Brus is a grim, taciturn old man, though polite enough to nod at Thraag as the young man climbs up. He certainly makes no move to initiate any conversation.
Well, if you insist thraag... I'll hang on to the back with your brother. I do enjoy a breeze. He grins moving to the other side of the carriage.
The carriage ride is not long, as nobody lives too far from centre of town. The Pumpherus estate was once a grand affair, though has faded with time and declining fortunes. The grounds are quite untidy, with grass clearly needing cropping and hedges badly in need of trimming. The topiaries are completely misshapen and the flower beds more weed than perennial.
Those inside the carriage find that Mrs. Pumpherus is an amiable though chatty companion, who insists you all take several candies from a metal tin she produces from her handbag. It’s clear that having you come to find her dog has put her in top spirits, though you also get the impression she’s just loving the attention as well.
Upon arrival, Mrs. Pumpherus summons Cila to produce tea and sandwiches for the searchers. Brus has already donned his gardening apron and grabbed some shears before his employer barks a summons and sends him to show you all where Tricia was last seen. He practically hurls his shears to the ground in frustration and shuffles off to the back garden, beckoning you all to follow.
Near the rear hedge, as overgrown as all the others, he shows you a few wooden rings that Tricia had been “chasing”. ”Eh. Fat little runt was waddlin’ after one dem rings. Went too far in hedge. Runt go in, not come out.” Brus continues to mutter in a low voice, something about a lot of bother and stupid dog and maybe finally having some time to trim the hedges.
The Elder waves Thraag forward and he moves awkwardly to look around the bush with him. Thraag blanches a little and announces to everyone, "I see another ring...and a piece of meat." Thraag reaches in and pulls out the piece of meat with the hopes of identifying what it was. Thraag stands back up and examines the meat. He turns his body slightly to block Brus from seeing exactly what it is.
Thraag examines the meat he is holding.
The Elder nods encouragingly at Thraag and says,
After Thraag stands with the piece of meat, the Elder looks at it and says,
Marcus watches Thraag the Elder climb up and grab on the back of the carriage. Since there is room there he join the other half orc.
"Varian, Feel free to take a seat inside. I'm sure they'd prefer your company."
Once there he stays close to the others to watch and listen.
He looks at the gardener suspiciously. Then he considers his place and withholds comment. Perhaps the man is just feeling guilty for losing his ward?
He picks up the ring looking for marks on it other than the obvious tooth marks from the dog chewing on it....
He certain that there should be tracks here, but doesn't notice any.
"Ah a spearman! Using an elf weapon to boot. I've never had a chance to hold one before, but they are supposedly notoriously difficult to master. And I am not yet a knight, merely an esquire. Grahm is my name, and we are "looking for a pet." If the two of you wish to come with us, I would be honored."
"What a coincidence, that is exactly what I was hoping for! Well- met, Grahm. Ah, yes, the spear also takes a bit of practice, but it's really quite practical. It gives a much wider effective range on your thrusts while still retaining the reach advantage of a spear. I've been told they're quite hard to forge, though - especially if you try to make it look like actual branches with sharp leaves the way the elves tend to."
He might have wanted to talk to the orcs in more detail, but unfortunately Brus was upon them, and Kieran definitely preferred not to walk whenever able. He'd done quite a bit of that on the way here, after all. On the way, he takes in a deep nostril breath of the village air, committing it to memory.
Once the search begins, Kieran nods as the others quickly find the meat in the hedge, which didn't seem to bode well. From there, he attempts to track the dog further...
Thraag uneasily examines the meat, but is (presumably) relieved to discern that the meat is deer, not dog. One of the surfaces of the meat is flat, like the meat had been butchered.
Thraag breathes a sigh of relief and turns so everyone can see his find and says, "This is deer meat. It looks like it has been butchured. You can see the flat where a knife or some other tool cut it. But it looks like it was used to lure the dog further in. I saw a dog print on a compressed leaf, and beyond that it looks like something was dragged out the other side of the bush."
