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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Lukas, Merelda and Ozzy answer a call from their friend Tobias Mistmantle in Duskwood. He's been trying to find out what has happened to his brother Stalvan after he was walled in Gilneas. ~5300 words. |
| Rating: | M for Mature 17+ |
Arc: Gravehowl Pack
Merelda Veyne, Lukas Rhenardt, and a cat named Oslynn Boles meet in front of a house in Darkshire.
Merelda nods at Lord Graves. "Good afternoon. I believe this was the house Mistmantle asked us to come to."
Oslynn slams her head into Rhenardt's hip.
Rhenardt grunts but holds his ground. He glances down at Ozzy and takes one of her ears to tug at it roughly. "Oslynn."
Oslynn purrs at Rhenardt.
Rhenardt nods to Merelda.
Merelda looks down at the wild catte. "I suppose that form is unlikely to startle the populace. They're still a bit wary of the worgen form."
Oslynn lies down.
[Rhenardt]: I'd hope they're learning by now. Our people have been working here for some months.
Rhenardt 's normal speaking voice is kind of a growl, but he sounds slightly growlier at that.
[Oslynn]: Oi'm just a little kitty, oi am. *She blinks big catte eyes.*
[Merelda]: Some months, yes, but I believe the ferals have been at them for years. *Merelda quirks a smile at Ozzy.*
Oslynn is not little.
Oslynn is as tall as Rhenardt, when seated.
Rhenardt glances down at Ozzy with a stony look that could be amusement or could be pretty much anything else, honestly.
Oslynn purrs at Rhenardt.
Merelda goes up to knock at the door. A familiar figure from Gilneas, Tobias Mistmantle, answers the door and smiles when he sees the Gravehowls.
[Oslynn]: Tobias!!!
Oslynn runs in and slams her head into him as well.
Tobias Mistmantle says: Friends! And… is that Os… oh! *Tobias, in human form, reaches down to pet her*
[Oslynn]: Reckon you don't remember me; it's Ozzy!
[Rhenardt]: Hard to forget our Oslynn.
Tobias Mistmantle says: You look very feline today, yes. *Tobias grins* I can still smell you, though.
[Oslynn]: Loike yer coat. Fancy!
Oslynn sniffs Tobias Mistmantle.
He smells just like he used to. At least, after the worgening anyway.
Oslynn purrs at Tobias Mistmantle.
Tobias Mistmantle says: I’m glad you could make it. I know we haven’t had much time to speak recently, but it’s good to know Gravehowl still has my back.
[Oslynn]: 'Course!
Rhenardt nods curtly.
[Rhenardt]: What business have you got for us, Mistmantle?
Tobias Mistmantle says: And ah, straight to business, is it? I'm here because I received a letter from my brother Stalvan, who I haven't seen in years. On arriving here, I was told he was dead…
[Oslynn]: I've go' a dead sister. That's rough.
Tobias nods sympathetically at Oslynn.
[Merelda]: The letter… it was postmarked before? Or…?
Rhenardt glowers. Or maybe that's just his face.
Tobias Mistmantle says: I'm not sure if it was just before, or… well, we do know there is magic in the world.
[Oslynn]: So maybe 'e's awroight?
Tobias Mistmantle says: I'm not sure. It's hard to piece things together, because the entire town refuses to offer any further explanation. Any mention of his name is met with terror and suspicion. As if we didn't have enough of that ourselves!
Oslynn is no less intelligible in cat form than… in any other form.
[Oslynn]: So wot can we do to 'elp?
Oslynn pricks her ears forward.
Tobias Mistmantle says: I'm trying to keep balanced, but I'm afraid of what will happen if my frustration and anger grows any further.
[Oslynn]: Oi get it, oi do.
Tobias Mistmantle says: I beg you, help me get to the bottom of this. Implore Clerk Daltry for any information he may have on my brother. Maybe he will listen to the three of you where he would not listen to me.
[Oslynn]: Implooore. Got it.
Tobias Mistmantle says: I'm afraid they heard my surname and simply… backed away.
Oslynn whispers to Rhenardt, audibly, "What's implore?"
[Rhenardt]: … keep your frustration in check, meanwhile. We don't need more fright and suspicion. *To Ozzy, he adds quietly,* Beg.
