Cav RPG: Traitors at Helm's Deep (The Game is Afoot!)

[Gwai]

Helm's Deep is in trouble
The Marshals have had word of traitors in the Westmark. The notorious criminal Cuthbert, now dead due to the quick thinking actions of Allacan, was smuggling coded messages out of Helm’s Deep containing classified information. Aethelwigend Grimthain has provided a list of who he thinks the most likely suspects at Helm’s Deep may be who were aiding the infamous villain. The Marshals need somebody trustworthy to investigate, and you have volunteered. You carry with you a message from the Marshals for the ranking officer at Helm’s Deep, Feldmarshal Æthelred (NPC), ordering him to give you his full cooperation, although not detailing what your investigation entails. No person currently at Helm’s Deep is above suspicion!

How this works
--There are five areas to search: The Barracks, the Infirmary, the Stables, the Feldmarshal’s Office, and the Armory
--You may move to one location per post
--You will receive several choices depending on your location (ask questions, search, etc). You may choose one choice per turn. If you decide to leave the location, that will take your turn (i.e., you finished in the barracks, you will then RP going to the Infirmary, and will then be presented with your choices for that area). Once you pick your choice (i.e., question so-and-so), you can proceed with your questioning. (Keep it vague, I already wrote the responses!). The responses from the suspects may be helpful or a red herring
--You will receive clues as you go along. These will be whited out. Don’t cheat and look at other people’s clues! I trust you!
--You may interact with each other if you wish, or team up if you wish, but if you aren’t a team please don’t tell each other your clues. It will be more fun if you discover everything on your own! If you have two characters they both can participate, but please have them working together as a team. Otherwise you’ll finish faster than everyone else!
--There may be one or two things you find that will be shared with everybody (it will make sense when we get there!)
--I’ll update every 48-72 hours (more or less). It’s okay if you miss a turn, you just may gather fewer clues than others. You can still play!
--If you think you know who the traitor(s) is/are, keep it quiet please. At the end we’ll gather and everyone will have a chance to tell who you think the traitor is, and why!
--It ends when all the clues have been found, or everyone has reported (aka tag me) they have a theory to put forward who the traitor is. Marshal Gwai will arrive as a fresh set of eyes, the evidence and suspicions will be put forth, and justice served! *insert inspiring music*

Rules:
Normal Plaza/Cavalry rules etc
Keep it IC please
Open to all cavalry members and trainees. This is NOT a mandatory cavalry RP
Non-cavalry members are most welcome, but please represent one of the free-peoples, or have a good reason for being there!
Tag me here or in the Command Tent if you have a question
Don’t look at other people’s clues!
Please bold where you are/what your choice is somewhere in your post
Content warning—There will be a bit of violence, but it is PG.

Signs-ups start now! (And will last about a week). You received your commission, and are arriving at Helm’s Deep. RP your arrival, and post your first location. (If you are late to sign-up, that is okay, you may just have fewer turns.)

Cast of characters (NPCs):
Feldmarshal Æthelred—career officer, stern, straight laced, at one point was by the book, but is now disillusioned in his career. No sense of humor. Doesn’t let little things slide. Sends nobody on Ent-wife hunts. Thinks he should have been promoted out of this place long ago.

Haeland Aelfgifu—Has been a haeland since the Southern Storm Campaign. Burned out, asked for a local person to train as her new assistant and eventually take her place when she retires

Wulfthryth--middle aged woman from nearby village, originally trained as a midwife, here to help Aelfgifu, but not a lot of help as a haelend for the cavalry. Still, Aelfgifu is trying to train her

Ceorl Alfred--a young ceorl who doesn’t like his prospects. He was envisioning glory and fame (without having to actually risk his life in the cavalry), not cleaning armor and writing letters for the Feldmarshal.

Sperewigend Odo—young sperewigend, assigned to the stables, great with horses, doesn’t say much. No family he’s ever spoken of. Does some blacksmithing as well. Takes commands well, but is quite forgetful with anything not related to horses.

Maegisterwigend Alca—Promoted from sperewigend once Grimthain left. Her report shows evidence of failure to comply with orders, poor attitude, late for drills, not volunteering for extra tasks. Why she was promoted, nobody knows. She was placed in charge of the armory per the feldmarshal’s order.

Eadwig--man, early 50s, pleasant, from a nearby village who comes several times a week to deliver supplies, food, hay, etc, and relay any messages

Aethelwigend Edbert--relatively new transfer from the Eastmark to take the place of Grimthain. Little is known as his records were lost during transfer, and he only arrived last night.

Places:
The barracks
The stables
The Feldmarshal’s office
The armory
The infirmary
The Second Marshal's office

[Elarith]

Æthelwigend Elarith

Back to her old haunts, Elarith thought as she rode through the cleft in the mountains that led up to Helm's Deep. It seemed a lifetime since she'd been Marshal here. She hadn't been back. She wondered what had possessed her to volunteer to come here. Curiosity? Or something more?

Her horse's hooves clattered on the cobbles as she rode through the gate then dismounted. Looking around, the Deep was the same as ever, frowning down upon the soldiers below. But the people must've changed, to allow (or even, Béma forbid, encourage!) such treachery to occur.

Elarith took her horse by the bridle and led her off to the stables. She would kill two birds with one stone - settle her mount and start asking about.

[Shivased]

Arriving and heading to the Feldmarshal's Office

Shivased dismounted wearily from Storm's back and studied the courtyard around her. It had been quite some time since she'd been in the Deep, and she always found herself in awe of the place. The sheer size and formidability of the place was amazing. Here and there once could still see the damage done in the War of the Ring, repaired and as strong as it had been, but still visible in the slight differences in the stones, or in jagged corners here or there. But rebuilt like the rest of the Mark had been.

She was jarred out of her thoughts when a wigend came up to her and saluted. She handed over Storm's reins and gave orders to give Storm a good rub down and a measure of grain, then watched as the horse was led away and stretched. It had been a long ride from Edoras to here, and she was tired, but she had work to do. She'd come on rather urgent business. This mess with Cuthbert needed to be dealt with, and she was tired of waiting and reading reports. Others were there on special assignment, she knew, but she had decided to get involved herself.

First off, she decided, she needed to speak to the Feldmarshal in charge. Something was going on here, and as he was in charge when the Marshal wasn't around, he should have known all about it. She headed immediately into the deep, ignoring the confused and curious glances she got along the way. It was odd to see her here, she knew that, but they could wonder all they wanted. It took some memory to find her way to the offices, but she made it and walked in without bothering to knock. Feldmarshal Æthelred she called loudly as she walked in. Report.

[Pele Alarion]

Trainee Hadassa, going to the Barracks

Upon her approach, Hadassa reigned in the mare she had chosen from the available horses, Sugar, and looked at the stern walls of Helm's Deep in awe. She had not seen anything, except for her village and Edoras, but then again Edoras was a whole different thing.

As she eventually nudged her horse forward, the young woman wondered what had possessed her to volunteer for this assignment: a wish to explore Helm's Deep? A desire for adventure? Striving to prove herself? If there were indeed traitorous things going on here... what if she was suddenly made into a scapegoat, being a Dunlending by birth?

Once she had gained permission to enter through the gates after heated interrogation and proving that she was indeed a member of the Cavalry, Hadassa tied the horse to a hitching post and handed a well-deserved apple to the good beast. Then she took another fruit for herself and took a good look around, slowly munching on it.

Where was she to start and what was she to do? It would probably be silly to pose herself as a mighty interrogator of sorts and demand answers from people. More likely than not she would end up being catapulted over the walls, if she dared such a thing.

Taking a deep breath she then slowly headed to what looked like might be Barracks. She could at least ask if there was any room to be had; it was doubtful that she'd be leaving this very same day anyway.

[Allacan ob Burzum]

Æthelwigend Grimthain, The Barracks

He had excused himself from Taethowen's company after handing his veteran horse Norman on to one of the stable-hands and trusting that the lad would see to his proper treatment. Now that he was here, he was eager to see that his personal possessions had - as promised by the Third Marshal and ordered by the Second - been left undisturbed in his old room. He took the stairs into the keep two at a time, ignoring the protests of his weary legs that were tired from days on the road, and followed the familiar corridors towards his . This place had been his home for so many years, and even within minutes of arriving he could feel the heavy weight of his lonely life here trying to once again set itself on his shoulders. He paused at an internal door to shake off the oppressive feeling; he was no longer the man he had been when he had last left these walls. The visible change alone was startling, now his long, scraggly beard and hair had been trimmed short and were now well-kept, but the change in his soul was even more apparent in his new stance of confidence and self-assurance. He was half hoping that his old Westmark comrades would not recognise him initially, but more than that - he was hoping that whatever business he was needed for in this keep would be resolved quickly, for he had wasted too many years of his life within its confines and he had no wish to gift it with any more of his time.

---

Æthelwigend of the Meduseld Éored

[Éolath]

He hadn’t been in the Deep long, long enough to learn the lay of the land and some of the shortcuts but not long enough to really be comfortable there yet. It was a huge change from the wide plains he’d grown up on, or even the farmed and fertile river lands of Gondor. But he was growing accustomed to the press of stone around him, the chill that even the heat of the day couldn’t compete with. And he was growing to like his new comrades, even overcoming his shyness to make friends.

And he was learning new skills, which was why he was sitting in a corner of the Armory with an oil rag, a barrel full of sand and a pile of rusted chainmail. The maegisterwigend Alca had only snarled at him when he came in, looking for something to do. He’d avoided her as best he could since his arrival, which oddly enough, was easier to do than he’d expected but he was bored. Plus, there had been the request from the marshal, and this was a good excuse to learn something new and perhaps …learn something else.

[Gwai]

Announcement

We are (re)-starting now! I'll give it a couple more days in case any one wants to join in on the first round, but first update will be 48-72 hours from now!

Just as a head's up to everyone who has posted already, I edited the opening post slightly. It shouldn't affect anything you have already posted, but if you did want to make a change feel free up until the first update.

[Taethowen]

Second Marshal Taethowen
The Second Marshal's Office

As Taethowen parted from Grimthain's company, handing her blue roan mare off to a stablehand with directions to take her saddlebags to her quarters, she surveyed the Hornburg from the inside for the first time. It was much larger than the Aldburg, or even the whole of Edoras perhaps. But now wasn't the time to be awed by the place, she needed to check in with the commanding officers here and find her office.

Despite the gathered troops that had greeted her at the gates along with the Grimthain, they had all scattered fairly quickly. Taethowen entered the halls of the Hornburg, but while she saw several sperewigends and dryhtgumas along the way, she somehow didn't see anyone of higher rank. One of the sperewigends was able to point her to the Marshal's office, though, and it was dark and silent when she slipped inside. Clearly, it had fallen into misuse between the time of the last Marshal's departure and her own arrival.

Taethowen glanced around the dim space quickly, then crossed the room to pull open the drapes. It was when she turned back to face the room that she realized something was off.

The desk was a mess, to start with. And not in a 'left in a hurry' sort of way, but a 'had been searched' kind of way. Her initial thought was that it had happened quite some time ago, but then she noticed a loose piece of parchment slowly slipping over the edge of the desk to flutter to the ground, and Taeth realized that the room had just been searched. Or, perhaps, that she had even interrupted the search.

You're a Bema-damned fool, Taethowen, she thought to herself as she slowly reached for the knife she kept concealed at her waist, keeping her posture relaxed and breathing steady. You let yourself grow too lax the past month.

Her only warning came from behind her, the scuff of a shoe against the floor.