Varian Nods.
Interesting. Well, lets keep up with that bit of evidence then. Its not looking to great for Brus, but lets not jump to any conclusions. Honestly this type of stuff isn't my forte, I know a few things about plants, and the like but uh, not following stuff so lead the way.
Ahhh man. With such a trail, I don't even know if we'll get that far without finding the poor thing. Craaap.
"Hm... interesting. So someone lured the dog away? Does this old Lady have any enemies in town that wish her harm?" Kieran wonders. "Regardless, we should probably follow the trail and see where it leads. Should it lead into the wilderness, I'd suggest taking out our weapons. On the off chance that this dog hunt actually gets us close to the missing barbarian, right?"
"Indeed, that seems wise. Keep an eye out for additional prints that might lead to danger. Thraag, I'm sorry to put you in front, but you seem to have the best skill at tracking. I'll be right next to you to protect you if anything comes running at us. Kieran, since you've got a spear, take the second row, it'll give you front and backline offensive pressure. Varian, I need you as his eyes, help guide him. Thraag the elder and Marcus, I'd feel safest if you took the back, I doubt anything is going to feel comfortable sneaking up on us if the two of you are the first things they see, but if they do, you'll be able to make short work of them."
It would seem that Grahm has either put some thought into this formation plan, or that he picks up quickly on strengths. Nevertheless, it seems a bit extreme if all we are expecting to find is a dog...
Thraag is able to follow the signs of the dog’s passage, which seems to have run down along the hedge rather than straight through it, into an area of thick undergrowth. There, he finds signs that somebody had lain there for awhile, along with another discarded bit of deer meat. However, he finds absolutely no signs of anyone or anything (including Tricia) having left the area, nor any signs that the tangle of thorn bushes have been disturbed in a very long time. If someone was there, he/she and Tricia have vanished without a trace.
Thraag looks around and shrugs, "I don't know. As far as I can tell the trail stops here. It is possible that someone skilled in the woods could have hidden their passing. Burria Sibyla is good in the woods and would have venison. But I am not sure why she would want Tricia unless the dogs barking started bothering her. She is not very friendly."
The Elder frowns at Thraag and says,
"Hm... maybe we'll have cause to use those tactics of yours soon, Grahm. If Thraag is right, this mystery person would be quite skilled in removing them. Someone wanted to avoid being followed, and seemingly succesfully, unfortunately. On the brighter side, there's no sign of a struggle here. That suggests there was no direct intent to harm the dog. It's still possible a local captured it on purpose - presumably to blackmail its owner, as she's at least wealthy enough to have a servant. However, it could also be that we're dealing with an outsider - other than me - and that this was just a chance meeting. Maybe the dog simply caught the scent of fresh meat and wandered here. We can't completely discount this barbarian killed the deer, took its meat and shared it with our canine quarry."
Kieran crosses his arms and ponders the implications of these findings. "I have some sensitivity to magic and could see if there is some residu there. But in the meantime, may I ask how common it is here for the locals to eat deer meat? Is that something the butcher here sells regularly?"
After the last words, his milky eyes close and he begins muttering an incantation, slowly turning around to face the entire clearing.
While Kieran scans for any magical residue, Marcus carefully searches the area for any other footprints. Someone had lain there for a while and possibly consumed some venison, raw? Were there any other tracks there, coming to it or going? Possibly other than dog or humanoid?
"Anyone find anything useful?" Kieran asks as he continues to concentrate and look for magical remnants.
Kieran finds no magical residue (unless some party member has something magical). Locals would eat deer meat all the time and it could easily be bought at the butcher’s.
Marcus doesn’t find any tracks or trace leaving the scene, but he sharp eyes trace back the trail that runs along the hedge and sees that the two pieces of deer meat caught on thorns line up with that path, almost like someone dragged the meat along the ground like a lure, perhaps with a long string.
Marcus points out the residue along the trail. "The dog was lured here, like who.... or whatever was fishing for it. But no foot trail away? Maybe it was able to fly? But why?"
