Local Boy Found Murdered -

Drathe · Post by **Drathe** » Thu May 29, 2003 4:23 am

The cuts to the face and bruising seem not to be the cause of death in Drathes mind. He stands back looking at the body, the voices of conscience and curiosity argue with each other, oblivouse to the wood workes own.

'What if somebody walks in and see you, what will they think?'
'What if you dont search the body properly because you are embarrased and a vital clue is missed!'
'What if the poor boys mother see you taking her dead sons clothes off?'
'You need to know how he died, no ifs no buts dont listen to him just get it over with!'
Again curiosity has the louder more perswasive voice.

Putting the candle down on the table next to the body, the carpenter walks back to the door and looks outside into the hallway for people. seeing none, he quietly closes the door and goes back to the body.
The shirt unbuttons with ease to start with, but the slight sheen of nervouse sweat on Drathe brow and fingers make the task a little more tircky towards the end. *search corps - spot hidden*

Grant Herion · Post by **Grant Herion** » Thu May 29, 2003 5:56 am

Grant nods to the elven woman and walks around the house looking for anything. He sees Cain talking to the old man and tries to read their mouth's, but fails to do so. Grant begins to search the house for the mother of Francis hopeing he will find her.

Hobbit Adventures · Post by **Hobbit Adventures** » Thu May 29, 2003 2:21 pm

With the shirt unbuttoned, Drathe notices immediately the wide purple and black marks encircling the lad's neck. More superficial cuts and brusing is found on the rest of his body as well.

At this point Drathe begins to hear the sound of people gathering in the entrance hall.

Grant finds Maybelle and Galadria outside at the rear of the house. Just as Maybelle and Galadria stand up, Helen approaches the two companions. "I really hate to ask, but could you two possibly go to the tavern in town and pick up some food. All the visitors are getting hungry and Maybelle's kitchen is practically empty." Maybelle has left the three and dissapeared into the house.

Sir Gannon · Post by **Sir Gannon** » Thu May 29, 2003 5:57 pm

"Now now Till there is nothing you could have done. If you had gone likely you would have been right down there with your brother. So it was a good thing your brother did making you stay. Always remember that about him. Now before I go is there anything else you can tell me. ANYTHING he might have said or taken with him. Anything he was wearing differently? Please Till its very important."

Gannon waits for the lad to speak again.

Drathe · Post by **Drathe** » Thu May 29, 2003 5:59 pm

looking over the corpse, Drathe inspects the purple marks on the neck, putting his own hand to the childs throat to see if his fingers would roughtly fit along the purple marks. Softly he speaks his thoughts to him self.
'Maybe..maybe a rope..sliped and retightend, tho there are no rope burns. Strangulation by hand is what caused the boys soul to flee its shell I think.'

Such a beautiful hue of purple he thinks as he leans back. Such a noble shade. Funny how life plays jests with us, for where is the nobiliy in being strangled to death. The carpenter is disturbed from his thoughts by noises in the hall outside the room. Wiping his hands from sweat on his trousers, he quickly sets about buttoning the boys shirt up. Running his hand over the childs chest after, to smooth any creases out. Putting the candle back whence it came, Drathe walks to the door, taking a relaxing breath he opens it and steps out side to see the source of the noises.

Hobbit Adventures · Post by **Hobbit Adventures** » Thu May 29, 2003 6:45 pm

Till purses his lips in thought at Gannon's question. "Last week Francis snuck out to meet Dinolas. They were going somewhere together, I think. He came back a few hours after midnight and wouldn't talk about where he went or what he did. That was who he was going to meet last time too. Dinolas Banobaladar is this half-elven boy who lives south of the swamps."

"He and Francis had began making friends with some rough kids." Francis looked down. "We hadn't played together weeks. He was busy with his new friends." The boy looked up, horrible sorrow in eyes so young. "I hope you find whoever did this." Till began rocking in the chair again.

****

Drathe steps back into the entrance hall just as a large group of halflings enter. Newly arrived children run past the woodworker down the hall to the kitchen looking for cousins they hadn't seen since the last funeral. Maybelle emerges from the hall and a gaggle of relatives surround her, consoling her. Helen also appears and Drathe overhears her telling one of the other halflings that she asked Grant to pick up some food at the tavern.