[Gwai]

First Update

(If you have not yet posted and would like to join in, feel free to jump in at any point and post where you are starting from)

@Elarith--As you lead your horse off to the stables, you see the normal hustle and bustle surrounding the stables of the fortress. Eadwig is visiting from the village, and young Odo is nearby offering to take your horse to a stall.
Do you:
A) Offer to help Eadwig unload supplies, while questioning him
B) Wait for Eadwig to leave before searching his wagon
C) Question Sperewigend Odo (the stableboy)
D) Snoop through the tack room

@Shivased--You push the door open to the Feldmarshal's office, calling for a long overdue report, but you are surprised to find the office empty, odd for this time of day.
Do you:
A. Send Ceorl Alfred to look for Feldmarshal Aethelred
B. Question Ceorl Alfred
C. Snoop through the Feldmarshal’s office

Hadassa (@Pele Alarion)--You stroll to the barracks, snacking on your apple, and run into (NPC) Aethelwigend Edbert, a friendly chap touring the barracks, trying to get his bearings.
Do you:
A) Question Aethelwigend Edbert
B) Look for clues around the bunks
C) Go through people’s trunks looking for clues

Grimthain (@Allacan ob Burzum)--As Grimthain marches confidently through the barracks, he spies a new face, his replacement, the new Aethel Edbert. He's wandering around, looking a bit lost. He seems friendly enough, but do you want to question him now, or see what else you can turn up?
Do you:
A) Question Aethelwigend Edbert
B) Look for clues around the bunks
C) Go through people’s trunks looking for clues

@Éolath -While polishing armor, you put your time to good use, and decide to begin your investigation right where you are at.
Do you:
A) Question Maegesteriwigend Alca
B) Scare Alca by saying both the First and the Second Marshals have arrived and are looking for her, and take the opportunity to snoop through the Armory looking for clues


@Taethowen--Settling into your new office is most definitely not going according to plan. Unfortunately it was dark, and difficult for you to make out the features of whoever that was, but you do know they had some skill with a knife. As you lay on floor and feel the blood seeping out from your back, you wonder how much time you have left, and if whoever did this will be brought to justice.

Next update in 48-72 hours!

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

Éomund

Éomund arrived at the fortress and glanced up at the looming shadows that spread across the ground. It had only been just over a year since he had last been here, but now he was looking at it with a new set of eyes: a Cavalry member's eyes. While he would normally be spending the majority of his time in the Eastmark, he and many of the other Cavalry members had been ordered to partake in a mission that involved treachery at Helms Deep. He was still new to the Cavalry and the thought of partaking in such a mission was daunting, but it was an order and he was here.

He headed for the stables in the hopes of finding a place for Sunbeorht and hopefully find someone who knew what was going on. He hadn't seen any of the Marshals or other higher ranking officers about, which worried him a bit.

[Pele Alarion]

Trainee Hadassa
Barracks ~ Questioning Edbert

It was only to be expected that she would not be alone in the whole barracks, and what she came across was someone who looked maybe only slightly less lost than her. Quickly finishing her apple, Hadassa moved towards Edbert with an intention to strike up a conversation, just a small talk if anything.

"Hi," she began, flashing a smile at him. "I'm Hadassa, still in training and... this is my first time here." She paused for a while considering what she should say - not that she knew that much in the first place anyway.

"You look rather new too," she mentioned, though allowed that her perception of him might just be wrong. "I sort of looked forward to seeing this place and learning stuff about it and new skills and such, but..." here she lowered her voice and whispered: "They say there's a traitor about. Could it even be true? Here, of all places?"

[Gwai]

2nd Update

(It's not too late to join in still!)

Éomund (@Dimcairien Luiniel)--You see a few people around as you stable Sunbeorht, including the stablehand, as well as Eadwig one a supply trip. After taking care of Sunbeorht, do you:

A) Offer to help Eadwig unload supplies, while questioning him
B) Wait for Eadwig to leave before searching his wagon
C) Question Sperewigend Odo (the stableboy)
D) Snoop through the tack room

Hadassa (@Pele Alarion)--(Part of the clue will be whited out to keep the suspense for other people!) You strike up a conversation with the new Aethel. He’s a friendly fellow, who likes to talk. You wonder how he got transferred to work with Feldmarshal Aethelred, who by all accounts is quite the opposite. “Oh yes, I'm new as well, I just came in yesterday!” he says as he unpacks his clothes. “Fortunately I was nearby visiting family when the request came, so I was able to come right over! I’m sure that Feldmarshal Aethelred is a fine chap! I haven’t met him yet, though, he wasn’t in when I arrived last night, which I thought odd, since he is the ranking officer. I haven’t seen him this morning, either, we were to have a meeting bright and early, but he didn’t show up....a traitor, you say? I hope that's not true,” he says with a worried look. You doubt he has much else contribute, leaving you to decide if you:

A) Look for clues around the bunks
B) Go through people’s trunks looking for clues
C) Go to a different area

[Taethowen]

Second Marshal Taethowen
The Second Marshal's Office

***INJURED***
Time Elapsed Since Injury: 2-3 minutes.
Status: Bleeding, unable to apply pressure on self because of wound location.

Taethowen thought she'd been punched, at first, as something slammed into her back and knocked the breath out of her. But as she made to draw her knife, a sharp pain radiated from just below her shoulder through her chest. Just before she cried out, a sweaty hand covered her mouth, and there was a tug as she realized what had been a knife was pulled out of her back.

"I can't believe the King appointed another bloody woman as the Hornburg Marshal instead of me," a voice rasped in her ear. A hand groped at her chest, and Taeth tried to pull away, but as she felt warmth dripping down her back, she stilled. Fortunately, it seemed the offender was not actually after anything from her physically, instead latching onto her rank insignia and roughly pulling it off of her tunic.

Taeth grunted and screamed against the hand over her mouth, but whenever she tried to move around, she felt the wound on her back gush blood. Then her attacker kicked her feet out from under her, released his hold, and darted toward the door. She fell to the floor, barely missing whacking her head on the desk, and crumpled over in pain.

She heard the door latch shut, and tried to stand to get help, but dizziness washed over her and she slowly slid to the floor.

What do I do now? she thought, trying to keep panic at bay. She was a Marshal. If anything, she should die in battle, not hidden away in an office.

Taeth took a deep breath and tried to shout for help, but whether it was pain or something more, she found she could barely raise her voice. And even if she could have, the stone walls and thick wooden door of the room muffled the sound too well.

The Marshal's office would have been constructed to discourage eavesdroppers, after all.

[Allacan ob Burzum]

Æthelwigend Grimthain, The Barracks

He frowned a little at the sight of Æthelwigend Edbert wandering about in a bewildered fashion. He glanced around first of all, checking to see if any of the other soldiers were paying any particular heed to this unexpected behaviour or if there were anything that might clue him in to the reason for the man's lost look, before stepping over towards the man. "Hail, Edbert! Congratulations on the promotion. How are you finding your new position; the wigends aren't giving you any trouble, are they?" he asked politely, raising an eyebrow in curiosity at the man's odd behaviour. Here he had been worried that this gent would let his position go to his head and would make a habit or storming through the barracks shouting orders because he could, and instead the man seemed distant and... elsewhere. This was most definitely not how he had expected to find his replacement, but he lacked now the authority or inclination to do anything more than politely inquire. It could be nothing of course, but then again, it could be something...

---

Æthelwigend of the Meduseld Éored

[Amadhrill]

The Infirmary

The ride into Helm's Deep filled her with awe and old memories. The imposing stone building in the very mountain, the sound of the horse's hooves echoing between the mountain and walls. She smiled as she rode through the gate, even though the reason of her return now was not pleasant. She had the order from the marshals in her bag, yet it might be as well not to reveal it all at once.

After having stabled her horse, the hælend Amadhrill headed for the one place she knew better then the rest of the Deep. She was curious to see how the infirmary was ordered, she knew that Rowena, the old Bealdorhælend, had worked her for a little. Yet at the moment there was only the old hælend Ælfgifu and her midwife trainee. Ama entered the infirmary with a soft, friendly smile ready to seek out her old sister-in-arms, Ælfgifu. They had served in the cavalry when the cavalry was filled with plenty of wigends ready to take over their places, yet she had left and Ælfgifu had remained. She wondered how her own life would have been if she had remained in the cavalry. Her green eyes looked around at the infirmary, her eyes found the small signs of everything not being in order, that the hælends were tired.

«Westu Hælend Ælfgifu hál!» Ama greeted her fellow hælend with respect. «How are you, sweostor? It has been many years since our paths last crossed.

[Aethelu]

Dicun, arriving at Helm's Deep

When Dicun had been summoned to the see the Marshal's, he had at first feared the worst. He couldn't think of reason why he should fear the worst, he had done nothing wrong as far as he was aware, but still he had fretted. When they had given him his orders and sent him on his way to Helm's Deep, he had felt a different kind of fear. The mission was an important one, but it could be fraught with danger. The idea of one of their own being a traitor was terrible. It made him wary too, he needed to be careful of who he could trust.

As Helm's Deep loomed in the distance, he couldn't help but be in awe of the size of the place. He had never had cause to visit before, it was certainly more than he had ever expected. Arlette snorted nervously as they began to draw closer, she could sense her rider's nervousness. "It's okay girl," he said softly, patting her neck as they approached the gate. "It's okay." Dicun wasn't sure if he was telling Arlette that, or himself.

Inside the fortress, Dicun headed for the stables first. He wanted to make sure Arlette was safe and secure. It also seemed like the best place to start his investigations. From experience, stable hands were usually chatty and often saw and heard more than most would expect.

[Shivased]

Feldmarshal's Office

Shivased expected the Feldmarshal to report, or to say something to her, as soon as she demanded it. But nothing came. She stood in the center of the office as the door swung shut behind her and stared around. She was slightly in shock. In Aldburg she was used to her Feldmarshal being either in their office working hard on reports, missives and duty rosters, or out in the fortress supervising training and drills or performing other duties. She hadn't seen Feldmarshal Aethelred out in the bailey, the courtyard, or anywhere else she'd seen so far on her way to the offices, nor had she seen evidence that he was to be found. That was odd. Either something was going on with him, or the running of The Deep had degraded much more than she had thought.

Taking her gloves off she looked around the office, and her nose wrinkled slightly in distaste. She wasn't known to be the neatest person in the world and didn't mind a bit of a mess, but this was bordering on filthy. There was evidence that Feldmarshal Aethelred had once been a neat, organized and straight-laced. It fit the vague memory of the man she had. But now once-neat shelves and the desk were strewn with papers, scrolls and random belongings. The carpets on the floor were stained and trodden with mud, the wall-hangings were dusty and splattered with liquid stains. Piles of belongings and items were strewn through the room. If she didn't know better, she would think a struggle had taken place. She highly doubted one however, as the room looked like it had been in this mess for a while.

Turning to the door she caught sight of a ceorl standing just outside in the hall. You. Ceorl. Come in. What is your name? she called, motioning him forward. Alfred, ma'am. the ceorl stuttered, hesitantly stepping into the room. He looked like a deer caught in bright torchlight, wanting to flee but too frozen to do so. Ceorl Alfred. Go find Feldmarshal Aethelred and send him here. Do not tell him I'm here, just that there is a visitor in his office waiting for him.

When the ceorl nodded and hurried off, Shivased wandered over to the desk and idly began lifting papers. She wasn't sure why she didn't want Aethelred knowing she had summoned him, but something told her it was best. She also wasn't sure what she was looking for, but figured it couldn't hurt to scan some of the reports on the desk while she waited.