[Oslynn]: Oh good, I was worried it might mean loike, rough 'im up.
[Rhenardt]: We're not to rough anyone up, no.
Oslynn nods at Rhenardt.
Tobias Mistmantle says: Yes, no roughing up. They're looking at me suspicious enough as it is.
[Oslynn]: Not really in the mood fer tha' today.
Oslynn has all the body language of a happy, playful cat: ears pricked, very tip of tail gently twitching.
[Merelda]: And we needn't beg, I think. I've done considerable work here with S.I. Thorne, so we should be answered if we merely ask.
[Rhenardt]: We need to quell any public suspicion in the town while we can.
[Oslynn]: Should I be 'uman-loike?
[Merelda]: Oh, perhaps? They likely take you for kaldorei.
[Oslynn]: I don't remember wot I'm wearin'.
Merelda glances at Lord Graves. His call.
[Rhenardt]: They won't be suspicious of a kaldorei, though, either. One hopes.
Oslynn turns into a human.
[Oslynn]: Do I look awroight?
Oslynn brushes off her leathers.
Rhenardt blinks, faintly startled. He may have forgotten what person-Ozzy looks like.
Merelda smiles as the young human woman comes into view. "It's good to do that now and again, so you don't forget the form."
[Rhenardt]: Aye.
[Oslynn]: Feels weird…
[Merelda]: You look well and presentable for the matter at hand.
Oslynn beams!
[Rhenardt]: Just hang on to it until we're done talking with the man.
Oslynn nods at Rhenardt.
They enter the City Hall.
[Rhenardt]: Sir. We're looking for Clerk Daltry.
Clerk Daltry says: Then you're lucky. You've found him.
Oslynn keeps her mouth shut and stands there looking aggressively normal.
Clerk Daltry says: What can I help you with?
[Rhenardt]: We've been asked to look into… the Mistmantle business.
Clerk Daltry says: Ah. You want to know about Stalvan…
[Rhenardt]: Aye.
[Merelda]: So you have information on the matter?
Clerk Daltry says: Well, it's complicated. You're not the first, you know. We get outsiders coming through asking about him every so often. Always outsiders. Everyone who lives here knows better.
Oslynn fidgets.
Clerk Daltry says: Even if I wanted to help, you're out of luck. I'm missing half the archives. Feral worgen broke into the town hall not a few nights ago and tore the place to shreds.
Oslynn gets a "WASN'T ME" look.
Rhenardt 's expression doesn't change. He doesn't look like a guy who keeps a lot of facial expressions on hand. "Really? Odd thing for ferals to do."
[Merelda]: Feral worgen again? *Merelda growls* It was just the other day we were clearing those out.
Clerk Daltry says: Odd, yeah. But who can tell what motivates creatures like that?
[Oslynn]: Wot they want with a town 'all anyway? Did they eat the people or somefin'?
Oslynn has failed at appearing normal. Shocking.
Oslynn tried, for at least five minutes.
Clerk Daltry says: They bite people sometimes, kill them other times. The ferals here are vicious… *Daltry peers at the three of them.*
[Oslynn]: We're feral 'unters! Um, feral-'unters, with an 'yphen, loike.
Clerk Daltry says: Regardless of the reason, the documents you'll want are probably strewn all across Brightwood Grove by now, deep in the woods to the west. Not worth it if you ask me.
[Rhenardt]: We didn't. But thank you for the information.
[Merelda]: Yes, we hunt ferals. And I expect we can find these documents.
They head out for Brightwood Grove.
[Oslynn]: Did I do okay??
[Rhenardt]: You did fine, Oslynn. Aye.
[Merelda]: On that note, Ozzy, has Thorne spoken with you about her team?
[Oslynn]: Well, not directly-loike.
[Oslynn]: But Lord Master Tyrrell sir did.
[Rhenardt]: … Lord Master Tyrrell?
[Oslynn]: Um… Zath?
[Merelda]: Oh, good. It seemed like it might be something suited to you. And yes, you did quite well.
Rhenardt waits until they're out of sight of the town before shifting.
[Oslynn]: 'E was me sister's commandin' orfiser, so now 'e thinks 'e's in charge of me.
[Rhenardt]: Does he.
