2.2: I come from the land of ice and snow

[Sierra]

01[12:02] <Cidward> The remainder of the day's shift is a quiet one after returning from Bosque's mill, and affords plenty of opportunity to rest up for those still weary from the previous evening's midnight march. Isabel is waiting for you outside the tower when you report for duty the next day. She has a pony saddled up beside her and looks prepared to set out on a long trip.
[12:03] <Leona> "Morning Isabel, not staying?" Leona asks, pausing at the sight.
[12:05] <Luisa> "Nobody will give you trouble here," Luiza promises.
[12:06] <@Santiago> Where did she get the pony on such short notice, Santiago wonders silently.
01[12:07] <Cidward> She shakes her head. "No. Too close to Solfrina. I'm going to go where nobody knows me, try and start over somewhere else. Maybe Meridia, or somewhere else on the coast. I saved up enough that I can afford to travel a ways. I just wanted to tell you all thanks for everything before I left."
[12:09] <Leona> "I know it wasn't the resolution you hoped for, poor Gloria," Leona says with a little sigh, resting a hand over her chest. "Best of luck wherever your travels take you, then."
[12:11] <@Santiago> "The roads are quite dangerous," Santiago informs her. "Why, our next assignment will see us on the prowl for bandits nearby. I know you're eager to leave, but perhaps waiting a short while longer..."
01[12:13] <Cidward> Isabel climbs into the saddle by way of answer. "The way I hear it, bandits are more of a problem here than back east. But thanks for the offer all the same. Gods watch over you, everyone." With a respectful bow, she urges her pony into motion and starts down the road away from town.
[12:14] <Leona> "Hadn't even thought about the bandits," she says to Santiago as Isabel rides off. "Hopefully she won't look a tempting target."
[12:15] <Luisa> "Maybe we could go on patrol?" Luiza offers. "I do have a horse back home I can get real quick."
01[12:19] <Cidward> The morning squad is all present and back on duty when you check into the tower today. If any of Noemi's squad sustained serious injuries during the attack on their team, they don't show signs of it now. Noemi is first to greet you with a "Hey, welcome back!" Nico goes on to commend you with "Braved the big city and lived to tell the tale, eh?" The studious Carmen briefly looks up from her book to acknowledge your presence, while the half-elf Florina is typically uncommunicative.
[12:20] <Leona> "I don't think they'll want us back in a hurry though," Leona says. "Sounds like you had plenty trouble of your own. I'm glad to see you're all still in one piece."
[12:20] <Luisa> "They weren't terribly nice," Luiza agrees.
01[12:23] <Cidward> "We've got sharp eyes," Nico offers by way of explanation for their survival. "One of us does," Noemi corrects. "From now on, I guess we need to expect trouble any time we go anywhere. Bit of a disheartening thought, that."
[12:23] <@Santiago> "They're pretty persistent. Don't we outnumber them?"
01[12:27] <Cidward> "If we don't already, we're getting closer," Nico laughs. "I don't know," Noemi says. "I think if it was a small group, they wouldn't be so reckless. They'd need to get more out of their numbers, right?" She shrugs. "Anyway, how'd things go on your end? Sergeant didn't really elaborate other than saying don't go to Solfrina in uniform any time soon."
[12:29] <Luisa> "Perhaps it would be best to say that the Solfrina militia and their local backers care more about keeping a profitable relationship than investigating any murders?"
[12:29] <Leona> "They're corrupt layabouts," Leona agrees huffily. "Stuck up, too."
[12:30] <Luisa> Luiza frowns. "Also they're racists and look down on us because we live in a smaller place."
[12:33] <@Santiago> "So they're like a comical caricature of everything awful about the stereotypical low-paid local guardsman."
01[12:33] <Cidward> "I'm pretty sure everyone from a big city thinks that way, though," Noemi says to Luiza. "It took me a few years to get used to Rocina too. I used to tell mom about it non-stop, too. But it grows on you after a while."
[12:35] <Luisa> Luiza nods unhappily.
01[12:37] <Cidward> "Well, we'll just have to set a better example, right?" she says, hopping off the desk she'd been sitting on. "Sometimes that's all you can do. Have a nice shift, everyone." The morning squad starts to file out to leave you to your work.
[12:38] <Leona> "See you tomorrow," Leona says as they depart, going to grab a seat and a pulpy novel to pass the time with.
[12:39] <Luisa> Luiza waves at the departing squad, going over her recipes to pick one for tomorrow.
