Nevermore (Open)

Raya sat on a nearby stump, huddled under her shawl.

She was still not sure what had come over her when she volunteered herself to help with this whole operation. Typically she preferred staying out of trouble, off on the side lines and acting only when needed, but perhaps with the death of her own close friend still relatively fresh in her mind, she was more eager to do something she considered to be frankly well.. foolish.

She hated to admit it, but the events of the day had hit her a lot harder than she had let on. Despite knowing all those involved for such a short time, seeing such horrible things done to someone she had only known to be sweet and caring made her blood boil.

" I hope the others arrive soon," she muttered, "The lizard certainly seemed eager to go after the Raven. Not to mention he seemed to know the most about him and this whole insubstantial plane business."

She turned to Aria.
"You should be waiting inside. I can wait out here for the others."

I walked in, slowly, still absorbing the events that transpired today. "I'm here, and I have a plan. To make the raven pay for what he's done. Nevermore shal he curse this land with his evil." I took a seat, and waited for everyone else to arrive.

Raya nodded to the newcomer.
"Yes, tell us more. I'd like to know what I'm getting into here exactly."

He twiddled his fingers and pulled his scarf around his neck to keep from catching a cold. He'd known Wildgard's winter was coming, and to be wary, and so he decided he'd take extra precautions by bringing a cup of Wildgard Fog along with him. Such a good brew, especially when warm, that he couldn't not bring it along for the meeting.

Yes, the meeting was happening. 

It was only recently that a murder occurred in the city. Dear little Idina Doc, found dead in a tree with the scent of a renegade wood elf all over her. Her arms lifted and tied to branches, crucified to resemble wings. Her lips parted in a crooked smile as if to mock the living for the incompetence. 

His incompetence. 

She'd come to him for a place to stay while her life unfolded around them all. There were rumours that she'd murdered one of his guards, Dirge, and while Ashen of the Silver Scale had completely denounced this theory, there was the irrefutable fact that she'd engaged in some light-night activities with a local wood elf bard by the name of Sarea. From what he knew, Sarea was a girl who had made her appearance a year ago, and had immediately been drawn to Idina. The two were so close they could be considered sisters, or even more after the events of yesterday. Still, it made little sense as to why the bard would want to betray Idina's trust and accuse her of murder, even though the murder weapon belonging to the healer clearly had been used by another.

That would be their first step to finding the Raven. A wood elf-same race as the Clanless, whom some considered to be named Faljere. A girl who accused her best friend of murder, then showed evidence of the murder, but that murder was the doing of someone else. One who obviously would have known about the engagement but still decided to sleep with one of the two. 

Now that was just suspicious.

As he entered the area, he nodded to everyone, in indication that he had arrived for the meeting. It was clear that he wasn't quite welcome here, as none trusted him as they should, but without him, they'd be quite lost. He had information they'd need, and although he did care about the poor girl's death, he was disconnected enough from her to have clear thinking--something that may have been lost among these angry citizens.

He sipped his tea, but immediately spat: unbeknownst to him, he'd accidentally poured himself a cup of the brew made specially for Stel, with grasshoppers and cricket bits floating around the rim.

"Excellent plan Stel.  We shall make him suffer for his crimes.  Do not forget to unmask him I want to see who it really was..."  There was not a doubt in her mind that Faljere was innocent.  That old hippie would never do something like this.  He was too busy... doing hippie things like reading books and picking flowers.
"When should we-"
She stopped

Someone had arrived.

Fire burned in her chest.  It was the minister.  Rage-no- something else fear? No no... panic.  Panic welled up in her throat.  Not him.  Him who brought misfortune and death.
Him who may well have killed one of her last sisters.
He was not welcome.

"What do you think you are doing here... this is a semi private meeting."  She said with as much force as she could muster, which was not much considering her exhaustion, physical and mental.

"If the raven catches him he'll crack.  He is weak and frail and old." She whispered, not wanting to draw attention. 'Not to mention he himself could be the raven.'  She thought to herself. She wouldn't say that in front of the wizard though.  He would not take it kindly.

"Nevertheless..." she continued "I do not want to start something loud right now and I doubt he'll leave if we ask him to."  Sighing heavily she pulled her arm away and hid it back under her cloak. "I will be civil with him.

"But if this bites us in the ass..."  She began to walk back to the circle of logs, leaving the sentence to hang there indefinitely.

"Alright.  Go rest Stel.  We'll inform those who show up here of your plan."  

There was still her husband and a few others to show up.she would relay the info, 4 days from now. 4 days until justice should be served.