[color=#636775][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Zh2V2au.png[/img][/center]

[sub][b]Present:[/b] Ashon’amar’loiyang [@Ti], Cal’tuuro’jaros [@Suicharte], Casii’fyret’alan [@Pirouette], 
Dorothea Hohnstein [@Jasbraq],  “Ismet’ych’lahiin’dichora” [@Force and Fury], Kaspar Elstrøm von Wentoft [@Wolfieh], 
Edyta Łaska, Manfred Hohenfelter, Qasem Laghmani [@Tackytaff]
Father Jacques Dubosque, Brother Baudile Dubosque, Constable Laura, Constable Stigenroth, Ines Baum, 
Viktor Strauss, the Highwaymen[/sub]

[hr][hr][center][h2][url=https://youtu.be/LIL8iqJyL-s]♫[/url][/h2][/center][hr][hr]

It had been five hours since investigations had begun regarding the attack on Constables Stigenroth and Laura. The rescue team was still searching for the former while also hunting down the beast, hopefully for good. The investigators, Qasem and Ashon, had conducted their interview with Laura and picked up a lead in the nearby farms, where the Yasoi was able to gain simple yet telling insight on what had culled the great majority of livestock in the town. And yet, despite coming on hard times, famine was not a big concern in the humble town of Mandelein.

The castle also held a great deal of mysteries both Sister Laska and Dorothea would come to find out. However, as dusk was looming ever closer and the staff began to make rounds within the many rooms of the castle, it was high time to leave with what they had found. On their way back, they’d come to notice that the Highwaymen had since been released, some hanging in the Tavern, including Cristophe, while some loitered at the exit of town, giving the stink eye any student they crossed. Annette was nowhere to be found.

In the midst of this dark day, Father Jacques Dubosque visited every family in Mandelein to hear  their grievances and provide comfort however he could. Every citizen hurriedly welcomed him out of the rain, as if they impatiently waited for his visit, and he was always greeted with embraces and laughter. Except, of course, when he met with Heinrich Stigenroth, Anna’s husband, who appeared more nervous than the average Mandelein inhabitant. Reluctant greetings turned into hostile shouting. The good father ended up leaving, distraught and with a potential widower unable to contain his anger as he punched the wall by the doorframe.

The priest painfully limped his way back to his church, hand grasping at his cane tightly, while denying sister Eberl’s assistance. He passed by the many closed commerces, all victims of growing panic for what was occurring. A déjà-vu they thought they were over with. For it had been a month since they’ve had the last human casualty.

Attempts to reach out to the people were met with avoidance and even hostility. From dismissive to resentful, the townsfolk were beginning to see the group of students as causes for this return to fear. Gossip quickly spread even as they rarely left their homes for the rainy exterior of Northern Kerremand. Some believed the presence of outsiders was the cause of the beast’s anger, others thought it more reasonable that the strangers were the ones that orchestrated this in order to justify their inquisition. Needless to say, the group’s return to the Inn would be met with leering and unwelcoming eyes without even a greeting from Ines. 

Night was quickly approaching, and the forest expedition group still hadn’t returned. In a land where the people were increasingly wary of providing the minimum of hospitality to our group, how were they going to handle this hurdle? How could they reunite with their own in such foreign land? Who could even help them in this time of need?

[hr]

[center][b][h2]Dawn of Assani 18th - 1:00 HS[/h2][/b]
[sub][color=#302c2c]3 Days Remain[/color][/sub][/center]
[hr][hr][center][h2][url=https://youtu.be/gE-pxZ5xaeU]♫[/url][/h2][/center][hr][hr]

