The Unfinished Duet, Part 2
Log Info
- Title: The Unfinished Duet: Part 2
- Emitter: Delilah
- Characters: Ashes, Merek, Seldan, Silmeria, Elyanna
- Place:
- Time: Monday, October 05, 2020, 9:18 PM
- Summary: Knight Captain Norrington has allowed the adventurer's access to the murder site of Bethany. Ashlee and Merek arrive, followed by Seldan, Simeria and Elyanna. Merek uses a spell to get details from the blood, which mostly are that she was murdered. Seldan and Silmeria speak respectfully with Norrington with various degrees of success. He describes how Bethany was shot with Magic Missile, then twice with a pistol, and witnesses saw someone matching Silmeria's description run from the Alley. A description that also matches Delilah's, and likely an enumerable percentage of the human female population of Alexandria. Ash examines the Alley, then enters the nearby pub to speak with one of the two witnesses to events the other night. Zoey, is absent, so the Chef provides details and later, a strudel. Bethany was shot through the eye. Elyanna asks for some clarification. The Silverguard, Speaker and Insufferable Guard depart the alley, allowing Ashlee and Elyanna to examine the murder spot. The bullets in the flagstone indicate Bethany was shot by someone standing over her, or above. Nothing was taken.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ashes 5'11" 177 Lb Hobgoblin Female A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face Merek 5'10" 215 Lb Human Male A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes. Seldan 5'11" 187 Lb Human Male Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol. Silmeria 5'8" 126 Lb Human Female A sweet-looking blond human in a long black dress and breastplate. Elyanna 5'11" 153 Lb Half-Orc Female A grim, Arvek-blooded woman in raven feathers. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Delilah 5'4" 106 Lb Human Female A golden haired human girl in white robes. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Where does a Noblewoman die? Well, normally you'd think it would be at home or in a temple, surrounded by family, but that isn't always the case. Sometimes it's in the most ignominious of places. Sometimes it really is just in a back alley, and not even in the best parts of town. Well, not the worst; this particular alley is between an upscale club catering primarily to women of, if not specifically the noble classes, than certainly the wealthy ones, and a similarly upscale inn and tavern.
But, in the end, it's still an alley; and it's an alley that's been cordoned off since a body was discovered and an arrest was made. It's a pretty non-descript place, really; cobblestones, bins for trash and food waste (which stink, good lord), everything you'd expect from an alley.
Well, and a dried pool of blood, with a tent erected over it to preserve the scene from the overcast and drizzly weather.
Knight Captain Norrington is present, waiting with a couple of other guards and crossed arms for the team sent by the Adventurer's Guild to have their own look. His foot taps impatiently as said team arrives.
Mourner Ashlee 'Ash' Ciaradh has shown up to help investigate, or perhaps collect the body once it's released. Her clothes are a faded grey, and she carries a satchel. She walks up in front of Norrington, halts and waits.
Merek would take the time to put on his usual attire. He did promise to assist, even if he does not come into the city a lot. There's a beltcape about the waist while he wears the hood upon the features of his face, taking the time to check on his equipment he brought. He nods a bit to the Knight Captain.
This time, Seldan has not bothered to downplay himself, moonlit armor on full display beneath a sturdy, well-made traveler's cloak, sword at his hip and robe over the armor, more in the way of a tabard than a true robe. He has chosen to cut a figure, despite the overcast and drizzle and the chill in the autumn air. Some might find his interest in such a case puzzling, and some might not.
When he approaches the others, he directs a cool, level gaze at Norrington. "Knight-Captain."
Murder scenes are rarely environments where a cheerful mood can last for any amount of time. Merriment tends to be crushed out by the weight of lost days and unfulfilled promise. Most folk tend to bow under that weight, and consider it a sign of respect to maintain a properly dour mien, around the site of such a shocking event.
