Sandy

Cronk approaches the weird-looking red armchair. He sniffs it, he pokes it and finally sits in it. A second later his party members see him flying in an arch across the parlour (luckily his armor protects him from the fall). Stunned by the sight, the party turns to the armchair. It is now moving and growling at them. They see that it has a face, and it is trying to talk to them. "I... can't... control... myself... Help!" The party realizes that the armchair couldn't be anyone else but High Conjurator Altair transformed. But the chair attacks them ferociously, so they have to fight back. PREPARE FOR BATTLE! Enemies: Altair the Armchair Type: Mechanic Level: 2 Health: 12/12 Special: Quick Nap – makes the target fall asleep, forcing it to missing its turn until woken up by a roll of 1, 2, 3 or 4, or until the effect is remedied. Drops: Grand Tonic Party: Althior Emorith (played by K-nut) Level 1 Mage Power: 4 Health: 5/5 Ether: 5/5 Gold: 5 Inventory: Dragoro (WP: 3) ,Topaz (Lightning), Potion, Bedroll Cronk (played by CorneliusMurdock) Level 1 Knight Power: 4 Health: 10/10 Gold: 0 Inventory: Longsword (WP: 3), Shield (SP: 2), Potion (2), Bedroll Signor Bacari (played by Capt.JohnPaul) Level 1 Ranger Power: 4 Health: 6/6 Gold:2 Inventory: Crossbow (WP: 3, poisoned), Potion, Bedroll Namyrra Uq (played by Quarryman) Level 1 Mage Power: 4 Health: 5/5 Ether: 5/5 Gold: 10 Inventory: Bone-staff (WP: 3), Amethyst (Darkness), Potion Nyx (played by Pandora) Level 6 Mage (Party Leader) Power: 10 Health: 10/10 Ether: 10/10 Gold: 17 Inventory: Dawnstar II (WP: 4), Ruby (Fire), Amethyst (Darkness), 2 Potions, Remedy, Tonic, Bedroll, 2 Bones Sylph Solanum (played by Dannylonglegs) Level 1 Cleric Power: 4 Health: 9/9 Ether: 5/5 Gold: 0 Inventory: Staff (WP: 3), Potion, Smoke Bomb, Remedy, Bedroll Party Leader, choose the order of action. All of you, choose your targets and the row you want to fight in. Also mention if you want to try to flee, heal or cast a magic spell, or if you want to use an item instead of attacking.

The farmer rolls his eyes. "No, you can't. That's why I emphasized there is only one set of ladders. Climbing into the trees without them would ruin the puzzle trees."

The host of each quest (aka. the Quest Master) hand-picks the players he or she wants out of everyone who have signed up for the quest. It's really up to the host to decide, but I think most hosts will aim for a well-balanced party of heroes. I noticed your avatar change, and updated the gallery in the Heroica Hall topic accordingly. Now if only it was avatar-sized too (100x100 pixels)...

Several questions still remained unanswered, but before any of the wizards could respond, the room went pitch black dark all of a sudden. There were a few frightened screams, and then everyone started calling out for each other. However, they all fell silent when an eerie purple light crept out of the fireplace. It produced several squirming tentacles of sparkling light. A booming voice echoed in the parlour. "CURSED BE THIS FAMILY! ETERNALLY DAMNED TO REPEAT THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST! PRIDE, HATE AND GREED WILL PREVAIL OVER LOVE, AND DEVOUR YOU ALL! AS POWERFUL AS YOU THINK YOU ARE, YOU ARE NOTHING BUT MY PAWNS! ONLY FURNITURE IN MY HOUSE!" A brilliant purple light shot out of the fireplace, temporarily blinding the heroes. When they regained sight, none of the wizards were anywhere to be seen. What will the party do next?

Old Mack Donauld showed the party the way to the Apple Orchard. "These are the last six of my beautiful apple trees, three to our left and three to our right. That damned dryad has withered the rest of them, and now she's after the remaining few. Remember, you have to catch her by climbing up the right tree before she withers four trees. She withers the tree she's hiding in and dashes into another each time you climb a wrong tree, so she could even be in a tree you already checked before. Go on now, catch that bitch for me!" The party started peering up the apple trees, but they could not see anything through the thick foliage. They would need to check each out one at a time, since there was only one set of ladders available.

