Kidnapped: Pieces of the puzzle (Chapter 2)

[sfliegel]

Firebug stepped along side Stone, "We are here to speak with you about Nilla D'encre. We understand that you know the D'encre family. Can you tell us when the last time was that you saw Nilla?"

[Game Master]

Moonhaven looks down his nose at the four people before him. "Ellithiea pore luminotte d'encre muiealleta. Simiossal sima'nilla hoonklies me elin. Doth thinell so maddire?"


(Anyone speak elven? Roll now)

[Game Master]

MoonHaven switches to Southern. Looking at Aiko "I meant no disrespect. I noticed you speak Southern with a heavy accent. I thought you might speak elven a little better. while I was sure the woodsman and this scholarly looking fellow probably spoke elven as well. It seemed appropriate." glancing at both speakers of the group. "I do miss speaking my native tongue. Most of these locals only speak a few human dialects." While Moonhaven speaks he has begun walking to the chow line. The overseers are serving some sort of gruel and bread along with earthen mugs of water. There are many servers in order to keep the lines short. Once Moonhaven gets his food he finds a small area slightly away from the others and continues. "As I said earlier, (confirmed by anyone who does infact speak elven) I have known the D'encre family ever since they moved in next door. Emmi keeps to her self and her husband Cette is a racist pig. Nilla, ahh Nilla. She is a wondrous child, even for a human. Sharp as a sword that one. Did you know that she can speak Elven better then most adults. She's truly gifted. I was heart broken when I learned she had disappeared." Moonhaven seems to withdraw into his own thoughts and is quiet.

[Game Master]

***The inquisition***


Lord Kursaville was upset. Upset at himself. He loved to lead men. He just wasn't cut out for it any more. Ever since...he shook it off. He may have lost a little respect dealing with that big oaf, but it would be different with the Gypsy. He hated fortune tellers, sooth sayers, oracles and all their ilk. They spread lies and fear everywhere they set up shop. He was sure this would be the same with this one. Even Firebug gave him an odd feeling with all his psychic abilities. A mans mind was no longer his own anymore. At least Firebug seemed an honest chap. Only time would tell.

The three investigators came to Madam Zantel's Fortunes shop and most likely home. It was ramshackle as they always were. The roof was ready to collapse, the walls were warped this way and bulging that way making small gaps throughout the structure. A small wood sign hung from the porch awning, threatening to pull the whole thing down with even the slightest breeze. Kursaville stood before the door before making his entrance. He wiped sweat from his brow. It was just past mid-day now and the unnatural early spring humidity was draining the Knight of his bodies water. His armor felt heavy and he yearned to take it off but he took comfort in the security it provided for his body and peace of mind.

"Follow my lead. Feel free to ask questions I may not think of. Oh and Siff. Please say a prayer for us. I am happy to have the Lord with us as we enter this lair of deception.

Tull and Siff exchange a glance. They had gotten a feel for one another while working together at Nilla's home. Now they both read the same thing on eachothers faces. Unease.

Lord Kursaville walked up to the dilapidated door that sat out of alignment with its frame. A long sliver of wood centered on a rusty nail was used to hold it closed. Kursaville straightened his shoulders and...kicked the door in.

The door shattered into pieces and flew off its disintegrating hinges with a crash. Kursaville stepped back away from the shacks portal.

"Who attacks my home and business with such fury!" A soft, female voice came from within.

"I am Constable Kursaville. The LAW Madam! Come out into the daylight if you are able to withstand its rays, for I will not enter your lair of false hopes and prophecies."

Tull was shocked. Madam Zantel was a respected member of the community. Not everyone thought she should be here in town, it was true but, her abilities were real enough. He wasn't in charge though so he stood quietly waiting to see how things played out. He'd ask questions if he got the chance.

Siff was amazed that Lord Kursaville could be so commanding after his obvious lacking in dealing with the Task Master. He seemed driven now. Almost like the Zealots from her homeland. Such passion for what one believed in could be a powerful tool as well as a fatal flaw. She made a vow to make sure thing didn't get out of control.