But nobody seems to have informed the woman approaching from down the street, a doctor's valise in one hand, an ornate gun at her hip, and the scales of the Grey Lady embroidered into the breast of her charcoal robes.
She comes to a halt beside Seldan, extending a black-gloved hand for Norrington to shake. "Speaker Longmire," she says, by way of introduction. "I was told there was a murder that needed investigating... Would you happen to know the details of the event, Captain?"
Norrington looks at Silmeria's hand for a moment, as if considering its merits, before he consents to a handshake. "Knight Captain Norrington," he responds, and nods to Seldan. "Silver Guard," he adds, before his eyes wander over everyone else, finally resting on Ash for a moment, with a raised eyebrow. "The scene is yours to investigate as you wish, everything has been preserved, although the remains of Lady Bethany have been moved out of respect. You will have the opportunity to examine the remains as well -- too a point, of course, the family's wishes must be respected."
The Knight Captain stands back, and gestures towards the scene. "Since you asked," he continues, "We know that the Lady was attacked magically, and then shot twice. She was found on her back in the alley. A woman matching the description of one Delilah Valethor was spotted leaving the scene -- someone who had previously had altercations and made threats against her." He shrugs his shoulders lightly. "We intend to present our full evidence in court, but I believe it will be an open and shut case for the magistrates to decide."
GAME: Merek casts Blood Biography. Caster Level: 11 DC: 17
"I see. Adventurers," Seldan turns to looks around the others gathered. "I am certain that there is much here to learn, and that none of us may learn it all. I would have us gather at the Guild, when we have all learned what we may, there to construct a fuller understanding between us of what befell."
With that request made, he turns back to the Knight-Captain. "Was Her Ladyship a frequent visitor to this place?" He nods to the Speaker as well. "I would ask that you share what you learn as well, Speaker. Seldan Padaryn, of Eluna's Silver Guard." Rather than shaking hands, he offers her a courteous half-bow.
Merek walks to the blood with a nod along to Norrington, "Alright, thank you." He then leans forward while he places a hand upon the blood while he takes the glove away. The blood begins to soak into the hand while he speaks with the Celestial Language then makes a few spell gestures. Then he looks to a wall while he holds up his other hand which is gloved, so that the answers would write upon it.
Ashlee was waiting patiently, and the waiting paid off. The Silverguard showed up to ask all the questions, a superior of hers from the Temple showed up to take charge, and Merek brings the spells. With a little more luck, all she'll have to do is stare. She stares at Norrington, mission accomplished.
After that, she examines the alley, carefully slipping past Seldan and Silmeria to watch what Merek is up to.
GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+3: (4)+3: 7
It's an uncommon night to see so many ducking into an upscale alley, and it brings a certain curiosity. Elyanna, clad in her more recent standard, turns the corner to peer within and finds a rather uncommon scene. The red woman drifts into the alley with a blanket, "Greetings." though her eyes flit from Ashes, to Merek, to Seldan in priority, then to the unknown (to her) Silverguard and the others, "Something amiss?" The Speaker dips into a brief curtsy in response to the bow, cheeks dimpling. "I would be more than happy to, Silver Guard Padaryn," she says brightly. "All too often has justice eluded us because one crucial piece of the puzzle remained missing." Then, she turns her attention back to Norrington, as Seldan asks his questions, speaking up only when the paladin's are done. "Also would you happen to have a description of one Delilah Valethor? Only I've never met the woman in question, so, that doesn't *quite* tell me very much. And I would dearly love to see justice properly served in the face of so terrible a crime, Guard-Captain."
What precise reason the Speaker has to be turning the full wattage of her sweet-tempered charm on Norrington, it may be difficult to say. But, the Guard Captain is facing both barrels this day.