Drathe · Post by **Drathe** » Thu May 29, 2003 7:37 pm

Smiling politly at all who look at him, Drathe takes a step back to allow them to pass. Through the voices and looks the carpenter hears a halfing ladys talking of an erraned asked of Grant. Not liking the man, and trusting him as much as self proclaimed pricess hair is black. He decides it best to accompany the man. He sets of to the kitchen hoping to find Grant still there. Maybe taking stock of what food he was asked to purchase, tho more like rudly eating what food he could find.

Boremier · Post by **Boremier** » Thu May 29, 2003 9:53 pm

Boremier steps up into the room that Drathe has been searching. While the others were searching the house Boremier was looking elsewhere but unfortunately found nothing.

Greetings Drathe.

Boremier lowers his voice

Did you find anything?

Drathe · Post by **Drathe** » Fri May 30, 2003 1:36 am

Just as he is about to leave the hall, Drathe hears a familiar voice.
"Greetings Drathe" it says. On turning to look he sees Boremier almost right behind hind him. Altho startled the woodworker smiles as his friend. Boremier continues. "Did you find anything?"

'Nay Boremier I have found nothing, save the fact that the poor chid was strangled to death. I am sorry to be rude but I must go with haste to find Grant. You know what he is like, and I fear he has been wrongly trusted with an erand, tho in saying that maybe you would wish to join me.'
With that he walks to the kitchen not looking to see if Boremier follows him.

Grant Herion · Post by **Grant Herion** » Fri May 30, 2003 3:07 am

Grant decides he might find some clues at the Tavern, so he goes into the kitchen and gets a lists of foods, among them are meat, beer, cakes and flour. He is about to leave for the Tavern when he sees a man he once fought with, Drathe.

Hello Drathe, I am off to the tavern.

Drathe tells Grant he would like to come with him and Grant can tell the other man does not trust him at all.

Very well, come on Drathe, but lets make this quick.

The two men walk off rather briskly to the Tavern.

Hobbit Adventures · Post by **Hobbit Adventures** » Sat May 31, 2003 1:03 am

RECAP SO FAR

After hearing the tragic death of Francis Greely, many members of the community of Troll's Bane sent condolences to Maybelle Greely and family.

Six good-hearted soul arrived at the Greely manor prepared to help the family solve the horrific crime. The strange mix of characters includes Priestess Galadria, Sir Gannon, Drathe, Grant Herion, Cain Freemont, and Boremier.

Most ventured out on their own to speak with individuals at the wake.

Galadria spoke directly with Maybelle, though she only wondered where poor Francis' red cap was.

Cain spoke with old man Egill, who related the name of the Lyrenzia person assigned to the death as well as the current suspect, a vagabond from the deserted watchtower. The old man also told Cain that a halfling man found the boy early in the morning.

Interestingly enough, Drathe feels more comfortable speaking with the dead rather than the living. He enters the parlor and examines the boy's body. The cuts across his face are plainly visible and many believe stabbing was the cause of death. However, Drathe isn't squeamish about a little cold, clammy dead skin! He continues searching until he finds the blue and black bruises encircling the boy's neck.

Grant Herion picks up snippets of conversation, including the fact that the body was found at Archet Hill. He makes his way to the kitchen to find Maybelle, but is waylaid by Helen who asks him to run an errand to the tavern for food.

Sir Gannon hears about a younger brother from one of the guests and makes his way upstairs. After a moment of searching, Gannon finds the mourning boy, Till, rocking in a chair, clutching a blanket. Till relates that Francis snuck out of their room the night he was murdered. He was off to meet a boy named Dinolas Banobaladar. And had done so at least one time before. The two had been making friends with some rough kids, so Till thought.

Boremier also overhears some of the conversation in the sitting room, including the involvement of Lyrenzia and that the body was found at Archet Hill. As he makes his way into the hall, Drathe motions him over to exchange information.

The woodworker realizes the infamous Grant is nowhere to be seen and becomes concerned. In an uneventful meeting in the hall, Drathe and Grant meet. The two leave the house for the tavern to buy food for a reception after the funeral. Boremier watches the two walk out and decides whether or not he will follow.

Sir Gannon remains upstairs speaking with young Master Till, while Cain and Galadria remain speaking with guests.

