(2018-06-14) Portents and Postulants
The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible
arabella giorgina joana gurian 
forest.png
Summary:
While searching for mushrooms, a body is discovered
Related:
This relates to ongoing plot, but no spoilers here yet.
Misc Info:
The body of a postulant is found, following an odd trail of porcini. He is only identified at present by a medallion of Marcus the Devout. It is unclear if he belongs to a local shrine/order of postulants (Marcus is the Patron Devout of Matora) or part of the Curate Henricus' group that had gone to visit the the Zanetti family.
alvise orazio amadea enzo 

A great day for hunting mushrooms in the light woods in Zanetti's district outside of Matora. Horses were taken from near the estates for those that gathered. Rooms provided for any staying for the party as well tomorrow. This was just a social event to gather food for the feasting and get to know one another. The mushrooms are not the easiest to find, no swine or hound to help. Its very literally walking through the forest and looking in those shaded spots that are likely culprits to house murhsooms. And these are specific ones, the Porcini. A large, nutey flavored murhsoom that is prized in local cuisine. Some folks might get lucky, some folks may know old wives/husbands tales to find the mushrooms. Gurian himself is amidst the group. To whoever is nearby, he explains, "I've been lucky enough to find them once or twice myself on these hunts. Generally our huntsman know where to look and make the good finds. Or give us enough hints to look where they've already found them." He's no problem being honest about it at least. Currently they are following a small stream that, several kilometers downstream dumps into the River Merzia on its way to Matora. It is quiet this day, bird song fills the woods, with a little swath of silance following the people as they search.

*

Joana arrives from the Via Principale.

*

Joana has arrived.

*

(>-------<)
| Giorgina (Folklore) |
| -----— |
| Success |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 5 Mod: 0 Total: 5 |
| Roll: 1 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

Orazio isn't really here to look for mushrooms, he's brought along pad and paper- sketching charcoal and a pad to draw and take in the beauty of the nature here as they walk through the forest. A chance to see land he hadn't seen before.

*

(>-------<)
| Joana (FaerieLore) |
| -----— |
| Success |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 15 Mod: 0 Total: 15 |
| Roll: 12 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

Giorgina is one of those with the group, the Fiscella Head of House smiling as she walks with the group. Spying one dark area, she steps off away from the group for a moment. Her steps will lead her to a large tree where a stone leans against it. Lowering herself, she peeks beneath the stone, then asks, "Lord Gurian? Are these the mushrooms we're looking for?" She gestures to the fungus growing beneath the stone. Always best to make sure before touching or picking, correct?

*

Alvise arrives from the Via Principale.

*

Alvise has arrived.

*

Amadea has arrived.

*

Of Joana's many fascinations, the natural world is one, and so it's natural she'd come along for the court gathering of mushrooms. But of course — with the hidden world of the Visitante being her prime interest, faerie rings and the like are quite an area of expertise. "Curious," she kneels down to those under the rock. "Almost… triangular in shape," and she stands up. "And another cluster in the same shape, to the east."

*

Hearing the call from the Contessa, Gurian moves in her direction. He may not be the best at spotting the porcini mushrooms, but he knows what the look like. "Good find Contessa Fiscella." He nods, there is that tiny hint of a smile even, at the corner of his mouth. A good enough smile for him at least, for those who are used to seeing his face. Like in council meetings. He stands and watches Joana observe this cluster and spot another neary. "This will be good for the feast, yes. We found a patch." That's his take. "I'll get those then." The other cluster to the east. He walks there like he means to pick them.

*

(>-------<)
| Giorgina (Awareness) |
| -----— |
| Failed |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 5 Mod: 0 Total: 5 |
| Roll: 14 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

(>-------<)
| Amadea (FaerieLore) |
| -----— |
| Fumble! |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 2 Mod: 0 Total: 2 |
| Roll: 20 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

(>-------<)
| Alvise (Folklore) |
| -----— |
| Failed |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 1 Mod: 0 Total: 1 |
| Roll: 17 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

Once Gurian has assured her the mushrooms are the right ones, Giorgina smiles all the more, "That's wonderful then!" Distractedby those before her, she won't go looking for more. Mushrooms, mushrooms, right here! Carefully will she pick the few before her, to be placed in a basket brought for such a reason. Rising to her feet, she dusts off her gloved hands, moving to one side so she might look a little more.