OOC: I'm sending for the Feldmarshal, but figured I'd try snooping while waiting. If I can only do one, just ignore the snooping!

[Gwai]

3rd Update

@Taethowen--You begin to feel increasingly weak and lightheaded as you continue bleeding. Your efforts to stop the bleeding are fruitless as you cannot reach to effectively put pressure on the wound. You try to call for help, but so far have not been heard. Will someone find you before time runs out?

Grimthain (@Allacan ob Burzum)(Part of your clue is whited out to maintain suspense for the other players!). Edbert pauses what he's doing to talk to you. He’s a friendly chap, who likes to talk, so questioning is no trouble. You wonder how he got transferred to work with Feldmarshal Aethelred, who by all accounts is quite the opposite. “Oh yes, I just came in yesterday!” he says cheerfully, his expression open. “Fortunately I was nearby visiting family when the request came, so I was able to come right over! I’m sure that Feldmarshal Aethelred is a fine chap! I haven’t seen him yet, though, he wasn’t in when I arrived last night, but it was late. I haven’t seen him this morning, either, we were to have a meeting, but he didn’t show up, which seems quite odd.” You doubt Edbert has much else to offer, so you wish him a good day.
Do you:
A) Look for clues around the bunks
B) Go through people’s trunks looking for clues
C) Go to a different area

@Amadhrill--(part of your clue will be whited out to maintain suspense!) Ælfgifu seems grumpier than the last time you met, likely from her increased work load. You follow as she goes from sickbed to sickbed. “Are you here tracking down the traitors they are pretending we don't know about?" she asks cynically. "I have my hands full, why don’t you either leave me alone and let me do my job! That woman from the village they sent me, Wulfthryth, doesn’t know a jar of turmeric from a jar of nightshade! Pretty much the only thing I can trust her to treat is something simple, like the feldmarshal’s gout! But really, I’m too busy, I haven’t even had a chance to catch up on my reports in weeks, if you have questions, go ask Wulfthryth, I have no idea where she is, she's always off somewhere where you wouldn't expect her," she ends in a huff.” You decide poor Ælfgifu is unlikely to have much else to tell you. Do you:
A) Question trainee healer Wulfthryth
B) Make an excuse to go to the haelend office and search
C) Go to a different area

Dicun (@Aethelu)--You arrive at the stables, see Arlette safely placed in a stall with some well deserved lunch and a cool bucket of water.
Do you:

A) Offer to help Eadwig unload supplies, while questioning him
B) Wait for Eadwig to leave before searching his wagon
C) Question Sperewigend Odo (the stableboy)
D) Snoop through the tack room

@Shivased--(Part of your clue will be whited out to maintain suspense for the other players!) (OOC-- sending Alfred to look for the feldmarshal option defaults to questioning Alfred, so I'm giving you that answer. Feel free to snoop with this next round!)--Alfred crosses his arms and looks belligerent. He reluctantly tells you he hasn’t seen the Feldmarshal all day, and doesn't know where to go to look for him. “He didn’t tell me he was going anywhere,” Alfred tells you sullenly. “I had his breakfast made, and it is spoiled!” he complains. “No, he’s never done this before. He’s usually here right on time every morning before formations, and spends the rest of the morning in his office going over reports, looking out the window, thinking about his glory days. Glory days,” Alfred snorts. “Why, he didn’t even fight in the War of the Ring! He apparently got someone who wasn’t even a haelend to say he was “sick”. And if you mess anything up, even just sloshing his tea, he’ll have you on latrine duty before you even know what hit you!” Alfred complains. “His gout has been flaring up, fortunately that Miss Wulfthryth has been treating him, and whatever she gives him surely makes him more tolerable! He doesn’t call me for hours sometimes and I can have my own time!”
Do you:
A) Dismiss Alfred and search the Feldmarshal's office?
B) Go to a different area

[Taethowen]

Second Marshal Taethowen
The Second Marshal's Office

***INJURED***
Time Elapsed Since Injury: 5-7 minutes.
Status: Bleeding, unable to apply pressure on self because of wound location.
Having difficulty breathing, potentially because of shock or injury to the lung.

Taeth spent the next several moments doing her best to take deep, steady breaths. Well, as deeply as she could when every inhale was met with sharp, stabbing pain. Even if there was a chance someone might hear her through the door, she wasn't sure she would be able to shout any longer.

As the seconds passed, she was also realizing how dire her situtation was. Even lying on the floor without moving, Taeth felt weakness spreading through her, and even without the pain in her chest, it was simply becoming harder to draw breath.
I've got to do something, anything, she thought, and with a grunt of pain she pushed herself up and did her best to prop herself up against the side of the desk. She had to wait a few more moments as her head spun, heart racing, unable to draw in a deep breath, before she could gather her thoughts.

The stab wound was on her right side. She was right-handed, but she'd trained for years to be able to shoot her bow with either hand, so if there was something on the desk that she could throw at the door, that might be her best bet to draw attention. So long as she could hit it while throwing with her left hand, which was admittedly different than drawing a bowstring.

But she had to be able to reach something first, and she honestly couldn't remember what was on the desk other than papers.
Her strength was still draining away, but she managed to get her legs beneath her and, steadying herself on the edge of the desk, at least pull herself up on her knees even if she couldn't stand. There was parchment and pencil nearest, and while she didn't have an immediate plan for those, she knocked them off onto the floor, just in case.

As she swayed, breath shallow and head spinning, her gaze fell on a heavy brass candlestick. She couldn't care less about the candle it held at the moment, but if she could reach it and if she had the strength to hold it and throw it...

No more time for thinking, Taeth, she told herself as her legs began to tremble and black spots danced across her vision.
With a grunt of pain, she lunged, stretching for the candlestick, glad it wasn't on the opposite side of the long desk. Her fingertips just barely brushed against the cool metal, and a sharp cry of agony escaped her as she had to stretch--just a little more--before her fingers wrapped around the candlestick.

Taeth slumped across the desk, pulling the candlestick toward her, and then with one last burst of energy, she threw it toward the door, uncertain if it hit as she slowly sank back to the ground, fighting to remain conscious.

[Pele Alarion]

Trainee Hadassa
Barracks

She thought that Edbert was a very nice guy, and she wouldn't mind just chatting with him, and yet... What little information he had made Hadassa feel rather uncomfortable.

"Well, it's all just a hearsay anyhow," she shrugged, not wanting to show the growing unease. "Suppose I should rather go and present myself to Feldmarshal or... any other ranking officer and see if they have any orders for me. But it was really great to meet you," she responded and for a moment watched the soldier unpacking.

She could do an impromptu search, but then again, it would be very awkward to go rummaging through people's belongings in view of Edbert. She would surely take her for a thief, if nothing else. With a sigh she then turned towards the door intending to find an officer and see if she could get some reasonable task to perform, perhaps even aiding in any investigation that she could manage with her limited understanding in such matters.

What little Hadassa knew at the moment made her wonder whether Feldmarshal would even be in his office, and she wasn't really sure whether she wanted to meet him, though that would have to happen sooner or later. Perhaps she could go to the Second Marshal's office first and report there.

[Amadhrill]

The Infirmary

She studied the hælend Ælfgifu intently, she had hoped their old comradery would give her something else, or perhaps even a request for some assistance. «I was hoping to...» Her words were cut short by some cynical words and a rather bitter huff. She had also hoped to be of some assistance, the bealdorhælend had told of the situation and she had wanted to see if there were anything she could do while in the Deep.

Well, she would see if the trainee had anything to say. The hælend could not help but wonder why the village woman had offered her help, seeing how Ælfgifu spoke of the trainee. On the other hand, hælends were hard to come by these days and any village woman was perhaps better then none. Though from the bitter words she was inclined to think the soldiers in Helm's Deep were better off without a hælend.

«I brought a few jars of honey, it was donated by a former cavalry member for the hælends' use... I will just put them in the office.» Ama said softly and patted her bag, getting a dark look from the other hælend as Ælfgifu huffed again and vaguly waved in the direction of the office. «You know the way, hælend. Now let me do my duties!»

Ama found the office just as she had expected it, filled with parchement, quills, half-finished report and the more precious herbs in jars. There seemed to be no system in the office anymore, not one she understood at least. She sorted the jars, trying to stack them in a way that made sense and gave her room to place the jars of honey from Lailyn. Perhaps the jars of herbs would give her a clue. The desk was overflowing with parchment, half-written reports, bottles of ink, jars of herbs, and what not. Ama carefully and quickly looked through the reports, trying to see if there could be any more clues among the papers and whatnots in the office

(B)

[Gwai]

4th Update--Major Developments!

@Taethowen--you feel feel energy leaving your body as you lose more and more blood. You managed to throw the heavy candlestick at the door, but will anyone hear you? And even if they do, will they be too late?

Hadassa (@Pele Alarion)--You cross the courtyard to the Second Marshal's office, surprised there isn't a wigend or ceorl in front of the office. You pause a moment, debating if you should knock or try the Feldmarshal's office. However, as you decide, you hear a odd thunk against the door. Despite being a trainee, you have been commissioned by the Marshals to investigate Helms' Deep, and therefore have permission to look into anything suspicious. This most definitely qualifies. You cautiously open the door to the Second Marshal's office, alert, but are shocked to discover Second Marshal Taethowen lying on the ground in a puddle of blood, pale, and barely clinging to consciousness. A quick glance around reveals no one else in the office.
Do you:
A) Rush to help the Second Marshal and apply pressure to the wound
B) Rush to find help from one of the haelends
C) Search for whoever did this

@Amadhrill--(part of your clue is whited out to maintain suspense for the others!) You take the honey into the haelend's office and look around. You page through the reports on the top, but all appears normal. Spying through the drawers, you come upon one that is locked. Strange, for a hӕlend’s desk, you think to yourself. There is a dagger with odd runes sitting on top of the desk, and you are able to use it to open the drawer. Inside you find a report. “The recent death of the Second Marshal was, I assure you, of purely natural causes.” It is not yet signed. You’re stunned—someone is plotting the death of Marshal Taethowen. But who? One of the hӕlends, or was this planted here to throw you off the scent?)
Do you:
A) Question trainee haelend Wulfthryth
B) Try to find the Second Marshal to warn her
C) Try to find the Feldmarshal to report this and alert the guards
D) Go someplace else

[Pele Alarion]

Trainee Hadassa
Second Marshal's Office

As she approached the destination, Hadassa's step slowed down, as she wondered whether the Marshal was even there; no one was attending at the door, so perhaps the office was closed. It might be worth a knock, maybe? The trainee hesitated in indecision for a while, when she was rather startled by the noise on the door as if something heavy hit it. Someone must be indoors then. Hadassa stared suspiciously at the door for a moment, and then approached it cautiously with her hand on the dagger which was the only weapon she had on her person.

Unsure of what to expect, the young woman tried the door. It opened, and she cautiously stepped within. Her eyes immediately were drawn towards someone on the floor, and she quickly recognised Second Marshal Taethowen.

"Bema's backsiiii..." she exclaimed when she saw the blood, lots of blood actually. Yet she did not finish the exclamation, maybe too late, realising that it would be very unbecoming. Instead she did a quick turn-around to make sure no one was hiding and that there was no immediate danger, yet she saw no one. Whoever had done the deed had apparently gone.

At the same time, Hadassa's brain quickly processed the options for what needs done. She definitely needed to get help, and yet she was not overly familiar with the Helm's Deep and finding a healer might take a while - a while of which there might not be many for the injured Second Marshal.