[Merelda]: I am not sure Lord Master is a legal title. *Merelda grits her teeth and lets the transformation take over.*
Oslynn easily cattes.
[Rhenardt]: It is not.
[Oslynn]: Well I dunno wot to call 'im. Except maybe "Grumpy."
[Rhenardt]: That serves.
Oslynn giggles wildly.
[Merelda]: You're near family to me, Ozzy, so you might call him cousin.
[Oslynn]: Oh, I'll try tha'. Would love to see 'is face if I do.
They’re attacked by a feral worgen.
Rhenardt growls low in his throat at the sight of the feral.
Oslynn pounces!
Merelda strikes it with starlight and moonlight.
They approach what looks like a feral camp.
[Rhenardt]: Their camp reeks.
[Merelda]: I've no idea if he'd accept the name from you or not, but it would be interesting to try.
[Rhenardt]: Papers here.
[Merelda]: Hmm… what do they say?
[Rhenardt]: Letters. … signed by Mistmantle.
[Merelda]: Oh, then we're certainly on the right track.
[Merelda]: What do the letters say? Any hint as to where this Stalvan may have gone?
[Oslynn]: Oi en't read great.
[Oslynn]: Give me the 'ighlights.
[Rhenardt]: There's — hang on. He's writing to a headmaster….
Merelda tilts her wolfy head curiously.
[Rhenardt]: updating him on his journeys. Moving to a place called Moonbrook. He was commissioned to run a school there.
[Merelda]: Ah, then we might check in this Moonbrook. Anything else?
Rhenardt turns pages awkwardly with clawed hands.
Oslynn sniffs the letter.
[Rhenardt]: He — moved. Again. This is –
[Merelda]: Oh? Where to?
[Oslynn]: So 'e was a teacher?
[Merelda]: Sounds like it, yes.
Rhenardt 's lip curls. "He writes to a nobleman who's posted in search of a tutor. He says he's moved temporarily to Goldshire, as he was… 'forced to abandon' his post in Moonbrook."
[Oslynn]: Wonder wot 'appened.
[Rhenardt]: He doesn't say why, and offers no Moonbrook references, only his former headmaster.
[Oslynn]: Where's Moonbrook anyways?
[Rhenardt]: Westfall?
[Oslynn]: Okay, so maybe them bandits chased 'im out?
Rhenardt looks at Merelda for confirmation.
[Oslynn]: Westfall's the place with the bandits, roight?
[Rhenardt]: It is.
[Merelda]: Yes, it's in Westfall. And in a bit of ruin right now. It could have been bandits.
[Merelda]: May not be anything this Stalvan has done.
Rhenardt rumbles skeptically. He is indisposed to optimism.
[Merelda]: Let's take this back to the Clerk, and see if he can fill in the missing pieces?
They head back to town.
Merelda pauses outside of town to resume human form.
Oslynn curtsies before Clerk Daltry.
Merelda nods at Clerk Daltry.
Rhenardt nods to Clerk Daltry.
[Merelda]: We found some letters from Mistmantle, if these fill in your missing archives…
Clerk Daltry says: By the light… you actually went and got it? I'm shocked. I suppose I owe you thanks for returning it to the archives.
Oslynn mutters, "told you we was feral-'unters…"
Rhenardt nods again. He supposes so too.
[Merelda]: As far as we can tell, he was a tutor. Do you have any records as to where he went from there?
Clerk Daltry says: Like I said, our records are in a shambles. But if you're that serious about this, I'll help you. I know where the other documents must be. I'm just too terrified to do anything about it.
Rhenardt eyes Clerk Daltry up and down.
[Merelda]: Then let us. We're not terrified.
[Oslynn]: Aye.
[Oslynn]: Like steel, we are.
Clerk Daltry says: There's only a few places that those horrible Nightbane beasts gather when they're not prowling the forest. One of them's the Rotting Orchard to the south.
[Oslynn]: You don't pull punches when namin' places do ya?
Merelda chuckles.
[Oslynn]: Just call it loike it is. Fair enough.
Rhenardt continues to stare stonily at Daltry and definitely does not smile at Oslynn's remark. He's smiling on the inside though.
Clerk Daltry says: Well, a number of place names have changed in recent years. It wasn't the Rotting Orchard before the… well.. rot.
