Finally, the investigation began to wind down as the countless tips, rumors, and potential pieces of evidence were chased down. People were becoming irritated with the constant interruptions in their lives and more than once, fights had broken out. As much good as the investigation was doing, those benefits were quickly being met and negated by the negative tension it was creating.
Attention turned to the Depths of the Weyrs – old places, haunts for the uncivilized and the gruff, the work halls of the Whers that mined or maintained the Weyrs. Below the sand level of Malvren’s cliffs, the tunnel ran deep, dark, and wet. The handlers were as much in charge of emptying the water from the tunnels as they were in maintaining the integrity of the walls and removing Tunnelsnakes.
Glows and torches guttered and hissed in the depths, their isolated pools of light yellow flecked by white from the reflective surfaces of the hewn rock. Few ever descended here where the rumbles and grunts of whers echoed for long distances, enabling communications with ease.
In a rise that was relatively dry, stacked with buckets, picks, and engineering tools, a man was tending to his injured wher. The beast, an irritated and well muscled blue, saw the group first and mantled, his pain feeding his anger to make his eyes whirl red. “Hey! Brandisk, I said stop.” A good thump on the nose pulled attention back to the handler as he squeeze an ointment from a fold of oiled cloth and began to wrap a bandage around the gash in the wher’s leg, “If you’ve business here, best be quick with it.” He hadn’t even bothered to look over his shoulder.
Investigation Week 5
Only the NPC described in this post may be interviewed. This is an ORP that will be lead by Staff - staff will be posting responses based on the posts received once or twice a day, each character can post as they want but the NPC response will not wait for all to post before answering. Feel free to ask whatever questions that your character would ask! Remember that this is an investigation about the Mystery Man who assassinated two ranking Riders and tried to kill a third. A Hint: Look for relations between rumors and things said but remember not everyone knows the truth! Think about the answers you receive!
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:59 am
This was C'rci's place. The dark winding halls, the dank twists and turns and the distant sounds of whers set in her both a confidence and a longing for home. Her eyes adjusted easily to the dimlights and her steps were sure as she strode down the paths leading the group with an easy gait, Bolth trotting at her heels and pressing against her side. C'rci had nearly managed to talk Bolth into staying behind and sleeping in his weyr with Qixizth and Fasha there to keep him company. The blue had steadily been getting somewhat better about leaving his riders side so long as they remained in constant mental contact, on this occasion though the usually helpful blue had put his paw down. Whether it was out of fear that the whers would steal away his rider or some deep seated worry that in returning to her old ways C'rci would not return to him he refused to be parted from her side no matter how many times the girl assured him that she wouldn't trade the blue for the world.
So now Bolth walked along side her leaning close his tail coming to wrap itself about her legs when she would stop. Even if he didn't growl or snarl the word the message was clear. She was His. No wher was going to take her from him. Turning the corner though Bolth was nearly shocked out of his hide at the sudden appearance of the injured blue and scuttled behind his rider to peak around her eyes whirling red and orange at the Wher.
"Easy Bolth." C'rci soothed scratching her blue's eyeridges as he twined his form the best he could about her still eyeing the blue wher Brandisk warily. Stooping down slightly C'rci let out a low warm humming croon, a gentle greeting to both wher and handler. "Will he be all right? Did the injury miss the leg muscles?" She asked attentively only turning slightly to stroke and rub her own blue's head when Bolth stuck it against her stomach clinging too her.
Mine I do not like it down here. It is dark, I cannot see well. Is that really a wher? I always pictured them bigger. You won't go back with the whers will you Mine? You have to stay with me! Bolth chattered worriedly in his riders mind letting out his own low whine until C'rci shushed her chatty companion.
No Bolth I won't be going with the whers. I belong with you and you belong with me. She answered simply and bluntly as usual doing her best to strike down her dragons fears before they had the chance to worry him more.
