It had been an hour since the group returned from the vault. During the time the injured people were taken somewhere else, somewhere better for them to get healed and the rest stayed there in the Mess Hall, passing the time shaking the tension off and talking about why what happened has happened over a plate of food and some ale. Things seemed to calm down, no watchers have been in the Mess Hall and neither constables. The company had the time to relax a little and wait for news about what looked to be an attempted robbery. No one knows yet what exactly it was and why, only some scenarios were made. One sleeps, one or two may start dozing off and that is the moment that the door opens! Constable Tily Appledore stands under the post. "Dalton Willow is missing." she says and adds after a brief pause “Some Watchers are at the Archives but they left everything untouched, first Constable Appledore is there, go and see if this has to do with the men you're after." and leaves.
Mornenion would sigh through his nose and mutters something in elvish. He'd look to the others to see how they react.
Thorbeck jumps a bit as the door slams open, he looks over and his brow arches.
Caithryth was lounging in one of the chairs, looking back behind her shoulder as the door opens, listening to the short report. She takes another sip of the now lukewarm tea in her mug before putting it back onto the table, looking at the others nearby. Dryly, she says in a low-ish voice: "Looks like there's more things going south today."
Fiontann looks up from the table and then rests his head on his fist, looking at everyone.
'No peace for the wicked, eh?'
Thorbeck looked toward Fion, he offers a grin. He adjusts his pack.
'I think you can all look into it. I am thinking of visiting Dawn to see what I can find about the robbery.'
'Or whatever it was.'
Said Fiontann.
Caithryth grins as well. "More investigating, splendid."
Mornenion would nod, "That's seems like a good idea."
Cedwyn lowers her mug of tea and looks from Fiontann to Caithryth
'I'd rather fight...' muttered Fiontann.
Caithryth noisily pushes her chair back over the floor and gets up.
Fiontann grimaces and looks in his tankard, then at everyone else, and smiles faintly at Cedwyn before taking it and emptying it. On the way out he quickly places a kiss on Cedwyn's right temple and heads out.
Cedwyn smiles and watches Fiontann go.
Athlenah turns around on her bench.
Caithryth looks at the others. "Shall we get ready? And someone wake Athlenah."
Cedwyn nods ''I'll wake her.''
Mornenion would pick up the planks and pouch, "I'll go put these somewhere safe in here."
Thorbeck looked over towards the bench and back to Caith "Ye don't want me to." he grins and walks towards the door.
Caithryth grins.
Athlenah looks troubeled in her sleep.
Mornenion would tuck the planks and pouch away in the corner.
Cedwyn kneels next to the bench and gently rubs Athlenah's shoulder. She speaks softly ''Athlenah, Athlenah..it's Cedwyn..wake up.''
Caithryth looks at Thorbeck. "What, you don't have a good bedside manner?"
Thorbeck looked up to Caith "I have excellent manners!"
Caithryth raises an eyebrow. "I distinctively remember you walking around town with egg on your tunic."
Athlenah shoots "I am sorry!...." Blinks and looks around and then let her eyes rest on Cedwyn "I am sorry?"
Cedwyn rubs Athlenah's shoulder again ''Athlenah, please, wake up..''
Thorbeck says, 'I distinctly remember ye nearly gettin’ flipped by a table!"'
Caithryth nods. "Aye, but that doesn't have anything to do with what is proper and what is not!"
Caithryth winks, in good spirits.
Athlenah sits down.
Cedwyn smiles at Athlenah ''Sorry to wake you..but your assistance is needed.''
Thorbeck says, 'Don't think that table appreciated it!'
Athlenah says, 'What happend?'
Thorbeck looks over and yells "Waitin on you lass!"
Caithryth says, 'Thing is. I don't even remember that anymore. You must've conjured that memory up, certainly!'
Cedwyn ''Constable Appledore came, someone's missing...I think an investigation is about to start..''
Athlenah says, 'Who.....Who is missing?'
Caithryth looks around and spots a basket with some apples on the bar counter, casually leaning over to pocket one for later use.
Cedwyn says, 'A Dalton Willow'
Athlenah says, 'Dalton!..No no no no..'
Athlenah says, 'They better not get him.'
Cedwyn steps back from the bench
Caithryth says, 'Why do women always have to talk that much, am I right? *She looks at Thorbeck and Mornenion with a sly grin.*'
Athlenah says, 'Let’s go'
Mornenion says, 'Aren't you also a woman? Therefore suggesting that you also talk too much.'
Athlenah grabs her cloak and put it around her shoulders and swing her quiver over her head and let it rest on her shoulder and picks up her bow
Thorbeck says, 'Finally!'
Caithryth says, 'That was the joke, friend.'
Caithryth says, 'Let's go.'
Athlenah says, 'Did you start turning grey Thory'
Cedwyn picks up her cloak and throws it around her shoulders.
Mornenion would adjust his quiver and leave.
Most of the town is once more quiet, the guard is not outside the door anymore and one can only guess that he is needed elsewhere. The lights on the windows of the houses that once were dark are now bright and the night feels tense, as if everyone is on the lookout, even the houses themselves.
Thorbeck looks up at Ath "Might as well of with how long it took ye to get out of bed!"
Caithryth says, 'The scholar's stair, right?'
Athlenah says, 'I didn't see you inside a burning house earlier today'
Caithryth says, 'And he would've fit in much easier.'
Athlenah says, 'So please shut up..'