"Well, this meat does not seem rancid. Which means it might have been killed or purchased recently. We can try and track down Burria," Thraag says with a frown, "Or one of the other hunters. Or we can go see Clemis and see if anyone bought some venison this morning."
Thraag then looks at Marcus, "This is not a really big town. Maybe someone just got tired of the barking or watching the dog be spoiled. It could also be ransom, but that seems a bit unlikely."
Hmmm... welp, nothing left to do but fan out and look around. You all are too quick to consider complicit and ill intent. Perhaps Brus got tired of attending the dog, perhaps some kids are playing a prank, or, perhaps, someone is setting Brus up. Either way, we can't say anything for sure yet. Though, I think I would like to go back and talk to our stiff-laced Butler.
He looks around, and starts to wander off.
Well, anyway, lets spread out and look around the area for anything else. Who knows, we may just find something interesting.
Varian starts to wander off from the scene to the left
"Talking to Brus seems like a good idea. He was supposed to be watching the dog. If someone deliberately lured the dog away without him noticing... well, let's see what he says. Asking a better tracker for help sounds like a good option too, as would asking the butcher who bought deer meat today. At the very least, assuming it *is* a native of the town, knowing that would narrow the list of suspects quite a bit."
He stretches his arms and rolls his neck. "Of course, the butler is closest, so might as well start there. And hey, I can't say I didn't enjoy that tea! Perhaps there is some left?"
Thus, Kieran follows Varian back to the garden.
"Something is fishy here, and it's not the venison. The dog shouldn't have just vanished, there should be tracks of something here. Or tracks near the venison dragged on the string."
Grahm frowns. "No, I don't like this one bit." He looks up, to see if it was possible that perhaps a large bird had grabbed the small dog.
Not unless the bird could fly through tangles of thorns unimpeded.
Marcus nods with Graham's comment. "Dogs don't just vanish. Not by themselves. And a bird large enough to carry a fat dog like that.... It'd have trouble getting through the branches here. Hunting birds usually do so in clear areas, grassy but not with thorny vines."
"I don't like it a bit. Maybe Brus heard something? He obviously wasn't watching proper, but if the dog was attacked it should have made some sound...."
"Wait! Gather some of the meat traces. Can anyone detect poisons? Or drugs that might be in the meat?"
"I have he chunk of meat I found, but the Elder and I do not have the means of checking for poison." Thraag says as he holds it up for anyone else who might have the ability to check for poison.
Varian continues to walk around the larger area past the brambles, tapping the side of his head as he does so, widening the area he searches.
Varian finds an old road leading down to the Brook, but there are no signs of any passage along it, recent or otherwise.
Thraag the younger turns and returns to where Brus is and says, "Brus, it looks like someone lured the dog away with meat. I need you to go over what happened with the dog before it entered the bush and then how long it was until you went to investigate?" He tries to smile at the man to make the question seem less focused on the man.
Surprised at the quiet orc's sudden display of skill, Grahm nevertheless attempts to help him. "That's right, we know that it bothered you, and honestly kicking up such a fuss about a little runty dog seems like a bit of an overreaction, don't you agree? Still, it seems important to the old lady, so tell us what you know, and I'm sure we can get something figured out.
"I think it's important that this is solved quickly, too. If it turns out to not be a townsfolk who did this, there could be panic with that barbarian on the loose. If she got this close of the village despite their best men and women out to scour the surrounding wilds..."
Varian goes to speak, but smiles, surprised, at Thraag. He gives a chuckle and a grin, letting him take the lead for now. He was doing a good enough job.
Seeing the group focusing on Brus Marcus just stays back. Fairly certain the man would recognize him Marcus doesn't want his problems playing into the man's answers.
”Runt went in dem nettles, but nae come out. I don’t bend down too good, so I poked hedge ‘n called ‘er but she stay in. Didn’t ‘ear nothin’, didn’t see nothin’ in der neither. Go back to get mistress to call ‘er, but I ain’t goin’ in dem woods with crazy woman around. ‘Air all crazy and what not!”