Clerk Daltry says: Anyway, the ferals there use the buildings there as their dens, so if they haven't just eaten the other documents, you might find one there… but you'll have to search their lairs thoroughly, I wager.
[Rhenardt]: Why would they… eat the documents?
Clerk Daltry says: How should I know? They're terrible beasts.
Merelda looks like she's about to say something, but she shakes her head. "I expect the documents are intact."
They head out for the Rotting Orchard.
[Oslynn]: I ate a document one toime.
[Rhenardt]: And?
Merelda laughs. "Of course you would do something like that Ozzy. But why?"
[Oslynn]: Not a thing I'd do twoice.
Rhenardt grunts.
[Oslynn]: I was 'ungry and needed to dispose of it… thought I'd be efficient.
[Oslynn]: But I wasn't even a worgen!!
[Merelda]: I would imagine the flavor leaves much to be desired.
[Rhenardt]: What sort of a document did you need to dispose of, Oslynn?
[Oslynn]: Love letter.
Merelda raises her eyebrows. "To you?"
[Oslynn]: Don't sound so surprised!!!
[Rhenardt]: No, naturally.
Merelda looks abashed. "My apologies, Ozzy. I simply didn't see you as the sort to go in for that sort of thing. Also you were quite young."
[Oslynn]: I 'ad a boyfriend before you lot found me.
Rhenardt looks stern.
[Oslynn]: Nigel. Malcolm's brother?
Merelda sobers. "Ah."
[Oslynn]: 'E was real romantic, Nigel was.
Rhenardt looks even sterner at mention of Malcolm.
[Oslynn]: No idea where 'e learned to wroite. Must've been one of the rebels taught 'im?
[Merelda]: And it sounds as though he made good use of the skill.
[Oslynn]: I wanted to keep it but me da would've tore it up anyway. Then tore HIM up.
Merelda looks at Ozzy with a flicker of pain. "Some things have improved for us since then, at least."
[Oslynn]: Just not my love loife, hahaha.
They head into a building.
Merelda spots some documents in a corner. "Oh, look!"
[Oslynn]: Oh, more papers?
[Rhenardt]: What do these say?
Oslynn sits and looks attentive.
Merelda picks them up and scans through. "Perhaps part of a journal. I believe it is Stalvan, discussing his pupils."
[Merelda]: He… oh dear. It appears he had an inappropriate crush on the female student, Tilloa.
Rhenardt flattens his ears.
[Oslynn]: Why inappropriate?
Oslynn doesn't get it…
[Rhenardt]: Because she was a child. And he had a responsibility.
[Merelda]: He was a teacher. One has to take that seriously.
[Oslynn]: Wot if the teacher's like, a real looker though? Tobias looks noice, maybe his bruvver was real handsome.
[Merelda]: If the girl had a crush on him, that's one thing. But the feeling should not be returned.
Oslynn tilts her head, clearly baffled.
[Oslynn]: Well I'd be sad for her if it wasn't.
[Merelda]: Because he's in a position of power over her. Or at least, authority. In any case, I've no idea if she had feelings for him. This is all on his side.
[Oslynn]: So authoritie's en't supposed to crush on … not-authorities?
[Merelda]: Also, he says she was set to be married the following year.
[Oslynn]: Oh, well that's not appropriate then.
Oslynn gets THAT much.
[Oslynn]: But it does take somefin' from your "just a child" reason, hm?
[Merelda]: Let's get this back.
The team heads back towards Darkshire.
[Oslynn]: People are real eager to call people children than en't.
[Merelda]: I don't know how young she was exactly. Or how young Stormwind nobles traditionally wed.
[Oslynn]: I've not been a child since I was loike… six.
[Merelda]: He says 'on the cusp of womanhood' which is quite a thing for a teacher to write of a student.
[Rhenardt]: And suggests she was not yet a grown woman, then.
[Oslynn]: Who decides who's grown, though?
[Merelda]: Well typically there's an age by which one is expected to have matured.
[Oslynn]: Oh? Wot age?
[Merelda]: Eighteen, perhaps? Though I expect actual maturation takes much longer for some. If they ever reach it at all.
[Oslynn]: You're talkin' about me, aren't ya.
[Oslynn]: I'll have you know I was livin' on me own a' thirteen.