Mornenion would look about, seeming more alert despite the darkness of the night. He'd nod to Caithryth and start walking.
Caithryth gives Thorbeck a thumb's up.
Caithryth says, 'She likes you.'
Thorbeck says, 'Oh oh, don't ye even start with me lass!'
Thorbeck says, 'I'll rip yer world a sunder'
Athlenah says, 'You can't even get that high dwarf'
The road to the archives lays still open, showing that no one has touched it since the news of scholar's missing spread. There is one guard by the open door and one above on the small stone bridge. Some voices further up show that there might be two more by the upper door. Looking through the gaping door one feels some difference, what once was alive, full of knowledge and warmth now feels strange, even from the outside.
Caithryth addresses the Guard. "Constable Appledore sent for us, to take a look around inside."
Mornenion would look around, hoping to spot something that the guards may not have picked up on outside.
The man motions them in "I know, get in." In the meanwhile Mornenion’s quick look didn’t reveal anything of note to him.
Caithryth says, 'Alright then.'
Thorbeck nods to the guard and walks inside
Upon entering one cannot help but notice how cold it is inside, it feels very abnormal and soon one can see their own breath, which is striking because the cold is not unbearable. Moving further into the room one can see that there is no fire in the fireplace, but in this time of year it shouldn't be this cold. The desk in front of the fireplace is turned upside down, the maps are scattered on the floor and the candlestand is broken, some candles dropped here and there. The chair that was usually next to the desk seems to have been thrown to the other side and the other chair is put against the right post by the fireplace's opening. Several parchments and books litter the floor by the bookcases and the cupboards are fallen down. In the main room under the stairs the scene is the same, piles of books and parchments on the floor in front of their bookcases, some scattered here and there making large patches the cover the floor, there is some blood on the carpet and one cupboard is broken, the planks laying on the floor. Candles scattered all over on the floor and on the bookcases as if thrown and the small reading table is cut down as if someone was using it to chop wood on.
Athlenah looks around nervously "This is why i didn't come with you when you where arrested. Dalton was also in danger. I couldn't leave him"
Cedwyn rolls her eyes ''By Bema, it looks like some Orcs had a party in here!’’
Mornenion would quirk a brow as he sees his breath before him, then he'd look in alarm as he sees the maps and books scattered. He'd move over and start trying to pick them up.
Thorbeck looked all around the area, he walks over and picks up a plank "This isn't good.."
Caithryth looks at the small reading table, moving closer to let her fingers trace over the cuts, wondering what blade it was.
Athlenah starts picking up some papers and scrolls off the floor and start reading some of them
Mornenion would clear away the scattered parchments and books, whilst looking around for anything on the floor that may be out of the ordinary.
Cedwyn looks at the broken cupboard and the blood on the floor
The cuts on the table clearly show that the blade use was actually an axe that dropped any times on the table. Mornenion sees that everything on the floor is out of the ordinary. The books and the parchments should have been on the bookcases and the tables.
Thorbeck frowns as he sees the blood on the ground "Ye don't think they just dragged him out the front door?"
Mornenion would pick up a pile of books and parchments, starting to return them to the shelves. It seems that Mornenion has been overcome with the urge to clean up the mess.
Caithryth turns over, looking at the bookshelf that was ruined, whether it was also axed or not.
Athlenah reads several titles from the books "Arda, now and then.", "A guide to Elven Magic.", "Love Spells.", "Herbs and healing." and many more. The ruined bookself seems to have just fallen, she cannot spot any marks.
Caithryth looks at the others. "It's a bit too much pointless destruction for a robbery, isn't it? And it also doesn't really strike me as if a fight happened here."
Mornenion would walk over to the fallen bookshelf, trying to pick it up and put it back in place.
Athlenah looks a the title of the book Love Spells "Didn't know you were that desperate mister Willow."
Mornenion would look at the ground where the bookshelf has fallen for anything.
Thorbeck looked up from the blood to Caith "But Dalton ain't here, they must of took him. Right?"
Caithryth looks at the door leading to the bridge, looking for signs of forced entry, broken locks or similar.
Athlenah sneakily peeks inside of the book hoping not to see her mom's name.
Mornenion finds nothing of note, just more books with titles such as "The History of Bree." "The History of Treslebridge." "The Shire."
Thorbeck walks over to the fire place, he looks it over and then looks up inside of it. Seeing if there was any boot prints in the soot perhaps
Mornenion would tuck away the history books into his bag, hoping no one will notice.
Caithryth doesn't see anything that points a violent entry and Thorbeck sees nothing.
Caithryth checks the lower door as well, just for good measure.
Thorbeck turns from the fireplace and looks around some more.
Athlenah walks around the table and flips it back up.
The lower door doesn't bear any marks either.
Mornenion would continue tidying up the books, putting them back on the shelves.
Athlenah looks down on the ground of things that have fallen of the table.
Thorbeck walks over and picks up the discarded chair "Caith, ye find anythin’ at the door?"
Cedwyn examines the damaged cupboard, looking inside...
Caithryth calls out to respond to Thorbeck. "That he is, but there's little point in taking him and then trashing the place, right?"
Caithryth returns upstairs, shaking hear head. "Nothing broken open."
Athlenah sees that a book was under the table, it's open and the pages are on the other side, she can see the title. It reads “A synopsis of the War” by Dalton Willow and as a matter of fact Thorbeck sees it too as he stands next to the desk. The cupboard is just damage, there doesn’t seem to be anything missing from it.