Madam Zantel stepped out onto the porch. She was a beautiful human woman with copper red hair and freckles dotting her sun reddened white skin. Her eyes were a piercing light blue and her features were soft and rounded. She wasn't plump but instead voluptuous in build. Tull always smiled when he saw her in his uncles shop. She seemed. Ageless, niether young nor old. He had never used her services, prefering to leave his lifes fate unknown. Today as always she wore a simple peasant smock and sandals and was adorned by simple homemade jewelry of leather, semiprecious stones and colorful bits and pieces of this and that.

[sfliegel]

***The inquisition***

Siff was struck by the incredible beauty of this women. Maybe this was all a part of her charms. She had never met a fortune teller before, but growing up in the church had sheltered her from many experiences. It was pretty obvious how Kursaville felt about them on the whole but she hadn't made up her mind yet and needed to ask some questions before deciding Zantel's guilt.

She looked to Tull who seemed to not only know her but to be smitten, while Kursaville appeared disgusted as if he was gazing upon something so evil that he was on the verge of drawing his sword in order to smite it. But she found herself smiling, and she felt relaxed, almost at peace. She knew this was wrong and she fought not to let her guard down but the smile would not budge.

Siff stepped forward of the boys, "Madam Zantel, we are here investigating the disappearance of Nilla D'encre. We understand the Emmi D'encre came to see you the night before Nilla's disappearance. From Emmi's account it could be seen as a threat on your part that Nilla was going to be taken. Will you please tell us what happened during Emmi's visit?"

[homeskillet]

"Moonhaven, please we need your help in finding her," Stone empathetically pleaded," It has been two days. What can you tell us of the night she was taken? You have observed her habits. Where did she like to go?"

[sfliegel]

Firebug crossed his arms, "Moonhaven, we found some stones among Nilla's possessions. I believe they are from a cave she may have been exploring. There is also a drawing on her bedroom wall of a great cave. Would you know about such a place? Purhaps, show her ingredients for..., magic? You did mention that she was gifted."

[Game Master]

Moonhaven looked to Aiko. I know very little of the day she disappeared. Just that morning Cette accused me of steeling his Pitchfork. I thought it silly considering the pointlessness of it all. I mean, how could I use a stolen pitch fork when I work in the same field? I'd have to hide it from him and never use it." Moonhaven shook his head in disbelief. "I don't blame him really. It was Madam Zantel who put the thought into his head with her bad omens and predictions. As far as where she liked to go? Everywhere. She fancied herself a young explorer or Adventurer. She has a wild imagination you know."

"Moonhaven, we found some stones among Nilla's possessions. I believe they are from a cave she may have been exploring. There is also a drawing on her bedroom wall of a great cave. Would you know about such a place? Perhaps, show her ingredients for..., magic? You did mention that she was gifted."
Firebug added with arms crossed.

"Well, you are a sharp one aren't you. I used to be a wizard of sorts, before I lost interest and became a farmer. I've taught her only a few cantrips. To remove salt from water, make someone belch and to read magic of course. She is still young so I have to go slow. Rocks you say? I wouldn't doubt it. She came to me just last week with some orange rocks she had found somewhere. Said she had found a gold mine and was going to make a treasure map. Do you suppose they are the same rocks?"

The whole time Moonhaven was talking Mason was doing one thing. Studying the elf's shoes. He had looked at the tracks Moonhaven had left on the way to the chow line as well. The boots were not a match for the print he had found at Neilla's house but the size...the size of the boots were perfect. He was sure of it. He had to interupt.

"Master Moonhaven. Would it be to troublesome to let one of us search your cabin? I think it would go a long way in relieving Cette's fears about you if we were able to tell him you didn't have his pitchfork."

"Uhh, of course. I have nothing to hide. I'd like to be there of course. How about at sundown when I get off work?" Moonhaven said with a smile.

"Would that work for your schedule Firebug?" Mason asked.

BACK TO WORK! The task masters voice boomed.

[sfliegel]

Firebug nodded, "Master Moonhaven, we shall meet you at sundown. Purhaps we could speak more on the way to your cabin?"

Elves' are known for their remarkable sense of hearing. As Moonhaven moved back to his place in the fields, Firebug led the group the other direction, and headed out of the fields. Firebug pressed a finger to his lips as they walked. Once they could only see a blurry outline of Moonhaven in the distance, Firebug whispered to Mason, "What's going on Mason? You're not really going to look for that pitchfork are you?"