01[12:40] <Cidward> This afternoon's shift passes without incident, as does the bulk of the following week. Word hasn't come back from Bosque or any other contacts yet, and Cala hasn't announced knowing where to find the rest of the bandit gang yet either. Rain comes instead, overcast skies shrouding the countryside in gloom and autumnal chill. It's a drizzly Lordsday, in mid-week, when your team next receives a caller:
01[12:40] <Cidward> It's shortly after noon when Zoraida's daughter Clarisa scurries into the common room and, with all the solemn gravity of a herald chosen to relate an important message as verbatim as possible, announces to the squad: "Deacon Arsene says there's an Isveni girl in the town square asking everyone about zombies and could you arrest her for something before somebody kills her."
[12:41] <Morrison> Morrison's ears twitch as he turns his attention to this particular notification.
[12:41] <Luisa> "On it!"
[12:43] <Leona> "I wonder what she knows?" Leona hums, putting her book down on the table splayed open to mark her place in a fashion that can't do its bindings any favours as she gets up and puts her cloak on with the hood up to deal with the rain.
01[12:45] <Cidward> You find a shiftless rabble of local men and women hanging around in the town square when you arrive, loitering significantly in front of the temple of Nyris. They don't look ready to raid a holy sanctuary right now, but they do look prepared to wait for someone to come outside. If there's a leader for this lot, this isn't apparent on sight. A few huddles of three or four townsfolk each stand around in close proximity, comprising maybe something over a dozen people total. Some have procured cider or other drink to keep them warm while they discuss what to do next, which spirits have likely not improved their temper. The rain has stopped by now, giving them less incentive to go about their own business again.
[12:46] <Leona> Time for Santiago to put that booming voice of his to good use!
[12:46] <@Santiago> "Make way!" booms Santiago, deciding to incentivise them to be elsewhere himself.
01[12:48] <Cidward> This turns everyone's heads, at the least! A commanding voice gets Santiago a path through the crowd to the temple if he wants it, but they're not dispersing just yet. "Here now, come to drag away the necromancer in irons, right?" a thick-necked farmer assumes.
[12:51] <@Santiago> "We're here to arrest someone for causing a public disturbance 'n asking improper and frightening questions!" exclaims Santiago, deciding to simply walk through people who don't get out their way. "My tea's been interrupted, and I'm rather upset right now, so we'll not tolerate any interference! All of you ought go back to your homes!"
01[12:53] <Cidward> OOC: diplo or intimidate as you prefer?
[13:08] <@Santiago> roll 1d20+11
[13:08] <Rei-chan> 6,0Santiago rolled :6,0 1d20+11 --> 6,0[ 1d20=1 ]4,0{12}
01[13:11] <Cidward> This doesn't seem to get the proper response. "We are home!" a heavyset woman jokes. "Yeah," the farmer chimes in. "Y'know, now I want to see the militia haul her off to the dungeon. Serves her right! I had a brother died in the war, you know."
[13:12] <@Santiago> "Then get out the way!" Santiago bawls, stomping angrily forward into the temple.
[13:13] <Leona> What does that even have to do with anything? Groaning, Leona follows in Santiago's wake with her crossbow held intimidatingly at the ready.
01[13:14] <Cidward> The temple doors don't actually prove to be locked--it seems that however worried Deacon Arsene might be, she isn't prepared to lock out her fellow townsfolk. The crowd doesn't look inclined to follow you inside with a crossbow in the way; you can slip inside on your own, but they're not going away.
[13:15] <Leona> Honestly Leona doesn't care if they do have to put some manacles on when they haul her away for her own safety, but she wants to get in there and see who they're dealing with first.
01[13:16] <Cidward> The doors swing shut behind you and leave the crowd outside. The local temple of Nyris is a modest sanctum, as is commonly the case for the more esoteric pair of Verdana's deities, especially in rural towns like Rocina. An assemblage of perhaps twenty people could fit comfortably under its barrel-vaulted roof, likely no more. The blue and green décor of the interior leaves one feeling slightly as though they have entered an undersea cave. The statue of the goddess herself represents her as the supreme scholar, swathed in robes and with quill at the ready.
01[13:16] <Cidward> Lunesa is waiting inside the temple when you arrive. "Oh good, it's you," she says, with evident release of tension. "I hope you reminded those layabouts that they have better things to do with their time?"
01[13:16] <Cidward> Standing next to the deacon is an unusual young lady: she's tall for a woman, exceptionally pale, with blonde hair so light as to be nearly white falling straight to her lower back. The exotic slant of her eyes and sharp cheekbones are obvious signifiers of Isveni heritage, as is the queer golden hue of her irises. She wears a fine blue gown, and a fur traveling cloak that is heavier than should actually be required for a Verdani autumn. The personal possessions she apparently thought she'd need to bring with her from the south include a crossbow, a violin case, and a lacy parasol. A jeweled emblem depicting a green eye hangs on a chain around her neck.