*

(>-------<)
| Gurian (Awareness) |
| -----— |
| Success |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 9 Mod: 0 Total: 9 |
| Roll: 6 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

(>-------<)
| Orazio (Industry) |
| -----— |
| Success |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 10 Mod: 0 Total: 10 |
| Roll: 1 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

"These mushrooms really look delicious," Amadea observes to Gurian cheerfully, looking quite pleased with the collection efforts. "I can't wait to sample some."

*

Alvise di Sabastino is along mostly for the walk, and, arguably, for the company. He doesn't seem to draw on any knowledge of the subject other than what has already been shared by Gurian and his huntsmen. He strolls along the stream quite leisurely, casually checking the forest floor at intervals and following along with the immediate crowd.

*

As the group pauses by whatever mushrooms have been found, Orazio pauses and sits quietly on the ground to begin sketching one of the mushrooms where it sits- how it sits. A study on the form of the thing, "Very intersting. Graceful spirals in these." he says to himself, as he continues to quietly draw the mushroom in detail on his pad of paper. "I wonder how they grow- no seeds, of course. No where to put them.."

*

Having been going along with the others, Arabella was silent for the most part. Even when Alvise nears where she is in the group she only offers him a smile. As others find mushrooms, the ones they are in search of, she listens to Orazio and has to smile. No answer is forthcoming from her, however, as she does not know the answer to that. After a bit, she meanders off a little to start a search nearby the others for mushrooms as well.

*

Giving a slight pause to look back at Orazio, Gurian considers that question from the man. "I'm not certain. I well imagine the man who discovers how they grow will become a merchant of porcini, knowing exactly where to find it or how to cultivate and harvest it." Then he too bends down to pick up some Porcini himself. This will be quite the feast. In fact as he's looking around he notices, "Another cluster, it is a patch." Then, as its noted, the odd shapes these are growing in, the various clusters. If one really looked, they might notice as Orazio points beyond Joana's second find, there seems to be a trail moving towards the stream. Not a random patch so much as a trail of these mushrooms that could, techniclaly be followed like a trail. Or trail markers even.

*

Joana's a bit apprehensive as the others make their way to begin cultivating what she's discovered. "It could be a trail," she adds, oddly looking two and fro between patch to patch as if searching for anything that might hint of a Visitante presence.

*

"Fantastic," Alvise offers as he approaches without stooping to help pick mushrooms or even offering to do so. "A cluster, patch or trail of exactly the item we came out to find," he adds, evidently not knowing enough about the subject to consider whether this happenstance would be strange at all. He does smile at Arabella when he can next catch her eye, but leaves her to her solitude within the crowd if that is what she wants for now.

*

"They seem to grow along the root line…" Orazio notes, as he writes in his notebook, along with some more pictures of the mushrooms in their native habitat- documenting. "With a color like a freshly baked bun. Quite pleasant, actually." he notes as he then finally comes to pick one of the mushrooms to draw the underside of the bell of the mushroom. "Curious, like feathers." he says to himself- drawing a fingertip along the gill-like mesh that holds spores in the mushroom.

"A trail?" Orazio asks, looking over towards Joana, "To what? What would mushrooms follow? A food source, perhaps?" Orazio says as he looks up towards this trail of mushrooms, flipping the page of his sketch book to draw what he sees in charcoal.

*

Intrigued as well, Arabella looks towards the trail that leads off in a direction and looks curious. Noticing the smile from her brother when she looks his way, she moves to approach him and stay nearby, going where he does. "Do you like these mushrooms?"

