Zoinks, look for clues

Posted on 22 Nov 2020 @ 5:27pm by Mage Kalian Winter & Warrior Martin Josceran & Rogue Cainan Sauvage & Rogue Elinowy Ursulas
Edited on on 22 Nov 2020 @ 5:36pm

1,333 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Lore's Labour's Lost
Location: Guard Station
Timeline: Cloudreach 16th - morning

OOC: Continued from Stumptown


"Right, yes, of course. Thank you for coming, Kalian, Sister." Martin put what he was carrying down on the desk, quill and inkwell and paper. He held out two documents, one for each of the witnesses. "Here are the statements I drafted based on your testimonies. Please read them carefully and let me know if anything is inaccurate, or if any detail is missing. I will make the necessary changes. If everything is in order, then please sign and date the document, and I will countersign on behalf of the Jader Constabulary."

Kalian accepted the document Martin handed him, and scanned the contents, carefully reading for anything that might result in his sister's tavern being held liable to the slightest degree. He was satisfied, and in no small way impressed with Martin's diligence. "This looks to be in order." He reached for the quill, carefully dipped it in the ink, and signed his name and dated it. Then he politely offered the quill to Elinowy.

Taking up the quill and the document, Elinowy carefully read through the guard's summary. She nodded as she read. "Although I am certain I did not feel as threatened as your narrative states, the facts are mostly accurate." she stated. With a stroke of the quill she signed her name, with remarkable penmanship. "Is this all, or do you require any more information?"

Kalian nodded to the sister, it was a good question. But Martin didn't answer, distracted by Elinowy's escort, Cainan.

Once Kalian and Sister Elinowy had taken the written document Martin handed them, he turned towards Monsieur Sauvage. The - obviously wealthy - nobleman was watching the proceedings, apparently bored or perhaps amused, it was hard to tell with that poker face of his.

"Monsieur Sauvage, how fortunate that you should have come today. I must inform you that we have received a formal complaint against you, from a Fereldan citizen by the name of Weylin."

The name did not seem to spark any recognition in Monsieur Sauvage, who looked vaguely nonplussed. "Only one complaint? I must be slipping. Who is this... Weylin, again?" Cainan asked, casually.

"A mercenary," Martin specified. "Whom apparently you, huh, had an altercation with. In a tavern. Yesterday. Since you're here, perhaps you might give us your version of what happened ?" He already had the testimony of the innkeeper and the waitress, and he didn't feel particularly motivated to arrest the man, but he did want to see his reaction and what he'd have to say. If nothing else, it should be entertaining. Martin did want to make Monsieur Sauvage sweat a little, as a just retribution for making him handle a brawl complaint at the end of his shift, but also as a mild attempt at dissuasion should any future similar happenstance occur in the future.

"Mercenary..." Cainan trailed off, thinking. "Oh, the lout in the Rose!" he said, suddenly as realisation dawned. "Why yes, I did engage a gentleman fitting that description in a bit of a lesson in etiquette; he was typically... Ferelden about the affair - all hands, no grace," Cainan said with casual ease. "I ensured he would remember the... appropriate way to address a lady in Orlais. Before laying his hands on her," he added, his eyes taking a dangerous glint. He observed the guardsman with the same easy smile, but harder eyes.

Kalian regarded Cainan with surprise. The Rose… he probably meant the Rose of Orlais, one of the taverns close to the docks. The proprietor… Robert, Kalian recalled… should have expelled that Fereldan mercenary. Ben and Tessa, and Kalian himself for that matter, would never have allowed such behavior at the Raven. Then again, the Raven's clientele were mainly locals, drinking with their neighbors.

"Sounds like Cainan gave that Fereldan an education." Kalian wondered whether or not Martin would consider that education deserved. A Fereldan mercenary was unlikely to file a report to the guardsman if only his pride was damaged.

"So you gave the Fereldan gentleman a lesson on behalf of a lady ?" Martin lifted an eyebrow. Lady was a kind way of addressing a waitress, and not something he had expected of Monsieur Sauvage, given his social status. But maybe this had been more about an excuse to start a brawl than any real concern about the lady in question. Either way, Cainan did not seem to care too much, nor did he seem overly worried about the potential repercussions of his behaviour. "Next time you might want to report this man to the Guard, rather than take matters into your own hands," he stated mildly. "Starting brawls can cost lives, and livelihoods, and usually not that of the offending party."

Cainan, though he felt no real need to alter his behaviour, nodded his assent. "I will endeavour to avoid such situations in the future."

Considering the matter closed to his satisfaction, Martin turned towards Kalian and Sister Elinowy.

"Thank you for signing your testimonies. This definitely makes a conviction more likely, though of course the final decision belongs to the magistrates. Sister, Monsieur Sauvage, I do not keep you any longer. Kalian, if you're ready, we have this other matter to take care of."

Kalian cleared his throat. "Uh, Martin… Sister Elinowy was planning to look in on the refugee camp after our deposition, with Cainan as her, uh, escort. That's why Cainan came to the guardhouse with us." It seemed Cainan might have a particular penchant for defending ladies. "I suggested we go together."

The Chantry sister stood as the men were talking. "An excellent suggestion Mr. Winter. I would certainly appreciate being accompanied by several of Jader's finest gentlemen." she motioned for Martin to stand up and join them.

Cainan looked at the other two men, smiling. Suddenly his chivalry was undercut somewhat by the rush of others to fulfil the same role, though he reasoned that there was nothing better to do, and perhaps a good deed in the eyes of the chantry... or, at least, the city guard might work in his favour later on. Especially as he had no intention of avoiding brawls in the future.

"I've never worked with the city guard before, but it's true that I intend to escort the good Sister to ensure she didn't come to any harm; if we're all heading to the same place, it makes sense to travel together," he said, casually leaning against the wall as he did so. "I suppose this means it's not just a few errant rumours then? People are disappearing?"

Kalian pulled the partial flyer from his pocket and handed it to Cainan. "I found this on the street last night. Someone is offering substantial wages, but for what isn't exactly clear." He gestured for Cainan to turn the sheet over. "Someone wrote a note on the other side. Martin says a pregnant woman by that name reported her betrothed missing. Did you say you've heard rumors?"

Martin wasn't so sure about bringing in someone else, but then he wasn't really sure about any of this. This whole operation was a spur-of-the-moment decision, one he might live to regret later. At the same time, ignoring those disappearances had never sat well with him. At this point, he wasn't in a position to refuse any help. At least, judging by the state the Fereldan mercenary had ended up in, Monsieur Sauvage could hold his own in a fight.

"As Kalian says," he said, "We've had a few reports. Nothing sufficiently tangible to warrant an official investigation, but too many similar occurrences for it to be a complete coincidence. I'd be interested to know where you heard those rumours. That might give us further clues. So far the only disappearances I heard of were Fereldans, if other people are being targeted we need to find out."

OOC: Continued in 'No Meeran or Athenril for these'

 

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