[Oslynn]: You should remember!
[Rhenardt]: Eighteen by law. Though it can vary from kingdom to kingdom. And living on one's own doesn't make one an adult, Oslynn.
[Merelda]: Ozzy, you were doing quite well, all things considered. But you were a child. You deserved to be cared for.
[Rhenardt]: Aye.
Oslynn growls softly. Kitty growl.
[Oslynn]: Bossed, you mean.
[Merelda]: Protected.
[Rhenardt]: Sometimes you could stand some bossing. But aye, as Lady Merelda says.
Oslynn lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.
The team arrives at the Town Hall again.
[Merelda]: Clerk Daltry, we found parts of a journal. *She hands it over.*
Clerk Daltry says: This was all you found? That's bad news, I'm afraid…
Rhenardt tugs on one of Oslynn's ears again.
Oslynn belatedly remembers to be a person.
Clerk Daltry says: This isn't all of it… You should let it go. The only place left to look is Roland's Doom. That's the mine south of town, and the largest lair of worgen in Duskwood.
[Merelda]: I daresay we can handle a lair of worgen.
[Oslynn]: We go' this.
Clerk Daltry says: Are you sure? Nobody in Darkshire has ever made it back from that place alive. In fact, some of the records I have here imply that's where the monsters first came from… who knows what evil's lurking in there?
Clerk Daltry says: Please, just give it up. Let's just forget about this whole thing, and never speak of it again.
[Oslynn]: That en't really 'ow we do.
[Rhenardt]: We're willing to look into it. Why are you determined to keep us from doing so?
[Oslynn]: Good question.
Clerk Daltry says: You may not… like what you find. That's all I'll say. It isn't worth the risk.
[Merelda]: You should let us be the judge of that.
[Oslynn]: That's not really fer you to decide, yeah.
[Merelda]: We'll go and see what we find.
The team heads over towards Roland’s Doom.
[Oslynn]: So I'm loike, twenty-two now or maybe twenty-free. Does that count as grown, or am I one o' those who isn't grown until you say so?
[Rhenardt]: That counts as grown, Oslynn.
[Oslynn]: So anyone can crush on me who wants?
[Merelda]: Yes, even I admit you're an adult, Ozzy.
[Oslynn]: Not that anyone wants…
Rhenardt looks paternally suspicious.
[Oslynn]: Guess no one wants a girl who smells half cat half dog.
[Merelda]: If you would like to remain a ward of House Veyne, you're welcome to, but I assumed you would not want to keep that label past majority.
[Oslynn]: Oh no, I'm done with that ward business.
[Oslynn]: Like my freedom.
[Rhenardt]: You have a pack.
[Oslynn]: Aye. That's enough fer me.
[Merelda]: And if you're concerned… perhaps other worgen may find our scent un-distressing?
[Oslynn]: Well also there's my personality.
[Merelda]: I have found it grows on a person.
[Oslynn]: And I en't ever been that pretty.
[Rhenardt]: What's wrong with your personality? *Lukas growls.*
[Oslynn]: I dunno, you tell me!
[Merelda]: And I'm certain you could be quite pretty if you chose to be.
Oslynn makes a fart noise.
[Merelda]: Though cosmetics look rather odd on a worgen face.
[Oslynn]: Papers.
[Merelda]: Oh, yet more.
[Merelda]: Lord Graves, will you read these or shall I?
Rhenardt sniffs a nearby mound of dirt and growls uneasily.
Oslynn sits, tail tip tapping.
[Rhenardt]: Go on.
Rhenardt watches the dirt mound.
Merelda scans it, and the lines of disapproval deepen in her wolfy face.
[Merelda]: He seems to be fabricating emotion on her part, which does not seem to be there.
[Oslynn]: Wot's fabricatin'?
[Rhenardt]: Making up.
Merelda nods.
[Oslynn]: Ugh, hate when boys do tha'.
[Rhenardt]: The man was a seedy fantasist.
[Oslynn]: They used to do it to me sister all the time. She was real pretty.
[Oslynn]: She'd just punch 'em out though when they did.
[Merelda]: And then he met her intended, it seems.
[Oslynn]: 'E already knew she was meant to be married, why so surprised? Dumb.