Norrington listens to the questions, and nods to Silmeria. "Human woman, fair skin and blonde hair, blue eyes. She usually wears white, goes around with a bare midriff and... revealing clothes. Usually has a wide brimmed white hat, and never goes anywhere without her firearm." He leans against the wall behind him, and taps his foot once more. "The Lady Bethany attended this club two or three times a month, I am told," he replies. "Three nights ago, when the murder took place, she was a here for party with several of her friends. She stepped outside, and didn't come back in. Then she was found laying here. I'm told the noise in both establishments," he gestures to the club and the inn, "Was very loud, but a couple of people did hear it."
In the alleyway, as Merek completes his spell, some of the blood from the cobblestones sort of... returns to a liquid state, and flows up onto the wall in front of Merek, forming several words:
- Bethany Alenthor
- Noble Lady, Heiress
- Three Days Ago
And then, there is a pause before one final word takes a place beneath all the rest;
- MURDER
Ash watches the blood flow up on the wall and spell everything out. She turns her gaze back to Norrington, speaks in flat tones, "Who was the witness, and what time did the witness say the event occurred."
She pauses, blinks once, then continues to stare at the Knight-Captain. "Any reason the witness didn't alert the friends of the victim? Did they go straight to a guard station to report it?"
Merek looks to the wall, while he nods a bit with a look to Ashlee, "Alright, it doesn't look like the Heiress was aware of anything except the fact she was being murdered. Which means that it was someone that likely came to take her off guard." A little nod along to the party while he takes a moment to adjust his scarf while he speaks, "Ashlee, would you consider what alibi that perhaps Delilah may have, with that information. And, you know a bit about forensics, as I recall. We can always work with the mundane way."
"Even so?" Seldan listens to the Knight-Captain's words, his own bearing and demeanor politely reserved. "What manner of weapon slew her, Knight-Captain? Have you spoken at all to those who did hear it above the noise?"
"I have worked with that one." Elyanna replies offhandedly, glancing to the helpful scrawlings of the ensorcelled vitae. Her eyes narrow slightly and she gently rubs at her chin for a moment, "Was anything missing, or trophies taken?"
"Magic, then shot twice," Silmeria murmurs, tilting her head. "Did the witnesses happen to say what *sort* of magic was employed? I admit, if not for clothing choice and skin tone, this woman could pass as a double of me, so you'll understand my questioning in detail." Her bespectacled gaze turns to Elyanna, and the Speaker bobs her head, smiling a cheerful greeting. "Actually... yes, miss. I'll keep too many people from badgering the poor Captain at once, and see what I can see."
With that, the Speaker nods to Norrington, then to Seldan, and slips round the corner into the alleyway, taking slow, painstaking care to place only what bits of her feet are needed to keep her upright, without disturbing anything that may provide another mark to the tale.
"Sure." Ashlee answers Merek, watching Silmeria delicately make her way along the alley. It seems like she's going to wait some more, either for more room to work or answers to appear through another's efforts. She takes an artifice device out of her satchel and fiddles with it, turning it on but not deploying it. A glance at Elyanna, Seldan, Norrington again as she waits on responses to the various questions.
The answers scrawled in blood remain up on the wall, though they do start to trickle back downwards, leaving a macabre message board. The scene itself is relatively low-key; nothing much seems to be disturbed, aside from the fact taht there's a large pool of congealed blood; somewhat uneven, probably as a result of having formed underneath of a body.
"No, I didn't," replies the Knight Captain, with an air of great patience. "A had two Knight Lieutenants assigned to the task, they organized the questions. I was not one of the investigators on this case." He gestures towards the two buildings, "The head chef from the tavern, and one of the waitresses were the witnesses in question. They reported hearing two gunshots in rapid succession; the waitress peeked out a window to look, and reported seeing an individual as described firing a the second shot at someone on the ground, and then fleeing the scene further into the alley. Nobody else along the alley reported seeing anything, but there are several entrances to the sewers along there." He shrugs his shoulders.
"No trophies were taken that we are aware of. Her purse was present and full of coin, and the only jewelry missing was a part of her necklace, where one of the bullets struck her. She was found with two gunshot wounds, and magic burns. I'm told the wounds are consistent with the spell oft referred to as 'magic missile'."