Athlenah pick up the book: Synopsis of the war. And reads some of it he have wrote.
Caithryth puts her arms akimbo, looking around, talking more or less to herself. "Why would you just make a mess here unless you were searching something."
Mornenion finds nothing. Athlenah is turning the pages and she finds out that page 118 and 367 are missing.
Cedwyn turns away from the cupboard and moves towards the rest of the Company
Athlenah reads page 117 and 119 first.
Thorbeck walks over and peaks up at the book Ath picked up. He tilts his head
Page 117 speaks of a great war and that the Witch-King fled. Page 119 shows a map of Eriador.
Athlenah looks at the dwarf for split second "A book he was writing some of the pages are missing. Not randommly ripped ot but chosenly to be ripped out.’’
Caithryth looks at Athlenah and Thorbeck. "Have you found something?"
Caithryth looks at them. "Oh, just a book."
Mornenion would continue to tidy up the books and scrolls, make some progress quite quickly.
Caithryth turns around again, pursing her lips as she's thinking.
Thorbeck nods and looks around "What page?" he looked under the table
Athlenah remembers Rohrimm can't read.
Mornenion continues tidying up, he finds nothing of note and this pile is bigger than the previous and Thorbeck doesn't see any pages that belong to any books.
Athlenah says, 'Two 118 and 367'
Thorbeck scratches his head and looks back to Ath "What was on the pages ye think?"
Mornenion would walk around behind the others to pick up the maps and would go to put them on top of one of the shorter bookcases.
Mornenion picks up two books and a some parchments, as he hugs them with one hand in order to pick up more with the other, he finds a page!
Athlenah says, 'I don't know page 117 tells a story about the great war and the Witch-king fleeing and page 119 is a map of Eriador.'
Athlenah looks if something is added to the map or Eriador on page 119.
Mornenion would keep the page as he puts away the rest of the stuff he carries.
Thorbeck says, 'So, someone ripped out somethin’ involvin’ the witch-king?'
The woman doesn't find anything significant on the pages or something that draws her attention.
Athlenah says, 'Don't know we are still missing pace 118'
Mornenion would read over the page, then hearing what Athlenah says and walks over, holding it in front of her.
Cedwyn looks over to Caithryth ''There's a lot of damage in here..do you think this was one person's work, or several?''
Athlenah looks at the page morn is holding. "Looks like there is your answer Thorbeck. Morn found page 118."
Thorbeck huffs and turns, he looks around again
Caithryth contemplates this for a moment before responding. "It must've been multiple. Willow is missing, and assuming it wasn't voluntarily demolishing the study searching for something while keeping an eye on a prisoner is... difficult alone."
Athlenah takes the page from Morn and reads it over.
Mornenion would then continue to tidy up.
Books, candles, parchments, more books and more broken pieces of wood is what Thorbeck finds.
There is nothing of note that Mornenion picks up.
Caithryth looks around. "If I'd have to do it I'd take at least one or two more with me." She smirks. "Just hypothetically talking, of course."
Athlenah after reading it she flips over to page 366 and page 368 and start reading them.
Thorbeck picks up the wood and looks to where it belonged.
Thorbeck cannot make out where the wood is from, maybe a bookcase? Page 366 shows the sword of a warrior of Arnor and 368 is speaking about a crown.
Cedwyn nods in agreement with Caithryth ''I guess whoever did this would want to move swiftly..all the commotion and noise may have attracted attention and the Watch..''
] Thorbeck stops and looks the wood over "Ye think Dalton just let these people in? Unknowin’ they were up to no good?"
Mornenion would kneel down, sorting all the books and parchments in this part of of the room into piles and would then start shelving them.
Athlenah says, 'I don't look like they get in here by knocking and waiting for the door to be opend'
Caithryth agrees with Cedwyn. "And it's unlikely that you'd secure the prisoner and then return for a search. Maybe it was done while the vault was burning, to divert attention away just in case."
Thorbeck shrugged and leaned the wood on the wall "Ye think anyone around town saw them comin here maybe?"
There is nothing of note in the books that Mornenion is tidying up and he doesn't seem to see the missing page. As they talk and search and tidy the upstairs door opens and a young guard stops on the stairs panting hard. "Murder... It..." he says trying to catch his breath.
Cedwyn looks over to the guard as he enters..
Thorbeck turns and looks to the door, he arches his brow "Murder? Calm down lad, who?"
Caithryth turns around. "Out with it, man!"
Athlenah says, 'I hope so. If somebody saw them going to the south gate. We might have a lead'
Athlenah looks at the young guard.
Mornenion would look over to the guard as he carries on tidying.
The man catches some of his breath "Guardsmen of the Watch. By the Gate to Combe. I-It- It's terrible." and then turns around and gets sick, soon the cold room feels with the smell of fresh vomit. The man wipes his mouth and then walks to the only upright chair and sits "I'm... sorry." he says and sinks his head in his palms.
Thorbeck rubs his head "We better check that out." he looked back at the others
Caithryth makes a step back as the man bends over, to get out of the splash zone.
Caithryth looks at Cedwyn. "I was just about to say that with the Vault burning and the north and west gates barred, the most likely exit would've been either South or, even closer, East.
Athlenah closes the book and gows to the door
Cedwyn walks over to the guard placing an arm on the distressed man's shoulders trying to comfort him. She looks at Caithryth and nods at what she said.
