[ CLOSED ] WAR TABLE: INVESTIGATE COMTESSE DE VELONEY

[comtessedevelony]

WHO: Herian, Anders, Issana, Velanna, Pam, Malcolm
WHAT: A series of disappearances in the Orlesian countryside has culminated in the vanishment of some of the Inquisition's own scouts. A team has been sent to investigate the estate of one Comtesse Eléonore Vaillant de Veloney.
WHEN: Over the span of 4 days in the 2nd week of Harvestmere.
WHERE: Estate of Comtesse Eléonore Vaillant de Veloney
NOTES: Trauma, gore, dark themes, homicide, pretentious wine usage, other things not labeled as to avoid spoilers.

Welcome to the Estate

It is a terrible misfortune, all these disappearances- but with a civil war on and all this strange Venatori and Red Templar activity- with the rifts in the countryside? People simply not appearing where they ought is a sad reality. Nothing to be done for it. That such an esteemed noblewoman has found herself unjustly accused simply due to her wealth and prosperity? Cannot stand. Comtesse de Veloney invited the Inquisition herself to investigate her manor and put the matter to rest- they are to be afforded all the cooperation and respect imaginable.

Even the mages. Even the elves.

They are met at the gate by a veritable delegation of footmen led by the Gardener and Tanner to see them inside and out of the stormy, dreary weather. Packs are secreted off to rooms (a lovely set of suites in the east wing if the Steward does say so herself), baths drawn (The Comtesse insists, it's been just dreadful and they've come all this way), and a lavish banquet prepared.

Comments

CW: Sexual content

[comtessedevelony]

The third day of the Inquisition Agent's visit- the habits of the Estate Staff have settled into something closer to normalcy. They've become comfortable, become a little less vigilant.

That must be the only reason why when Anders comes round the corner he happens upon Edgar the Perfumer pinning Loupe the Tanner over one of his precious vats of tanning fluid- both their trousers in a tangle about their ankles as he absolutely rails him against the wall. Cries for the Maker are made, hands sliding under shirts, sweat and bitten skin and grumbling endearments of 'you savage' and 'you ponce' are bandied about as viciously as any of the arguments.

Only this time, with dicks.

[justice_is_blond]

...He's not going to find any cracks here. Well. He did find ass cracks. Which they're finding as well. Anders raises an eyebrow and leans against the building before clearing his throat.

"Have you considered having sex inside the buildings you so assiduously lock up? That might prevent people from walking in on your... discussions."

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Muffled against his arm, Loupe snarls- "Ne vous arrêtez putain-", reaching back to hold Edgar in place. Edgar, for his part, has the grace to look mortified.

Neither move to pull up their trousers, Edgar looks as though he'd very much like to do so. "You utter savage, let me go- we can finish this later in the wine cellar-"

"Non-" Low, gravely, petulant, Loup growls. "It reeks of lye and wood."

[justice_is_blond]

You something, he's pretty sure the one man just said. Anders looks away, taking a little mercy on them before frowning. Why would the wine cellar reek of lye? That doesn't make sense.

"Lye? Wood I understand, and it's a rather nice scent, but I don't follow the lye."

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"Ask Narcisse, that's his domain." Edgar tries- and manages- to wrench himself away and start doing up his smalls and trousers. Loupe remains bent over the vat for a long moment, grumbling before he reluctantly does the same.

[justice_is_blond]

"I'm not sure how much I want to ask Narcisse." It might be time to make a gamble, but he doesn't really think it's much of one. "He seems convinced Loupe there is a werewolf. Of course, I happened to travel for a time with one Jonas Cousland, and heard a story or three about them, and I'm fairly certain I'd know if I was standing near a werewolf."

Maybe this could expose the type of cracks he'd come looking for.

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"Again? Was he drinking?" Loupe grumbles, finishing his belt. Edgar does step around to shift the pelts on his shoulders and coat, straightening them out.

"He's always drunk, I have never seen him sober. Or anything other than dementedly cheerful." It's disconcerting. "Loupe is no werewolf. He is savage and wears furs and hunts an tan the hides- but he is no werewolf. Narcisse is just-"

"Jealous." Loupe replies, rolling out his shoulders. "Of the Comtesse giving me more attention than him. The wine, yes, that is well and good, but the perfumed gloves? That is where the real coin lies and she knows it. He knows it. And he is scrabbeling to be relevant."

[justice_is_blond]

"He seems rather... consistently sloshed. As well as obsessed with the Comtesse." Which means Loupe's words are fitting. But just because they're fitting doesn't mean they're true.

"He also seems rather harmless. I can't imagine him doing anything off with or around his wine. But someone else might, if they've access to the wine cellar. Does anyone, aside from him?"

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"Almost always drunk." Edgar verifies. "But harmless."

"Bullshit he is harmless. I am willing to wager he has laid the missing people at my feet, yes? How is that harmless, Edgar? How is that not trying to see me put in shackles?" Loupe whirls to shove Edgar by the shoulders, growling. "They would cart me off to their fortress and see me hung!"