01[13:16] <Cidward> The stranger does not look visibly disturbed about being the recent subject of an unruly mob's ire.
[13:19] <Luisa> "People are pretty incensed," Luiza notes, looking at their visitor. "Would you mind telling us why that is?"
01[13:20] <Cidward> Lunesa frowns at her guest. "Miss Hilsvard," she says, with exasperated eyes for the blond girl, "decided to introduce herself to the town by asking everyone she met where the undead were to be found around here."
[13:21] <Leona> "Well she's made a right fine mess of it," Leona says. "Miss Hilsvard, for your own safety we're going to have to escort you to the militia headquarters."
01[13:24] <Cidward> The stranger nods as though this were the most natural question in the world. "There were zombies, yes?" she asks for confirmation. Her Verdani is stilted and formal, clearly more book-learned than road-tested. "They were with brigands? I heard gossip on the road north." She doesn't look very worried about accompanying the militia if needed.
[13:25] <Luisa> "There were indeed!" Luiza agrees. "Perhaps we could talk about that at our headquarters, once the crowd has been sent home?"
[13:26] <@Santiago> "I don't think they're going home," replies Santiago. "It's unusual for locals to get so riled up."
01[13:26] <Cidward> "I would be happy to talk about this," she says eagerly.
[13:26] <Luisa> "Don't forget to look sullen and keep your head down as we walk," Luiza instructs her.
[13:26] <Leona> "They'll be happy to see us taking her away," Leona says. "Come on."
01[13:29] <Cidward> Miss Hilsvard nods and placidly accompanies local law enforcement outside as though nothing could possibly go amiss from doing this in a foreign land. She dutifully studies the ground as she's led outside, flanked by the squad. The crowd cheers and slaps each other on the back as though some minor victory has been accomplished here.
[13:30] <Luisa> Luiza is all too happy that no harm will come to anyone, and keeps a stern watch over Miss Hilsvard.
[13:31] <Leona> Leona makes sure to look particularly grim and uncompromising as she escorts their guest out, crossbow ready to be raised up and jabbed into her back if she proves unruly.
01[13:32] <Cidward> Following you back to the tower looks like too much effort for the crowd, so only some jeers and hurrahs see you on your way. Your charge doesn't look inclined to be uncooperative, and doesn't take a step out of line or speak until you're well on your way back to the tower at the edge of town. "Are we able to talk about the zombies at this time?" she asks once you're well on your away and relatively alone again.
[13:32] <Luisa> "Not until we actually get inside."
01[13:33] <Cidward> She nods! Zoraida is waiting outside with her daughter when you return to the tower. "Everything alright?" she asks, going on to add: "We had a couple scared farmers stop by while you were out. Sergeant Embriz wants you to look in on them." She looks at your "prisoner" and adds, "I guess once you're done with whatever you've got here."
[13:33] <Luisa> "Scared over what?"
01[13:34] <Cidward> "Someone killed their cow," Zoraida answers, resting an arm on her daughter's shoulder.
[13:34] <Luisa> "So long as it's not walking again afterwards I think it can wait a bit?"
01[13:35] <Cidward> "Not that they said," Zoraida answers.
[13:35] <Luisa> "Oh good."
[13:35] <Leona> "Someone and not an animal?" Leona confirms, this at least sounding more notable than satisfying some foreigner's necromantic curiosity.
01[13:35] <Cidward> "They said it was torn up like an animal did it," Zoraida explains. "But the barn door was closed when they found it. So they think it was a demon or something instead."
[13:36] <@Santiago> "As long as they don't think it was Leona."
[13:37] <Leona> "I have an alibi," Leona says in put-upon tone.
01[13:37] <Cidward> "I can't see why she would need to," Zoraida points out. "Luiza keeps her fed already."
01[13:40] <Cidward> Miss Hilsvard is perfectly cooperative as she's hustled inside. She looks around curiously as though she's never seen or heard of a dungeon before.
[13:40] <Luisa> Luiza coughs. "In any case, let's have a quick chat about, umm, zombies. First of, what is your interest in them? Do you intend to raise more?"
01[13:43] <Cidward> "I am looking for my sister," she provides by way of explanation. "I am afraid that I do not have the proper talents to raise them myself. Oh, I should introduce myself," she says. "My name is Driscanir Hilsvard."
[13:43] <Luisa> "Luiza de la Vega," she introduces herself in turn. "Is your sister a necromancer, then?"
01[13:44] <Cidward> "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss de la Vega," she says politely. "Yes, she is very skilled," she answers to the question.
[13:45] <Morrison> "Would you be able to identify her work if you witnessed it?" Morrison asks.