*

(>-------<)
| Arabella (Awareness) |
| -----— |
| Success |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 9 Mod: 0 Total: 9 |
| Roll: 5 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

Giving a pause himself, Gurian considers the trail. Turning back to Arabella though, he forgets about it for the moment, looking back where they came from and the group versus upwards along that trail. "Do I, yes, I enjoy their flavor. In a good stew. Fresh or preserved and just before last harvest, porcini are delicious." He gives his own opinion, then asking hers, "And you, this is something your family enjoys as well?" He isn't sure if they have woods enough on their land, or proper hills for the mushroom to grow, but is curious just the same.

*

(>-------<)
| Joana (Faerielore) |
| -----— |
| Success |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 15 Mod: 0 Total: 15 |
| Roll: 1 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

Turning her gaze towards Gurian when he responds to the question, she gives him a nod, not collecting any in hand herself yet. The return question has her lifting her eyes to her brother but answers only for herself. "I enjoy them, though we eat them rarely. I admit I have never gone out hunting mushrooms before." As she follows the trail, she carefully steps around the mushrooms, not wanting to harm them as she walks towards the circle of them. After a moment of her getting closer, she stops and gasps, eyes rounded. "It's covering something that looks like a person!"

*

"Ah. Yes," Alvise says. "There are a few special dishes I can recall that have made use of these mushrooms. They are somewhat uncommon, but occasionally available locally." To Gurian, who they are slowly approaching, he says, "For our family, they are not at all usual, even on an annual basis. Or, perhaps, I have simply missed just those meals in which they heavily featured. Cristofano would probably be more certain. He has always loved…" Alvise takes a moment to look about and casually lift a hand to indicate the surroundings, finishing, "nature." Only after processing his own words is he able to understand Arabella's. His eyes widen as he hears of the discovery and he stops short, even though his part would normally be to step forth to protect his sister from an unknown until it was known to not be a threat. The circumstance is far enough out of his experience as to not call to what experience he does already have.

*

At the protest, Joana begins to ramble a bit and looks rather miffed at the Matorans: "Surely you have read of faerie rings, the doors to the Mystic World," she drones on, following the trail away from the party. "Such as… this one," she looks at a distance to a cluster spaced about a mound of dirt… and a looming human-shaped figure.

*

Gurian turns eyes and ears to Arabella and Alvise, listening to the discussion of the porcini as relates to the Sabastino family. With final look to Arabella, he offers, "This may be a tradition worth bringing back, first porcini of the year. If the Sabastino's should wish to join these annual hunts." He could go on, but the indication of the body brings him around. As Joana moves along the trail he does too, but cautiously. "A door way? I've heard tales, but it is just that, folk tales. Surely." Typical Matoran, science over legend and older stories, a modern Matoran. He moves nearer that ring and lump, "Should we brush it off?" He defers to the others, a slight questioning look. What if this was visitante now? He doesn't know what should be done here. New territory for the Conte di Zanetti.

*

"What now?" Orazio says, looking up. "Did someone dump a body out here?" he asks, next, shaking his head. "Most unfortunate." he mumbles as he closes his sketch book for the time being and slides it into the leather bag he seems to always have with him. "Well, let's take a look at this body."

Orazio's hand is in the bag a moment more before pulling out what looks like an odd, clear stone- a piece of glass that has a shallow roundness to one end, and is flat on the other. "Is he wounded? Any kind of disturbed dirt, or weapons to be seen?" Orazio, of course, assumes that they've stumbled on a murder scene.

*

(>-------<)
| Orazio (Science) |
| -----— |
| Success |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 15 Mod: 0 Total: 15 |
| Roll: 14 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

(>-------<)
| Joana (Science) |
| -----— |
| Success |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 10 Mod: 0 Total: 10 |
| Roll: 1 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

(>-------<)
| Alvise (Firstaid) |
| -----— |
| Failed |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 5 Mod: 0 Total: 5 |
| Roll: 15 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

There had definitely been something about the whole "trail of mushrooms to ring of mushrooms" thing that had tickled at the back of Alvise's skull, leading up to his momentary freeze upon hearing of a human-like figure being obscured within the ring itself. Well, of course, thereafter, his fellow Matorans had provided the proper explanation, an actual human body murdered and hidden, and Alvise readily admits the rightness of it to himself. He shakes off his distress, along with the superstitious warnings of several old servants he could recall from boyhood memory, and approaches the ring to make his own separate viewing. The color that had risen in his cheeks and ears slowly fades, surrounded by reason and normalcy.