Altair pointed at the female wizard in the pink hat. "The youngest person here would be my little sister over there. But she certainly isn't able to craft a masterful scheme like this. Talk to her and you'll find out why." The last wizard had a vacant smile on his face as Althior approached her. Althior could see that she was cross-eyed behind her orange glasses "Hello... Will you marry me...? Oh, probably not... Every man I've ever proposed has said no so far... Beth says I have to wait for a man to propose to me, but I'm tired of waiting... But of course I will answer your questions, nevertheless..." "I am Minor Occultess Chesterine Ziegfried, the only daughter of Archmagister Zed Ziegfried... One day I aspire to become Major Occultess... But my father has forbidden me to study magic anymore ever since... the incident..." "I saw grandmother for the last time in her bedroom, where I helped her braid her hair.... She loved to sleep with her hair tied in a braid..." "Grandmother loved me the most, she said so... She said I was so... innocent..." "That pendant...? It was her favorite pendant... She got it from her own mother... Back in Salmanda... I would love to visit Salmanda one day... Grandmother always told me stories of the sun reflecting from the golden domes..." Then Chesterine just stared at Althior with the vacant expression on her face. Altair nodded. "The head of the family is always the eldest member. After Zelda, my father is the oldest, and would thus become the patriarch of the Ziegfrieds." "I can remember many. Just the day before her disappearance, she forbade Chesterine from bringing a stray cat to the house. She liked to be in control like that. She even confiscated one of father's books just a few weeks ago." Altair shrugged. "My grandmother usually asked for Chesterine to help her get ready for bed, instead of the maid. She had a fondness over my disabled sister. Poor Chesterine is a living example of what happens when someone goes too far with the practice of magic... So Zelda would not be surprised to find her from her bedroom. And there are no magic seals guarding our rooms specifically, we've placed them all around the manor. We trust each other and our servants without a question, although now it seems to have been foolish." "Exiled? Oh no, nobody's been exiled! There are plenty of our relatives living elsewhere than in this manor, though. My father's cousin, Warlocker-in-Chief Fomalhaut, lives here in Eubric with his family, but the others are scattered around the world."

The guard hound is roused awake by Alexis' telepathic message. It notices that its precious bone is gone, and immediately starts barking like mad. "Grrr... BARK BARK BARK!!! <What is it? Where is Mr. Boney? Huh, strangers?! Alarm, alarm, intruders!!! And don't you try any mind tricks with me, Miss Ranger, I am fully loyal to my masters! Alarm alarm! Why isn't anyone coming? Oh well, I guess I have to take on you lot myself! My name is Rover, and nobody gets past me!>" The party has no other option but to fight the watchdog. PREPARE FOR BATTLE! Enemies: Rover Type: Beast Level: 4 Health: 14/14 Special: Intimidating Bark - Cuts the target's attack power by half for the duration of the next turn. Drops: Chain Whip (WP: 4, suitable for rogues) Party: Alexis Fenral (Masked Builder) Level 1 Ranger Power: 4 Health: 6/6 Gold: 5 Inventory: Longbow (WP: 3), Smoke Bomb, Potion, Venom Atramor Gibbin (played by CallMePieOrDie) Level 1 Rogue Power: 4 Health: 7/7 Gold: 0 Inventory: Sai-dagger (WP: 3), Venom, Potion, Shovel Eric (played by Khorne) Level 1 Barbarian Power: 4 Health: 8/8 Gold: 5 Inventory: Godricsleif (WP: 3), Potion, Mead, Bedroll Hybros (played by JimButcher) Level 1 Rogue Power: 4 Health: 7/7 Gold: 0 Inventory: Reaper Scythe (WP:3), Potion, Venom, Shovel Lord Lawrence Boomingham (played by Zepher) Level 1 Knight Power: 4 Health: 10/10 Gold: 5 Inventory: Longsword (WP: 3), Shield (SP: 2), Potion Rufindel Galadhras (played by Rufus) Level 6 Cleric (Party Leader) Power: 10 Health: 14/14 Ether: 10/10 Gold: 7 Inventory: Oaken Staff (WP:4), 2 Potions, Remedy, 2 Bones, Pickaxe, Tonic, Bedroll Party Leader, choose the order of action. All of you, choose your targets and the row you want to fight in. Also mention if you want to try to flee, heal or cast a magic spell, or if you want to use an item instead of attacking. Any enemy not targeted will get a Free Hit on the party after everyone have acted.

Sorry to leave you hanging, since it's been so fun questing with you for the entire day, but tomorrow's Monday, which means I have to go to work again. I have a morning shift, though, so I'll be back in about 14 hours to catch up with the quests.