"Not without proof-" Edgar rests his hands upon Loupe's shoulders, soothing. "And there is none. To answer your question, Valery, the Steward? Has keys to every room in the House. Including the Wine Cellar."

[justice_is_blond]

"We will act on nothing without proof," Anders assures Loupe. "There will be no framing here, no jumps. I've no deep faith in Chantry-based authority, but most of the people here have calm heads. We'll get to the root of this and only the guilty party needs fear anything."

It's something that he feels is very important, personally. "And I'll speak with Valery, thank you. If you think of anything else, please let me know."

Anders moves to take a step away, and then stops, lifting a hand to touch the kitten that's snoozing in the feathers on his shoulder. "And please, if you see her around without me, please don't hurt her. I was told small animals were... in some danger in places."

[comtessedevelony]

"The kitchens and the hedges closest to the woods. I got traps there for hares and thieves." Loupe mutters, crossing his arms. "I see her near there I'll try coaxing her away but best not let her wander about at night. There are-"

Edgar frowns, whacking Loupe's shoulder. "Shht!"

"Noises. Sometimes, when it's dark. Specially after storms like the one that came in the night you arrived. Not wolves since I have the hedges trapped against them but- noises." Loupe shrugs. "Makes people think I'm a werewolf. Nothing's missing and no one's hurt by them but- maybe it's relevant."

[justice_is_blond]

There are? Anders wagers Loupe wasn't about to say noises when Edgar cuts him off. Interesting. But not substantial yet, unfortunately, as much as Anders wishes it was. A little edge to pry at... later. Right now Edgar would likely interrupt.

"Noises after storms. Are they more frequent on moonless nights as well?" What travels more after a storm? He doesn't know. He's no woodsman. But he'll bring it up to the group and see what can be made of it. "Or are there... Forgive me. But I'm not truly accustomed to countryside like this. What sort of creatures tend to roam more after stormy weather?"

[comtessedevelony]

"Wolves, Bears and the like. Some mutter 'darkspawn' but there's been nothing blighted this far out. Wardens sorted that awhile ago before they all left." Before they fucked off to the Anders and took over the bloody country, really, but all it gets Anders is- well.

A narrow eye'd squint from Loupe and a sigh from Edgar.

"Nothing that'd cause people to go missing. You see a bear, you climb into a tree. Easy." Nothing here to make people just stop existing.

[justice_is_blond]

He meets the squint.

"I'd feel if there were Darkspawn nearby. They're not a problem here." Yes. He's a Grey Warden. Again. That sort of scrutiny isn't something he minds, really, because it means they're not frowning at him because of what he's done. Just the association.

"But thank you. I'll continue to look into matters. Including Narcisse, just in case."

[comtessedevelony]

"You might want to watch Roland in the mornings as well. He has the run of the garden and, well. He is..." Edgar makes a gesture to his cheek, drawing three fingers along his skin in a curve. "Antivan. The kind you mind in the dark."

Loupe shakes his head, chuffing a dry laugh. "He's retired. Mostly. When we don't get thieves or brigands trying to come in through the hedges."

[justice_is_blond]

"I know the sort." He's saved the sort. Twice. But not all antivan assassins are ones he likes meeting, and it could be useful to talk with the man. If nothing else, Roland will have another point of view. And Anders can push back any unfortunate name similarities as well - that memory is far enough in the past that he's not too bothered by it.

"Has that happened recently at all, thieves or brigands? Rather, when was the last time you can recall that happening?"

[comtessedevelony]

"We had a few up here last week, really. Band of five or so, hungry men from the next estate over. If they came and asked for help or if their master asked for assistance the Comtesse would lend it gladly- but we don't suffer thieves here." Loupe's hand falls to rest on the pommel of a dagger on his belt, an idle gesture. "So we give 'em to the Butcher to mind. Intimidating woman, no one tries to make her angry. I figure she sent 'em running the next morning."

[justice_is_blond]

Anders blinks. "Wait. Instead of simply sending them back empty-handed, you had them watched by someone but then don't know what happened to them?"

In an area where people vanish? That sounds either sloppy and irresponsible, or exceedingly suspicious. "You don't know for certain if they left after?"

[comtessedevelony]

"Look, you send them back they come again next month with better knives. Make them spend the night sleeping above those hogs?" Edgar shakes his head. "It'd scare a Dalish to the Maker. It's what she does, locks 'em up above the pigs and then lets them go in the morning. I sleep in, Loupe's out tracking, so we didn't see them. Clara or Valery might've."

[justice_is_blond]

"Clara or Valery. Thank you." If the men made it off the grounds, then all was well and good. But Anders wonders if they're just the latest vanishings in a long story, and if it's connected to the Butcher who had been kind to his cat. At least she's not a mage, just a cat person. There's a hierarchy to who he's predisposed to like.

"I'll see you both around later, I'm certain."