Leaving the door ajar, Hadassa did what seemed to be the only viable option: while she was no haeland, she knew that much that bleeding had to be stopped. With her dagger she cut off a sizeable strip off her cloak to be used as means of a makeshift dressing to be pressed over the wound. As she took a couple swift steps to reach the injured Second Marshal, it occurred to her that should Taethowen die in her arms, she would definitely be a prime suspect - and whoever did this would surely make use of the fact. However, she pushed the thought aside to do what little she could to help the Second Marshal.

A)

[Taethowen]

Second Marshal Taethowen
The Second Marshal's Office

***INJURED***
Time Elapsed Since Injury: 8-10 minutes.
Status: Nearly unconscious, bleeding heavily from stab wound (back, mid-right), struggling to breath

It hurt to breathe, and Taeth's hands were cold. She was trying to reach for the pencil and paper she'd knocked off the desk, but they had rolled just out of her reach, and it wasn't long before she was slumped on the floor again, facedown in her own blood.

She was unsure of how much time had passed when she thought she heard a voice. Her vision was beginning to black out, though, and she didn't see who it was. A moment later, she felt pressure against the wound in her back, and while it hurt she didn't have the strength to protest.

"In-" Taeth tried to speak, but didn't have the air to do so, and fought to take as deep a breath as she could. "Insignia," she finally gasped, hoping it was loud enough to be heard. "Took it."

Then, everything around her faded away.

---

@Pele Alarion

As you apply pressure to the Second Marshal's wound, you hear her try to speak, and lean down to catch her words. The Second Marshal finally loses consciousness a moment later, and just then a passing dryhtguma in the hall pushes open the door you left ajar. His eyes widen at the sight of the injured Marshal on the floor with you, and the pool of blood.

"What's going on here?" he shouts, drawing the attention of several others nearby who begin to gather in the doorway. At least one of them rushes off, presumably to sound the alarm.

Do you:
A) Recruit the drhytguma to apply pressure to the Marshal's wound while you go for help.
B) Continue applying pressure yourself and send the drhytguma for help, relaying the information you learned from the Marshal before she passed out.
C) Declare yourself innocent, that you didn't do it, hopefully while still applying pressure to the Marshal's wound.

---

5th Update - Major Development!

An alarm call sounds through the Hornburg. Moments later, several sperewigends and drhytgumas rush through, saying something about the Second Marshal being found wounded in her office, nearly dead.

All Participants (@Elarith, @Shivased, @Allacan ob Burzum, @Éolath, @Dimcairien Luiniel, @Amadhrill, @Aethelu)

You may:
A) Choose to remain in your current area and complete one of the options you received OR
B) Head to the Second Marshal's office to find out what's going on.

[Pele Alarion]

Trainee Hadassa
Second Marshal's Office

Hadassa pressed firmly on the wound, hoping that the thick layered strip of cloth would stop the blood flow eventually. For a while she considered calling out to draw someone's attention who could be sent for the healer, but then she heard Taethowen struggling to speak.

She leaned close to listen. "Insignia?" she repeated, but then saw that the Marshal had already lost consciousness. While trying to maintain the same pressure on the wound with one hand, she carefully tried to move Taeth more on her side, and it was then that she saw that insignia was indeed gone. And by all appearances not given away willingly.

As Hadassa still pondered this, she heard a dryhtguma enter and shout at her. "Someone must have stabbed the Second Marshal and took her insignia. I came for orders and found her on the floor bleeding. Now, go and get me a haelend! QUICK!" While she did not mean to shout back and sound as if she was ordering the man around, the whole situation and its urgency wore on her nerves, and she did not quite know what to do.

Not paying attention to any others that gathered at the door, Hadassa struggled to unclasp her cloak with one hand, and then folded it in a messy fashion and worked to slip it under the Marshal's head, not caring that it soaked up some blood from the floor. She had already cut the garment anyway... "Hang in there, will ya?" she muttered under her breath, as she kept an eye on the woman's breathing, hoping it wouldn't stop.

B)

[Amadhrill]

Hælend's office – Infirmary

A locked drawer in the desk, usually the drawers were unlocked and the cupboards locked. Ama looked around for a key, but the dagger might do the trick. She looked at the dagger, carefully studying the runes she did not recognize. Well, she had never been one to break into things, but perhaps she could open the drawer with the dagger. It took a bit of fumbling, but to her utter surprise the drawer opened without a sound.

She cursed silently, pondering for a split second if she should bring it with her or leave it. An alarm call sounds through the building. Quickly she closes the drawer, making sure to place the dagger at the same place before quickly walking out of the door. She catches someone speaking of the second marshal wounded. Her pace quickens into a run as she finds her way through the labyrinth that is the Deep. Somehow her feet remember the way and soon she pushes past a few dryhts and wigends. Her feet slow down, returning to a quick walk as she enters the room, finding Hadessa yelling for a hælend and leaning over the unconsious second marshal.

«I am here. But send for the others imidiately, and clean towels and lots of boiling water!» She speaks hurriedly while removing her cloak and pulling up the sleeves. «Keep the preassure firmly, Hadessa is it? You're doing well. What happened?»

All the time she speaks her hands move, opening the bag slung over her shoulder and finding various small containers with poultices, needles, and thread and a small bottle. She cleans her hands with clear liquid from the bottle.

(b)

(OOC:Hope I am not godmoding anything here, let me know if I do!

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

Éomund was just about to ask the stable boy Eadwig some questions about what he thought was going on when an alarm sounded throughout the Hornburg. He spun around and glanced out of the stable door. A passing sperewigend shouted something about the Second Marshal being found dead! Or did he say nearly dead? Either way, it did not sound good.

Without a second thought, he hurried out of the stables and towards the Marshal's Office. Having spent many weeks of his childhood at the Hornburg, he knew the most direct pathway there and hurried along it, one hand on the hilt of his sword. He knew he wasn't the best at swinging a sword, but he did know that you stabbed with the pointy end and he had slain a vicious badger, which had to count for something.

He approached the office and saw that the door was open. Marshal Taethowen was lying on the floor, her garments soaked in blood. One of the trainees that he had met in the courtyard (Hadassa was it?) was sitting on the floor, pressing a piece of cloth, which was fast becoming bloody, to the wound. He skidded to a stop in the doorway and then noticed one of the hælands (Ama) in there as well. She said something about bringing more clean clothes. He entered the room, whipped off his cloak, and with his dagger, cut it into quarters. He quickly folded one of them and handed it to Hadessa. "Put it on top of the piece that's already bloody," he ordered. "And keep pressing!"

Éomund looked around the room, wondering if there was anything else in there that could help or what he should do since there was a hæland in there. He could tell from a quick glance that whatever had injured the Second Marshal had been removed from her back. While he did not know much about healing, one of the few things he did know was to never remove the item from your body until a hæland did it.

"What happened?" he finally asked, staring down at the trainee. And turning to Ama, asked, "What can I do?"

(b)

[Shivased]

Feldmarshal's Office, heading to the Second Marshal's

Shivased frowned when Alfred said he didn't know where the Feldmarshal was. That was unacceptable. As the interim commander of the Deep, his whereabouts should always be known. In an emergency he had to be reachable. She opened her mouth to chastise the wigend but refrained when he started complaining, revealing some rather disturbing things. She knew the Feldmarshal hadn't fought in the War of the Ring, but assumed he was too young, as she had been. Apparently not. And gout? Why hadn't Rowena mentioned her Feldmarshal had gout, and why was some other woman treating him rather than the haelend who had been in charge here? The gout would exclude him from Cavalry duty, forcing him into retirement. Gout left one barely able to walk when it flared up, and a warrior who couldn't walk was not suitable to protect Rohan. By the sounds of it though, the Feldmarshal had grown lazy and jaded, and she wasn't happy to hear that. She would relate what she'd just been told to Taethowen when she saw the Second Marshal, and they would go from there.

She was about to dismiss Alfred and head out into the Deep to see if she could find the missing Feldmarshal when alarms began to sound. Rushing to the door she grabbed a passing dryhtguma and demanded to know what was going on. Second Marshal's dying ma'am! Found in her office they said, near dead! The Dryht pulled out of her grip and took off again. Letting out a string of colourful curses, Shivased took off after him.

Arriving at the Second Marshal's office she was met by a cluster of people around the door and more dryhts and wigends running up and down the halls. Pushing through them she entered the office to find Taeth on the floor, Hadassa and Ama tending to her while Eomund stood nearby. What happened? she demanded of the room in general, assuming someone knew at least marginally what was going on.

Then, without waiting for an answer she turned to the wigends and dryhts scattered around the door. Someone find me that blasted Feldmarshal, wherever he is, and the rest of you lock down the Deep. She turned to Eomund. You're in charge of locking this place down. Set guards at every gate, door or entry point. Nobody goes in or out without my permission. The Second Marshal didn't stab herself.

[Pele Alarion]

Trainee Hadassa
Second Marshal's Office

The healer's arrival gave Hadassa an immense sense of relief; and she only nodded as she diligently continued the only task that now kept her hands busy and her from shaking as a leaf in autumn winds. When she arrived she had instinctively acted on what knowledge she had, but now when she was finally not the only person here, and luckily no longer in charge of deciding what needs done, and so she relaxed slowly, the grim reality sunk in.

Quietly she took the piece of cloak Éomund offered and kept pressing it all on the wound. This was the first time she had seen someone wounded by a weapon, and such amounts of blood. Luckily she was still busy enough not to go into pondering whether she could really deal with such things on a greater scale, on a field of battle... though apparently one could get injured right in the midst of a well protected fortress. There must be traitors indeed.

When the question of what had happened was asked for the third time already, Hadassa realised that she probably had what passed for the best account this far, so she did her best to line up the events in proper order.

"I was the first on scene," she began somewhat hesitantly. "I came to see if I could be assigned some task or other. There was no one guarding the door, so I thought that office was empty." She still wondered about this circumstance, and now - perhaps the guard had been killed or wounded too? Or... someone of authority had ordered them off?

"Then there was a noise of something hitting the door from inside, so I eventually entered to see. Found the Second Marshal on the floor, blood everywhere. So I tried to stop the bleeding," she continued, including as much detail as she could. "Before she passed out, the Second Marshal said that insignia was taken. Suppose... whoever attacked her tore it right off her tunic. And then thankfully you all arrived." There was not much else to say of the matter, and Hadassa looked down to adjust the position of her hand to keep the pressure even.

[Taethowen]

Second Marshal Taethowen
The Second Marshal's Office

***INJURED***
Time Elapsed Since Injury: 10+ minutes
Status: Substantial blood loss, potentially a partially collapsed lung

She was cold and her back hurt, and she desperately wanted to draw in a deep breath of air but it felt like there was a weight on her back and she didn't have the strength to struggle against it. All that escaped her was a whimper, before oblivion threatened to overwhelm her again.

"What... where..." Taeth wasn't sure if she actually managed to speak or not, or whether she would be heard over the muffled, distant noise that seemed to surround her. She also wasn't sure if she was spinning, the room was, or the floor was threatening to fall out from under her.

((@Amadhrill feel free to go on ahead and do your haelend thing!))

---

@Dimcairien Luiniel/Eomund - As you exit the Second Marshal's office to obey the First Marshal's order, you run into the new Aethelwigend Edbert a little way up the hall--quite literally. The collision causes you to knock over a weapon's rack, but the glint of a bloody blade on the floor behind it halts you both.