Somewhat reassured by her words Bolth loosened his tight grip on his rider and turned his head to stare with whirling green blue eyes hinted with orange at the wher his curiosity and friendliness getting the better of him.
Hello Bolth murmured to the wher tentatively trying to croon out in the same tone his rider had used. Seeing her dragon was fine for the moment C'rci once more turned her attention back to the task at hand.
"We're with the investigation team. If you don't mind we'd like to ask you a few questions, but feel free to take your time answering. Your wher's health is more important." She continued her whirling accent of her days as a wherhandler herself and lilting tune of one who spoke wherspeech before they spoke human speech echoed and vibrated off the walls her worry for the injured beast showing clear in her eyes. After all she'd be just as short with people had it been Bolth in the blue wher's position, probably much more so since dragons unlike whers couldn't defend themselves against people.
"I'm C'rci by the way of Blue Bolth." C'rci continued introducing herself so perhaps the other boy could have a name to put with the voice.
C'rci really did have a soft spot for whers and their handlers, but maybe that would help. It would be better than blundering in, when this man made it clear he was dismissing them.
"And I'm Orlina," she greeted, knowing full well that he would hear her, even if he didn't acknowledge her in favor of caring for his wher.
Well, it is like having a dragon, I guess. Your partner is injured and that comes first.
Orlina smiled in agreement with C'rci, but once the wherhandler had replied to her friend, she added, "We were actually wondering if you might have ideas about the recent murders of the Weyrwomen and Weyrleader H'trel. We haven't had the opportunity to speak with any wherhandlers yet, and it's important we get everyone's take on the situation. Have you any suggestions as to how the murderer did it? There's been talk of a dragon, but no one really got a good look so there's still some speculation..." All right. Orlina accepted that it was a dragon (though not one of theirs!), but it never hurt to try to find someone to lend any kind of a hope that it didn't mean what everyone thought it meant. Who wanted to believe the riders were capable of killing their own?
Salvage Operations
USEABLE - Icon #002
Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 11:47 am
Enyo hesitated as she was wanting to help both Bolth and C'rci but she feared the tunnels ever since she ran from one the tunnel snakes. She rubbed her arm where she had cut herself on that rock climbing out of reach of the snake; that part of her child hood was haunting her every time she went to a dark enclosed space. Jineth softly purred standing next to Enyo.
It is alright Mine. We'll wait here if you wish, I will not let any harm come to you.
Enyo pet Jineth with a soft and shaky hand, I know but that does not make me wish to step a foot into the tunnel.
Enyo watched C'rci from the out side location. Jineth called to her brother, We are here to help though Mine is scared of the tunnel. Do you need us to do anything out here or shall we wait?
"I would wish to know who as well, any why," Kleos put in, eyeing the injured wher carefully; she knew perfectly well that the beasts could be unpredictable, and were capable of incredible violence when they chose. All of them would be ripped to pieces without any trouble at all. "If you could tell us where you were on the day of the murder and what you saw that would be of use as well," she went on, trying to look at the handler rather than the beast. They did smell, watchwhers. She was sure it was the sort of thing you got used to, and it wasn't really awful, it was just very... whery.
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:54 am
"I've got better things to do than talk to you kids," the handler replied coldly, still working on his wher's leg, "and Brandosk's leg is none of your business girlie so back off with your hatchling, he doesn't like the way they smell and he's not eaten for a couple of days." They weren't going to leave him alone though, were they? "Who, why, and how then?" he went on. "Suppose those are the most important questions.... Riders don't turn against their own in my experience, but grab one and you got their their dragon better'un a proddy gold has bronzes. Maybe somebody's holding something over this rider who was seen flying off? Whoever did it was a cocky sod, though. Also heard a rumor it was a Malvren gone rogue, riding a blue dragon that's been missing. Why though?..." At last, the blue handler bothered to glance around. "Shuffling things, most likely. You don't get change 'less you crack a few eggs first. Somebody's looking to gain something big out of shaking us up that's for sure."