Grant Herion · Post by **Grant Herion** » Sat May 31, 2003 1:30 am

Grant and Drathe arrive at the tavern. It is pretty much empty except for 1 dwarf who is on his 17th drink. The bartender looks bored and it having a drink.

"Hello there." Grant says to the Bartender.

"Hello." The Bartender replies. "What do you need?"

"Well, me and my friend here are on an errand, you see we were at the funeral gathering for the poor Greely child. They are low on some food and we have come to get some." Grant hands the Bartender a list of items, while the Bartender is getting the foods Grant asks him. "Do you know anything about Francis Greely's death? I am sure you hear a lot of talk about dark deeds in this tavern."

Boremier · Post by **Boremier** » Sat May 31, 2003 3:12 pm

Boremier waves to Grant and Drathe as they leave. Boremier then thinks to himself: "So the boy was strangled to death and dumped on archet hill. I wonder what Lyrenzia shall do"

Sir Gannon · Post by **Sir Gannon** » Sat May 31, 2003 5:09 pm

Gannon stands there thinking a moment then asks Till one last question.

" Ok Till you have helped me alot. One last thing. Where can I find this Dinolas. Maybe what he looks like? I think he might have some information. "

Gannon waits for Till to awnser hoping he knows.

Cain Freemont · Post by **Cain Freemont** » Sat May 31, 2003 7:00 pm

Cain chuckles to himself briefly as he thinks.

"I have one last question that I would like answered, then I shall be out of your hair. What is the name of the halfling who found young master Greely and where might I find him?"

Cain waits patiently for a response.

Drathe · Post by **Drathe** » Sat May 31, 2003 9:13 pm

The walk to the tavern was quiet. Nither man, Drathe or Grant wishing to talk to one another, the woodworker following at a slight pace behind the peacock strut of the self proclaimed price. Drathe bit his toung as a comment, its nature casted in the forge of hate, past lit and now rekindeld by the arrogant slince and walk of the snow haird man, restled with his lips to be free born to the air.

At last they reached the tavern, memory to many happyer night as well as times well forgotton if only for a short ale blighted time. Walking in behind Grant, the sickly sweet smell of years of sweat, stale beer and tobacco filled his lungs.

Drathe, seeing the bartender look at him with an all to familiar smile opens his mouth to greet him, but is verbaly cut up by Grant.
"Hello there." Buts in the snowy haird man. "Well, me and my friend here are on an errand..." continues Grant after the bartender replys to his greeting. Drathe does not listen, his annoyance with the prince already rising. 'ME and MY friend.' Drathe repeats in his mind with a cocky voice.

The carpenter walks a few steps out of arms length from the prince and looks around the tavern *Search tavern*

Hobbit Adventures · Post by **Hobbit Adventures** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 6:30 am

“He lives south of the swamps near the orchard.” Till continued telling Gannon the twists and turns to get to Dinolas’ home. “He’s tall, long pale hair”, the boy said. “I miss Fran.” The boy yawned and laid his head back. Exhaustion finally overtook the little Halfling.

*
The old man stuck his bottom lip out and looked up at the plaster ceiling with squinting eyes. Slowly he shook his head to Cain. “Nah, I don’t ‘member the Halfling’s name. Some hermit type that lives out in those parts, I think.”

*

In the fading light of the day, Drathe and Grant walked silently to the tavern. The place was packed with people. Human’s and dwarfs out numbered the rest, but there are a fair number of Elves and Halflings. Singing and dancing commenced in front of the fireplace. Two would be knights arm wrestled across one of the oblong wooden tables. Waves of laughter and shouts washed over the two as they enter. A gruff looking bartender was leaning on the polished bar.

“Hello, there.” Grant says.

The bartender gave Grant a once over, pausing briefly on his white mane, instantly disliking him. He grunted and looked at Grant. “What do want?” The big man pushed himself up off the bar, grabbed a flagon preparing to fill it.

After he is shown the list of food items, he looked over his shoulder and yelled. “Wynoah, take care of this,” and jerked his head over to Grant and his list. He headed to the back and grumbles over his shoulder, “And no, I don’t know anything about that.”

A teenaged girl approached the counter and slipped the list from Grant’s hand. With her ivory skin, raven hair and ruby lips, she looked a bit like a fairy tale. She yelled back to the cook the order and began to place loaves of bread in a basket.

