Having drained his energy to a dangerously low usual, Tobias slept longer than he had intended.
He awakened with a little stiffness but in familiar surroundings.

Coming out of his brief nap was like surfacing from an icy well, dark and sudden and gasping for breath. Tobias sat up quickly, too quickly, his head throbbed dully. He needed further rest, but with the pressing matters at hand, he wouldn't enjoy that luxury. It was with that thought that a tingle of dread came over him. He glanced over at the window, which due to his magic he could see out, but nobody could actually look inward, seeing that more time had passed than he would have ever allowed himself under normal circumstances.

Getting dizzily to his feet, he called out to his company. "Dumoss! I've awakened... we'd better get to Town and get this over with." Tobias began to gather some things together, trying to fully awaken.

"Dumoss, there should be a bowl of fresh thornberries on the table, help yourself, you must be hungry." When the young wizard detected no sound, he called out, "Dumoss? Where are you?"

A sudden sickening sensation came over him. "Dumoss? DUMOSS!"

The elf was gone.

Tobias quickly called upon a bit of his magic, doing so without thinking, comfortable in his own tower that it would both work and help him determine some things.

"Alvar. If you've not yet departed, if you can hear my voice, I would speak with you..."


Casting the Second Sight cantrip to see if Alvar is nearby.

Seeing Tobias awake Elton said, "Dumoss left soon after you fell asleep."
"I tried to convince him to at least stay till you awoke.
He seemed to be fascinated by the belt and wouldn't listen to me."

"I laid Alvar out when he collapsed.  Hope you don't mind I used your blanket to cover him."

The bloody arrow was laying next to the covered body.

"If you can find him, Rolan of Bauer should vouch for my character to our Lord Math and Constable Ashwick.
Sir Rolan knows me well and that I would never kill one of our own folk."

"Vyria may not be as forgiving."
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:28, Sat 08 Feb 2020.

06:25, Today: Oracle rolled 10 using 1d20.  Alvar nearby?

It may have been the distance that the body had traveled or the magic around the tower but Tobias was unable to spot the spirit of Alvar nearby.

Tobias shook his head and ran a hand through his wild black hair. "I don't know how Vyria's going to react to be honest, she's been concerned over Alvar lately. This is going to be a terrible blow..."

The young wizard was troubled that Dumoss had left. That sort of recklessness was rash and uncharacteristic of the usually careful elf. Such out of character behavior was concerning.

"I only know of Sir Rolan," Tobias replied, "I don't know that I've actually met him, nor do I remember ever speaking to him." In fact, Tobias had been a recluse of late, and didn't really have any reason to interact with the few nobles in town. "Though I do recall seeing him with the Ol' Witcher Woman a time or two..." Which struck him as odd.

"Very well, I'll go look for him, perhaps he'll be in town. Let's go to the Sheriff now and tell our story. He'll probably take you into custody, but that's alright, you'll be safe there even if it is uncomfortable for a while."

Leaving Alvar's body where it lay, Tobias escorted Elton to Constable Ashwick's office in town.
It was solidly built and one of the few in town with a majority of stonework.

Watchman Russell was there and said Constable Ashwick was up at the Lord's manor.
He asked if there was anything he could do to assist and if you wanted to step inside to wait?

He wasn't sure when the Constable would be back only that he was sure it would be before dark.

Tobias found himself caught between a rock and a hard place. Landing on either would be uncomfortable. Waiting here could raise questions neither wanted to answer unless before the Constable, but leaving and heading toward the Manor House held its own set of pitfalls.

"This is a matter of some urgency," Tobias said as carefully as he could. "We'd much rather speak with the Constable himself. Perhaps we'll head toward the Manor and meet him along the way..."

Tobias glanced to Elton in order to gauge the hunter's reaction.

"It would be better to speak to Sir Braden directly. Less chance of a misunderstanding that way."

"We thank you for your time Watchman Russell but the sooner this is addressed the better."

Turning to Tobias, "Shall we be on our way?"

Tobias and Elton headed for the Lord's manor and as they reached the bridge over the river Constable Ashwick had just crossed.

He reigned in his horse as the two men hailed him.

Greeting you with a look of interest, "What brings the two of you this way?"
"I don't often see either of you and certainly not together, it must be something important?"

Traveling towards the square to see what stalls are in business today and what wears he may be able to find, Rolan comes rounding the corner of a small house and sees the gathered group at the bridge. The Constable on horseback talking to Elton and, is that Tobias? Rolan didn't know him well, having only seen him around occasionally and in passing.

At first glance everything seemed normal, then he noticed the look on Elton's face. Elton was a close associate, he would even call him a friend. They had hunted together, drank together, told stories and enjoyed themselves. Elton was a good man, but the look on face was one of agony and regret which Rolan had never seen him wearing before. He made his way to the assembled group.

"Ho there, Ashwick! What seems to be the problem here? Elton, are you alright?"

Tobias flinched like a wary animal as the call came. He always felt uncomfortable of late when in the Town, even though most folks gave him wide berth and simply acted as if he wasn't there. Only when he glanced back over his shoulder did the Haggard's eyes see the fearful and mistrusting looks people gave him when they thought he wouldn't notice. They probably had reason to be afraid of things they didn't understand, but Tobias had grown up here.

His head turned suddenly in the direction of the caller, and a small bit of relief came over him. Isn't that the noble Elton said would vouch for him?

"Constable Ashwick, we have a grave and terrible matter to discuss with you, one that will surely upset some more than others, but will affect us all..." he glanced quickly toward the Inn where his sister was likely working even now.

