[ 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]

"So you're saying Clara is, perhaps, more running this operation than the Comtesse? That she runs the numbers and makes the orders and has decided this all her own." Malcolm sits back, raising a fist to his lips in thought. There's a lot going on in the background, enough that tonight there should be an interesting amount to sort through with everyone else's details.

[comtessedevelony]

"The Comtesse manages payroll and overall funds, what 'department' gets how much coin for the work they do. Clara handles the books afterward and it'd be easy for her to nudge numbers around to suit herself. Each head's supposed to do their own ordering- and for the most part? They do. Save with the hogs. We got nine. We've had nine for three months now. Much sausage as we made? Either there's more we haven't seen or we've been eating and selling deer meat." No fool is Amelie. "I figure that's why the Butcher won't tell us what it is. Loup hunts it and brings it in early, she doesn't have to kill her hogs, we spice it up fine and the nobles don't know they're eating peasant sausage."

[tactical_alert]

A very bright and observant girl is she indeed. It's...a less dramatic explanation for Loup going off and Gabriella being stingy about letting the cooks know what's what, but a possibility for certain. (One he'd prefer to be true, at this rate.)

"If anything of note or import happens these few days we'll be here, I'd like for you to get hold of me. If the others of my group come asking, don't leave anything out. Otherwise, act as normal. You've been very helpful and frightfully observant, Amelie."

[comtessedevelony]

"If my sister spent less time fretting and more time paying attention? She'd have more to tell you than Miss Ignatia being a witch." Amelie sighs, but sisters are sisters. "Juggling the girls and the nobles must boil her brain like an egg I suppose. She tries."

It isn't easy managing so many opinionated women. "I hear anything else I'll send for you right quick. Might send Winnie to meet you, specially if it's around bathing time."

From behind them the Vashoth maid waves and winks. "I think she likes you."