All the patient air is dragging Ashlee down like a lead balloon. She looks arounds, walking first to the opening of the alley, guessing where the killer might have stood. Here, she examines all spots that could potentially observe the culprit and the events. Windows, doorways, even a glance at the roof line. Any place that seems inhabited she makes a note to examine later.
But first, she wants a word with the head chef and the waitress. Perhaps two words. If necessary, a sentence. Conversation and socializing are not her strong suit. She prefers working with corpses, but everyone is hogging the victim and Mr. Sunshine isn't dead enough to be worth talking to. Thus, a Mourner walks into a pub.
"Magic missile. Not a powerful spell, is it?" Elyanna wonders with a glance between the others about, "Casting a spell in relative quiet, then spending the time to fire a gun, reload, then fire again... sounds foolish. Much too loud." She shrugs, "A clever murderer would have used a silent weapon. Someone with access to magic could probably alter their appearance."
"Very well. My thanks, Knight-Captain. I shall return soon." With one of those polite half-bows, Seldan turns away from Norrington and strides, not to the pub, but to the club next door, where the victim had been the night of the incident. He says nothing of his thoughts or theories on the matter as he goes, instead seeming for now to keep his own counsel.
Merek nods a bit to the party while he thinks about it, and looks to the scene. "Well, I am pretty sure that it wasn't Delilah." He notes all the things, "I think someone was specifically trying to set up the woman."
"Powerful enough if the mage in question was similarly powerful," Silmeria notes, tugging up the hem of her cassock enough to allow her to lower herself to her haunches at the edge of the pool of blood. "But this *does* seem rather more than necessary..." Adjusting her spectacles, the Speaker peers closely at the congealed pool, reaching out with a small length of steel to scrape at a small area in the red-brown crust closest to its center. "Would anyone mind looking for blood closer to the alley? I have... concerns, about the nature of this attack, if it is as the Captain says."
Much more businesslike is the Speaker, now, her good cheer slipping away as her attention focuses away from people, and toward what might keep poor Bethany from resting comfortably."
Merek's statement draws a curious look, and a raised eyebrow. "That's quite confident... What tells you that, if I may ask?"
Inside the pub, Ash is greeted with a tacit welcome. One of the waitresses is busy cleaning tables, and there's a man sweeping the floor. "Welcome to the Golden Oak. Rooms are upstairs," the waitress points out, "Kitchen doesn't open for another two hours. But you're welcome to wait if you wish."
Outside, Norrington jsut shrugs as people stop asking him questions, and he resumes keeping an eye on things to make sure nobody is disturbing that scene that will, to his mind, finally prove the guilt of his prized prisoner. "Return as soon as you'd like," he replies to Seldan, and watches him head into the club. "As you wish."
Scraping at the blood, Silmeria's perspective makes two details a little easier to notice; two holes in the flagstones, about a foot and a half apart, but both well inside the pool of blood.
Norrington perks an eyebrow upwards at Merek's comment, and tilts his head to glance in his direction. "Impressive," he declares. "My lieutenants labored for hours to draw their conclusions, you've been here two minutes and have a different idea. Bravo, indeed. Bravo."
"Well, the methods used, our friend uses magic in specific, a lot like what was used, she was seen fleeing from the scene, it was methodical. The work of someone that can mimic a look, using weaker abilities to draw attention away from themselves. Not to mention, it's a tactic I saw in the wars. Used by assassins," Merek notes with a nod. "It's too methodical for someone who wanted revenge, at least not about such a little sum that Delilah was wanting."
The halfbreed considers that for a time, glancing to Merek on his words then to the Mourner, as Ashlee ventures into the pub, and Seldan the club. Merek's follow musings prompt, "The false flag, yes? How many wounds had the body in total?" question made, Elyanna starts to drift carefully along the alley to see if there's any more blood to be found.