*

(>-------<)
| Arabella (FirstAid) |
| -----— |
| Failed |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 8 Mod: 0 Total: 8 |
| Roll: 14 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

Despite her curiosity, Arabella does approach with the others, but not in front of them. In fact, her brother does not necessarily have to step between her and the lump, she places him there herself by stepping slightly behind him. It was a habit for her. Still, she does approach as much as she can and still remain in the protective circle behind her brother and somewhere among the others. "A tradition would be good, as long as it did not involve other bodies such as this."

*

Enzo has arrived.

*

For all her usual shyness, Joana is as methodical as she can be as she looks over a body which contains no wounds, cuts, or markings. Except one, on his neck: blackish, but not a bruise: an old wound that cannot be explained by injury, disease or poison. "Only they could have done this," she whispers to herself.

*

(>-------<)
| Orazio (Awareness) |
| -----— |
| Failed |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 8 Mod: 0 Total: 8 |
| Roll: 10 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

It seems that a corpse bothers Orazio not at all- his curiosity at a potential mystery far outweighing any feelings of disgust or bother. "Curious.." Orazio says quietly as he kneels down near the body, brushing it off- "Didn't do a very good job putting you in the ground, did they?" he says as he focuses on the corpse's neck. "Fascinating…"

Orazio takes his magnifying stone and places it close to the neck- looking through at some wound on the man's neck and throat. "I don't think I've ever read about anything like this." he says to himself quietly, just studying simply- trying to get a better look at the skin. "Has anyone ever seen a wound like this before?" he wonders next, as he reaches into his bag to pull out a pair of leather gloves. They look particularly well beat up and worn in. Only after he's got the gloves on does he reach over to push the corpse's chin so he can get better light on the 'wound'. "He doesn't seem diseased- but this mark is unusual. And I can't see any other obvious wounds." he says as he continues to investigate the body.

Orazio looks over to Joana, "Who?" he asks.

*

(>-------<)
| Arabella (Awareness) |
| -----— |
| Failed |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 9 Mod: 0 Total: 9 |
| Roll: 10 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

(>-------<)
| Alvise (Awareness) |
| -----— |
| Failed |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 8 Mod: 0 Total: 8 |
| Roll: 19 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

(>-------<)
| Gurian (Recognize) |
| -----— |
| Failed |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 10 Mod: 0 Total: 10 |
| Roll: 17 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

Standing back, Gurian doesn't realize where Arabella has stopped or the defensive position of her brother. He's come more to near over the shoulder observe what Joana and Orazio are doing. "What does it mean," he ponders at one point as Orazio is making curious or fasinating comments. Almost a prod. Listening to the man explain, nothing seeming to be wrong, he does turn with him towards Joana, "Yes, who did this?" He stops looking at the body and more towards the relative of the Sabastino family as if all the answers are there, to whatever clue she has garnered from this gruesome scene. It is then he notices where Arabella is and nod is give, as if thanks, for the protective nature of her brother. Or acknowledgement of his own concern.

*

(>-------<)
| Joana (Recognize) |
| -----— |
| Success |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 10 Mod: 0 Total: 10 |
| Roll: 9 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

(>-------<)
| Enzo (Awareness) |
| -----— |
| Success |
| -
------ |
| Skill: 8 Mod: 0 Total: 8 |
| Roll: 6 Status: |
(>-------<)

*

From where she is, Arabella sees nothing much really other than spotting the form from the beginning with Joana. Catching the look from Gurian she gives him a tentative smile, but the concern for what was going on wins out instead. For now, she remains silent and watching.