One of the barmaid’s walked behind the bar with a try of discarded dishes and dumped them in the wash bucket. “Hey, Wy. Jonix Spinner came by. He wants to know if you’re going to sneak up in the library tonight. What should I tell him?”

The raven-haired Wynoah hands Grant the basket of bread and giggles. “We are going to fun,” she continued the conversation with the barmaid as if she didn’t care who hears. After filling the order with several meat pies, spicy potatoes, and loaves of bread, she collected the money from Grant.

Drathe took a stroll around the bar and found nothing. He spoke to a few patrons about the murder, but they all just talked about the shock of the crime. Theories of all sort started emerging until, Gaspy Gokks shouted that someone must have thought we was the last stray sheep. The tavern erupted in cruel laughter.
***
Back at Greely Manor, several stout hobbit men covered the boy’s body in fine white lace. They lifted and carry him solemnly down the hall, out the backdoor, down a winding path to the family crypt.

Directly behind the boy’s body, were Maybelle and Helen. Helen held a pewter candleholder with one hand, as did all the guests, and helped steady Maybelle with the other.

It seemed like a hundred flickering lights slowly cascading down the path. As a stream gurgles, the sound of stifled crying and sniffing could be heard from the family and friends. The closer relatives were to the boy, the louder they were, unable to suffocate their grieving. Water on rocks.

The remaining companions are given a candle each just as the last of the guests fall into the procession to the crypt.

Drathe · Post by **Drathe** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 8:20 pm

The people of the tavern offerd nothing more than the usual town wispers except for one, Gaspy Gokks. His shouted, disrespectful jest had gone down well with the taverners, whos crule laughter bit deep into the carpenter.
Drathe curled his hand up into a tight fist, controling his anger and made his way to the man, avoiding eye contact. The woodworker walked past, barging his shoulder into and continuing on past Gaspy.
With out looking back Drathe approached Grant watching him hand over some coinage to a maid.

She caught Drathes eye with her fairy tale beauty. The woodsman found it hard not to stare. Her ivory skin, raven hair and ruby lips seemed almost to demand his eyes caressed them. His thoughts turnd brifly from the matter at hand as he allowed his own fairy tale to unfold.
A chinking tankerd broke the spell. Drathes daze cleard and he looked to Grant then crossed his arms waiting for the man.

Grant Herion · Post by **Grant Herion** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 8:24 pm

Grant heard what Gaspy Gokks said and he fought the sudden urge to strike the man down like so many others he had... "No" his mind said to him "No more of killing." Grant shook off the urge and took the bag, casting one final look at the beautiful maid he nodded to Drathe and they began to go out the door.

Hobbit Adventures · Post by **Hobbit Adventures** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 2:19 pm

Drathe and Grant left the tavern without trouble. Quickly they make their way back to Greely Manor where the funeral walk had already began in the waning light of twilight.

Drathe · Post by **Drathe** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 3:44 pm

Drathe paused close to the front door of the Greely house. He watch the family and friends some blank faced some crying, take their place and follow along with the funeral walk. In the dusky light, the dancing flames of the many candles set glow to solum faces and reflected off tear stained cheeks with a beauty rarly seen.

He looked to Grant then to funeral possession, then to the door of the house. The carpenter pushed it open and steped into the hall. He paused and looked around. The house was now dark inside save for the glowing of a candle or two on tables or in the cracks of doors. Other than the kitchen Drathe felt uncomfortable in taking the liberty to go else where in the house. But he did not carry any of the food from the tavern and altho he felt he should, he was damned if he was going to help Grant stock away the purchaed goods.

Drathe walked up to the stairs and put a hand on the banister. The upper house looked dark and coupled with the feeling of not being invited to go up there, looked alittle menacing. Taking one of the candles from a small table in the hallway. Drathe made his way up the stairs of the house. Each creek of the wood benith is stepa another reminder that it was not his place to be snooping around. He reached the top of the stairs and looked around him. *search upstairs*

Hobbit Adventures · Post by **Hobbit Adventures** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 7:40 pm

Drathe, after a thorough search, you find nothing of importance upstairs.