Mabel giggles. "Oh no, nothing of the sort happened! It was just like any other day. I do worry about poor Zelda. I hope some miracle brings her back to us. She was like the mother I never had. Goldraum and Altair's mother had died before I married Goldraum, too, so Zelda has been the mother-figure for all of us."

With the trouble in the Pumpkin Patch settled, the group returned to Old Mack Donauld's farm. "So, you managed to save one field", the old farmer said. "There's still four more to go. Which one will you get your hands into next?" 1. Sheep Meadow ~ You must find the Direwolf hiding among the twelve sheep. Each time one of you catches a normal sheep, the Direwolf eats another sheep. If six sheep get eaten before the beast is captured, the field is ruined. 2. Corn Maze ~ You must navigate through the corn maze to find the possessed Scarecrow. If you return to the entrance two times before the monster is slain, the field is ruined. 3. Haystacks ~ You must search through nine haystacks to find three Battle Ants. The ants have also hidden three Fire Bombs into the haystacks that will go off if the stack is searched. The ants must be found before the three bombs, or the field is ruined. 4. Apple Orchard ~ You must find the Autumn Dryad hiding up in one six apple trees. Each time you climb the wrong tree, the dryad withers the tree she was hiding in and moves onto another. If the dryad withers four trees, the field is ruined. 5. Pumpkin Patch ~ SAVED!

Altair shakes his head. "This is a very unfortunate situation to our family, I wish you would not make such connotations. I do not want harm to befall on any of my family members, but all points to the direction that somebody is hiding something." "As for who argued the most with the Matriarch, I would have to say nobody. Grand Wizardine Zelda was not a person one could argue with. As a matriarch, her word was the law in our family." As Nyx approached the lady in the blue dress and hat, she could feel an unwelcoming aura radiating from her. "Hmpf! I do not understand what my husband was thinking, inviting you lot over. We Ziegfrieds have always solved our issues within the family, and that was the way even before I came to this house fifteen years ago. I'll let you know that I am General Sourceress Beth Ziegfried, wife of that wimp called Altair." "There was nothing unusual in the day before my grandmother-in-law's disappearance. The kids were playing around the mansion as usual, my husband was quarrelling with his brother like always, and Zed stuck to his study for the whole day. I remember doing some elementary channelling with Zelda and Mabel, but that is an ordinary household chore to us." "I do have to wonder why Altair chose those brutes to accompany you mages. It's enough that we have strangers here, but the presence of swords is just insulting. Did you expect to get into a battle in our home?" "Oh, tehehe! A Secondary Spiritist is responsible for upholding spiritual connections that are used by the Primary Spiritist, of course! And a Vice Warlocker acts as the right hand for the Warlocker-in-Chief in matters of magic law inforcement. But I don't think this information is of any interest to you, Cronkywonky. You are quite cute for an orc, did you know that?" "Ooh, Matriarch did not argue, ever. I remember my father-in-law once hinting he might know something better than her, and you won't believe what a treatment he got. Zed looked like he'd gotten a good spanking, the poor old man!" "I do love my family, of course! I grew up as a poor ranger's daughter in the woods of Moone, so living in this manor has been all I ever dreamed of."