[Merelda]: Oh goodness, he seems to have become quite angry. She introduced him as 'a nice old man, Uncle Stalvan'.
[Oslynn]: Ooooffff.
Oslynn cackles.
[Merelda]: There goes the fantasy.
[Oslynn]: Pretty clear she was NOT into 'im.
[Rhenardt]: No more than the truth, aye. Regardless of his heated imagining.
[Merelda]: Yes indeed, that confirms it.
[Oslynn]: Ooh, 'heated imagining,' I loike that. You're good at words.
[Merelda]: I can't imagine he kept that job much longer, after all that.
[Oslynn]: Yeah, bet 'e got punched by someone.
[Oslynn]: Probably the 'usband to be.
[Rhenardt]: I should hope not. And I wonder if he didn't get run out of Moonbrook for the same.
[Merelda]: A pattern of behavior…
[Rhenardt]: A predator. An unnatural one.
[Oslynn]: If I got angry every time someone wasn't hot for me…. *She laughs wildly.*
[Oslynn]: You just gotta like… move on.
[Merelda]: Yes, it would make my life considerably more angry as well. *Merelda glances briefly at Lukas*
[Oslynn]: It's no fun if the other person doesn't want me, anyway.
[Oslynn]: No love letters.
Rhenardt actually smiles faintly at Merelda.
[Oslynn]: It's so much better to wait for someone who'll be all googly-eyed and stuff.
[Merelda]: Yes, I think that's for the best.
[Oslynn]: Wonder if 'e ever found someone…
The team arrives back at the Town Hall in Darkshire.
Oslynn turns into a person.
Merelda does too.
[Merelda]: Clerk Daltry, we found more of the journal, at least.
Clerk Daltry says: You actually went and got it?! I don't know whether to call you brave or insane. But once again, my archives thank you.
[Merelda]: We accept your gratitude. But then, we still don't know what became of him.
Clerk Daltry says: Well, you've recovered everything. Everything except the last page…
[Oslynn]: It en't been that 'ard so far. Bet we can do more.
Merelda sighs. "Which ferals have taken this page?"
Clerk Daltry says: …the last page, which I've got right here.
[Oslynn]: …
Rhenardt growls, which is extremely startling coming from the grizzled blond gentleman standing here.
Clerk Daltry says: Don't look at me like that. You'll understand when you read it. Some even say it's cursed, you know. In fact, I was relieved when the worgen broke in and made off with these!
Clerk Daltry says: Take it. Take all of it, in fact. I thank you for recovering my archives, but I don't want anything to do with this ever again. Please, just leave me be.
[Oslynn]: Wow, you're a brave one.
Clerk Daltry hands back all the letters, journals, and the final page.
Oslynn shakes her head and walks out.
[Rhenardt]: How bad can it be, you sniveling… *Lukas bites off whatever he was going to say and grinds his teeth. He turns on his heel.*
[Oslynn]: I see why he's a clerk.
[Oslynn]: But I bet he gets all quivery worryin' about papercuts.
Merelda sighs again. "And not a feral hunter indeed. Here, shall we see what this 'cursed page' says?"
[Oslynn]: Gotta say I'm curious.
Merelda reads through it. "He claims she was mocking him. That she was pretending love, but only to hurt him. Oh… 'the blood I shall spill pales in comparison to the tears I have shed…'"
[Oslynn]: The WOT now?
[Merelda]: He… attacked Tilloa? Perhaps her fiance as well?
[Oslynn]: Okay, THAT ain't roight.
[Merelda]: Yes, this is not what I hoped to find. But we should tell Tobias.
Rhenardt growls again. "First of all, the man was monstrous. Second of all, Daltry is still a quivering, squeamish old woman."
No offense to old women.
Oslynn nods in emphatic agreement.
[Merelda]: Both of those things are true, certainly.
[Oslynn]: I know a' least one old woman who's way braver than tha' whiny pup.
Merelda nods. "I've known many. My own mother, for instance."
The team arrives at Tobias Mistmantle’s house.
[Oslynn]: Hey Tobias.
Tobias Mistmantle says: Yes? Have you found something?
[Oslynn]: Um, turns out yer brother was kind of a [really really bad word no lady should say].
Tobias blinks at the expletive.
Rhenardt also blinks but does not remark on it. She's correct.