Ash has a cornicopia of options. She nods to the information provided by the waitress, watches the man sweeping the floor. She sneaks a small grey pamplet out of her satchel and examines it quickly before tucking it away again. She drifts over to the waitress, looks unblinkingly into her eyes.
"Hello," the skull-faced Arvek says in monotone, "Did you see the murder in the alleyway three days ago?" Her head turns to the sweeper, "Did you?"
Her pamphlet suggested saying positive things, to encourage people to be more forthcoming. Reassurances, compliments and the like. "You're not under suspicion. Nothing you say will be used against you." There! Perfect!
"That's one view, certainly," Silmeria allows, sitting back and digging into her overstuffed backpack. From an old, filigreed chest, she extracts a pair of tools, wooden handles attached to rods fine enough to be used in tiny clockwork. Leaning forward again, she starts to dig into the holes she'd uncovered, seeking the bullets lodged in the flagstone. "But while compelling, have you any reason supported by evidence? All of what you just said, I'm sorry to say, might make testimony a bit more compelling... but without something solid enough that none could draw any other conclusion, most magistrates will simply call that speculation. However... oh get *out* of there you little fiend..."
"Wait... hunh?" The waitress looks at Ash with a sudden, renewed look of horror, though it passes just as quickly. "Oh... Zoey is off for the night. She was upset about the whole thing, but if you talk to Chef in the back, he was there as well. Just call him Chef. It'll be fine, he likes it."
And if Ash heads back into the kitchen, she'll find that chef is indeed there; a golem of cast iron with silver piping, dressed in a white button up shirt and pants, busy laying out cooking utensils and ingredients, all with precision. Great precision.
The bullet, meanwhile, doesn't come out easily; in fact it's a struggle, but come out it does, with a dried bit of brain stuck to the underside of it. Nasty indeed. The other bullet, however, is missing.
"We'll be needing that," Norrington observes, "When you're done with it." His boots crunch as he approaches Silmeria, offering a small glass vial. "Well done. My lieutenants were unable to extract that one." He waggles the little container. "Take your time."
"I see nothing else out here, Mourner." Elyanna advises, venturing back tward the pub entrance, "The mix of means is inconsistent." A number of things she recalls from days past nag at her a moment, she affords a glance at the Guard, then the Mourner, "There may be an indication to the power of the wizard who cast the spell in the number of wounds." A glance back toward the mouth of the alley, then the half Arvek drifts inside to see if the other Mourner is getting different information.
In time to see Ashlee go into the kitchen, with enough time to catch up as the ashen arvec works out what to say. Fortunately, golems don't expect much in terms of niceities, so the Chef hopefully won't be disappointed. Ash spends a moment looking it over, examining the cast iron and silver piping which resembles a certain style of suit. Finally she says.
"Chef. Three days ago in the alley, there was an occurance. Can you detail what you witnessed?"
"Happy to be of help, of course," Silmeria says offhandedly, ignoring the waggled vial for a moment as she carefully takes both tools in one hand, carefully turning it this way and that in what light can be found in this alley. "Very interesting indeed... Thank you very much, Miss, that was most helpful!"
Her attention turns from the bullet to the Guard Captain, and her brilliant smile returns. "Yes of course Captain, thank you. By the by... Would you mind awfully allowing access to the evidence you've collected? This *is* an interesting case, and it's been some time since I've been able to delve properly into forensics," she says, as the bullet is deposited daintily into the vial. "I understand if it's too irregular, but, I'd be happy to hear some of the cases you must have solved! One doesn't make Guard-Captain without distinguishing themselves, after all."
Merek nods a bit to Silmeria, "I will think on it, I might have a few ideas, best we gather all evidence before. Though, we're working pretty difficultly. Would you be willing to allow posting for bail?" he asks Norrington also.