Thraag nodded along with Brus and then asked, "How long did it take you to notice that she was not coming back and then go seek out your mistress?"
”Twere no more than three or four minutes, then a couple minutes to get back ‘ere.”
"Can you think of anyone who has some kind of grudge against Ms. Pumpherus? Someone with a reason to lure and kidnap the dog? It'd have to be someone quite skilled in tracking or hunting." Kieran asks the gardener.
Brus shakes his head. ”Other than Mrs. Triarius, everyone loves Lady Pumpherus, but she’s nae the type to skulk in hedges.”
The locals know of the legendary though inexplicable hatred that Drusilla Triarius, the Banker’s wife, has for Mrs. Pumpherus, but would also agree that they would see Mrs. Pumpherus working the town forges before Drusilla ever crawled into a hedge.
"Some people are not fond of animals. Has anyone voiced displeasure at the Lady's dog?" Thraag asks.
Brus looks suddenly guilty and goes quiet. All the locals know that the only person in town who actually hates this dog is Brus himself.
Not really knowing anything about the man but catching the look of guilt regardless, Kieran sighs and turns to the others. "Seems like this is a dead end. Should we try the butcher next and ask about the deer meat?"
Marcus shrugs at the suggestion of asking the town butcher. "Many in town eat venison, but it is a direction that we could go. The meat isn't spoiled so likely it is recently butchered."
"We could also ask if any other pets in town are missing. The Lady's dog may be one of several."
Back in town, the butcher’s shop would seem to be the dead end you feared. Lots of townspeople have bought venison in recent days, and any farmer or shepherd could have shot themselves a deer at any time.
Coming out of the butcher’s shop, however, you see Eudox Livianus across the lane talking with his uncle Verus just outside the elder Livianus’ leather shop, catching the tail end of their discussion.
”I know it’s risky, uncle,” Eudox replied to some statement you missed, ”But if I don’t track down Butch and Stag from wherever they ran off to, papa might lose a couple dozen of the flock. He depends on those mutts.”
"See Graham? Maybe you should speak with Eudox there. Sounds like they've a couple of missing dogs as well. They might talk with you, and then we could see if there are any clues there!"
"Dogs are sometimes used to guard.... And even an untrained mutt will bark and sound an alarm if something dangerous is noticed. Could the barbarian woman have accomplices? Maybe they intend an attack on the village?"
Grahm, who wasn't quite sullen about not being the center of attention, but decidedly unused to it, and disappointed that his battle formation had no use, perks up at Marcus's suggestion.
"Of course! An excellent idea."
He tromps metallically towards Eudox and Verus.
"Excuse me sirs, but I couldn't help but overhear you saying that you've lost some dogs." Before they can respond, Grahm continues talking.
"You see, we were tracking Mrs. Pumpherus's pet, and it seems to have disappeared under rather... mysterious circumstances. Now hearing that other dogs have gone missing as well, who knows what could be afoot? Of course, on the other hand, it could be nothing worth worrying the town over, so I'd be most glad to hear the particulars of their disappearance."
Thraag moves with Grahm to hear with the two say. He wonders how many other dogs may have been taken this morning when the whole town was gathering to see of the searchers.
Elipho nods his head at Grahm’s questions (Verus is too busy scowling crankily at the presence of Marcus to notice).
”They went missing three days ago. My brother Eudox was tending our pa’s sheep, and he stopped to eat lunch, when the two dogs just up and bolted into the woods. Totally against their training to do that and these were good dogs. Even if they sniffed a wolf or something, they'd know to stay with the flock, not try to drive it off in there. Eudox ran after them, but he couldn't leave the flock so he didn't go far. He didn't hear no barking or growling, so they didn't get in a fight with something. Eudox ain't no good with tracking, so I was hoping I'd be able to pick up a trail, even if it is three days old.”