The Aethelwigend asks what your orders are, and when you relay them, he agrees to go about locking down the Hornburg, and sends you back to the Second Marshal's office with the bloody knife.

The knife is clearly Cavalry-issue, but the blood is fresh, and very likely the Second Marshal's.

---

GM Update

You are welcome to converse among yourselves IC and trade information, but please wait to take any actions outside the Second Marshal's office until @Gwai's next update (which should happen in the next 24 hours).

[Aethelu]

Dicun, at the stables

It didn't take long for Arlette to settle in the stables, especially once she had something to eat. The stables seemed very relaxed, everyone going about their business as normal. Nothing so far to imply anything terrible was happening in Helm's Deep. As he closed the stable door, he took a careful look around to see who was about. There was someone unloading a wagon with what looked like supplies and a stableboy sweeping the place up. Both seemed quite ordinary, they'd both offered a hearty hello when he'd arrived in, and the stableboy, Odo he'd said his name was, had fetched some water for Arlette as well. Surely these two couldn't be traitors?

Dicun sighed, perhaps he was being too trusting of people. He wasn't quite as cynical as his older sister, at least not yet. He had to decide on the best course of action though, he was wasting too much time. It seemed the best place to start was to stay here for now. The wagon could be hiding something, he could help him unload to see what was there, or even wait until he was done and search it himself. That didn't sit quite right with him, no matter how hard he tried to convince himself. He turned his attention back to Odo. He had to have seen and heard a lot as he puttered around the stables. Dicun was about to open his mouth to speak when all hell broke loose.

An alarm was being sounded, people were shouting, and he could see some of his fellow cavalry members running into the keep. Something had happened, did he hear it right that the second marshal had been stabbed? Dicun found himself frozen in place, that was not he turn of events he could have every expected. He considered if he should follow the others towards the injured marshal. In truth, what could he do though. He was no healer, no tracker, he was just a dryhtguma. Turning his attention back to the stables, he decided to stay put for now. If anyone tried to escape Helm's Deep, perhaps they would come here looking for a horse. Trying to project an air of calmness, he headed over to the stableboy. "Well, it seems things are a little more exciting here than I'd expected," he said with a an attempt at a smile to the young lad. It was time to see if he had any information worth having.

C) Question Sperewigend Odo
(OOC: Sorry for missing a few updates, had to get a new laptop, forgot to check my notifications )

[Gwai]

Update--Significant Events
Please read all the instruction as stuff is changing!(or at least the stuff in red!)

Eomund has returned, a bloody dagger in his hands. The knife is clearly cavalry issued, but otherwise unremarkable except for the blood.

The First Marshal instructs several nearby wigends to get a stretcher from the Infirmary and inform the haelend she will be having a patient. They return with the stretcher, and Taethowen is gently placed into it. The wigends rush her toward the Infirmary, and the waiting Haeland Aelfgifu.

@Taethowen--you struggle to hold onto consciousness, but Hadassa and Ama managed to significantly slow the bleeding. Was it too little, too late, or will Aelfgifu manage to save you?

Hadassa (@Pele Alarion)--You most likely just saved the Second Marshal's life with your quick actions. But you don't have time to stop, where are you taking your investigation from here?

@Amadhrill--Thank Bema you were able to get to Taethowen so quickly, as your actions helped stabilize her! She is being rushed to the Infirmary, and while you can accompany her, you also know she will be in good hands with Aelfgifu, who, for all her grumpiness, is an excellent haelend (OOC--don't feel obliged to go to the Infirmary, you can go anywhere you want!)

@Shivased--The Hornburg has been locked down, and it is unlikely the would-be murdered escaped. You immediately send Taethowen to the Infirmary, and instruct the wigends to report back as soon as Aelgifu has an update on her condition.

@Dimcairien Luiniel--After you tell the Aethel of the First Marshal's orders to lock down the Hornburg, you return to the Second Marshal's office with the bloody knife you found. It must be the would-be murder weapon. But who did it belong to?

Dicun @Aethelu--You start talking to Odo, and realize he's quite friendly, and difficult to get to stop in actuality. He tells you, "Oh yes, the feldmarshal has said more than once he should have been promoted long ago! He’s dissatisfied, and feels Helm’s Deep is a dead end, he should be someplace more glamorous where he can be seen by important folks, such as Aldburg or Edoras. His ceorl? Now he’s an odd person. Always creeping around, he is. There’s rumors he has stolen money intended for the supplies, but ain’t nothing anyone ever could prove, and the feldmarshal won’t hear any bad of him. I think he might be a relative or some such. That new Aethelwigend seems a nice enough chap. Appeared out of nowhere it seemed. We knew we were getting one, but didn’t know that quickly! I had to clean out a stall for his horse. He must have made some quick time to get here, with how muddy she was. What worries me is Alca getting promoted. She don’t take care of her horse at all! Rides them ragged. That’s a sign of a bad person. Our last Watch Commander wanted to transfer her out, or at least discipline her, but the Feldmarshal wouldn’t hear of that. I’m not sure why though. And now to promote her? She’s going to make our lives miserable, he finishes glumly. ). Odo then adds, I've heard there's quite the excitement right now in the Second Marshal's office, I don't know what's going on up there, though," he says excitedly. (OOC--If you want to move to the Marshal's office and join the group there, and pick a new destination from there that is fine! Otherwise feel free to continue here too!)

**Everyone in the Second Marshal's office now has the opportunity to share information (i.e. you can now look at each other's clues!). Eomund has found a bloody knife, making you one step closer to catching the killer. Second Marshal Taethowen is being transported to the Infirmary, and will be well looked after. It is suggested strongly by the First Marshal that everyone either team up, or take a wigend (NPC) with them, as there is a murderer on the loose!

The remaining choices are below, and are now first come first served. Clues will no longer be whited out, but please keep it reasonable if your PC should know certain information! At the end everyone will once again have a chance to share information, or, you can send an NPC to relay specific information to specific people if needed.

Your choices:

GO TO THE BARRACKS:
Do you:
A) Look for clues around the bunks
B) Go through people's trunks looking for clues

GO TO THE STABLES:
The Stables
Do you:
A) Offer to help Eadwig unload supplies, while questioning him
B) Wait for Eadwig to leave before searching his wagon
C) Snoop through the tack room

GO TO THE FELDMARSHAL'S OFFICE:
A) Snoop through the Feldmarshal's desk

GO TO THE ARMORY
Do you:
A) Question Maegesteriwigend Alca
B) Tell Alca the new Aethelwigend is looking for him, and look through the Armory

GO TO THE INFIRMARY
A) Question trainee healer Wulfthryth


***After you discuss your investigation and reveal any details and thoughts you feel comfortable sharing with the rest of the investigators, the group realizes that there is one place that has not yet been brought up...THE GLITTERING CAVES. Someone should probably head there and investigate!***

GO TO THE GLITTERING CAVES
(First come first serve, only one person or team needs to choose this option!)

OOC to anyone who is behind on the updates: Feel free to join back in at any time! You can do a retro-post with the events, and then pick a new spot to investigate!

[Shivased]

Second Marshal's Office, Heading to Glittering Caves

Shivased listened as Hadassa spoke up and explained what had happened, how she had come in and found Taeth lying there after hearing a sound, and how the Second Marshal had managed to tell her that her insignia had been taken. She frowned at that. Why would someone take the Second Marshal's insignia? The Cavalry was large, but enough time had passed since promotions that every member knew who the Second Marshal was, and wouldn't be fooled by someone trying to impersonate her.

After giving the orders for Taeth to be taken to the infirmary, and being told the Deep was locked down, she turned in a circle and studied the room. Truthfully she wasn't as familiar with Helm's Deep as she wished she was at this moment. She had always served in the Eastmark, so spent most of her time in Edoras or Aldburg, rarely at the Deep. Nothing in the room caught her eye until her eyes passed over Eomund who she saw held a bloody dagger. Well, that was interesting, she thought. She'd sent him out to lock down the Deep and he'd returned with the attacker's weapon. Mind explaining? she asked with a wry grin at the lad, seeing some humour in the turn of events despite the situation.

A quick report was forthcoming that he'd knocked over something in the passageway and found the dagger hidden behind it. Her ears perked up at that. Well we know how the attacker left this office, she mused out loud. And that he or she was in a hurry, if they just tossed the dagger behind a weapon's rack and assume nobody would find it. Beyond that she was at a loss for what to do, which was an unfamiliar feeling for her. She was the First Marshal, and she was supposed to always know what to do. She usually knew. If she didn't, she had fellow marshals and they worked as a team. Now she was in a place she had been only a handful of times since she was a child, in a very confusing situation, and felt herself floundering.

Then, it hit her. She hadn't been here much since the time as a child! THE GLITTERING CAVES! she shouted, shocking even herself with how loud she was. We've locked down the Deep, but did they close off any access to the Caves? She called over a wigend and sent him off to inquire, then turned to the others. I'm suspicious. Feldmarshal Aethelred is nowhere to be found, when he should have been here once the alarm was sounded. He's bitter and disillusioned and thinks he should have been marshal, by the sounds of what his Ceorl told me. And now the Second Marshal has been attacked and her insignia taken. It's all circumstantial, but it is enough to find and question him.

The Wigend returned then and reported that the entrances to the Caves had not been closed off, but that he'd set guards there once he'd confirmed none were. I'm going to the Glittering Caves. she announced to the room at large. Eomund, keep that knife and come with me to the Caves. The rest of you, feel free to join us there, or continue investigating here. But don't go anywhere alone! I don't want anyone else attacked. Take a wigend, ceorl or pair up with each other.

Glittering Caves

It took a few minutes to wind her way through the deep, but eventually she arrived at the tunnel that led to the Glittering Caves and headed down it. She didn't bother to check if Eomund was following, since she could hear him behind her and trusted that he would follow orders. She also trusted that others would follow if they chose, or else would continue their investigation. They all knew what to do. As she passed the guards she picked a torch from the wall and drew her sword. Briefly she acknowledged that she was leaving herself with her hands full and in an emergency would have to drop the torch, but it couldn't really be helped. They needed to see where they were going. Sword out, and be on the lookout. I don't know if our attacker is in here, but better safe than sorry, she said quietly to anyone behind her.

When the tunnel opened into the actual caves she slowed, taking a second to look around her at what she could see in the torchlight, which admittedly wasn't a lot. She hadn't been here since she was a toddler. Her mind briefly flashed back to that time, what she remembered. She mostly remembered being scared, of the loud noise, bangs, and clashing of swords they could hear from above them, the crying and screaming of terrified people hidden there, and her mother holding her and Daran tightly. She hadn't been particularly scared of the threat they faced, just too young to really know what was going on and scared because everyone around her was scared. It had been a terrifying time. She also remembered after the battle, the relief when her father returned safely.

Still, seeing the caves after so long, she could almost hear the crying, the sounds of battle. She had to shake her head to get rid of the memories and focused on the present. Raising the torch she cautiously moved into the main chamber, searching in the dim light for any sign of their quarry, whoever that was.

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

Éomund

Upon receiving the order to post sentries throughout the Hornburg, Éomund hurried out of the Second Marshal's office. Barely turning the corner he ran smack into Aethelwigend Edbert. There was a resounding 'clang!' as he did so. "S…s…orry!" he stuttered, scrambling back to his feet, a look of horror crossing his face. Good soldiers did not run into their superiors!

Taking a look around, Éomund noticed what had made the clanging sound. "Bema's underpants!" He exclaimed when he noticed what had made the noise; a weapon's rack had fallen over revealing a bloody knife on the floor behind it. He exchanged a quick glance with the Aethelwigend and delicately picked up the bloody instrument.