The Chef literally pivots at the waist, effecting a full 180 degree turn, while his legs stay precisely planted. "Murder? Murder. That's all anyone wants to hear about now," complains the Chef with a very dedicated monotone. "Nobody comes in and says 'Chef, I hear your pastries are divine', or 'Chef, how do you cook the duck' or 'Chef, please, I must now the secret behind your Risotto, nobody else can cook like you do.' His eyes glow a mite more intensely, before he pivots back, picks up a meatcleave, and begins dismembering a chicken, with great precision. "Very well. The murder occured three days ago. I heard two loud bangs, in quick succession; Zoey looked outside, and say a woman in white running off. The unfortunate lady was already quite dead by the time I arrived. A bullet through the eye will do that, I'm certain. What else do you wish to know? Ice cream, perhaps?"
Norrington does, at least, stop waggling the vial. "Knight Captain," he corrects, imldly. "I'm not generally at liberty to discuss past cases," he replies, mildly. "I will check with the Crown Prosecutor to see what evidence she is comfortable with releasing. You must understand that it now belongs to the Crown, and is at their discretion to release or retain until trial." He shrugs his shoulders lightly. "Bail is unlikely. I've never known a murderer to make bail, the Magistrates tend to frown on letting them free again at any point."
Merek looks to the party and to the lawmen, "Alright, I will speak with the Magistrate," he notes, then he makes a way to the chef while he offers a few coins, "Do you have any jerky?" he asks.
Elyanna gives the pub a lookover and flags down a waitress to ask, "A colleague, with a tattooed face entered earlier. Where is she now?" in a polite, if distant, tone. There is another scan of the place as she awaits her answer.
"Knight-Captain of course, I'm *truly* sorry, Ser Norrington," Silmeria says quickly, sincere embarrassment turning her cheeks red. "And that would very much be appreciated. I've consulted with the Guard on occasion, and if the Crown prefers not to open access, that's perfectly understandable." Rocking back on her heels, she carefully cleans the tools, returning them to their place in the box, then closes up her pack and rises to her feet, swinging the backpack back into place. "It's such a horrible thing to see, Ser... And worse, when luck seems on the side of the villains. The poor young woman must have been uncommonly sturdy, and the killer the very luck of the devil."
"Yes. I wish to know an ice cream." Ashlee answers. She will leave the pub with some satisfaction, even if it's not relevant to the case. Before she does, the ashen arvec reviews the chef's word's, thinking carefully. She missed something important, "And a pastry."
She waits hopefully for treats, then Exits the kitchen. The door is held open for Merek to enter. His unearthly homing ability no longer surprises her, though his order of jerky does. She refrains from eating dried meat around corpses, generally.
Now in the front of the inn, she drifts up beside Elyanna, "I'm here." She tells the red woman, "The Chef gave a short description. Three days ago, two loud bangs in quick succession; Zoey looked out, saw a woman in white running off. The victim was quite dead from a bullet through the eye." Next, Ash stares at the waitress, "Would you share Zoey's address?"
"Beef jerky? Beef jerky? Beef jerky?" the Chef rotates to glower at Merek, meat cleaver in hand, with little gibblets of chicken hanging off it. "I do not have Beef jerky. What do you take me for, some clanking metal philistine with loose gears? I am CHEF. the great Chef. I work cullinary magic with ordinary tools. I am no common purveyor of beef jerky. Shoo." The metal cullinarian waggles his cleaver at Merek. "Away with you." He looks down at Ashe, and then rotates back to his work. "I would but I do not have it. You will have to ask her next time she is here, likely tomorrow. You have the sequence of events correct, as I understand it," he adds to Ash. "Can I interest you in a strudel?"
Outside, Norrington pockets the vial with the bullet in it, and clasps his hand behind his back. "A simple enough error, not to worry," he replies to Silmeria. "The Lady Bethany wasn't an adventurer or 'rough sort'. She went most places with a bodyguard. It's likely the magic used was enough to incapacitate her, if not kill her outright. The two gunshots weren't likely necessary... One maybe, but certainly not two. I cannot yet share the conclusions my investigators drew from that."