Mornenion would throw his arms up into the air as the man vomits, probably onto some books that Mornenion was going to tidy up. Mornenion would grumble something in a strange type of elvish and would walk over to the others, "We should go soon."
Thorbeck says, 'Aye, lets head that way!'
Caithryth nods. "Let's take a look."
Athlenah says, 'Come on then!'
Athlenah says, 'They are way to close to my home now'
Mornenion would carefully step around the vomit.
Cedwyn pats the man on the back ''Sorry, I have to go..''
Caithryth says, 'Should be directly across the square.'
Once everyone comes out the temperature returns to normal, despite the late hour it is pleasantly warm. Now there is just one guard by the lower door and the guard at the bridge. There are no voices upstairs anymore.
Caithryth furrows her brows. "It was quite cool in there."
Thorbeck looked at Caith "Eh? It was?"
Mornenion says, 'I noticed a little drop in the temperature too.'
Thorbeck says, 'Lets get to the gate!'
Caithryth shrugs. "Cooler than it should have been, maybe. Anyways, let's move to the gate."
Caithryth says, 'I hope we weren't the first ones that got told.'
Despite the news that they got the houses are the same as before. The only difference is that now Guardsmen go to and fro the gate. Some of those that leave clutch their stomachs, some are too pale.
Caithryth watches the guardsmen. "Not a good sign."
Thorbeck watches them pass as well "Some ain't seen death before.."
There are four guardsmen dead in front or on the gate. All of them is clear that have their throats slit. Two are just under the banner, laying down side by side. One is nailed to the door with a sword and his eyes are gouged out, another is leaning against the lamp post on the right, he was gutted and his innards are resting on his lap. The smell is terrible, The only guards that still remain there are three and they are the oldest as everyone else who left was kind of young or early middle aged. The guards still have their weapons on them and by this first look one will see that they were taken by surprise completely, there is no sign of struggle on the ground. It's as if they were killed on the spot. The alley is reeking of fresh vomit and from the gutted remains of the guard against the lamp post.
Mornenion would seem strangely unphased by the sight and smell of the bodies, walking a little closer and looking them over with critical eyes.
Caithryth slows down as they walk towards it, holding her right forearm against her mouth and nose as she looks on the scene of carnage. Muffled, she says one word to Thorbeck: "Familiar."
Cedwyn stops at the sight of the bodies in front of her. She covers her mouth and closes her eyes looking away.
Thorbeck frowns and looks at the carnage "Aye.."
Boreon catches up, slightly out of breath. He is about to hail the company before he looks wide eyed at the scene
Cedwyn mumbles softly ''Those poor men..''
The first thing that Mornenion notices is that the marks on the guardsmen's necks look like they were made with a certain kind of dagger, one with many curves. His eyes also see that one of the two men under the banner has a large wound where the heart is.
Cedwyn senses movement and turns to see Boreon close to her.
Caithryth points at the unfortunate one nailed to the gate. "Let's get this one down at least. Give me hand, will you?"
Thorbeck nods and follows Caith.
Caithryth takes a look at the sword.
Thorbeck looks over the body as they take him down, he takes his small dagger out of his pack and pulls the nail out.
Cedwyn nods to Boreon ''Hello Boreon...''
While Thorbeck and Caithryth take down the body after pulling the sword out Thorbeck notices some small rings on the ground under it, they are red.
Boreon struggles to turn his attention to Cedwyn, but he does and replies quietly, "What happened 'ere?"
Mornenion would raise a brow, walking closer to the man under banner with the wound near his heart, looking over the body closer.
Thorbeck takes the man's arm and looks down, he cocks a brow and leans over to pick up a ring. He raises it to Caith
It looks like the heart was cut out, by the grimace on the dead face Mornenion can only deduce that whoever done that to him was doing it while the guardsman was alive. His face is grimacing in horror and pain, some of his hair have gone white.
Caithryth rests the body against the door now, 'sitting' it down. She furrows her brows as Thorbeck shows her the found ring. "Is that blood or really that red?"
Mornenion would look over the man's face, trying to discern whether or not the man is young or old.
Both Caithryth and the Dwarf can tell that that a piece of a chain mail. Crimson in colour. Both of them have seen armours and they can say that with certainty.
Cedwyn shakes her head ''We don't know for sure..we were at the Scholar's Study House..it had been ransacked and a Scholar kidnapped..we were then told that guards at this gate had been slain..''
The man was clearly young, no more than twenty five Mornenion would think.
Boreon nods in reply to Cedwyn, before shuffling forward a bit for a closer look
Thorbeck looks it over "Chain link..from some mail. It ain't the guards."
Mornenion would frown, then looking at the wound a little closer, at first gently prodding at it with his fingers.
Caithryth looks around, whether the guard had his weapons still sheathed, or if that's lying around. "The assailants north of the fields were armoured in red mail."
Cedwyn edges forward towards the carnage
Thorbeck nods to Caith. He looks around on the ground, trying to find something else
It's not hard for Mornenion to say that it isn't too long since the man was killed. Caithryth notices that it's the guard’s sword the one that kept him in place, with a quick look around she sees that no one drew their weapons. Next to the man's feet Thorbeck finds a pouch.
Thorbeck picks up the pouch, he tilts his head and remember Morn looking at a pouch earlier. He walks over and holds it up to him "Familiar?"
