CH. 5: The Sending is Coming from Inside the House

[HorizonsDream]

"The first victim was a farmer's daughter," Jocelyn points out. "I doubt she was a whore. Though, it does seem that they are all of a lower class so far," she admits as she makes her way to the other victim's family home.

[JadedDM]

Areilon and Val

The bartender blinks. "The lighthouse?" He shakes his head. "What a weird question. I don't know of anyway to get there besides through the fortress. Unless you're into dangerous rock climbing over the ocean, that is."

Jocelyn and Ouragana

The home of the third victim is in the merchant district, and appears quite well-to-do. It's a modestly sized two-story building with a fence, proper yard and statuary. Upon knocking on the door, a human answers, a middle-aged woman with straight black hair. "Yes? Can I help you?"

[HorizonsDream]

"Sorry to bother you," Jocelyn says. "But we were wondering if we could ask you a few questions about the loss of one of your family members due to the murderer running around?" she asks.

[JadedDM]

"Family member? Oh, you mean the young mistress," the woman says. "She is not my family, I am just a servant here. You wish to speak with the mistress of the house then?" She steps aside to let the two enter.

[Jenara]

"Just a thought." She responds with an off hand gesture, "It's likely whoever killed the victims, didnt do it at the Mill, they did it somewhere else secluded."

"Good day." Standing she leaves the bar.

"Well...." She says to Val as they are clear of the bar, "Let's hope the others found something." Pausing she adds. "Let's take a look near the Paragon, if the Dwarf was taken from there, perhaps they left something behind."

[Breila]

"We would like to speak to anyone who knew her well" Ouragana says, smiling. "Your observations are certainly as valuable as the mistress's. Could you describe us a typical day in the young mistress's life?"

[JadedDM]

The servant seems reluctant. "I don't know if it's my place to speak of such things. Are you not friends of the young mistress then? I had assumed you were. If not, then why are you here and why are you asking about her?"

[HorizonsDream]

"We are investigating the murders in hopes of helping this place out. Though, we are trying to keep it quiet from the wardens as we know they don't like people interfering," she explains.

[JadedDM]

"You're breaking the law?" the servant asks, wide-eyed. "I'm not sure the mistress will want to speak to criminals..."

"Who's there? Visitors?" calls a voice from another room. It sounds like an elderly woman. "Don't just dawdle there, invite them in now! You're letting out the heat"

The servant flinches and calls back. "Yes, mistress!" Turning back to Jocelyn and Ouragana, looking ashamed, she says, "This way, please."

The two are brought to a nice living room where an old dwarf woman sits, bundled up in a heavy robe despite the summer heat. Her white hair is pulled back into a tight bun and she wears heavy glasses that make her eyes look ridiculously large.

"Please, please, have a seat," she says, gesturing to a couch that is facing her. "It's so rare to get visitors these days, so rare, indeed."

The living room looks like the kind of place an old woman would live. There are numerous and various ceramic knick-knacks all over the place; on tables, shelves, and any other solid surface that will hold them. Most are of cutesy little figures doing adorable things, like sitting on toadstools or picking flowers. The entire room smells strongly of mothballs.

"Please bring some tea and cookies for our guests," the old woman states kindly, but with a hint of firm authority.

"Right away, mistress," the servant says with a curtsy, before departing.

"Now then, dearies, what can I do for you?" she asks the cleric and mage.

[Breila]

A little sorry they can't talk to the servant, but relieved they are not turned away, Ouragana enters the house and thanks the dwarf lady for her invitation.

"I am sorry to hear that people have stopped visiting you" she adds. "Do you know what the reason is?"

[JadedDM]

"Well, you know how it is," the old woman rambles. "My husband died some 40 years ago, and then my children were lost at sea about 10 years back. So it was just me and little Jara. And now she's gone, too," she says quietly.

Suddenly brightening she adds, "Well, not many people visit the elderly, you know. Young people are so busy with their own lives, of course."

The servant returns with a kettle of tea and a dish of cookies. She pours the cleric, mage and the old dwarf a cup and then stands aside patiently, should she be needed further.

[HorizonsDream]

"Little Jara?" Jocelyn asks as she takes a seat. "Was she the one that was...taken from you?" she asks.

[JadedDM]

The old woman nods. "Yes, little Jara. Well, not as little as she used to be. She was a grown woman, of course. But I never stopped thinking of her as my little granddaughter..."

[HorizonsDream]

"I'm sorry for you loss," Jocelyn says. "Could you tell us a little about Jara? What did she do for a living?" she asks.

[JadedDM]

"Oh, she's a spirited lass. Runs in the family, I'm sure," the old dwarf says. "Maybe a bit too much at times." She frowns, looks into her tea, and sips it a bit. Then her expression abruptly turns cheerful again. "My husband was quite wealthy, you see. He was a merchant with his own ship; my son inherited from him. So we had quite a bit of gold. There was no reason for Jara to work."