~Note: Since Lego Pinocchio is taking a break currently, I'm choosing his actions for him until he gets back.~ Results of Round One of the Pumpkinface Battle: Sir Christopher Daggerfall vs. Pumpkinface A - Critical Hit Thrain Longbeard vs. Pumpkinface B - Hit >Bartholomew Docken vs. Pumpkinface B - Critical Hit Tesni Hightribe vs. Pumpkinface A - Hit Jess Islanti vs. Pumpkinface C - Critical Hit >Tomas vs Pumpkinface C - Spirit Guard The battle commences. Sir Christopher takes a swing at the first Pumpkinface, inflicting a critical hit that causes 7 damage. The dwarf hits the second Pumpkinface for 4 damage. Bartholomew, having gotten used to shooting pumpkins, plunges his arrow at the same Pumpkinface as Thrain did, causing 7 damage and bringing it down. Tesni defeats the first Pumpkinface with a sweep of her mighty blade. Jess Islanti strikes the remaining Pumpkinface for 7 damage. Infuriated, the Pumpkinface releases it's Laughing Gas at Tomas, but his Spirit Guard protects him from the effect. One Pumpkinface remains. Enemies: Pumpkinface C Type: Plant Level: 2 Health: 2/9 Special: Laughing Gas – Makes the target laugh uncontrollably, making it lose the next turn. Drops: 1 Tonic Party: Bartholomew Docken (played by Brickdoctor) Level 1 Ranger (Party Leader) Power: 4 Health: 6/6 Gold: 5 Inventory: Longbow (WP: 3), Smoke Bomb, Bedroll Sir Christopher Daggerfall (played by Fred Fred Burger) Level 1 Knight Power:4 Health:10/10 Gold:0 Inventory: Shining Greatsword (WP:3), Shield with Crown Emblem(SP:2), Bedroll, 2 Potions Jess Islanti (played by cralegoboy) Level 1 Rogue Power: 4 Health: 7/7 Gold: 5 Inventory: Longsword (WP: 3), 2 Venoms, Potion Tesni Hightribe (played by Peppermint_M) Level 1 Barbarian Power: 4 Health: 8/8 Gold: 10 Inventory: Cryfder (WP:3), Potion, Mead Thrain Longbeard (played by Lego Pinocchio) Level 1 Knight Power: 4 Health: 10/10 Gold: 10 Inventory: Dwarf Sword (WP: 3), Shield (SP: 2), Potion Tomas (played by Captain Tamamono) Level 1 Cleric Power: 4 Health: 9/9 Ether: 5/5 Gold: 5 Inventory: Gold Staff (WP: 3), Potion, Remedy, Bedroll Note: Since the remaining enemy is at such a low health and nobody needs healing, the second round will be played automatically. Results of Round Two of the Pumpkinface Battle: Sir Christopher Daggerfall vs. Pumpkinface C - Critical Hit Thrain Longbeard vs. Pumpkinface C - Damage >Bartholomew Docken vs. Pumpkinface C - Aim Tesni Hightribe vs. Pumpkinface C - Hit Jess Islanti vs. Pumpkinface C - Shield >Tomas vs Pumpkinface C - Critical Hit Sir Christopher ends the battle with one swift lunge of his sword, as it causes 7 damage to the remaining Pumpkinhead. THE BATTLE IS VICTORIOUS! THE FIELD IS SAVED! All party members gain a level of experience, so update your signatures accordingly. The enemies drop a total of 3 tonics. Party (after the battle): Bartholomew Docken (played by Brickdoctor) Level 2 Ranger (Party Leader) Power: 5 Health: 7/7 Gold: 5 Inventory: Longbow (WP: 3), Smoke Bomb, Bedroll Sir Christopher Daggerfall (played by Fred Fred Burger) Level 2 Knight Power:5 Health:11/11 Gold:0 Inventory: Shining Greatsword (WP:3), Shield with Crown Emblem(SP:2), Bedroll, 2 Potions, Tonic Jess Islanti (played by cralegoboy) Level 2 Rogue Power: 5 Health: 8/8 Gold: 5 Inventory: Longsword (WP: 3), 2 Venoms, Potion, Tonic Tesni Hightribe (played by Peppermint_M) Level 2 Barbarian Power: 5 Health: 9/9 Gold: 10 Inventory: Cryfder (WP:3), Potion, Mead Thrain Longbeard (played by Lego Pinocchio) Level 2 Knight Power: 5 Health: 11/11 Gold: 10 Inventory: Dwarf Sword (WP: 3), Shield (SP: 2), Potion Tomas (played by Captain Tamamono) Level 2 Cleric Power: 5 Health: 10/10 Ether: 6/6 Gold: 5 Inventory: Gold Staff (WP: 3), Potion, Remedy, Tonic, Bedroll Party Leader, how will the spoils of the battle be divided? 3 x Tonic (Restores 5 ether to the target.) ~The Party Leader will still have to choose their own target, so there really is no time saved by skipping the order of action input.~

The female wizard in tan outfit smiles at the ogre. "Hi there! I have to apologize for my husband's rudeness, he's just not a peoples person. I am Secondary Spiritist Mabel Ziegfried, and I wed to this family just about ten years ago. As for my grandmother-in-law's abilities, I know for certain she could both shapeshift and turn invisible, but why would she choose to do that the night she disappeared? And she has not leave the premises, or else there would have been traces in the magic seals. Where could she be, after seven days?" The party is not ready to leave the parlour just yet, since they haven't even talked to everyone. Altair makes a motion towards the fireplace. "The items on the fireplace are a piece of amber containing the remains of an extinct bug, a statue carved by the indigenous people of the Eversummer Island, and a lamp. I don't think there's anything related to this case in them, nor in my grandmother's chair. If I may give you a suggestion, you should be inquiring more about our backgrounds and motives rather than spending time investigating the items. Trust me, we have searched every nook and cranny of this manor in these past seven days, both physically and magically."