Drathe · Post by **Drathe** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 9:02 pm

Feeling dissapointed at not finding anything important, tho not knowing why, after all what did he expect to find up there a murder weapon?
He made his way back down the stairs. Looking to his left at the parlor room, then to his right at the sitting room. Drathe turns and looks back to the kitchen, there he sees another door. Must be the dining room he guesses and walks over to it. Lifting the metal latch before pushing open the door, Drathe raises his candle, driving back the darkness and looks inside.

Grant Herion · Post by **Grant Herion** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 11:08 pm

Grant puts the groceries on the floor in the kitchen because he was clueless as to where they would go. He spies Drathe snooping around and decides he should also look around. He starts with the kitchen flipping over papers and glances at certain items. *Search Kitchen*

Hobbit Adventures · Post by **Hobbit Adventures** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 11:21 pm

Drathe, you find nothing in the dining room.

Grant, you find nothing in the kitchen.

((Sorry for the short post here guys! Will be posting tonight though!))

Grant Herion · Post by **Grant Herion** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 11:26 pm

Finding nothing important in the kitchen accept notes and memoirs Grant heads out of the kitchen. He sees Drathe in the dining room looking around, and he also sees the last of the candles going to the funeral. He feels he should go to the funeral, even though he never met the halfling and had infact tried to make all halflings slaves, he felt he shouldn't be in the house alone and should pay his respects to the child. He jogs lightly and catches up the halflings heading to bury Francis Greely.

Drathe · Post by **Drathe** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 11:52 pm

Looking around the dinning room, Drathe finds nothing of importance. He runs his hand over the dining room table, the wood smoothed with years of good use.
'A fine piece,' he mutters to himself as he notes craftmanship. Simple but not overly plain. He walks through the door pulling it too behind him.

Standing outside the door the carpenter is at a loss as to what to do, should he wait untill the lady of the house returns, after all it would be rude to just leave without saying good bye, but then again, would it be good manners for a stranger to await a lady in mourning uninvited to, in her own house. Drathe is jerked from his thoughts as hot candle wax drips on to his hand, the twich of pain sending some of the liquid wax spalttering over the floor.
Cursing softly, the woodworker crouches down placing the candle on the floor. He picks the candle wax from his hand cursing again, before tying to do the same with the wax on the floor. After a few minuites the wax splatters are nothing more than a few white shavings.

Taking up his candle he decides to wait in the sitting room, maybe Gannon, Cain or someone, anyone is in there to give him a reason to stay in the house.

Hobbit Adventures · Post by **Hobbit Adventures** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 3:39 am

The candle-lit faces of the crowd formed an arc around a priest who was shrouded in a flowing white robe. During the simple ceremony, prayers of passage and blessings were uttered in the boy’s name. All the companions, save Drathe who is in the sitting room, have moved down winding path and stand clustered together in the back of the group of mourners.

During the service, Maybelle, supported by Helen, lets out a wail of grief. “My baby, oh, my baby.” Grief-stricken, it takes two stout Halflings to hold the woman standing, for fear she’ll collapse on the ground.

A grey-haired Halfling, Uncle Chard, shakes his head sadly. Speaking quietly to those around him, “I was just telling him the story of the mermaids last week. I pretended I was the one that freed them.” Tears welled in his eyes, and quickly, he rubbed them with a moist hankie. “I never got a chance to tell him I was joking.” The old man’s voice pitched a bit higher before it cracked and he silently sobbed into his hands. Those standing by gathered close around him, patting him and whispering in his ear.

The craggy old Halfling that some of the companions will remember being escorted out of the sitting room, begins calling out for Maybelle to take him inside. The poor old man is senile and several guests urge him back into the house without her.

Boremier and Cain see a shadow moving just beyond the Greely Crypt. The dark form leans against a tree, as if watching the funeral from a distance.

[TAG – EVERYONE]

Sir Gannon · Post by **Sir Gannon** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 6:24 am

" Great it seems im off to the swamp then. " Gannon mummbles to himself. Gannon then makes his way downstairs and silently slips out the door unnoticed by anyone it seemed. Gannon then walked along the road to the orchard taking the twists and turns Till had told him about and arrived at Dinolas' house. Then looks around to see what kind of an area he is in.

Cain Freemont · Post by **Cain Freemont** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 7:43 am

Cain turns to Egill for a moment and says, "Please excuse me. Thank you for your time. I must go now."

Cain walks out the door and towards the Greely Crypt where he saw the dark figure. *Track Dark Figure*