Merek looks to the chef when he speaks, then he frowns a bit to the man. "What. I didn't say the word beef, have I upset you? I apologize," he seems a bit like he has no idea what to do. He begins walking by the party including Ashlee while he thinks about it, "I don't need to eat anymore, but I would like jerky for provisional supplies." The man walks up to the place where the body was at, "Alright." He would pull the scarf along his features, "I would be willing to provide coin to bring back the Lady with. She wouldn't remember what happened to her, although she would be alive. I know the spell to bring her back if she wishes."
Elyanna lacks certain compunctions, but the ashen Mourner's dietary quandrary hasn't come up since coming to Alexandria, either. She nods to Ashlee, then, "He saw the wounds, then?" As the voice from beyond the threshold suddenly makes note of the grievous affront via jerky, she blandly observes, "Someone made him angry. A moment." That said, the half Arvek ventures back the way Ashes had come, throws an arched eyebrow at the scene, then, "Another question. Did you see how many wounds there were in total?" She isn't touching the context of the shooing.
"Indeed?" Silmeria says, tilting her head. "May we speak with this bodyguard? Also... I would like to formally ask for your written permission to examine the body, Ser Norrington. I understand that as a Mourner I can acquire access, but, the law obviously has primacy in matters of jurisdiction. Would you be willing to allo--"
At Merek's request, the Speaker trails off, slowly turning her head to regard Merek. "I think," says the priestess of Death, "that this would be a question for the young lady and the *Grey* Lady. Being dead is traumatic enough, and *undoing* that state can be harder still on mind and body."
Ash circles around, following Elyanna back into the kitchen to hear her questions, standing like an eerie shadow behind her, and also catch the Chef's offer of a strudel. She nods, "Yes. Strudel Please." The ice cream seems to have been lost in the shuffle. Such is life.
The Chef brightens looks round at Ash, and points at her with the cleaver. "At last! Someone with discerning taste." He applies the cleaved to the chopping surface hard enough to embed the blade in the wood, and trundles off into a seperate room; he returns moments later, bearing ice cream in one hand, and a strudel in the other. "For the lady of esteemed and developed tastes," he pronounces, presenting her with both items.
"Indeed," intones Norrington, casting his gaze on Merek. "It's unlikely the lady Bethany's soul would survive resurection, as an adventurer or cleric's or guard's might. Most people once they are deceased, actually do prefer to stay that way." He folds his arms, and nods to Silmeria. "I will process your requests through the proper channels," he assures her. "But I believe the Adventurer's Guild was, already, being afforded a chance to examine the body -- so long as no in-depth autopsies are performed. Her family is against that." He pauses, and shrugs lightly. "I will see if I can get ahold of hte bodyguard. And --" he looks towards Elyanna. "There were six, actually. Four cauterized puncture wonds, presumably from the magic attack, and two bullet holes."
"Well, I would ask that Lady, although. Ya, it might be a bit difficult, well." Merek then looks to the party, "Does that mean no having the corpse speak to us? That's effecient, though if they prefer it we won't."
The feather cloaked woman blinks and looks over her shoulder at Ashes, "What is Strudel?" She watches the confections brought forth and gives a soft, "Ah." With more information coming from the Guard, she frowns, murmuring, "Cauterized."
Elyanna then, just to be clear, asks of Ashes, "He means the wounds were sealed with fire?" <goblin-talk>
"Thank you," Ash says, in her precise monotone. She eagerly holds the plate, takes a fork to her Strudel a la mode. The investigation is going well, this part of it at least. Her mind wanders on a strange trajectory and she asks, "Did anyone wait in the Pub before the murder, not ordering, or order one of your pastries and not eat it? This is delicious."
She takes a spoonful, chews slowly. She's counting her chews. At twenty she swallows.
