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Post by Diocles on Jun 8, 2021 0:27:11 GMT
"Just the one whose head I put at the foot of your bed!"
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Post by Storyteller on Jun 8, 2021 0:34:49 GMT
You find no wraiths or spirits, Kestal.
But when you reach the copse of trees that heralds the beginning of the woods, you do see a flesh and blood person.
"Hello?" The speaker is a young man, mostly Skenje, probably not quite twenty, and he says, "Is it true that you are traveling with someone named Eshaq? Someone who ... who says that Valius Mar was innocent?"
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Nobody
Alexios Group
Posts: 1,409
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Post by Nobody on Jun 8, 2021 1:37:00 GMT
I do not break stride, nor alter my demeanor. But I am fully alert. This is most strange. Who is this young man, and how did he get the idea that Valius Mar was innocent? For Eshaq certainly breathed no word of that to anyone but Magistrate Bibaculus.
Smiling easily at him, I say, "Greetings, friend. And who might you be? For we are indeed traveling with Eshaq, though he is not with us tonight. But this name you speak - Valius Mar? Alas, I know him not. Was he a friend of Eshaq's? For that fellow is widely traveled. Perhaps my companions know of whom you speak?"
Here I turn to my friends with genuine curiosity, waiting for them to respond.
As I do so, I think to both, "Take caution. For no word was spoken of this to any but the Magistrate. Shepherd, what can you make of him?
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Post by Diocles on Jun 8, 2021 1:41:50 GMT
I say nothing, letting cooler heads work with subtlety here. But I stand ready to strike if necessary, though I hold no weapon in my hand.
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Post by Sir Roland Desprez on Jun 8, 2021 1:50:04 GMT
I read his aura: 10, 9, 9, 9, 9, 8, 7, 6, 4, 2 - 9 - 7 successes
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Post by Storyteller on Jun 8, 2021 1:57:49 GMT
Silver and grey and blue all swirl about together, and he continues on, despite the bold staring of the Haruspex.
"Please, don't be angry. I ... I was talking to Ort, the Magistrate's bodyslave, last night after the party. He said his Dominus couldn't stop talking about how it wasn't really Valius' fault about the murder? I--I wanted to find out... Valius Mar and I ... we were ... we were planning to mate, and..."
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Post by Diocles on Jun 8, 2021 1:59:52 GMT
This admission cuts to my heart. Gruff warrior I may be on the outside, but my heart is not stone!
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Post by Sir Roland Desprez on Jun 8, 2021 2:08:29 GMT
(How far are we from town at this point?)
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Post by Diocles on Jun 8, 2021 2:10:36 GMT
(Fifteen minutes' walk)
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Post by Sir Roland Desprez on Jun 8, 2021 2:13:40 GMT
"And what is your name?"
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Post by Sir Roland Desprez on Jun 8, 2021 2:21:40 GMT
I project into the minds of my group "We must walk with him back to the execution site and verify his story with Valius Mar."
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Post by Storyteller on Jun 8, 2021 2:54:57 GMT
"My name is Vedius Tatian, and Valius and I--I mean Mar and I were thinking of ... this autumn, as soon as we could secure a female, and..."
His eyes well up with tears. "If he was innocent, then I'm the worst man alive! Because I ... I didn't believe him!"
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Nobody
Alexios Group
Posts: 1,409
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Post by Nobody on Jun 8, 2021 3:53:23 GMT
I shake my head sympathetically. Whatever strange tragedy has befallen this poor Valius Mar, it has surely bred many orphans, the saddest of which stands now before us.
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Post by Storyteller on Jun 8, 2021 4:26:54 GMT
"So is it true?" he asks. Since he is unaware of anything the Shepherd has said into your minds, he is waiting for some sort of reply...
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Post by Sir Roland Desprez on Jun 8, 2021 12:45:27 GMT
"I believe it to be true. Come, let's walk back to the city Tatian. As we go, tell us what you experienced."
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