truth they believed they had a good reason for it, "I suppose we shall continue to watch for Tricia ma'am."
Eudamonia quietly gives a little acknowledging wave to Fezzan when he introduces himself.
Fezzan... I'm sure I've seen him around town before, but I don't think we've ever met... of course, I suppose that's true of Robert and Maria as well, I just feel more like I know them because I've heard so many people talk about them... it is kind of weird that they never introduced themselves, but I guess when everyone knows who you are you must just assume that everyone knows who you are...
Back at the house, the quiet young girls meekly thanks their host and sets politely into her sandwich. At the mention of posting a reward she offers, "we have to go back to town, or through it at least... we could post something for you if you want?"
”Cila? Cila!” she calls out. A half-elf woman in a maid’s outfit with apron appears. ”I need to write a notice. Please bring me my portable writing desk.”
Once she’s equipped, Mrs. Pumpherus writes a reward notice, offering 100 gold coins for the safe return of Tricia. She hands it to you to post in town. She continues to host her would-be heroes, offering sandwiches and tea and is glad for the company, but you can tell she’s kind of sad.
As Cila brings the writing table Robert asks her "Excuse me Cila, before you return to your duties, have you seen anyone hanging around the estate here that doesn't belong recently? Or anyone today at all? Do you know anyone that would want to take your mistress's dog?"
”Hanging around estate? Oh, no sir. No one at all. Was I supposed to see someone? Take her ladyship’s dog? My, no sir. Who would do such a thing?”
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Lady, I am truly sorry to have not been able to find your beloved pet today, but Abadar in his wisdom protects the road travelled and sees over the civil Lady like yourself. I shall pray for guidance and safety for your pet and continue to seek her with permission of my father.
Gunnar says not satisfied at all with the occurance or it's outcome.
Robert looks to Fezzan and says "On our way back to town maybe we should walk back along the road and see if we pick up and sign of the dog or the dognapper, at least until we reach Mrs. Triarius' house."
The quiet young girl taps on Robert's shoulder and waits for his attention. Once she has it she meekly offers, "Leeka knows a lot about plants, and how to be among them without disturbing them... she might be able to tell us if there's anyone in town who could have laid in the bushes and then left without a trace like that... maybe we could ask her too?"
Robert smiles at Eudamonia and says "That is a good idea. I don't know if we have been properly introduced. My name is Robert Macintyre."
Making your way back to the town centre, you see no signs of dog or mapper. Of course, the old cart path behind the garden led in the opposite direction…if the dognapper used it at all.
Once in town, it’s a simple matter to grab a few tacks and the little hammer from their resting spot beneath the town message board outside the front steps of the church. A little asking around leads you to the Everbloom, a small cafe and flower shop, where Leeka Roundbottle, the halfling druid, sips tea and nibbles on a scone.
"Eudamonia Solanis," the girl repeats to Robert with a little wave, "I, uh, live with Sir Eustus now... but you probably already knew that..."
"It's a real mystery Mrs. Pumpherus, I really can't imagine why anyone would go through so much trouble to take Tricia. I'll make sure everyone at the public house knows about your generous reward. I'm sure by tomorrow, we'll have half the town out searching the woods for your dear girl."
Fezzan bobs his head in agreement to Robert's suggestion, pleased to be acknowledged by the popular lab. "That couldn't hurt." He leans in and whispers with almost an apologetic air, "I almost feel bad bringing it up, but maybe someone should talk to Mistress Drusilla? She really doesn't like Mrs. Pumpherus or Tricia."
Despite her pattern of quietness throughout the afternoon, Euda is not at all shy in approaching Leeka. Instead, she walks right up to the woman midway through a bite of scone and asks, "hey, do you know of anyone in town, or nearby, who could lay in one place in the grass long enough to trap a fat little puppers and then get up and leave without making any kind of trail on the way out, but who would, you know, need to set up a trap to grab a fat little puppers?"
The Pumpheruses have been the owners of Falling River Zinc Mining, one of the two local zinc mines, and the one through which the goblins came and attacked. Unfortunately, Zoltus Pumpherus was at the mine at the time and was one of the casualties. Now their son, Egnato runs the mine, but lives in Maheto and sends his mother a generous living allowance, but not enough to properly and fully staff the manor house.
Leeka thoughtfully finishes chewing her bite of scone. ”Someone stole Tricia? Weird! Leave with no trace, you mean, no tracks, snapped twigs, nothing? There’s nobody in town able to move completely without a trace. I can move through underbrush without breaking branches, but I still would leave footprints in wet earth. I assume Robert looked thoroughly, he’s young, but a decent tracker, and there’s plenty of wet ground to leave them. No I once spent three days in the wilderness with Burria, and somehow she didn’t leave footprints, but she still snapped branches if she forced her way through a thicket. I’ve heard that powerful druids in the Verduran Forest can move like that, but I doubt they’re coming around stealing dogs. Which reminds me of something strange I heard today: Elipho Livianus didn’t sign up to search for the fugitive because he’s spending the next while searching around Notting Hills for two of his father’s sheep dogs that wandered off. Unusual for trained sheep dogs to go missing: I wonder if there’s a connection.”
Maria had kept herself rather quiet for most the trip, not talking with any of these that she was in present company with as they traveled into town, one of the places she barely wanted to stay for any period of time at all, but such was needed as she pondered what was known. This pondering would take some time as her mind raced around, thinking of how such could be and possibilities.
"Feather fall, a spell used in levitation potentially... maybe that could have been used. Too hard wrangle dogs that way. Could be that the dog is in one of the empty sections of her estate, likely," she says to herself aloud as the came back in to toen proper. When given new information she added in, "Notting Hills, higher elevation, good spot to survey area.... we should go there."
Euda nods when Maria suggests checking out the location of the other disappearance and says, ”Thanks, Leeka, we’ll check it out.”
Robert nods his head and says "This is becoming a pattern. We need to check out those missing dogs as well. Leeka would you keep an ear out for any other missing dogs? I have a bad feeling there are going to be more."
"Of course," she says and goes back to her scone.
Notting Hills is a 25 minute walk along the North Road. As you pass the MacIntyre farm, a short, thin boy who looks around 12 years of age, whom some of you would have seen at the ceremony earlier, jogs up to the low stone wall along the road. "Whatcha doing?" Benji asks his big brother, then turns to Maria. "Going to burn down some sheds?"