Caithryth turns around, looking back at the alley towards Bree, eyeing the windows left and right whether there are some onlookers already.
There is only one door that's open. All the windows are lit though. When Thorbeck picks up the pouch he can clearly feel coins inside.
Mornenion would then pull his hand away, taking off his left glove, but stops what he was about to do at Thorbeck comes closer, "The pouch was mine, I put the powder in it. So, no."
Thorbeck grumbles and then opens the pouch, he takes out a coin and looks it over
Mornenion would look back to the body and then would try to stick his ungloved hand into the wound, for some odd reason.
Caithryth knocks on the wooden doorframe, looking inside. "Hello!"
Thorbeck watches Morn for a moment and shakes his head "Elves.." he mutters.
Deep inside Mornenion does feel some slight warmth, he also feels the blood and any other organs that he knows of, it's just the heart that is missing. A voice comes from inside in response to Caithryth. "Hello?"
Cedwyn watches Caithryth move towards a door...
Boreon , after watching the others investigate closely, cocks his head to the right as someone replies to Caith.
Mornenion would search around a little deeper in the body, still seeming very unphased by the situation.
There is nothing of note that the Elf would feel, if he has done such a thing before everything else seems normal.
Caithryth ducks her head as she enters the low door, looking around to try and put a face to the voice. "Looking for a witness! Have you seen something?"
Mornenion would pull his hand out of the dead man's chest with a loud squelch, deep crimson blood covering his hand thickly and dripping from his fingers. Mornenion would wipe his hand on the man's clothes and then looks around, to see if there is anything else out of the ordinary.
The woman sees a middle aged man approaching the door. He is tall, black short hair, strong build, farmer's undergarments. "I heard some noises like a thump here and there. I waited for a moment. Then I saw.." and sighs before adding "I called the Watch."
The coin that Thorbeck examines and all the rest are normal. They also seem to have the right weight too. A quick count would show 5 silver coins and 23 copper ones.
Caithryth nods. "Good man. Did you hear something, horses, a cart?"
Thorbeck shrugs and puts the coin back "Maybe was the guards." he turns to look to Caith.
There doesn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary from what Mornenion can tell. The man at the door shakes his head. "No, only some footsteps that hurried away, when I came out and saw the nailed man on the wall I know what the thump was..."
Mornenion would put his glove back on, his left hand tinted a little red still. He'd look to Thorbeck, "Do mortals get white hair when they are young?"
Caithryth frowns, shaking her head, but offers a swift smile nonetheless as she thanks the man. Looking determined, she exits the building again, walking into the middle of the road.
Mornenion would say that lowly, so the others can't hear.
Cedwyn heads towards the door and looks at the man ''You didn't hear the guards cry out at all?''
The man nods in response, forcing a smile and goes back in the house out of which comes Constable Appledore "Nothing, no one saw anything." he says. "I knocked on the doors, even the windows. They all have barricaded themselves inside after the explosion." The man stands in the middle of the room when he hears Cedwyn's voice "No. It was all very fast that I barely heard what I heard."
Caithryth cups her hands in front of her mouth, inhaling as if to shout down the alley any second now. She stops as the constable joins the conversation."
Cedwyn nods to the man and turns back to the alley
Cedwyn glances at Boreon ''To take these guards out...so swiftly...a ferocious foe indeed.''
Thorbeck looked up to Morn "Not usually..we turn whiter when we get older."
Boreon nods. "Aye." He looks around as if the foe is going to jump out at any moment
Mornenion would point to the body he stuck his hand into, "He looks young, but bits of his hair seems to be going white. So what you say means that that is odd."
Caithryth looks at Boreon. "Oh, a face I haven't seen yet."
Thorbeck turns and looks at the man "Eh?" he leans over and touches the hair "Heard of people gettin so scared they turn white..think that is just a sayin’ though."
Mornenion would raise his brow, "Well, sometimes the stories are true. Perhaps it could be so in this man's case."
Thorbeck scratches his beard "Somethin’ scared him so bad, he turned white? Must of been quite the scare."
Mornenion says, 'Well, his heart was cut out whilst he was alive, so that may have done it.'
Suddenly the silence of the night is broken by the howling of wolves from out of the gates. Everyone can hear it. With these gruesomely murdered bodies in front of them the howls chill one's blood!
Cedwyn tilts her head at the sound of the wolves, a little chill runs through her body
Caithryth slowly turns around.
Boreon 's hand moves immediately to the hilt of his sword as he hears the howls, though doesn't yet draw it
Mornenion would narrow his eyes as the sounds of the wolves, seeming more uneasy by the sounds than scared by the howls.
Thorbeck shakes his head "Dealin’ with.." he stops and looks out at the hills and and bushes
Elskeval frowns upon hearing the sound
Caithryth says, 'That's unnerving.'
Cedwyn nods at Caithryth ''Indeed.''
Caithryth then spots the newcomer, pointing at Elskeval. "Hey there, you don't look like someone from the watch."
Thorbeck looks over toward Elsk, he arches his brow "Aye, ye don't!"
Mornenion would pull his hood further down when he notices the newcomer, keeping his eyes on the woods outside the gate.
Cedwyn leans forward staring into the darkness beyond the gate...
Elskeval says, 'I think you have more pressing matters at hand.'
Thorbeck says, 'Aye, how we know ye aren't part of our pressin’ matter!'
Caithryth walks closer, one hand on the hilt of the sheathed blade, eyeing the man up and down carefully. "What, you don't know the Watch here?"