[Merelda]: He formed an inappropriate romantic inclination towards a student, and then seems to have attacked her when she did not return the sentiment.
[Oslynn]: Murdered, probably.
[Rhenardt]: He was driven out of a former teaching post, as well. It seems likely there was a pattern of predatory behavior.
[Oslynn]: She was promised to someone else, too, the whole time!
Tobias Mistmantle says: Oh, no. Stalvan did that?
[Oslynn]: Yeah. Sorry, mate.
Tobias shakes his head sadly.
[Oslynn]: I got some @#$%y family too.
Tobias Mistmantle says: I can't thank you enough… I had hoped for this to be a joyous reunion, but the more I learn, the less glad I am to have asked.
Tobias Mistmantle says: It seems we can commiserate there now, Oslynn.
Oslynn gently pats Tobias Mistmantle.
Oslynn turns back into a cat and bumps her head against him.
Tobias Mistmantle says: But what happened in the end? And was it really him who did all these things? What if it's a case of mistaken identity?
Tobias Mistmantle says: I know my brother was strong-willed, but such vileness… such sickness and violent, bloody evil…
Tobias brings a hand to his face, averting his gaze.
[Oslynn]: Yeah. Me da was loike that. It's rough, 'cause you love 'em anyway.
Oslynn bumps her head against him gently.
Tobias Mistmantle says: I do, heaven help me, but I do still love my brother. I must have answers. I need to know how I got that letter. I need to know if Stalvan really did this. I need to know why…
Oslynn just leans her head against him now.
[Merelda]: I think we've found what answers there are.
Rhenardt looks disapproving. Or maybe that's just his face.
Tobias nestles his hand in Oslynn's fur.
Oslynn purrs soothingly.
Tobias Mistmantle says: I have an idea. Here, take my ring. Bring it to Madame Eva. That woman is a follower of old arts and makes no secret of it… call it madness, but I'll try anything at this point.
[Oslynn]: If it'll help you.
Rhenardt reaches out to take the ring.
Tobias hands it over.
Rhenardt leaves without another word.
The team heads to the inn to talk to Madame Eva.
[Oslynn]: Poor bloke. Me 'eart's breakin' for 'im. I know wot it's loike, you know?
Merelda nods. "It's hard to realize the people we love… are not as we would hope them to be."
[Oslynn]: Sometimes family's all you got, even if they's [badword]s.
[Oslynn]: Glad I got better now.
[Merelda]: As am I.
[Oslynn]: Maybe he'll find better fam'ly too.
Oslynn persons.
[Rhenardt]: Madame Eva?
Madame Eva says: What dark whispers guide you to my door, worgen?
Merelda blinks. "I… suppose you can tell."
Rhenardt offers out the ring. "Tobias Mistmantle sent us with this, to see whether you could divine anything of his brother's fate."
Madame Eva says: How interesting. It's been quite a while since I've seen such a ring…
Madame Eva examines the ring.
Madame Eva says: I'm afraid I cannot give Tobias the answers he seeks. But I can help you find the only person who can…
Merelda raises an eyebrow.
Madame Eva says: Stalvan Mistmantle.
[Rhenardt]: … come again?
[Merelda]: Do you know where he is, then?
[Oslynn]: 'E en't dead?
Madame Eva says: Oh, he is very much dead.
[Oslynn]: Good.
Rhenardt glowers.
Madame Eva says: Take the ring into the woods to the east, to Manor Mistmantle, where Stalvan's body was buried. Enter, and hold the ring before you. Let the waning moon pour its light through the ring, and the spirits will answer your call.
[Oslynn]: Oooh, necromancy.
Madame Eva says: …of a sort.
Madame Eva says: But if you do this, take heed. The questions of the living can offer more comfort than the answers of the dead.
[Oslynn]: No one 'ere's expectin' comfort, ma'am.
[Oslynn]: We're grownups.
[Rhenardt]: Legally.
Oslynn giggles at Rhenardt.
[Merelda]: We simply want the truth.
Madame Eva smiles. "May you find what you're looking for."
The team heads towards Manor Mistmantle.
[Merelda]: Oslynn, I'm not sure if you remember my girlfriend, Alina?
[Oslynn]: Little bit.
[Oslynn]: Why?