Altair shrugs. "A necklace, I suppose?" "I believe that chair is in her chambers. It is an impressive seat, I concur", Altair responds. Upon closer inspection, what Althior thought was a map was just a pattern on the tabletop.

The "bold choice" turns out to be a correct one, as Bartholomew sends a third arrow flying towards the second pumpkin from the right on the front row. Instead of squashing the pumpkin, the arrow gets stuck in it. The pumpkin starts shaking. As it turns, an evil grinning face is revealed. The Pumpkinface jumps up from the ground, but it is not alone. Two other Pumpkinheads follow it up. The party draws their weapons for the very first time. PREPARE FOR BATTLE! Enemies: Pumpkinface A Type: Plant Level: 2 Health: 9/9 Special: Laughing Gas – Makes the target laugh uncontrollably, making it lose the next turn. Drops: 1 Tonic Pumpkinface B Type: Plant Level: 2 Health: 9/9 Special: Laughing Gas – Makes the target laugh uncontrollably, making it lose the next turn. Drops: 1 Tonic Pumpkinface C Type: Plant Level: 2 Health: 9/9 Special: Laughing Gas – Makes the target laugh uncontrollably, making it lose the next turn. Drops: 1 Tonic Party: Bartholomew Docken (played by Brickdoctor) Level 1 Ranger (Party Leader) Power: 4 Health: 6/6 Gold: 5 Inventory: Longbow (WP: 3), Smoke Bomb, Bedroll Sir Christopher Daggerfall (played by Fred Fred Burger) Level 1 Knight Power:4 Health:10/10 Gold:0 Inventory: Shining Greatsword (WP:3), Shield with Crown Emblem(SP:2), Bedroll, 2 Potions Jess Islanti (played by cralegoboy) Level 1 Rogue Power: 4 Health: 7/7 Gold: 5 Inventory: Longsword (WP: 3), 2 Venoms, Potion Tesni Hightribe (played by Peppermint_M) Level 1 Barbarian Power: 4 Health: 8/8 Gold: 10 Inventory: Cryfder (WP:3), Potion, Mead Thrain Longbeard (played by Lego Pinocchio) Level 1 Knight Power: 4 Health: 10/10 Gold: 10 Inventory: Dwarf Sword (WP: 3), Shield (SP: 2), Potion Tomas (played by Captain Tamamono) Level 1 Cleric Power: 4 Health: 9/9 Ether: 5/5 Gold: 5 Inventory: Gold Staff (WP: 3), Potion, Remedy, Bedroll Party Leader, choose the order of action. All of you, choose your targets and the row you want to fight in. Also mention if you want to try to flee, heal or cast a magic spell, or if you want to use an item instead of attacking. Any enemy not targeted will get a Free Hit on the party after everyone have acted. Note that the battle may not last more than four rounds, or the field will be ruined.

Atramor got a Bone, which he can add to his inventory. Bone (Can be thrown at monsters to distract them for a turn. Worth nothing, except in magic shops where it’s worth 5 gold.) The dog is a large one, effectively blocking the party's way further into the warehouse unless they wake it up. The dog turns in its sleep, clawing the spot where the bone was just a moment ago, and whimpers. It doesn't take much to stir it from its sleep.

It looks like we'll be losing Catya soon, unless she votes in these few remaining hours. Here's to hoping she's scum, but I doubt the scum would let one of their own die so easily...

Goldraum is growing irritated at the orc. "Do you really think I know every spell my grandmother knew? She was the Grand Wizardine, after all, I'm just a Vice Warlocker. Not even a Warlocker-in-Chief! Sheesh!" Meanwhile, Schuester the Butler enters, carrying a large portrait. "Pppfffainnntnnnggg..." the butler mutters, and shows everyone the painting of Zelda Ziegfried. Altair Ziegfried blushes. "Oh, you didn't mean my clothes, then, but the items we have in the parlour? Our family insignia is the two-headed phoenix, you see, and all matters of cryptozoological creatures have always fascinated our family. We have just gathered most of the red ones to the parlour for interior designing reasons, but you'll see others if you take a tour in our manor."