Caithryth adds, to Thorbeck. "He's got a point, though."
Thorbeck gives Elsk a distrusting look, he looked back at the others and then to Elsk again
Elskeval says, 'I've never heard of any Watch.'
Caithryth points at the man. "Just stay where we can keep an eye on you for now. And I suggest don't leave through that gate there."
Mornenion would look to the woods, to see if there is anything off about them.
Elskeval says, 'I wouldn't dream of it.'
Caithryth gives Thorbeck a sceptical look.
The woods seem normal. there is nothing to be seen but the howls become more intense.
Thorbeck huffs and turns. He looks out into the hills "We find any tracks leadin’ anywhere?"
Thorbeck looks at the ground
Mornenion would try to listen to hear what direction the howls come from exactly.
Cedwyn says, 'Errm, perhaps we should get some torches, or make a fire..wolves don't like that, do they?'''
Elskeval says, 'If they're hungry enough fire won't matter.'
The howls come from the woods.
Boreon steps closer to the company, hand still firmly at the hilt of his sword, his eyes scanning the woods ahead
There are no tracks on the ground to be seen.
Cedwyn looks at the portcullis above the gate ''Can we lower that?''
Caithryth says, 'We're not going to stop because of some scrawny wolves, look at the dead here. Someone left on foot out there.'
Mornenion would take his bow from his back, stepping around the bodies. He'd take an arrow from his quiver and nock it, but not drawing the bow. He'd scan his eyes over the woods again.
It becomes clear to Mornenion that the howls come from the ruins.
Elskeval says, 'If the howls are this loud I would think they aren't scrawny, but I have been known to be wrong before.'
Thorbeck shakes his head "Cleaned up well too." he looked to Caith "Think the wolves.." he stops and follows Morn as he walks out, he grabs the hilt of his axe "Ye think the wolves found somethin?"
Caithryth says, 'Yeah, you have. The bit about the watch for example.'
Caithryth says, 'But it's alright. Lucky for you you didn't choose to wear red today. Would've been awkward.'
Mornenion would look to the others, "The wolves are in the ruins. I am going to look."
Caithryth says, 'Let's go.'
Elskeval says, 'If there is a watch then I simply don't care, watchmen don't do that much anyway'
[Thorbeck says, 'Oi! Not alone ye aren't.'
Caithryth says, 'True.'
Cedwyn glances at Boreon ''Please stay close to me..I have no weapons.''
Mornenion would simply nod and start walking at stride towards the ruins.
Thorbeck unlatches his axe and holds it in hand as he follows Morn
Caithryth looks at Cedwyn. "Not even a dagger?"
Caithryth points at the sword the guard was impaled with.
Elskeval follows the few heading out.
Boreon tries his best to look confident to Cedwyn. "We'll be fine. Come!"
Cedwyn says, 'Erm, no...I'm a baker'
As they follow the howls and get close to the ruins the temperature suddenly drops, any warmth that they felt has gone and once more they can see their breaths. The ruins of the ancient wall suddenly feel very strange and as if they are somewhere far away. The howls completely the whole scenery, making it very unnatural. The group approaches slowly but with each step it feels as if they are leaving the world they know and they enter another in another time. A very strange feeling. Yet the howls manage to keep them sober and on edge, they sound very close.
Elskeval says, 'Something is definitely off about these 'Wolves'.'
Caithryth loosens her blades in the scabbards. "Maybe that whole wolf business is a bit less scrawny."
Thorbeck breathes and looks at his breathe, he takes his axe with two hands and cautiously follows Morn "This ain't natural!"
Cedwyn moves closer to Boreon, standing behind him
Mornenion would simply blink as he sees his breath again. He doesn't seem too bothered about the strange feeling.
Elskeval rests his hands on his daggers
Boreon senses Cedwyn behind him and beckons her to move by his side, again trying to look confident
The howls of the wolves soon get mixed with the voice of a man who shouts "Get away, leave her alone! Leave us alone". Once the group gets closer they see Dalton with a heavy branch trying to fend of a group of wolves. He swings it clumsily in his futile attempts to drive the wolves away.
Caithryth lowers her voice and talks to Thorbeck. "And once more I feel ill equipped."
Thorbeck nods "Wishin I had me armour.."
Caithryth shouts out: "Hold on!"
Mornenion would stop as he sees Dalton, looking to the walls of the ruins instead.
Caithryth draws her weapons and would start running forward.
Thorbeck sees Dalton as well and follows Caith, raising his axe.
Elskeval sighs.
Mornenion would run to the side and would try to climb the wall on the right, to stand at the top.
Boreon draws his sword and looks to Cedwyn "Stay close" Before he rushes forward with the others
Caithryth sees one of the wolves trying to circle to Dalton's right and doubles down, trying to hit the animal with a long slash, along its length.
Thorbeck yells and tries to slam his axe down on a wolf's back by raising his axe over his head and bringing it down hard
Mornenion would climb to the top with inhuman agility, though no one would actually see it.
Cedwyn moves to shelter by a wall of the ruin.
Elskeval walks over and leans on one of the walls, watching the scene unfold from the back.
The wolves didn't seem to expect a charge at them. Caithryth's sword slashes the animal that cries in pain anddrops dead. Thorbeck's axe cuts through the wolf and the animal dies. The two remaining wolves turn to look at them and growl, one runs away! The other charges at Caithryth!
