C.A.R.P.S.

(This occurs a few days after the Immigration thread)

A hysterical woman enters the Inn, trailed by an adolesent apparently trying to calm her.

She screams, "HELP ME! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME! A MONSTER TOOK MY HUSBAND AWAY!"

"No, Mum, that can't be! It just doesn't make sense!" Cries the boy.

*steps up *

Calm down maam

Now what is your name and how can I bee of service to you and the boy?

*lays his hand upon the boys head*

The woman won't be calmed. "NO TIME FOR THAT! A MONSTER TOOK MY HERB AWAY! YOU HAVE TO COME QUICK! YOU HAVE TO FIND HIM!"

"I don't think a monster did it, mum! That just don't work right!", says the boy, though clearly anxious and worried, as he dodges out from under Draven's hand.

Ok laidy you say it is a monster and he says it isn't.

So wich is it?

*aroura walks up to the three of them*
*to the boy* What do you think took your father if not a monster? Also why do you think a monster doesn't fit for taking him?

*to the woman*
take a drink and explain where he was when he was taken please. we need a place to start from for searching.
*hands the woman a drink of elvan wine*

The efforts of Draven and Aroura at last begin to settle the woman down. She collapses into a seat while holding the goblet, and begins speaking through her sniffling.

"I'm Ellen. We... We live in Shephard's Down. Herb and Junior were out tending the flock when... when..." She takes a sip of the wine, but seems unable to continue.

Junior picks up the tale. "Paw went off to collect some stragglers what were wandering up into the woods while I tended the main flock. When I looked back for him a minute later, I saw the sheep he was after, but Paw wasn't there. I went over there, myself, and found his staff, but no blood or nothing. Paw's strong - nothing can take him down, and he sure as sure wouldn't give up without a fight. And what would take the Shephard when there's sheep to be had? And the sheep weren't spooked, neither. A monster, or a wolf, or whatever shoulda sent 'em running!"

Heh, you wouldn't happen to have one more sheep now than you did?

* raises and eyebrow*

Hmmmm ineresting

Ok Ellen is there anything more the two of you can tell us no matter how small the detail ?

* hands the boy a plate of food and a cup of milk*

Junior looks at Torvach. "No. Paw went after three stranglers. When I looked for him, Paw was gone but the three sheep were still there."

"It's those darn criminals what been passing through these lands!" Ellen spits out, "Sheep ain't afraid of people! They knocked Herb on the head in their cowardly way and dragged him off to be ransomed! That's what they did!"

*looking at Ellen like she's a complete and utter moron*

Ransomed for what? The sheep they could have stolen easily?

*looks around*

Anyone seen Sylas? Oh, and Aroura, I'll need your help too.

*turns to Junior*

One last question, how far is the field from water? *pauses* no, I doubt a siren.

*turns away again*

SYLAS!!!!

*aroura covers her ears as Torvac bellows*

What ever I can help with.

*to ellan* we'll look for your husband as soon as we find the constible.

*cell #1 creaks open and a sleepy Sylas wanders out bare footed*

*yawn* "Shummone yooking fo mhe?"

Ellen drops her face to her hands and begins bawling.

Junior wraps an arm around her shoulders. "He's right, mum. Thieves have no need to trouble themselves with ransom. They could just take the sheep after knocking paw out. Goodness knows I couldn't stop 'em if they tried. And we ain't got naught else worth ransoming for."

He looks up at Torvach. "This river through Legacy is the closest water of any note, other than the well. Though we ain't never been too far afield...."

Trails off. Stares wide-eyed as Sylas emerges.

"Constable Hay lives in a prison cell?"

*Kathryn comes down the stairs from the upper balcony of the Inn, catching the last bit about ransoming, and Torvach's reply*

Need some help tracking? If we find them, I can give the order of arrest on the spot for you, and save some time.