Investigation|Clan Fira-Rccus, Naurorod

[Kender Bard]

Thelon had come to a conclusion after much struggle and deliberation. He was going to do his best to not sink to the despicable lows that a Mind of his power was capable of to get what he wanted.

I will try, he reminded himself as he teleported to Fira and glanced around with a severe look. But I will die before I let her killer escape me. Nothing will stop me. Not even myself if it comes to that.

But he would take the 'proper' route first. And the first thing he intended to do was find out who was in the clan at the time worth noting. He would operate on the assumption, for now, that the killer was not someone who was a standard clanner. If he had to, he'd return to that notion later.

So the first thing to do was to begin questioning people. He wasn't entirely certain of the best way to do that. He found somewhere in the shade to sit and settle down and decided to go about it in a manner similar to how he first weaved his web of minds in Sensatia. He picked someone completely at random and tapped them on the mind. ~I have a few questions for you.~

[Northen Light36]

The clanner, a young woman who was one of the clan's bards, paused her practicing in confusion before noticing Thelon looking at her. Surprised, she approached him and asked, "Did you ask to speak to me, Elder-Lord Thelon?"

[Kender Bard]

~Yes I did~ Thelon replied, opting to keep to mind-speech just in case. ~I need to know if you noticed anyone who was not normally a member of the clan around the area on the day of my wife's death.~

[Northen Light36]

The young woman blinked, surprised by the question, but thought carefully. "I don't... Well actually... There was a pair of bards from Linnod. They spent the day with my friends and I, teaching us some new songs their clan had created. I didn't notice anyone else, but I was so busy I don't think I'd notice a herd of Nightmares charging past. The melody of some of those songs..."

The young woman, barely more then a teenager, launched into a complicated and gushing decription of the songs in question and the skill of the older bards. It was clear that she was well suited for her role in the clan and equally clear why she didn't have a more productive role. She was focused on her music and paid attention to nothing else.

[Kender Bard]

Thelon made a placating motion with his hand. ~While that's all very interesting, it's not what I'm here to learn. Please focus on remembering these bards for me. I'm going to look at them in your surface memories. And if there's anything you can tell me as well, it'd be very helpful. Afterwards, would you please tell me who your family members are.~

That was how he'd started the mental net in Sensatia--begin with a single person and then trace all their friends and families, then the friends and families of those people, and so on.

[Northen Light36]

The woman blinked, but did as requested. She had a very clear image of the bards, having spent all day either learning from them or practicing with them until they'd left just after dinner. She also told Thelon she had a sister, Ginger, in the scouts and a brother, Silas, among the warriors. Her mother, Liza, was a fellow bard.

[Kender Bard]

Thelon gave a small nod. ~Thank you. You've been a great help.~ He teleported to himself a small blank journal as well as one of the new pencils that he'd received as a "gift" from a merchant hoping to get a tax altered in his favor and write down the information.

It was going to be a long day.

[Northen Light36]

Much of the day went the same way, giving bits of random information but not a great deal of useful information. Tres' death had come towards the end of a particularly good hunting period and there had been an unusual number of strangers (Fires from other clans) visiting to trade for some of Fira's wealth.

Towards lunchtime, Ann wandered over to sit beside Thelon and offered him a cup of water and some food. "I hear you've been questioning people," she murmured. "Found out anything?"

[Kender Bard]

"Nothing too much," Thelon admitted, taking the offerings. "Nothing that really leaps off the page. But I don't know these people or their relation, if any, to Tres. It's worth looking into. I'm thinking of contacting a seer from home or going to the temple of mystics to see if I can get any more insight or help that way."

[Northen Light36]

"Mystisim?" Ann asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "I wouldn't have thought you to be the type to believe in it." After a moment of silence, she added, "Have you tried speaking to the clan children? Most people over look them, but I've found they tend to notice everything."

[Kender Bard]

"I haven't talked to more than two," Thelon admitted. "As to mysticism, you're right. I'm not a real believer. But I will try anything." He took a pull of the water. "...Thank you Ann. Your support in this is... invaluable."

[Northen Light36]

Ann closed her eyes for a moment, swallowing back the grief she couldn't allow herself to show in public. "I love her too," she said simply. "If talking to the children doesn't help and you want company going to the temple of the Mystics, let me know." She gave Thelon a weak smile. "Maybe having someone who does believe with you will help find answers."

"Speaking of Seers," Ann murmured. "How's Flame?"

[Kender Bard]

"Still not talking," Thelon answered. "I'm concerned about her, but other than not talking, she seems all right. I'm willing to just let her talk when she's ready. Libre's been growing increasingly upset about it though."

[Northen Light36]

"I think you're right," Ann murmured. "As long as she's otherwise all right, it's probably best to let her work things out in her own way. Besides, if I remember correctly, she wasn't much of a talker when she was younger and she grew out of it."

She gave Thelon a sympathetic look and asked, "Want me to talk to Libre? See if I can convince him to let Flame be for awhile?"

[Kender Bard]

"If you like, but he's a stubborn young man when he wants to be," Thelon warned her. "But I'd appreciate the help."

It was the sort of thing that Tres was good at and would have handled. He closed his eyes briefly and sighed.

"I'll start with the children now," he announced. "Any one or two in particular you recommend?"