After he had picked up the blade, the Aethelwigend asked him what his orders were. "T-to get guards posted at all entrances and lock down the Hornburg," he told him, trying to draw his shoulders straight and show himself as the Drytugma he was. The Aethelwigend nodded in understanding, "I'll take care of it," he told Éomund. "You take the knife back to the Second Marshal's office." Éomund nodded and quickly turned around.

When he got back to the office, even more people had arrived. And the Second Marshal was no longer there. She had been taken down to the Infirmary where he hoped the hællands would be able to help her. Marshal Shivased approached him and after a quick look at the knife, ordered him to wrap it up and follow her down to the Glittering Caves. He picked up one of the scraps of cloth from what was left of his cloak and did as requested. Éomund recalled exploring the caves once or twice as a child during his annual trips to the Hornburg. Grimthian had shown him them and told him a little bit about the battle that had occured. Éomund did not know too much about it, other than that his father and Grimthian had both fought in it when they were younger than him. The very idea of battle still terrified him and he could not imagine fighting the Enemy of so long ago. He briefly wondered where is uncle was, but knew that his knew the Hornburg better than anyone and was hopefully somewhere out of danger.

He quickly followed the Marshall down towards the caves and watched as she took a torch from one of the guards. For a moment, he wondered if he should grab one too, but quickly decided against it when he was ordered to draw his sword. As he did, they entered the cave and he looked around at the way the dim torchlight danced across the walls. If whoever had tried to kill the Second Marshal was in here, they needed to be ready. He took a shaky breath and moved to stand by Marshal Shivased.

[Amadhrill]

Second Marshal's Office

Éomund arrived close after her, earning himself an apporving glance from the hælend as he cut his cloak into pieces and handed the rags to Hadessa. She was about to ask him to search for whatever had injured the second marshal Taeth when she heard the angry voice of the first marshal Shivased order him to lock the place down completely. Finally Hadessa spoke, though Ama didn't gather much she had not already gathered from seeing the scene in front of her. There was blood everywhere. She checked that Hadessa kept a firm press on the wound.

«Keep it steady, wigend, pressing down firmly» Her voice is soft and steady, firm and calm. She leans over the face of Taethowen, listening for the struggling breath of the second marshal. The marshal tries to speak, but the hælend can't quite make it out. «Don't fight the breath, marshal, try to breath steady. Don't speak, save your strenght, you will need it.»

She looks up as Éomund returns with a bloody knife. She moves away from the second marshal's head and kneels besides Hadessa. «You are doing great, wigend, you might have saved the second marshal's life. Let me have a look now.»

Carefully she takes over pressing the bloodied rags from Hadessa before she carefully removes the rags. The bleeding is slowing, but the wound looks deep. She keeps her face neutral, trying to not let her worry show. «The stretcher is here, hælend.»

She reapplies the pressure to the wound and sees to it that the second marshal is placed gently on the stretcher. «Tell the hælend that the second marshal has been stabbed, she has lost a lot of blood and her breathing is struggling, perhaps a collapsed lunge. You, keep the pressure firm on the wound! Go, as quick as you can. I will be right after you. DO NOT LEAVE THE SECOND MARSHAL!»

For a moment she looks at the gathered cavalry members, wondering for a moment who can be trusted and who can't. She clearly makes up her mind as she dries the blood off on her clothes and gathers her hælend supplies quickly into the bag.

«Marshal Shivased, I found a dagger with letters I cannot read in the hælend's office, and a letter stating that the life of the second marshal was of natural causes. Hælend Ælfgifu do not trust her trainee, the village woman, she is useless. And at the moment I do not trust either. I will go to the infirmary and make sure that all is done that can be done for the second marshal!» She was nearly out of the room as Shivased also headed for the door, ordering Éomund to join her. Ama turned around, her green eyes fell on Hadessa. «I will go to the infirmary to see to the marshal and keep an eye on the hælend and her assistant, you have done well. There are always clean clothes to be found in the infirmary if you want to get rid of your bloody clothes...»

It was an invitation for Hadessa to join her, as Amadhrill turned to run after the stretcher back to the infirmary, not waiting to see if she was followed.

(A - Infirmary)
(OOC: @Pele Alarion don't feel that Hadessa has to join Ama. @Gwai , Ama would have to be ordered not to go to the infirmary after this, and she would protest it

[Pele Alarion]

Hadassa
Second Marshal's Office

The assurance and calmness in Amadhrill's voice seemed to have a soothing effect on Hadassa, and she began to take deeper, more even breaths as if the healer's instructions for the wounded Marshal were meant for her as well.

"I did all I could..." she said quietly, though she wished that she were more knowledgeable and capable. Yet, if even her small contribution in the matter helped to save the Second Marshal, it would be excellent.

Carefully she moved aside and removed her hands from pressing the rags only when Ama was ready to take over. Sitting back, Hadassa observed the healer intently to conclude what she thought of the injury; at any rate it had looked horrible to her.

The stretcher was brought, and Taethowen was placed on it to be taken to infirmary. Still sitting right where she was, the trainee wondered what she should do next. More and more she found herself thinking that perhaps the missing Feldmarshal had gotten rid of the guards before this office and committed this deed. Perhaps it was worth looking at his office... And yet Hadassa was afraid to meet the man, as he would easily get rid of her if their paths crossed.

He ponderings were stopped by Ama's words, and she looked down at her blood-stained clothes. "I'm coming!" she suddenly decided, and followed the healer. From the upturned weapons' rack, she grabbed a scabbard with a short sword and tried to buckle the belt around her waist as she ran after Amadhrill. She still needed to improve her skills, and yet it would be best to have some sort of weapon with her besides the dagger considering the circumstances.

A - Infirmary, following Ama.

(OOC: @Amadhrill Of course, she would come along! :D)

[Aethelu]

Dicun, in the stables

Dicun listened carefully as Odo began to tell him all about the comings and goings at Helm's Deep. And he certainly did tell him a lot. It was as if the poor lad had been keeping it all bottled up inside and now the dam had burst. He had a keen insight in what was happening it seemed to Dicun, a good sense of people. Or at least, he hoped he did. Over the years Dicun had often found that those who worked with animals had a good sense of people as well as animals. His own father seemed to have an almost psychic way of being able to read a person he had just met. As the young man continued talking, Dicun hoped his own sense was somewhat as good as his father's and that he could trust this young man.

"Goodness," he said as Odo finally seemed to run out of things to say. "There has been a great deal going on here hasn't there? And here I was thinking things would be quiet out here." He let out a laugh, "You're right about today's excitement, but I'm sure it's all being handled. I've got some other jobs I should probably get on with, I'd best let you get on too." He clapped Odo on the shoulder and grinned. "Keep working hard, I'm sure it'll all work out well in the end."

Dicun began to walk away from the stables, he had a lot to think about. If Odo was to be believed, so many people here could be working against the cavalry and Rohan. So many untrustworthy sounding folks. He let out a little groan, this all seemed like a little too much for such a young man to handle. Running his hand through his hair, he tried to brush it off. This was no time for self doubt, there was a too much at stake. He stopped for a moment to consider where to go next. He'd seen enough people go running at the sound of the alarm that he felt fairly sure he'd just get in the way. Better to keep investigating, for now at least. Odo had seemed very concerned about someone called Alca, she would be his first port of call.

It didn't take long to find out he could find Maegisterwigend Alca in the armoury, but now Dicun faced a quandary. Did he question her directly, a tricky proposition when facing down a superior he had never met, or did he find a way to remove her from the armoury and search for evidence? Neither option was ideal, but being direct had so far served him well, so he would have to try that. Taking a deep breath, he approached the armoury.

GO TO THE ARMOURY
A) Question Maegisterwigend Alca

[Taethowen]

Second Marshal Taethowen
In Transit to the Infirmary

***INJURED, but finally in a hæland's care***

Taeth felt herself calm just a little as she heard a slightly familiar voice (Amadhrill) telling her to save her strength. Moments later, she felt herself lifted and placed on a stretcher, but everything around her went dim and blurry again as she was carried to the infirmary.

It hurt to breathe, both inside and out. She desperately wanted to just slip into the darkness that was lurking at the edges of her vision.

Surely I've borne a lifetime of hardships the last several weeks, she managed to think. Surely it must end soon. Surely.

Moments later, she heard new, unfamiliar voices, and then she was transferred from the stretcher to a cot, the pressure on her wound letting up only briefly, and Taeth did her best to focus her scattered thoughts, trying to stay conscience just a little while longer. Something told her if she gave in now, she might not wake up again.

[Gwai]

***Update***

@Shivased and Eomund (@Dimcairien Luiniel)--You hurry to the Glittering Caves, not sure what to expect, but a hand on your weapon to be prepared for anything. You are startled, however, when you enter the Caves to almost trip over a body lying on the cold, hard ground. You bring the torch closer, check for any signs of life, but the man is definitely dead. The First Marshal recognizes him as Feldmarshal Aethelred! You see some dried blood splashed on his boots, but you see no signs of injury on the man himself. There is a empty wineskin laying next to him. In his hand is clutched the insignia of the Second Marshal.

@Amadhrill and Hadassa (@Pele Alarion)--You hurry the wigends bearing the stretcher to the Infirmary. The haelend Aelfigu is there and immediately begins treating the injured and barely conscious Second Marshal. While Hadassa grabs a new cloak, Aelfigu and Amadhrill treat Taethowen. Aelfigu looks up, wondering where the trainee haelend Wulfthryth is. "That girl is always missing when we need her," Aelfigu grumbles as she walks to the supply room herself. A door slams as Wulfthryth hurries inside, wiping some spilled red wine off her dark skirt, looking surprised to see the Second Marshal being treated. "She's alive?" Wulfthryth exclaimed, stopping in the doorway and looking shocked. You look at her suspiciously, as she hurriedly adds, "There are rumors everywhere that the Marshal Teathowen was killed!" You ask, "Where have you been? We've been looking for you, and needed your help!" Wulfthryth pauses a moment, before saying, "I was just out in the Courtyard, we were expecting some supplies to be delivered."

Dicun (@Aethelu)--You are indeed correct, there are quite a few suspicious sounding persons about! You track young Alca down in the armory, who is polishing her nails instead of her helm, and it is immediately clear she is extremely unsuited to her job. It is also immediately clear she has no interest in doing any work. She tells you about the parties she’s been to, how she convinced her rich father to buy her a third horse, and how big her house was growing up. You casually ask why she had picked the cavalry as a career. She narrows her eyes, and finally tells you her father put her in the cavalry to “shape up”. You wonder how she was accepted at all, much left promoted. Perhaps her "rich" father bribed somebody to get the promotion for his daughter? It would have to be somebody fairly high in rank, though, and the new Aethel had only arrived last night, and clearly Grimthain had not promoted Alca.

@Taethowen--You struggle to push back the encroaching darkness. Fortunately you have Ama there to help you, and for all her lack of bedside manner, Aelfgifu is a skilled haelend. You are in the right place to be treated effectively. The haelends work feaverishly on you, but only time will tell if you will fully recover.