"Yes, sealed with fire means cauterized." The ashen Arvec confirms Elyanna's question with a nod. <goblin-talk>
Silmeria does look a touch disappointed about the request against a full autopsy, but very evidently accepts it. A good Mourner, after all, must be sensitive to the wishes of the family of the departed. "Then I think," she says, tilting her head, "I've gleaned all I can here. Ser Norrington, it was a pleasure to work with you, and do remember me if the Watch has need of consultation in the future?"
Hefting her backpack, the Speaker dips a low curtsy to the Knight, and a shallower one to Merek and Elyanna. "I must be off, I'm afraid; I've duties of my own to tend to in this part of the city, but I would very much like to speak to you all sometime to compare notes as well. Seer, Miss, it has been a pleasure."
And with that, the Speaker makes her way to the street beyond the alley, pausing a short distance away to unholster her gun, and hold it in both hands, well away from any trigger. "Mori... wake up. I have some notes for you." Whatever else she, or the gun, may have to say is lost amid the general hum and buzz of the city streets.
The Chef shakes his head. "I am unaware of anything of that nature," he replies to Ash. "There were many people as there are most nights. They ate many things. My Ostrich with Rice Pilaf was particularly divine. Everyone said so. Everyone agrees that Chef is the best cook in all the land."
Outside, Norrington nods to Silmeria. "Likewise," he replies, "And I will keep your offer in mind. BUt for now, I think this is handled; I will leave the site to my men." He lets his eyes wander over the others present, then dips his head once, and turns to depart up the street.
"I agree." Ashlee agrees, taking another forkful of strudel and ice cream. She chews slowly, holding the plate out towards Elyanna in case she would like some as well. It will be necessary to find a fork, or use Ash's. "This is the best in the land. I will be back for some Rice Pilaf, and to speak with Zoey."
The ashen Arvec looks out, her superior has left, Merek and Norrington are still about. Perhaps she can sneak a touch of the blood before leaving. It seems things are wrapping up.
Merek nods a bit and looks then to Ashlee with a wave.
Elyanna considers the offering for a moment, blinking down toward the plate as though she expected it to do something, then, she cautiously takes up the fork on the plate with a quiet, "Thank you." and uses it to break off a small sample to try. Interesting. She sets the utensile back onto the plate and nods, "I have never had anything like it." Effusive praise then, "You are quite good, but we are likely undderfoot. Thank you." She gives a dip of her head, and turns to make her way out. There is more to this.... well, not the pastry, that seems on the level, but....
Ashlee also doesn't want to be underfoot, especially a golem's foot. She inclines her head and slips out, silently following after Elyanna to make her way outside. The alley remains. Setting her half finished strudel a la mode down someplace safe at the recommended distance for food from blood, she approaches the pool on the ground.
It should have dried by now, but the spell earlier likely revitalized it. The ashen Arvec kneels and dips her fingers into it. She waits a moment. Chippen, a centipede and her familiar, runs out of her sleeve and through the blood, touching with all his feet. He also appears to bite or drink some of it.
"No, don't do that." Ash instructs blandly. Chippen flows back into her sleeve. She'll be wiping blood flakes off that arm for a while. She looks at the two holes in the flagstones, then looks up. She stands.
A question forms, were the shots straight down? The holes seem to indicate so. Depending on the firearm, that might have left chemical or magical residues around knee level. Ash touches the alley-way walls on either side, sliding her hand slowly upwards. She knows a lot of goblins with guns, so knee-high to a goblin then might as well keep going to jotun height. After this silent examination she stares at Merek and Elyanna, "I'm curious what the others found. We should go look for them."
Elyanna turns to watch Ashes do what she can only call.... her thing. There's a mild tic of an eyebrow, but otherwise she seems completely detached from dabbling in the evidence. "Agreed." and with that, she steps out of the alley to give a quick lookover, before awaiting the others to their rendeavous.
And the strudel, it comes along too. Until it's eaten.