Hybros carefully rolls the reels until they spell B-A-T, and then picks the keyhole. A satisfying click is heard, and the lock opens. Quietly, the party opens the door, and step into the dimly lit warehouse. But before they can advance another step, they spot a watchdog sleeping on the floor in front of the doors. The hound is chained to the wall, and there's a well-gnawed bone lying next to it. What will the party do now?

Altair smiles faintly. "What a coincidence you happened to ask that, since it is your reward that is sealed there. The chest contains one of each elemental gem, out of which you get to choose one from when you find my grandmother." The wizards all look at each other suspiciously. Altair coughs. "Ahem... This is exactly why I requested outside help. We have a multitude of protective spells weaved around this manor, so teleportation out of here is impossible. We also examined the seals, and we are certain they were not breached nor tampered with that night. Unfortunately that only leaves the possibility that at least one of us here is hiding something." Altair gets disgruntled looks from the other wizards. The purple-clad male wizard gave a look of distain to Cronk. "Oh. An orc. I thought there was a law that forbade your kind from carrying weapons..." "As far as I could tell from your unintelligible rambling, you want to know who I am. My name is Vice Warlocker Goldraum Ziegfried, and I have the misfortune to be that red-clad clown's brother. He must've listened in on the nanny's fairytales if he really thought calling Heroica would solve anything..." "I saw my grandmother for the last time when I ran into her in the first floor hallway after supper. She wished me good night, and retired to her chambers. The next morning, the maid alarmed us that she was gone." "As far as what spells she liked, I don't think there ever was a spell that did not fascinate her. Grandmother certainly wasn't a sleepwalker, she wouldn't let herself out of control like that."

The old farmer looked at the heroes. "I'm right here, you know? Don't have to talk about me as if I'm not present... Anyway, just make it clear which pumpkin you want to target next. The monster is not going to show itself if we just stand here."

The older man in the green hat nods at Nyx. "Good to see such a glamorous mage in this rescue party. I am Archmagistrum Zed Ziegfried, and our missing matriarch is my dear old mother. I am more than happy to answer any questions you have, although I honestly don't think you will be able to help us. But you are free to try of course! Who knows, I might be pleasantly surprised." The man lets out a bellowing laughter, but cuts it short. "I apologize, this is a serious matter, of course. My mother has now been missing for seven days, if I've counted correctly. She disappeared from her bedroom during the night, and we haven't been able to find a trace of her ever since. Her clothes are all still here, so it looks like she left in her night gown. My mother was wise beyond imagination, but she was also getting very old, and we all know what age can do to even the wisest of us." Altair Ziegfried raised his eyebrow at the multitude of questions. "Let's see if I can remember everything you asked me... I will certainly answer to the best of my ability." "I was the one who posted the plead for help because no one else would. You must excuse my family, but we tend to keep to ourselves. The rest of the city seems to think we are a bit strange, you see. I don't know why that is..." "I personally saw my grandmother for the last time at the supper on the day before she disappeared. Everything seemed normal at that time, and we did not discuss anything special, at least not as far as I remember." "I happen to like red, but they are not related to my position as High Conjurator. I am certainly not the leader of this family, my grandmother was, and now that she is missing, the duty falls to my father, the Archmagistrum. The ranks in the wizarding community are very complex, not something a novice mage like you could understand even if I explained it to you... Oh, I must apologize. I am being rude even though you are only trying to help us." "Dislike? Well, she was a very strict and precise woman, but I believe every one of us looked up to her. I imagine it must not have been easy for my wife and my brother's wife to come into our family, though..." "That is the strangest thing: there was no clues left behind. My father seems to believe she was dementic and just walked out of the manor, but all her belongings are exactly where they should be. Her bed was unmade when we found it empty, and all her clothes are still in place. None of the family members or the servants heard anything during the night. The front door was not opened, we have imbued it with magical seals to ensure that. She just seems to have vanished into thin air." "There is a painting of her in the hallway. I can get Schuester fetch it for you, but it will take some time." "Is that everything you want to ask from me?"

Bartholomew takes another arrow, and aims it to the pumpkin in the middle of the back row. *SQUASH* That pumpkin shatters as well. Five more pumpkins remain, and the party can only afford one mistake now.

I never said he should do it publicly.

Since the day will not end in a while still, I have a request to Donil: If you are truly a town like you say, please give out any information you can that you know of. It won't save you, of course, but it could help us track down the scum. And if you're scum, don't bother lying because tomorrow morning will reveal everything. I hope this isn't against the rules of life, since Donil is not technically dead yet.