Remaining Choices:
GO TO THE BARRACKS:
Do you:
A) Look for clues around the bunks
B) Go through people's trunks looking for clues

GO TO THE STABLES:
The Stables
Do you:
A) Offer to help Eadwig unload supplies, while questioning him
B) Wait for Eadwig to leave before searching his wagon
C) Snoop through the tack room

GO TO THE FELDMARSHAL'S OFFICE:
A) Snoop through the Feldmarshal's desk

GO TO THE ARMORY
Do you:
A) Tell Alca the new Aethelwigend is looking for him, and look through the Armory

INFIRMARY
A) Examine the storeroom for anything suspicious

***You have one more round of investigation! We will then have another update in about 3-4 days, which will have instructions to present your suspicions and perpetrator will (hopefully) be taken into custody and receive their just desserts!

[Pele Alarion]

Trainee Hadassa with Amadhrill at Infirmary

At least the Second Marshal was in good hands now, and Hadassa trusted that two healers combined would surely find a way to ensure that Taeth would recover from the injuries. So the trainee went on to find a suitable cloak from the available provisions. At the exclamation of unbelief from the healer's trainee that had just rushed in, Hadassa stepped out of the storage room, cloak in hand, and frowned at the woman, yet said nothing.

"I will also take a clean tunic, if I may," Hadassa eventually said as means to return to the storage room and possibly look around for something that might just be off and give any clues as to the recent events; after all Amadhrill had already found something suspicious here before. Besides... Her tunic was indeed stained with blood, and she would rather change out of it.

Infirmary
A)

[Aethelu]

Dicun, regretting asking the question

As soon as he arrived in the armoury, Dicun found himself regretting several decisions. Not only was Alca wildly underqualified for the position she had been given, but she also had a deeply unpleasant attitude as well. He politely listened as she droned on and on about all the things she was missing out on while she was stuck in the cavalry. For a while Dicun wondered if he should say something, to try and defend the good name of the cavalry. How could someone so selfish and self-centred be given such an important role? When she at last blurted out that her father had put her in the cavalry to “shape up”, he suddenly felt a little sorry for her. Yes, she was little more than a spoiled little girl, but she had been shipped off here against her will it seemed. Besides, surely it was her father who had made her the way she was by giving her everything she wanted, now he was making everyone else try to fix her attitude. It was all quite the shame really.

With a polite smile, he apologised for disturbing her while she was hard at work and slipped out of the armoury. Now he wondered what to do next. Clearly Alca hadn’t been given her role on merit and hard work. Her father had a lot of money, perhaps that had gone to line someone’s pockets to get her here. But how could he find out who had done that. As he wandered the corridors, he took note of how quiet Helm’s Deep was. After the alarm, it seemed everyone was busy with those events. Now a thought crept into his mind. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the note he was supposed to deliver to the Feldmarshal.

Dicun had no desire to lie or sneak around, but something wasn’t adding up. As he walked towards the Feldmarshal’s office he tried to formulate his plan. He had one shot at this plan, and he had to make sure he knew what to say if he got caught. He rehearsed it a few times until he reached the door. He knocked at the door and felt relief when there was no answer. Slowly opening the door, he gripped the note tightly, ready to offer his excuses for why he was entering the room. Slipping into the empty room, he closed the door quietly behind him. All he could do was hope no one came back, or if they did, they would believe the excuse he had been practicing. It was time to do some snooping.

FELDMARSHAL’S OFFICE
A

[Amadhrill]

The infirmary

She heard steps following her own, and turned as she heard a bit of banging from the weapons' rack. «Good!» Ama muttered as she saw Hadessa pick up a weapon and try to buckle the belt as they ran after the stretcher. Whether it was her presence at their heels or the knowledge of the serious injury that their Second Marshal sustained, either way the wigends ran to the infirmary. She hung her cloak on a peg and grabbed a pinafore, fastening it quickly.

«At your service, hælend!» Ama said clearly, getting a tired glance from hælend Ælfigu. Together they did their best, stopping the bleeding and stitching the marshal together. Ama took her orders from the resident hælend, hardly sparing a thought for where the trainee was. They work quickly, hardly needing words to comunicate, both knowing well what to do. «That girl is always missing when we need her.»

Again the grumble of Ælfigu was towards the trainee it seemed, but just then a door slams and the allusive trainee finally makes her appearance. Ama looks up from Taeth, something red, blood or wine perhaps, was on the trainee Wulfthryth's skirt. Her look must be as stern as she meant for it to be, and Ælfigu was still in the supply room. «Where have you been? We've been looking for you, and needed your help!» Amas voice was hard and stern, her green eyes looking straight into the trainee's eyes. «I was just out in the Courtyard, we were expecting some supplies to be delivered.»

She wanted to say a few words, but thought better of it as Ælfigu returns from the supply room. The frown of Hadessa was probably mirrored in her own face. For a moment she considered to stay with the second marshal, she was not sure whether the hælend and her trainee could be trusted, especially the trainee. Yet, there were several wigends there as well, to guard both each other and the hælend and her trainee. And she did not like to see Hadessa alone, after all the first marshal had told them not to go alone. She took a rag and began wiping her hands clean with it as she follows Hadessa into the storage room.

«You should find a clean tunic here somewhere...» Ama said absentmindedly as she began looking through the storage room.

A

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

Éomund gulped when he saw the item that he and the First Marshal had nearly tripped over.

Despite the fact that the body wasn't overly bloody (especially compared to the scene with the Second Marshal), Éomund suddenly felt extremely queasy. The flickering lights of the torch made the startling atmosphere all the more uneasy. He had never seen a dead body before, and after coming off of the adrenaline high that had been trying to save the Second Marshal's life, his knees began to shake. "Don't you faint," he muttered to himself, remembering the unfortunate incident of doing so on the training adventure. While he may have been able to avoid toppling over in a fit of unconsciousness, he could not maintain the same amount of control over the contents of his stomach. Suddenly, he doubled over and the undigested remnants of his last meal found their way to the floor of the Glittering Caves.

"S…sorry," he muttered, trying to wipe the bile from his lips with his sleeve. "It's just that … that I've never … I've never seen a dead body before!" The final words were murmured in a barely audible tone. He knew that such a statement showed both his innocence and his age. When his father and Grimthain were younger than him, they had fought in the battle in this very fortress! And had seen so much death. He was aware that the Marshal, while probably not old enough to have been in the Cavalry during the War of the Ring, had certainly seen her fair share of battles and death, probably during the campaign that his father had died in.

Trying to regain some sense of composure (and respect from his superior officer), Éomund swallowed the growing lump in his throat and turned once again to face the body of the Fieldmarshal Aethelred. He thought he caught something in the light of the torch. "What's that he's holding?" he managed to ask.

[Taethowen]

***Update***
The next update after this one will be the last. We're trying to get this RPG wrapped up before Christmas.

@Taethowen - Finally stabilized, but weak, the Second Marshal slips into a restless sleep in the infirmary.

@Shivased and @Dimcairien Luiniel/Eomund - After discovering the Feldmarshal's body in the cave, and the Second Marshal's insignia still clutched in his hand, you know you've found at least one of the traitors in the Hornburg. You call for some wigends to transport his body to the infirmary to be examined, following along behind.

@Amadhrill and @Pele Alarion/Hadassa - After stabilizing the Second Marshal, Pele's bloodied tunic is quickly replaced with a clean one as the two of you head into the storeroom. However, before you have a chance to truly search the room, the Feldmarshal's body is brought in, accompanied by Shivased and Eomund. After a short examination, Haeland Aelfgifu determines that the Feldmarshal was poisoned with deadly nightshade.

@Aethelu/Dicun - Strangely, the feldmarshal's office is completely unattended, and empty. Searching through the desk, you find the usual collections of medals, weapons taken from enemies, and the well organized reports one would expect from a career officer. However, you are interested to find a crumpled scrap of paper under the inkwell. On it is a list of sperewigends, drhytgumas, and other officers stationed in the Westmark, along with their abilities such as archery, swordsmanship, etc. listed next to their names. There's also comments you can't read, written in the Black Script. But who wrote it? You keep going through the Feldmarshal's desk, and find a bag of thirty silver pieces, with a note which reads, "I know she's not ready, but I want it done now." Is this a bribe?

***All Please***

Your current investigations are interrupted as a horn sounds, announcing the arrival of Marshal @Gwai*, and you are each summoned to the courtyard to give your reports on your current information and make your case about who you think the culprit(s) might be.

*Gwai's arrival godmodded with permission.

[Taethowen]

Second Marshal Taethowen
In the Infirmary

***INJURED, but finally in a hæland's care***

An unnatural quietness roused Taethowen eventually. She was cold, lying on her stomach, and realized that her tunic had been cut away. She didn't move right away, as the room was threatening to spin around her when she opened her eyes, and it still hurt to breath.

What happened? she thought, trying to sort the jumbled images and events in her head. And what's going on now?

She remembered arriving at the Hornburg with Grimthain. Had a vague recollection of taking Gefyrst to the stables, and then finding her quarters to leave her belongings there... and then she thought she went to the Second Marshal's office--her office, even if it didn't seem like hers yet--and... that's where everything started to get a little fuzzy. She remembered being stabbed, but not much else.

"Are you awake now?" an unfamiliar voice (Wulfthryth) asked from just beyond her point of vision.

"Yes," Taeth murmured. "Can you help me turn over? I'd like a drink, please."

The woman helped Taeth silently, though her manner was a bit callous, until Taeth was propped up on some pillows and carefully positioned to avoid putting pressure on the stab wound, a blanket draped over her front. As the woman went to retrieve some water, Taeth rested her head back against the wall behind the cot, face pale and clammy after the exertion, breathing shallow. She looked around, hoping to see one of the Cavalry hælands around who could tell her what exactly her condition was.

She was clearly in the infirmary now, but it was... awfully empty. There were no guards and no hælands. Who would leave an incapacitated Marshal unguarded?

The woman returned with a wooden cup in hand, handing it to her. Taeth took it carefully with her left hand, though she was weak enough that she almost dropped it. She thought she saw a flash of irritation in the woman's eyes, but didn't have the strength to contemplate what it meant.

"Where is everyone?" the Second Marshal asked as she rested for a moment, gathering the strength to lift the cup to her lips.

"The Third Marshal has arrived," the woman answered. "They were called out to meet with her."

"But you weren't?" Taeth murmured, slowly and carefully raising the cup so she didn't spill any of the liquid inside it. But her eyes narrowed when she noticed the woman's shoulders stiffen, and something made the Second Marshal hesitate just a moment, and then she caught a whiff of something bitter from the cup.

Feigning weakness--or, maybe, not feigning as much as she would have liked--Taeth lowered the cup in her trembling hand before having taken a sip. "I'm sorry, what did you say your name was?" Taeth asked.

It was then that Taeth realized the woman wasn't wearing a Cavalry haeland's garb or insignia, and while Taeth did not like judging a person solely by their appearance--she'd briefly had a Black Númenórean as a lover, after all, and had intervened with the Dragon Room guards on behalf of a clearly half-Dunlending Cavalry recruit not too long ago--but there was something off about this woman.

And the Second Marshal had not received an answer to her question.

"There's poison in the water, isn't there?" Taeth laughed weakly. I should have never come back to the Mark, she thought. All I've met here is heartache and treason. And there's no way I can fight her off in my current state.

Slowly, her eyes locked with her second would-be murderer of the day--or perhaps the same one from earlier? She really couldn't recall.--the Second Marshal tipped the cup so that its contents dumped onto the floor beside the cot.

"If you want to kill me, don't do it like a coward," Taeth goaded, knowing that her only hope now was that this person would make a scene and draw some attention. "Kill me with your own hands, not poison in a cup."