[Game Master]

"Of course not. Moonhaven was right when he said he couldn't use it so why take it. Remember the print I told you all about behind the house? Well Moonhavens boots are to warn and old to be the same but his shoe size is a match. I'd like to search his house for another pair. We also need to start looking for this cave of Nilla's unless its the dwarven Iron mine she stumbled into."

[Game Master]

***The inquisition***

Madam Zantel spit at Lord Kursavilles feet. "You'll pay for that door Constable."

"Or what?" Kursaville scoffed. "You'll give me the evil eye?"

Zantel was about to remark when Siff spoke up with questions to diffuse the situation and keep it on track.

"Madam Zantel, we are here investigating the disappearance of Nilla D'encre. We understand the Emmi D'encre came to see you the night before Nilla's disappearance. From Emmi's account it could be seen as a threat on your part that Nilla was going to be taken. Will you please tell us what happened during Emmi's visit?"

"Emmi comes to me at the beginning of each month and asks about the well being of her family. This was not to be a good month for her. I tried to warn her that something precious would be taken from her. She assumed it was a pitchfork." Zantel shrugged as if that explained it all.

"You thought otherwise? You KNEW otherwise? Yet you allowed her to believe she came to the correct conclusion. Is that what your telling us?" Kursaville pounced.

"Of course not you fool. I have no specifics. I merely try and help people to understand and interpret my readings. She interpreted wrong. I tried to tell her that a missing pitchfork couldn't passably be the loss I foresaw but she would hear nothing more. Her mind was set."

"And just how do you give these readings, Madam? Prayers to your dark Gods? Read the bones of your sacrifices?" Kersaville was relentless in his interrogation.

"No, no. I worship Mistress Death not some pagan god or daemon. I read simple cards of fate. That is all." Zentel retorted, with chin held high in defiance.

[sfliegel]

***The inquisition***

Siff saw the look in Kursaville's eyes, he was hot and about to boil over so she rejoined the conversation, "Madam Zantel, please, are you saying that you knew something was going to happen to Nilla? If you did know and did nothing about it, then we will have to consider you an accomplace after the fact. From the sound of things, I don't think it will be too hard to find a constable to arrest you. However, if you were to give us you full assistance in finding Nilla maybe we can over look any discressions. So what will it be?"

[homeskillet]

****Inquisition****
Tull has been in absolutely stunned by this "witch hunt", " ARE YOU TWO INSANE? ARE TWO TWO HARD OF HEARING? THIS WOMAN IS A PILLAR OF OUR COMMUNITY WITH NO SPEAKABLE CRIMES AGAINST HER AND YOU TWO TREAT HER LIKE A... DRAGON WOLF OR SOMETHING! SHE DOESN'T SEE SPECIFICS, SHE GETS VAGUE IMAGES OR IDEAS OF THE FUTURE! SHE IS NOT SUGGESTING THAT SHE ABSOLUTELY KNEW NILLA WAS TO BE KIDNAPPED, BUT SHE JUST DIDN'T THINK A PITCHFORK WAS THAT PRECIOUS OF AN ITEM TO MOURN OVER! PLEASE STOP THIS MISTREATMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE SHE HAS RIGHTS TOO! LET'S SHOW SOME RESPECT HERE AND YOU WILL REPLACE THIS DOOR OR I WILL TAKE IT TO THE TOWN COUNCIL!"

[Game Master]

***The inquisition***


Kursaville seems to snap back into reality at the halflings words. The fire has left his eyes.

"Perhaps..Madam Zantel...I..am...sorry. I will respect my comrades wishes and leave you in peace. For the record. Do you or do you not have some kind of information concerning Nilla's disappearance?" It was obvious to all that Kursaville was straining against his own mind to be civil.

"No. I. do. not." Zantel spoke clear and with force.

"Very well then. Pray we do not discover otherwise." With that the knight stalked off with the others in tow. Heading back toward the castle in hopes of linking with the others Kursaville soon spoke over his shoulder to his fellows.

"I want to thank the both of you for keeping me from doing anything foolish. I..we...burn people like her where I'm from. I don't trust her and I never will. I commend your tactics Siff but Tull is right, we...I should not have bullied her so."

[homeskillet]

****The Inquisition****
" And the door?" Tull chimed in his advocacy.