[Merelda]: Ah, she lived. Through the invasion, I mean. But she was not waiting googly-eyed.
[Oslynn]: Well @#$^%.
[Oslynn]: Her loss.
[Oslynn]: Sometimes I wish I loiked girls. Seems easier.
[Rhenardt]: 'Googly-eyed' sounds alarming.
[Merelda]: Just to say, I am… also not immune to rejection. But we move on, like you said.
Merelda smiles apologetically at Lord Graves.
Oslynn bumps her head against Merelda.
Merelda pats her gently.
[Oslynn]: Men are the worst but they're just so — I dunno.
Oslynn sighs.
Rhenardt has no comment.
[Merelda]: We can't help what we like.
[Oslynn]: Yeah.
[Rhenardt]: We ought to, if we are something like Stalvan Mistmantle.
[Oslynn]: Sorry 'bout your girl though. I 'fought you two was sweet.
[Oslynn]: Stalvan loiked trouble, is wot.
Merelda smiles a little sadly. "I did, too. But I'll be alright. And yes, what matters is what we do, and that's what we have control of."
[Merelda]: Let's give this necromancy a try.
Oslynn cackles maniacally at the situation.
[Oslynn]: Words I never 'fought I'd 'ear from you..
Stalvan Mistmantle says: My ring… Who holds my family ring… Tilloa, is that you?
Tobias Mistmantle says: Brother!
Stalvan Mistmantle says: Tobias…
Tobias Mistmantle says: Tell me it's not true, brother. Tell me you didn't die a murderer!
Oslynn gasps at Stalvan Mistmantle.
Stalvan Mistmantle says: It's all true, brother. Every word. You doubted it?
Tobias Mistmantle says: But why?! How could you?
Stalvan Mistmantle says: You know why!
Oslynn peers at Stalvan Mistmantle searchingly.
Stalvan Mistmantle says: Surely you've felt anger. Anger so foul and vicious that it makes you want to tear someone to shreds…
[Oslynn]: YEAH BUT WE DIDN'T.
Stalvan Mistmantle says: Aren't you feeling it right now?
[Oslynn]: STOP IT!!
[Merelda]: No! We only wanted answers.
Stalvan Mistmantle says: You see, brother… we're not so different…
Tobias Mistmantle says: No…
[Oslynn]: [BADWORD]!!!
We kill the undead form of Stalvan Mistmantle.
[Oslynn]: Toby…? you okay??
Oslynn nuzzles him.
[Rhenardt]: That's a lot of rot, Tobias.
Tobias Mistmantle says: Master Harris may have been right. I would have been better to leave the past behind.
[Oslynn]: No, you gotta face the truth sometimes. Even if it's 'ard.
Tobias slowly nods, tears in his eyes.
[Oslynn]: Just know you're better'n 'im by a LONG shot, awroight?
Oslynn nuzzles a tear from his cheek.
Tobias Mistmantle says: I’ll try to know that. It's not true, what he said. We are different. We have new lives now. Whether they're the lives of monsters or men is up to us.
[Rhenardt]: Aye. Just so.
[Oslynn]: 'Zacklly.
Rhenardt nods gruffly.
Merelda nods firmly. "And we'll not be monsters. None of us here."
Tobias Mistmantle says: My friends, I cannot thank you enough for your assistance, regardless of the outcome.
[Oslynn]: You'll be awroight. You done the roight thing.
[Oslynn]: 'E deserved to die, for murderin' tha' girl.
[Merelda]: Twice. *Merelda nods*
[Oslynn]: You done nothin' wrong.
Tobias Mistmantle says: I'll try to remember that.
We take our leave.
[Oslynn]: I sure learned a lo' today.
[Merelda]: It was certainly… a lot.
[Oslynn]: I guess it's not just poor folk get all messed up loike tha'.
[Merelda]: I expect it can happen to anyone.
[Rhenardt]: Aye.
[Merelda]: But we'll keep each other on the path, because we're a pack.
[Oslynn]: Yeah.
Rhenardt nods once, firmly.
Oslynn purrs like a kitten.
Rhenardt tugs at one of her ears and scratches her scruff.
Oslynn purrs louder.
Merelda leans in to rub Oslynn's shoulder. Double pets.
Oslynn is the happiest cat ever.