Caithryth twirls around as the blade connects with flesh, biting deep into the unfortunate wolf, just in time to see another dark shadow moving up towards her. She takes a few swift steps back, avoiding an angry bite at her right arm just in time.
Mornenion would look around the landscape from atop the ruin, trying to see anything strange that one may not see from the ground.
There is nothing to be seen. Dalton Willow looks at them all with his mouth wide open, a young girl laying on the floor by his side. He is weary and pants heavily, having dropped the branch.
Thorbeck watches the wolf lunge, he grunts and turns, bringing his axe for a long side swipe and tries to hit the wolf out of the air
The hit is true but the Dwarf miscalculated the distance and only managed to scrape the wolf's side, the wolf cries and disappears into the night as well. Once it runs away Dalton falls down trying to catch his breath.
Thorbeck growls and takes his axe into one hand, he turns to face Dalton
Mornenion would move and try to jump over to the wall sticking out from the wall he is on.
Elskeval says, 'That was an interesting show.'
"Thank you." whispers the man and brings a hand to the girl's cheek "Betsy?" he manags to say, bringing another hand to take hers for the feel. "Please, wake up."
Mornenion would jump, and then jump from that wall to the floor, using the tree to soften his landing. He'd then run over to the wall on the other side of the tree and would try to climb that.
Cedwyn moves forward, now the wolves have been dealt with
Caithryth laughs out at Thorbeck, thanking him with a quick remark before shouting after the fleeing animals, adrenaline still surging through her veins.
Mornenion would scale that wall with ease just had been with the other one, but the others may notice him this time.
Cedwyn moves over to Dalton and the girl ''Are you injured, sir?''
Thorbeck lets out a sigh and looks at the girl Dalton had
Mornenion would run to the end and look around for anything strange once more.
Boreon stands back with sword drawn, looking around for any more wolves
The man looks at Cedwyn and shakes his head "No, no. I am fine, they didn't hurt me, I don't know about Betsy though, she is unconscious. My daughter." and everyone recognises the girl that was abducted the day before. The sun starts to rise in the distance and Mornenion sees that there is nothing threatening them.
Thorbeck turns and looks up at Ced "Can ye help?" he looked around and notices Boreon standing ready "Aye, whoever can help should. The rest of us should be on guard."
Caithryth lowers her weapons again, sheating the dagger for now, while keeping the bloody sword in hand.
Mornenion would make a sort of frustrated hissing sound and would jump down from the side of the wall the others cannot see.
Cedwyn kneels examining the girl ''Did you say her name is Betsy?''
Mornenion would come around the side of the wall, looking around to see if he can spot anything strange closer to ground.
Thorbeck keeps his axe ready and scans the area
Caithryth looks around, calming down again. "It's still unnaturally cold, isn't it?" She asks the dwarf.
The man nods and then releases her, opening his palms, he covers his face and rocks back and forth sobbing. "They got it... They know!" he says.
Thorbeck breathes and looks at his breathe "Ye all feel it more than I do but I do see me breath.."
Elskeval frowns "Got what?"
Mornenion would see nothing and look frustrated, walking up to the scene before him.
There is nothing around that may be threatening, The sun goes higher and higher, slowly but each time that they notice their shadow moving it becomes warmer, slightly each time.
Cedwyn looks at the man as she unfastens her cloak and wraps it around the child ''Know what?''
The man sobs and produces a crumbled paper, holding it up for whoever would take it. "They know where it is..."
Caithryth shakes her head. "They've got some fiendish tricks up their sleeve. I don't think those wolves were here on their own."
Boreon hesitantly takes the paper and studies it
Elskeval says, 'Know where what is?'
The first thing that Boreon sees is that it's the page 367.
Thorbeck looked up to Caith "Aye, this is all unnatural!"
Boreon says, 'It's too dark to see properly, I can only make out it's a page from a book'
Caithryth looks over her shoulder to the rest of the group conversing with the man.
Mornenion would step closer to Boreon, "Let me see that page."
Cedwyn watches Boreon take the paper then she looks at Betsy again. She speaks softly to the girl ''Hello Betsy, my name is Cedwyn. How do you feel?''
Boreon hands over the page to Morn.
Caithryth sees Cedwyn taking care of that problem already.
Caithryth says, 'It is unnatural. And whatever caused it must be gone. I swear it was the same we've felt in the study, too.'
Elskeval says, 'You say that you've felt this before?'
Thorbeck says, 'Aye, the same people. Hopefully Dalton can shed some light on this!'
Mornenion would take the page, his eyes scanning over the page, "I had an idea of what these people's plans may be when I saw page 118. This confirms it."
Caithryth looks at the man that has followed them investigating the ruin. "Yeah. Where he," she points at Dalton, "was before."
Elskeval narrows his eyes but says nothing.
Dalton Willow looks at the Dwarf "That is a powerful jewel, cursed by the Witch-King himself when he fled the Dwadmen's Dike. If they get it into their hands the shadow will return again." and gets up, now trying to stay composed. "It is buried in Fornost, a terrible place."
Caithryth draws out a handkerchief out of her pocket and starts to clean the wolf blood off the blade.
Mornenion would look to Dalton, "They are trying to get it then? As I just guessed. We need to go to this Deadman's Dike."
Thorbeck turns around "The shadow returning.." he arched his brow and his axe lowerd "This..this isn't good at all." he looked up to Caith
Cedwyn cradles the girl, speaking softly to her
Caithryth looks up. "Hm? I was zoned out a bit. Have they found something out?"