She could see anger building in the other woman's eyes, and Taeth kept the cup clutched in her left hand as her eyes darted around the room. The thick stone walls of the fortress--combined with the normal activity outside--were far too sound insulating for her to cry out for help, especially since she was currently incapable of drawing a full breath. But she'd trained herself to be able to use her left hand nearly as well as her right, especially for archery. So long as she had the strength, she might be able to get someone's attention somehow.

"Who are you?" The Second Marshal asked again, her gaze returning to the woman's face. "Dunlending? You have the look of it."

"I am Wulfthryth," the woman hissed at last, drawing herself up to stand tall and towering over the Second Marshal lying injured on the cot. "And my purposes here are none of your concern, not anymore!"

Wulfthryth lunged then, and somehow Taeth managed to twist away, throwing the wooden cup toward the small glass window--who had paid for expensive glass windows to be installed in the infirmary was a question to be pondered another time--with every ounce of strength she could spare. Taeth heard the window shatter satisfactorily just as she slumped over and began to slide off the cot, which fortunately caught Wulfthryth off guard enough to delay her attack by just a few moments.

Please, someone notice, Taeth prayed. I can't fight her off by myself.

***GM Note: Please do not react to the situation ongoing in the Hornburg infirmary until prompted to do so by myself or @Gwai.***

[Gwai]

It had been a long ride, and everyone she had passed on the road had wanted to stop and gossip about the goings-on at Helm's Deep. Rumors were flying, most of which Gwai discounted out of hand as just that. She was delayed getting to the Hornburg as she had needed to finish up a few things in Edoras, but the Cavalry's best people had been sent to investigate, and no doubt this matter would be cleared up shortly.

Gwai saluted the guards at the gate, wondering why there seemed to be so many, and dismounted in the Courtyard, pulling Brightfyr's reins over his head and looking around curiously. There seemed to be an abnormal amount of activity, although she did not yet see anyone she recognized.

An explosion of glass from a nearby small structure startled Gwai, even more so when she saw the broken window was caused by a woman jumping out of it (Wulfthryth) (why were there glass windows in the Hornburg?). Swiftly pulling her sword, Gwai grabbed the woman's arm and hauled her to her feet. "What is going on here!?" Gwai asked loudly, confused, particularly as the woman was not wearing a cavalry uniform.

Update
This is the last round! Present your evidence, suspicions, thoughts, and make your accusations! As most of you have discovered, there may be more than one game afoot!

[Pele Alarion]

Trainee Hadassa
Reporting to Third Marshal Gwai

Sooner rather than later Hadassa had come by a clean shirt, and turned her back to the door as she put it on instead of her bloodied one. Meanwhile her eyes scanned the shelves for something, anything that would be helpful for investigations, but all she could see were jars and bottles, and herbs, and bandages.

"I don't know..." she began in whisper as she turned to Ama briefly, but then the horn sounded, and she sighed, unwilling to leave. "Guess the muster cannot be disobeyed..."

With a worried look at Taethowen and the healer and her trainee, Hadassa headed out the door to respond to the horn call.

What seemed to the young woman only a split second, turned out to be enough time for more unexplainable events. Shattered glass and Wulfthryth all but tumbling out of the window.

Her hand reached for the sword, but considering all circumstances Hadassa forced it to come back down by her side, as she stood to attention and reported what little she knew:

"Marshal Gwai, the place has been in a major upset for a while," she explained. "I came to ask for orders from the Second Marshal Taethowen and found her stabbed and bleeding on the floor, the insignia gone too. No one was guarding her, so I thought someone had killed the guards or ordered them off. Like... Feldmarshal because I learned that he was nowhere to be found. Yet.. he was just brought in dead, so..."

And hadn't they all just left Taethowen alone yet again? With this... "She is suspicious!" claimed Hadassa, pointing at Wulfthryth who was held firm in Gwai's grip. "She was gone somewhere who knew where, and now - why would a healer's trainee use a window instead of a door?"

Her heart was gripped with the sense of danger and suspicion at what the woman might have done as soon as they all left. Yet she had no hard evidence to present against Wulfthryth. "Someone should check on the Second Marshal," she suggested, her dark eyes narrowed at the suspicious woman.

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

Dryhtguma Éoumnd
Reporting to Third Marshal Gwai

They had no sooner brought the dead body to the infirmary (and gotten a quick glance at the still-unconscious Second Marshal), when an announcement rang through the Hornburg announcing the arrival of the Third Marshal Gwai and requiring everyone to assemble. Éomund balked slightly at the thought of once again meeting the woman (memories of a summer evening, drunkenness, and kicking her in the face made their first meeting less than ideal), but he straightened his shoulders and followed the rest of the Cavalry out towards the courtyard. He was a little wary of leaving the Second Marshal alone without a member of the Cavalry, but orders were orders. As he left, the First Marshal pressed the insignia into his hand and told him to tell the Third Marshal what they had discovered in the caves.

A split second later, there was the sound of shattering glass and a woman tumbled out of the infirmary window. Pulling out his sword he spun around to face her, but before he could do anything, Gwai gripped the woman by the arm. He stared at the pair in shock and then slowly returned his sword to its place, though kept a firm grip on the handle.

The Third Marshal shouted something about wondering what was going on and Éomund had a mind to say he was wondering the same thing. "I agree that this woman is suspicious," he said slowly, "she's not in uniform and was in the infirmary, where an unconscious Second Marshal is gravely injured." When the trainee Hadassa suggested someone checking on the Second Marshal, he nodded in agreement, still kicking himself for leaving her alone while so ill. Something about this whole operation did not sit well with him. Éomund reached into his pocket and pulled out the insignia from the Second Marshal that they had taken from the dead Fieldmarshal Aethelred.

"M…Marshal Gwai," he stuttered, holding the insignia out. He straightened his shoulders and forced his voice to steady. "Marshal Shivased and I found this in the caves. Fieldmarshal Aethelred is dead and this was in his hands. Someone really wants to kill Marshal Taethowen." He didn't know what else to say, but continued to hold the insignia out for Gwai to take.

(Minor godmoding of Shiva done with her permission)

[Shivased]

In the Caves with Eomund

A body really wasn't the thing Shivased expected to find when she raised the torch and took a few steps into the Glittering Caves. She did expect to find the Feldmarshal, but had anticipated an attack, not finding the man dead and clutching the second marshal insignia tightly in his fist. Her first reaction was to stumble back in shock; no matter how many times one saw death, it was not something you got used to, not truly. She suppressed that reaction however and, steeling herself, knelt down next to the man's body to examine him. Behind her she heard Eomund lose the contents of his stomach, and cringed in sympathy. That had been her reaction the first time she'd seen a dead body. Don't apologize, she told him as she took in the wineskin, the small amount of blood on the Feldmarshal's boots, and the lack of any other evidence. That was my reaction to a body the first time too. I'd say you'll get used to it, but you really never do.

Reaching out to take the item out of the Feldmarshal's hand she held it up so Eomund could see. Second Marshal Taethowen's insignia she replied. I think we know who attacked her now. She stared around the cave. There was a wineskin, but she doubted it had been enough alcohol to kill the Feldmarshal. Something still didn't add up about this. She held out the insignia to Eomund as a horn sounded through the deep, audible even down here in the caves. That's Marshal Gwai arriving. Go, take this to her and tell her that the Feldmarshal is dead. Send the guards at the entrance here to get the body. I'll be along after I look around a little more.

Snippets of memory pushed at her consciousness as she raised the torch and took a few more steps into the caves. Right there, on the small ledge a foot higher than the rest of the cave, had been where she and her family had huddled. She had been wrapped in a blanket, and a basket of their belongings - all they had been able to bring - had been with them. They were lucky ones, though. Sheltered in the deep, they survived and were able to return to their estate, which had sustained only a bit of damage.

She shook her head and made a circuit of the cave, forcing herself to focus on the present. Nothing screamed out to her as suspicious, so she headed back to where the body was just as the guards arrived. Take the body to the infirmary for the haelends to examine. I want to know how he died, she told them as they gathered the body up. She picked up the wineskin and tucked it in her belt, then followed.

Courtyard

Shivased arrived in the courtyard in time to hear the shattering of glass, causing her to speed up to a run. Skidding around a corner she found a window to the infirmary broken, and Gwai holding a woman - she thought the healer perhaps, but the woman wasn't wearing a Cavalry uniform - by the arm while Eomund explained what they had found and held out the insignia.

I've sent the Feldmarshal's body to the infirmary to be examined, and have a wineskin here to be examined as well when Ama is available she said to Gwai. He has no injuries and I don't think he drank himself to death. I suspect more than we know is going on here. The Feldmarshal appears to have attacked Taeth, dissolutioned and thinking he deserved to command the Westmark from what I've been told. But something else killed him and we need to find out what.

Looking at the healer being held by Gwai curiously, she cocked her head to the side, thinking. Perhaps we can get some information out of this one? I'm going to hazard a guess and say she was the one who came out the window I heard break, given she's been detained. But why would a healer try to escape through a window, when there is a seriously injured Marshal in there? What more is going on here than just a disgruntled Feldmarshal neglecting an already poorly run fortress? She spoke to the group at large, but was making eye contact with the woman. She was sure this woman was part of whatever was going on.

[Aethelu]

Dicun, in the feldmarshal’s office

Finding the office empty, he breathed a sigh of relief. One hurdle down, he turned his attention to the room. It was filled with all sorts of items you would expect from the commander of a fortress. An assortment of strange looking weapons he could only assume had been confiscated from enemies. There were also reports. A lot of reports. Dicun could only hope that his days of sitting in an office and reading reports were long into his future. As he looked over the desk, he noticed a crumpled piece of paper. Carefully smoothing it out as he picked it up, he found himself reading a list of names. Though still new, he was sure he recognised at least some of the names. Each name showed their rank and abilities. It didn’t seem so strange for the feldmarshal to have such a list, but there was more writing on it. Writing in a language and script he did could not read. He felt his stomach drop, none of this seemed right.

Slipping the note into his pocket, he continued his search of the desk, warily eyeing the door as he did so. Fear gripped him, but he had come so far now, he wouldn’t give up until he had checked every nook and cranny of the office. At last, he came upon a small bag. As quietly and gently as he could, Dicun tipped the bag onto the table and counted out 30 silver pieces. There was another note as well, a threatening on at that. With a gulp, he gathered the coins back into the sack and finished his search. There seemed to be nothing more to find.

The corridor was still empty as he slipped back out of the office, closing the door as quietly as he could behind him. He was just in time it seemed, as a horn blew in the distance calling all to the courtyard. Dicun still feared being caught with what he had found. He walked away from the office and towards the courtyard slowly, hoping he was conveying an air of nonchalance. His heart was pounding when he finally reached the doors and found himself back in the courtyard.

He was not the first to arrive as he took note of the others already gathered, though he was not sure he remembered all their names. He recognised Marshal Gwai and Marshal Shivased, saluting to them as he reached the group. “I have some information and items that I think might be of importance.” As the words came out, a worrying thought crossed his mind. He had been snooping in a superior’s office and now he was going to have to admit it. No time like the present to present his report. “I spoke with Sperewigend Odo, who seemed concerned about the promotion of Maegisterwigend Alca. I went to speak with her to see if these concerns were accurate, and she does seem wholly unsuited to the position. I planned to speak with the Feldmarshal to find out what I could about this promotion, but I found his office empty. So…I took a look through his desk.” Reaching into his pocket he pulled out the note and bag. “I found a paper bearing information about all members of the Westmark with something written in a strange script. I also found a sack of silver pieces and another note that looks to be an instruction. I’m not sure what it all means, but I don’t think it’s good.”