Protect Life

[Brian]

The shadows are disconcerting.  You kind of think you can see one of the other guards ... but your other senses tell you he's a bit to the side of where you THINK you see him....

But that fun ends after a moment, when one of the Interers enters the room, seeming mousy and harmless compared to the vanishing-into-shadow-guard behind him.  He looks up at you, standing as he is (somewhat hunched over), and asks, "How can I help you?" in a trembling, nervous voice.

[Bjorn]

"Ah, Justin was it?"  Bjorn smiles faintly at the Interer, trying to put him at his ease.  "You prepared Sir Shivershaft's body, correct?"

[Brian]

He nods dutifully.  "I did," he says.  "Was very sore and unhappy to be here, he was.  But he is at peace now, no look of hate upon his face."  He shifts his shoulders uncomfortably -- you get the idea that the Interers are habitually nervous.  "Was something missing?  Something he should have, and does not?  Something he might need beyond?"

[Bjorn]

"I'm not sure," Bjorn says, looking down thoughtfully again at Dorian's face.  "My concern, I suppose, is more that he had something when he came down here that he should never have had at all."

Lapsing into silence, he uses his contemplation of Dorian's face as a cover while he ransacks his other-self's memories, trying to recall what he can about burial practices -- specifically, how Interers deal with the possessions of the deceased in the course of their work.

OOC: KNO: Upper Kingdoms and KNO: Church of Hammar, hoping at least one is appropriate.

[Brian]

The Church of Hammar (from what Bjorn can remember) advocates burning the dead.  The Upper Kingdoms, however, use their own practices, which involve interring them in tombs ... and usually surrounding their dead with their most valued possessions.  Or at least what they died with.

From what you know, either way, Dorian should have whatever he was carrying with him when he died with him, unless the people bearing his body down here forgot it.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn sighs, and turns to look at Justin again.  "Were there markings on Sir Shivershaft when he arrived, beyond the one on his wrist?"

[Brian]

"Oh, of course," he says, nodding vigoriously.  "A cut across his neck," he says, gesturing to his own throat.  "Bruises, too.  All about his arm," he indicate's Dorian's right arm.  "But no other markings like that," he adds, pointing at the tattoo.

[Bjorn]

"I see," Bjorn says, nodding.  He quickly glances about, looking for Dorian's weapon.

[Brian]

It doesn't come to light immediately.  The Interer looks at Dorian for a moment, and then helpfully supplies, "He was said to have a bow ... but we don't have that to put to rest with him.  I don't know where it is."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn frowns, trying to cast his memory back and remember if he'd seen the bow when Dorian's body had been brought down.  "Was Sir Shivershaft brought to you here?" he asks, looking at Justin.

[Brian]

Justin nods quickly.  "Yes.  I'm a Minder, not a Bearer," he says apologetically.  "He was brought in by the keep guard, though, not our own."  He taps his fingers together in front of him, and shrugs.  "But this is often the case ... for those who belong in the Hall of Heroes."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn nods again.  "Thank you, Justin," he says politely.  "I appreciate your aid greatly.  If you'll excuse me, though, I'm afraid I must be going."

With that, he nods, and makes his way out of the hall of heroes, pondering things.  I need to find Dorian's bow, he decides.  If it can't be found, then something is definitely going on.  Thing to do is talk to Stuarts, and if possible, the guards who found Dorian.  Might as well combine that with the whole inspecting-the-troops thing.

And so, barring interruptions, Bjorn begins looking for Captain Stuarts; taking his time to inspect the guards, to be seen acting in the way that Donovan prescribed.

[Brian]

After emerging from the underground area -- the place of the Interers -- Bjorn finds himself in the keep grounds.  The guards seem to notice the casual inspection they're recieving (which is, one supposes, the point), and straighten up where they're slouching.

It takes the better part of an hour to actually wander into Captain Stuarts, who is overseeing some men moving equipment from a wagon to the courtyard.  He looks up and salutes when he sees Bjorn.  "Sir!" he calls.  "How may I help you?"

[Bjorn]

"Captain Stuarts," Bjorn says, with a polite nod.  "I've been seeing how the men are doing.  The guard all seem to be in fine shape.  My compliments to you.  Are there any issues you would like to bring to my attention?"

[Brian]

Stuarts hesitates, and then looks at the men carrying bundles of spears to the courtyard.  "Nothing that hasn't been adressed," he says, shaking his head.  "Your ... companion, Jeff has helped to set the men's minds at ease with the competition of hunter-hunted.  There's little more to ask for ... none of it within reason."  He smiles at that.  "Is there anything I can do for you, Warden?"