The man nods "Yes. They want to find it, it has some of the power of the Witch King in it. They believe it can make someone equally powerful."
Thorbeck says, 'We need to get a jewel before they do, if they do then the shadow may return.'
Caithryth , satisfied with her efforts, sheathes her sword now, keeping the dirty cloth in her fingers.
Mornenion would wave his hands about, his voice sounding agitated, "That is what I have just suggested!"
Thorbeck says, 'All that peace we've fought for, it be for nothin if they just come back."'
Caithryth remembers something with a smile, and pulls an apple out of her pocket. It survived it. Only then do Thorbeck's words begin to reach her. "Then we should get it before them." She then stops, apple in hand. "Wait, again please."
The man draws a deep breath and turns his gaze North. "They started sacrifices already. If they find the bracelet of hope too I don't know what may happen. They have to be stopped."
Elskeval , eyes still narrowed asks "What else happened last time you felt this chill?"
Mornenion would look like he is getting more and more agitated, but that pauses when Dalton speaks, "What is this bracelet of hope?"
Thorbeck looks around and then up to Caith "People are going to die! Like they were in the war lass!" he shakes his hand in frustration
The man motions at the paper "An old bracelet, four of its jewels made by Elves in Lindon and one by Dwarves. Men forged them all together. It is the Bracelet of Hope that all races can work together to make something beautiful."
Caithryth picks out a simple knife and starts to cut into the fruit, thinking about the dwarf's words. "That explains all the bloody preludes up in the North, no one does that for sport."
Caithryth offers Thorbeck a slice. "And something we should immediately address."
Thorbeck shakes his head and takes the slice roughly "Aye!" he eats it grumpily
Mornenion would nod, "So, that's what it's called." He'd let out a strange sounding laugh, "Ironic name really." He'd then pause, "We need to go inform the others of this, then go find it."
Cedwyn rocks the girl as she looks at Elskeval ''There was a chill in the Scholar's study...like here...the study had been ransacked''
Elskeval says, 'What else happened?'
Caithryth chews on a slice herself, talking to Thorbeck with a bit of a lack of manners. "I've not been fighting in the war, really, but I take your word for it, without hesitation:"
Boreon shivers. "Find it, in... Fornost?"
Cedwyn nods towards Dalton as she replies to Elskeval ''It was his study...''
Mornenion says, 'Yea, in Deadman's Dike.'
Mornenion says, 'Where the Witch King fled to.'
Thorbeck finishes and looks at the others "Sounds like we need to inform Fion, get ready for a trip."
Caithryth nods, walking over to the others, apple and knife in her hands. She dumped the hopelessly dirty handkerchief on the ground.
Elskeval says, 'Forgive me for repeating myself, but What else happened?'
Caithryth says, 'A guard dragged us here to the Gate.'
Thorbeck walks over to Elsk "We were investigatin’ Dalton’s home before."
Caithryth says, 'Where more guardsmen were murdered. You arrived shortly after as well.'
Elskeval sighs "Ok then, WHO was there?"
Caithryth says, 'Fuck knows.'
Thorbeck says, 'We were. We ain't find enemies.'
Mornenion would hum, "Wait, no." He'd wander off ,taking out the pages and going over things again.
Elskeval strokes his chin in confusion "Then any clue as to what causes this chill?"
Caithryth slices another bit of apple, offering it to the others. While she waits for a taker she just shrugs at Elskeval's question. "Good question. I'm not a scholar nor have I had this happen to me before."
Thorbeck says, 'No idea.'
It is early morning now, a very pleasant morning. The sun is still relatively low but the warmth it gives in brings pleasure to everyone now that the dread has left. Despite the bad news this early morning sensation is welcomed by everyone.
Cedwyn blinks at the sunlight and one hand covers her mouth as she stifles a yawn
Elskeval says, 'Were any of you followed before?'
Boreon , finally satisfied there are no more wolves, sheaths his sword
Mornenion would seem to wander off, looking at the pages. He'd seem to be heading back to Bree.
Cedwyn looks at Dalton ''Where will you and Betsy go now? Do you have somewhere you'll be safe?''
Caithryth says, 'Maybe we should try and get back to the city.'
Caithryth looks at Cedwyn. "How's the girl?"
The man nods and helps the girl that just woke up get on her feet. "They have what they wanted. We are safe. For now."
Cedwyn looks at Caithryth ''She's fine. Shaken by the ordeal''
Elskeval whistles and his flowery steed comes to his side
The man and the girl start going back. Constable Appledore and two Watchers come along but seeing that everything is fine they help the family, leaving the otehrs alone. For now.
Caithryth nods. Then she looks at Dalton. "Do you need more assistance?"
Caithryth says, 'Stay safe!'
Cedwyn watches Dalton and Betsy leave.
A few moments later they all arrived in the Mess Hall to tell FIontann what happened and Mornenion gave him the two papers. Fion dropped his fist on the table and got up.
-It’s time to march in Fornost then!
After a few moments of contemplation he adds.
-All of you get a good night’s sleep, eat and rest. I will order Bil and Maddie at The Thirsty Boar to prepare provisions. We’ll leave at dawn and once everyone has rested!
NOTE: The bracelet and the text about it is some "lore" created by me in order to serve the story, no one in The Black Steel claims it's canon in any way!