"We'd rather not draw attention however until you are made aware of the situation." Tobias looked around to see if anyone else was paying them any heed, for surely in a small town such as this, on this side of the Wall, there were those busybodies whom had nothing better to do than watch and whisper to make themselves feel more important than they probably were.

06:50, Today: Oracle rolled 20 using 1d20 ((20)).

Cutting in before Tobias can say more, "We found Alvar's body in the woods while hunting deer."

After a glance at Tobias, "Tobias and Dumoss got there just as I found it."

In an earnest tone, "We don't want to start a panic over a murder but people need to be careful in the woods!"

Rolan is surprised by the comment and quickly asks Elton a slew of questions "The tanner? In the woods? Was he dumped there?" he looks the Constable and says "Ashwick, you've gotta get your men searching the area immediately. Elton, come with me, let's go speak to Vyria, she deserves to know."

And then the nightmare Tobias had once lived through began to happen all over again. The situation slipped from his control, what he'd feared might happen began to play out before his eyes as the first drop of water in a cascade was followed rapidly by the second.

He felt the magic within him flare to life in response. It was always eager, hungry and willing to manifest itself to solve problems the more difficult they became...

"NO! Please! Wait... I... You don't need your men Constable. I can explain everything... Vyria will be devastated but... just not here!" Tobias looked around once more to see what sort of attention they were attracting. "Just... come with me to my Tower, all of you," Tobias plead thinking it the best way to contain Rolan from spreading the ill-tidings.

"I-I have something to show you first. We brought Alvar's body there so we could come and find you Sir, and not cause worry and fear to spread through the Town."

"This is terrible news, I know, and believe me I want to be the one to tell Vyria, she'll have so many questions, but let us cross one bridge at a time... come with us, please."


The magic whispered in the mind of Tobias Draigh...

There are better ways to do this, much... easier ways...

Glancing from one to the other, from atop his horse.
"There has been a murder? Of the Tanner?"

His natural inclination was to defer to the other noble man but he needed the details that the commoners could provide.

Looking at Tobias with a shadow of distaste, "You say the body is at your tower? How did it get there?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:17, Wed 12 Feb 2020.

Answering Sir Rolan's questions.
"I was hunting a golden deer and found the body at the edge of a clearing."

"The Tanner looked freshly killed and I found Tobias," nodding in his direction, "and that Fae kid Dumoss there."

"Tobias talked me into moving the body to his tower."

"Didn't want any wild animals getting to it he said."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:17, Wed 12 Feb 2020.

Rolan shares a suspicious look with the Constable and says to the two nervous men "We can accompany you, but we'll not come alone. Something about this feels wrong, but I trust Elton, I know him well enough. We'll grab a guard from Ashwick's office and head over to the tower." he eyes Tobias was a look equal parts suspicious and inquisitive.

I don't about that Tobias he thought to himself Keeps to himself as far as I know, no one could vouch for a hermit like that.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:24, Wed 12 Feb 2020.

"Very well," Tobias said, trying to regain control. "Please choose one of your men that is conscientious about rumors in the community. At least until I can speak with my sister..."

The young wizard extended his arm in the direction of his tower, and turned to lead the way.

His mind was racing as they walked. He was torn between going along with Elton's variation of the events - Tobias had enough of his own secrets certainly - but was concerned about doing so for he was not the only witness... He was in a very difficult situation, especially regarding his own past and the terrible events which had taken place not that long ago. If Dumoss came back with a different story... Tobias determined that he'd wait for an opportunity, for what exactly he did not yet know.

Taking a bit of a chance, Tobias gave Rolan a slight nod when he thought Elton wasn't looking. Yes, something IS wrong, he hoped to convey.

"I'm thinking the Fae are involved because that deer seemed magical and Tobias said that they had followed it from town."

"It might have been leading us to the body."

"Those Fae are a sly bunch and Dumoss is one of the Dark ones. Hard to know what game they are playing."

Constable Ashwick looked as if he was considering the situation.

"If there is a murderer about we need to apprehend them as soon as possible.
Not sure who would want to kill the tanner. While he raises quite a stink, the job is important."
"In fact, he will be sorely missed and I can't think of anyone that would want him gone."

"Since Watchman Potter lives just on the way, we can bring him with us. He knows when to hold his tongue."

"Come along then."

Kneeing his horse, he started towards Watchman Potter's house.

"Very well Constable, we'll follow you there, and then I'll lead all of you to my Tower. Let us go quickly before townsfolk take notice."

Tobias pulled the hood of his cloak to shade his face and provide a bit of obscurity from whence he might consider his options. He hoped the nobleman would be considerate of the truth. Dumoss wasn't here to defend himself, and Elton was painting himself into a corner. The young wizard was choosing his words very carefully as well as being carefully curative of what he was not saying... at least for now.

Rolan kept his distance from the Wizard as they made their way. He had known of the man, of the poor past that would rival his own that this man had suffered, but still didn't trust him now. He knew that the Tanner was engaged to Tobias' sister, which made him all the more suspicious.

Elton, on the other hand, he knew well. But the man was so on edge. Rolan kept close to Elton and spoke to him as they walked, trying to pinpoint the cause of his anxiety. This wasn't the first time he'd seen a dead body, why was he so fearful?

Speaking in hushed tones to Roland, "I should have guessed there was Fae trickery involved."
"There are no golden deer in these woods, as you know."

"To have it suddenly show up and from town even, it's just not natural."

"While I respect the Fae and try to stay out of their business, I don't know how they got involved with the tanner being killed."

"Makes you wonder if someone else is next."