[13:45] <Leona> "Does she make a habit of writing scrolls that let one animate the dead and then leaving them around where others can find?" Leona asks.
[13:47] <Luisa> "I'm curious how long ago she left home and came for these parts."
01[13:50] <Cidward> Driscanir nods firmly to Morrison. "Of course. I would recognize her handwriting of a certainty." To Leona, she says: "One would not like to say such things about her kin, but...I think it more likely she would give these things to people." To Luiza, she answers, "She disappeared last year. When she did not come home, I began to worry that she was up to mischief, so I began to look for rumors."
[13:50] <Morrison> "It can't just be a coincidence, can it?" He asks to a look at his comrades.
[13:51] <Luisa> "And just how skilled is she?" Luiza inquires. "Are we talking about reanimated corpses shuffling about, or people rising from the grave to avenge their deaths, speaking and all?"
[13:52] <Leona> "I think it's a likely connection with the sorcerer boy from the last lot of brigands," Leona agrees, though she's less sure about a link to Gloriavaineth.
01[13:52] <Cidward> "Everything is easy for her when we are speaking of the dead," Driscanir says. "It is as though she were the Goddess's apprentice."
[13:53] <Luisa> "So she has actually raised corpses that could think for themselves? And talk intelligently?"
01[13:54] <Cidward> To this, Driscanir shakes her head. "Oh no, she has not done that, at least not within my knowledge. That is forbidden!" This belief is expressed with some force.
[13:55] <Luisa> Luiza perks up despite the topic! "Forbidden? Why?"
01[13:55] <Cidward> "Humans are not meant to play games with souls."
[13:56] <Luisa> "So if she decides she knew better than her teachers or tradition, she could definitely do this? It's not a question of ability?"
01[13:58] <Cidward> "I suspect that she could if she wished it," Driscanir admits. "This is why I am here. I wish to find her and talk her into returning home before she does something that will dishonor our family name."
[13:58] <Luisa> "If she did do this, would it change the corpse in some way? Give it claws or an obsession with oathbreakers?"
01[14:01] <Cidward> Driscanir looks uncomfortable. "Miss de la Vega, I believe that she could do a great many things if she wished to. You have seen such things, yes?" she assumes.
[14:02] <Leona> So much for it being a nice simple thing with one neophyte sorcerer's scroll made zombies. "An elven weaver was recently murdered in Solfrina," she speaks up, "Her corpse was then animated to go after her killers."
[14:03] <Luisa> "Unfortunately. We've come across some strange, magical things, from scrolls that were used to make zombies to the, umm, special zombie that I mentioned? Actually, does her magical expertise cover more than necromancy? Transformations and the like?"
01[14:06] <Cidward> "I think that she *could* do this," Driscanir answers Leona, "but it would only partly be in her interest. She is more interested in the immaterial undead--ghosts and spirits and such. Things that our priests tell her not to raise. So I do not know why she would resurrect your weaver unless, well." She just shrugs.
[14:07] <Luisa> "Can you give us her description? And maybe what she would need for her work, or even some favorite foods? We could ask around to see if someone noticed anything."
01[14:12] <Cidward> "She is shorter than I am," Driscanir says, raising a flat palm in the air around average height. "She wears her hair shorter than mine, but it is the same color. She likes expensive clothes," Driscanir adds, although her own look to fit that description by most people's standards. "She is very pale, like I am. I think that this would stand out. She likes wine but she is not a drunkard," Driscanir insists, as though that accusation might be worse than anything else alleged today. "As to her work you ask about, it is why I am here. You are having troubles with zombies? So I think, maybe I go with you when you find them again and I can see if they are her work."
[14:13] <Luisa> "Do you have anywhere to stay in the meantime? That is not a dungeon? Oh, and does your sister know magical ways to change the way she looks?"
01[14:14] <Cidward> Driscanir shakes her head to the first question. "I am just arrived in town. I had not procured lodgings yet." But to the latter, she nods. "She is an accomplished wizard. I am sure that it would be simple for her to do so. It is part of why I look for her work instead."
[14:15] <Luisa> "You can stay at my place if you promise never to mention anything undead while there?" Luiza offers.
01[14:16] <Cidward> "I can keep this bargain," Driscanir promises seriously.
[14:17] <Leona> Leona gives Luisa a 'better you than me' look. "Well, if we do find any more zombies we can let you have a look at them," she supposes. "Hope not to run into them again, personally."
[14:17] <Luisa> "There may be additional rules as I think of them," Luiza adds warily at that.
01[14:18] <Cidward> "I would be happy to help," she says. "I know a little about healing wounds, so I should not be without use in the meantime," she adds.
[14:18] <Luisa> "Oh, good!"
01[14:22] <Cidward> ~