[center][h2][color=b5a0d2][b]⚘[/b]   Steffen Gravinir   [b]⚘[/b][/color][/h2][/center][hr]
Scenes of mass fatalities weren't necessarily new to him, being a war veteran himself and having at least some experience with cleaning up grisly sight that would shaken the most hardened of observers. The shock factor of the mangled corpses, tangled together in blackened blobs, bloated and rotting in tropical weather of Thaln were relatively quick to dissipate. That was not the wrenching part that Steffen was afraid of. 

Seeing Lein and his allies examined the remains of what were strong and capable soldiers of the kingdom, to see what had turned such souls into something Steffen wouldn't wish upon his enemies, the Ingvarr searched what these soldiers had. Not just weapons, many of which thrust and remained firm in another's body, but also any belongings they might have had on them that survived the massacre. Flasks, to see if any of them might have been poisoned. Letters and correspondences, to see if there might have been foul play involved. Anything that could shine more light on the haunting mystery that befell an otherwise unremarkable fort. 

And that is when the feared emotions settled in, slowly and insidiously. Examining a body was just that: a body, lifeless just like many others. But examining their belongings was more personal and intimate, one that gave him windows to a life: what they might have liked in happier times, who their loved ones were, what their aspirations may have been. Compassion may not be of use here in an investigation, but it was impossible to feel detached from a victim when looking at a small woven doll soaked in the blood of its owner. 

The information retrieved was overshadowed by an overwhelming sense of sorrow, and Steffen quietly just stood up and padded elsewhere inside the fort. He noted the woman by the main group, but didn't bother joining. There were already too many prying for information from her, and given her mannerism thus far, he trusted the former mercenaries to do the talking. Now, he just needed a few minutes. 

Planting the spear onto the ground, his now two free hands crossed one another, but his palms grasped on his upper arms in a self-hug. He observed the bloody scene from a distance, as well as his knights and the strange blue-haired lady. She seemed to have a history with both Gerard and Fionn, but otherwise quite aloof to the questioning. Steffen didn't really expect faithful cooperation from her either. Maybe the friendly relationship between her and Fionn then could lead to something fruitful.

Seeing Amy coming in from outside the fort, having just passed her earlier and remembering the state of panic she was in when he passed in a hurry, Steffen formed a weak smile and waved at her. It was pretty clear he was in low spirit, a quiet and suppressed one, but dispirited nonetheless.

[color=b5a0d2]"How are you feeling, Dame Amy?"[/color] He said, crossing his arms again. [color=b5a0d2]"You don't have to look if you don't need to. We basically got whatever we could from there."[/color] His eyes perking up at Serenity just behind her. [color=b5a0d2]"We're just seeing if that lady over there has anything to do with this. You can try your hands, but I don't know how much it'll help at this point."[/color]

[@6slyboy6][@ERode]