[ 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

[tactical_alert]

"You think he's a Crow?" He's very, very rarely been around them enough to know that they bear a tattoo. Malcolm rubs at his chin in thought. "That complicates things further. If our people are dead, I would not normally suspect this staff, but if they've trained killers among them..."

That's thing one. He motions around the garden. "And I understand that they do enough work around here to feed themselves and do trade, but I cannot fully believe one woman kills enough pig to have enough bone to grind up enough for this entire garden, in such large barrels, and still have some to sell. Perhaps they do it on a monthly basis, but still...it seems like a lot, doesn't it?"

[circleprodigy]

Inessa crosses her arms and nods, frowning in thought. "That's quite a lot of ground bone, yes. I think I'll take Garahel over to the bone pit soon, see what he can find. If there's more to this, I suspect we'll find answers there. The butcher is reputed to be an unfriendly woman, but Comtesse as told her staff to cooperate. So, we'll see."

[tactical_alert]

"They seem to be only somewhat cooperating with one another, from the stories I've been hearing. It's a wonder she runs as tight a ship as she does." He sighs with a shake of his head. "We haven't been here that long, and I'm already starting to think we may be in over our head with this strange lot."

[circleprodigy]

"I agree. There is much more going on than we thought, and it demands investigation. I'll be most interested in comparing notes with the others tonight." Inessa pats Garahel's head absently, wondering where else to look aside from the bone pit. Perhaps they should have divided things up beforehand.