Viktor withdrew his flintlock but his glare did not leave Ismette’s frame. Manfred was right, this was indeed a witch of the crazy-calibre. And yet, she seemed to be the one to get them out of the surreal mess with a red feather stuck to the Yasoi’s head as proof that the experience wasn’t just some fever dream. [color=36AE36]“Ich dachte, Sie meinten, sie wäre eine verrückte Ex-Freundin. (I thought you meant she was some crazy ex-girlfriend.)”[/color] he said as he turned to Manfred, fully uncloaked, [color=36AE36]“Verzeihung. Ich habe Sie als ein paar Kinder mit Kinderproblemen beurteilt. (Sorry. I judged you as just some kids with kid problems.)”[/color] he said as he offered his water canteen to the teen, [color=36AE36]“Aber ich sehe, du weißt, was du tust. (But I see you know what you’re doing.)”[/color] he nudged his chin toward Manfred’s rifle, [color=36AE36]“Du hast auch gekämpft? Du musst sehr jung gewesen sein. (You fought too? You must’ve been very young.)”[/color]

His brief exchange with Manfred then transitioned to him addressing the whole group, [color=36AE36]“If you haven’t noticed already,”[/color] he pointed at the sky, clearer than it ever was since they had arrived in Mandelein without a drop of rain to be found, [color=36AE36]“we’ve moved in time. I don’t know when, but the river will be a waypoint for us to return to town. I think it is time we regroup.”[/color] 

As they approached the river, they could begin to sense two distinct energy signatures beyond the massive flow of energy that was the river itself. On the other side, there was something crouched over another something on top of the rocks that composed the riverbank, [color=36AE36]“Was zum Teufel?”[/color] mumbled Viktor as he squinted, activating a light amount of arcane magic to magnify what he was seeing. Without hesitation, he drew his rifle and pointed it right at the being.

He took aim at what looked to be a beige, featureless mass. A good look thanks to the gift allowed one to notice it was actually a large, beige sheet covering a crouching figure over a naked corpse. Well, it was assumed to be a corpse until a chemical and kinetic draw confirmed the person to be very much alive, but the individual above them was definitely doing [i]something[/i] to their body.

Viktor grinned as he recognized the threat, [color=36AE36]“Da bist du ja. Endlich.”[/color] he whispered before addressing his colleagues, [color=36AE36]“Get ready. This is it. Do NOT let it escape.”[/color] there was little planning, and for good reason, as the discreet figure perked up and turned its head, revealing a bloodied mouth and a singular, brown eye looking at the group’s direction from under the bulky sheet of wool and leather. By the way it was covered, it seemed keen on having its entire body shielded with only its face barely peeking out. Its mouth, nose and eye were distinctly human too - no fur or scales - just pale and covered in congealed blood, [color=36AE36]“Go!”[/color] shouted Viktor, his body charged with energy as he leapt in the air to ready a shot. His first missed, but his second grazed the surprised entity.

This was the time for the group to strike. Although, as the cloaked, and somewhat short, being began to [i]very swiftly[/i] retreat into the woods, they could get a better look at the unconscious being left behind. It was Anna Stigenroth! Covered in stains of blood but … Unharmed? There were light bite marks around her shoulder, arm and neck, but most appeared to have been healed. 
[/color]


[hider=Action Opportunities]
Welcome to Chapter 4! After an extension, we will endeavour to stay on schedule this time around. Too many delays will result in little being done during the cycle.

Last cycle, the group sent to the forest met with some strange birds, and circumstances have led them to jump a day ahead (although they do not know when they are exactly). Because of this, those remaining in Mandelein will likely want to search for them. Going at night is suicide and pointless without an experienced guide like Viktor. It is important to note also of the growing animosity of the villagers toward the outsiders. Finding help might be difficult, and you might need to rely on your own skills.

[b]Opportunities:[/b]
-For the Forest group, you have a chance to take down what Viktor has identified as a target. It doesn’t look beastlike, but he did mention an ability to blend in. There is also Stigenroth, supposedly alive and unconscious, just lying there naked.
-For those in town, you can make up a group to go search for your peers. If so, there are very few people that will help you in town. Few, but not none. You also have the option to go on your own.
-There is a third big option that is about to emerge with the post that will immediately follow this one.
-You have all gathered many leads, and so you are also free to pursue other angles based on what you’ve found. Some of you might find more urgency in figuring out the secrets of Mandelein over rescuing your peers (if they even need any). I will be less hand-holdy with where you will go, as I think the gathered clues should provide ample opportunities. Things can also be discussed on Discord, I’m [b]always[/b] happy to answer questions.[/hider]