*

Having been silent so far, Enzo frowns as the body is dicovered, letting out a bit of a breath. Stepping closer, he studies the body carefully. "Who is this?" It's said mostly to himself, before he frowns, "Simple robes… Looks to be a Postulant…" It's said quietly, before he looks around once more, thoughtfully.

*

Joana agrees, "Similar to the ones around the Zanetti estates. If he wandered off into the faerie circle," she shudders. "The wound is old, but the Visitante work in mysterious ways…"

*

For his part, Alvise has not been able to determine anything particular by sight, so takes those offering information at their word. "Local postulant gone missing and now found again. Is there any such missing person that you might have heard of?"

*

"The Postulants? The ones that were rumored to be visiting?" Arabella peers out from around Alvise but a frown mars her brow. She does not look towards the body even yet, but she does look to the others. Especially Enzo. "We are supposed to have a Curate come to preside over the ceremony." This time her gaze lands directly on Gurian with concern. Was it a sign? Superstitious maybe, but it sure seemed like it!

*

"I'm sorry, Visitante?" Orazio wonders, as he continues to inspect the wound- "It doesn't matter, we have to get this body back to the appropriate people." he says then, "For a proper burial. Not just lying in a circle of mushrooms in the dirt." he says, as he stands slowly and removes his gloves. He again goes into his bag, his charcoal and pad coming out as he starts to sketch how they found the body- a close up of the mark on the neck. General information, really.

*

A look from the body to those gathered around, Gurian returns, "Surely no one presumes …" That it was the Zanetti's. He dosn't think anyone is saying the same. "We can send for them to come and take care of this Signore." That's his solution, have someone else do it. "I don't think we should move it, but they will know what to do." He can go back and inform a huntsmen that had come to help them find the mushrooms if it eluded the nobles. He looks around to see if this is the best option and what others think, but starts to move to do just that unless directed otherwise.

*

"A moment, " Orazio notes quietly as he leans down to something near the man's hand- reaching down he pulls up a pendant. "Marcus the Devout." he notes, holding up the pendant to the Devout of MAtora. "I think we have an avenue to investigate." he says to the others, as he carefully puts the pendant back around the corpse's neck so it could sit near the man's non-beating heart. "He is, perhaps, Matoran. From the shrine- either way, we should check there first, yes?"

*

"Ah, yes," Alvise says. "Well. Probably a Postulant, possibly Matoran, or, at least, having been there. Further information might be quite chaseable, yes." He looks to Gurian and adds, "Of course I agree that you should involve your huntsmen. No particular use in keeping them in the dark, right?"

*

Enzo nods a little as he listens, frowning a little as he listens. There's a brief nod as he hears Gurian's words. "It's probably better if someone else move the body, that's true. There are others more skilled for that, I believe." Looking between the others, a bit thoughtfully.

*

"Of course not," Arabella hastily reassures Gurian. "Should some of us go back for help then? Or should he be transported back to the house and the authorities congregate there?" With no experience in this sort of thing, she looks between them, seeking guidance.

*

Gurian nods, "Yes, let them handle the body, we can inquire what they might know." Giving a look among the Sabastino's, he does turn to Joana, "Is there any precaution we should take?" He eyes around again slightly, but continues that though. "With the party tomorrow. This isn't something that could .. spread?" Murder he means, its a concern for the safety of guests at his party it would seem.

*

The servants are summoned, along with some of the postulants with the Curate Henricus. They will see to the body. The rest can stay and look for mushrooms or retire to the estates proper for Zanetti or merely return to Matora. There is sitll the party planned for tomorrow. But otherwise there might be a somewhat somber cloud hanging over the remainder of the day. Individuals can follow up with this on their own, but this group has the primary details. A postulant was murdered, not by known means. The odd trail of porcini/mushrooms that lead to the body. The medallion of Marcus the Devout on the person of the postulant.

*

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