005. "I hope you and your family find some peace now, at least."

[Corwin]

[20:30] <Kowork> ------------------------------------------------ ---- -!
[20:34] <Kowork> The next four days start sleeting, but soon moderates into a slow trip home in the sun. Warmer winds blow off the bay, soothing you as you get closer to home. Soon the gates of Balmuria welcome you home, guards saluting as you pass. Home, safe and sound!
[20:36] * Seira glances at Shamal. "We may as well go and bring that family the bad news?"
[20:36] * Berlioz (assis_san@201.22.135.175.adsl.gvt.net.br) Quit (Ping timeout)
[20:36] <Shamal> "You know, it's terribly gauche to drag a body through the streets, even if we have wrapped it up," Shamal notes. "Let's leave it at my place until we ascertain his identity and then the family can take him to the church of whatever God he worshipped for a proper burial?"
[20:37] * Seira nods. "We know enough now to match a description. It sounds like a good plan."
[20:38] <Shamal> After making a detour which also leaves Rin and Flopsy at home, the party then make their way to the bakery to deliver their grim tidings!
[20:40] <Kowork> It's strange. As the party walks up the hill, everything is sunny and happy. Seagulls fly overhead, sunlight shines down. People walk upt o the bakery, the smells to die for. Hell, even to redie for if there was a zombie in the party. A perfect scene as you get to the tip-top of the hill.
[20:40] <Seira> Not for long! Seira seeks out one of the owners.
[20:42] <Kowork> Inside ar ethe two boys and mother. Roald is found carrying a rack of bread out of the oven, whistling to himself. But he stops when he sees Seira enter, a glance turning into a long, measured look.
[20:42] * Seira steps inside, approaches Roald and asks bluntly, "May we talk?"
[20:43] * Shamal hangs back a bit, letting Seira field this.
[20:43] <Kowork> He nods wordlessly, putting the bread down. "Hey...!" His mother calls, bossily glaring at him, but Roald just walks outside.
[20:44] <Seira> "I'm sorry," Seira apologizes, "but I must ask you. What was your father wearing when he left? How was he equipped?"
[20:45] <Kowork> There's a long pause at this, the young man bowing his darker skinned head as he closes his eyes. "So those are your friends," he says, glancing at Lyselle and Berlioz. "I don't really want to talk about it unless they were invovled..."
[20:46] <Seira> "They were," she confirms.
[20:47] * Kowork is now known as Kotono
[20:49] <Kotono> "A warhammer and..I think the name for it is splintmail?" Roald looks at each of them, hesitant.
[20:49] * Shamal does her best not to give anything away in spite of the confirmation, leaving it to Seira to break the news.
[20:49] * Gourash is now known as Dracos
[20:49] * Dracos (~WinNT@c-24-5-130-94.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) has left #dunes
[20:50] <Seira> "How about this?" she asks, withdrawing the amulet she found on the man's body.
[20:51] <Kotono> "...no, I've never seen that before in my life." Roald says in surprise, "Wait...does that mean you found something? Butthat's not something I saw my father with."
[20:53] * Seira frowns. "We did find something," she says, placing the trinklet away. "A man who had been slain inside the cave. I'm sorry. I know I mentioned hope before, but it seems your father perished."
[20:54] <Kotono> "..." Roald visibly winces, looking stung before he quickly turns away. "...thank you. I'll get my mother - where's the body. She needs to see that."
[20:55] <Seira> "He had this on him," Seira continues, handing over a small pouch. "Some money and a potion. There were two more, but the containers broke into useless shards."
[20:55] <Shamal> "The body is at my house outside the city," Shamal volunteers quietly. "We didn't want to bring him all the way here without knowing."
[20:56] <Kotono> "Dad's Potions. A friend gavet hem to him. One could make him jump like a cricket, one would heal wounds, and one would make him as strong as a bull." A long, breathy pause, "Just...bring him here, I'll tell Mom and...just bring him here, you don't have to see this."
[20:57] <Seira> "You still have your brother and mother with you," Seira tells Roald, "and they have you. Don't forget that."
[20:58] <Kotono> "..yeah." The young man shakes a little, heading inside quickly.
[20:59] * Berlioz (assis_san@200.175.191.64.adsl.gvt.net.br) has joined #dunes
[21:00] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Berlioz
[21:00] * Lyselle just sighs a little, retreating from the scene without a word towards her quarters. She didn't need to relive more of that, as a spectator or participant.
[21:00] * Shamal sighs as he departs, before turning to head back home herself. "If nothing else, at least they have closure..." she murmurs.
[21:05] <Kotono> The body is brought without fanfare to a now empied bakery. The wails of grief are strong, family spending time alone. But within an hour Roald comes out to the now empty front of the bakery, looking at Shamal and Seira. "Thank you." he says simply, red eyed and slumped.
[21:06] * Shamal shakes her head softly. "Don't thank us. I'm sorry we could not give better news," she replies sadly.
[21:06] <Seira> "We're sorry," Seira repeats simply, echoing Shamal.
[21:11] <Kotono> "Thank you for bringing him and his posessions." Roald carries a bag with him, a heavy one. "If the cave...got Father, I know it had to be dangerous, and so does my Mother. Here. It's a lot, but I think we're going to come into some money soon." Roald smiles, faint. "That pendant's in there, too. Mom has no idea what it is, so...and the potion. No need for it for us. Also, once we find out way, if there is ever anything we can do to help you..
[21:12] <Shamal> "Please," Shamal shakes her head, "This is more than enough. You owe us nothing," she insists.
[21:12] <Seira> "I extend you the same offer," Seira tells Roald, trapping his gaze with her own. "If you ever need anything, contact me."
[21:13] <Kotono> "I will, and take it. You've done us something we can never pay you back for." Roald insists, pushing the sack forward. "It's 200 gold coins in there. It's a lot."
[21:15] <Shamal> "That's more than we make in a year," Shamal nods as she takes the sack. Of course, extra-curricular activities supplement their meagre salary quite nicely. "I hope you and your family find some peace now, at least."
[21:17] <Kotono> "Yeah, thanks." Roald turns, "Tell the other two thank you as well."
[21:22] <Kotono> --

[Corwin]

<LEVEL UP (to level 4)>