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Adam Alexie (constantguard) wrote in nosuchplace,
@ 2008-08-18 21:17:00

Entry tags:

adam alexie, constance alexie, dylan uzoma, events: mystery plot 1, theora

Tuesday: September 25, 2007
Who: Constance, Dylan, Theora, and Adam
When: Morning
Where: Town Hall
What: The council has some important things to discuss.

Furious wasn't the proper word to describe how Constance currently felt as she stormed down the hall to find Dylan and Theora. Adam trailed behind her, keeping close. On the same night as her granddaughter getting attacked by a werewolf, a faun turned up half-eaten and torn to shreds near the festival grounds. It wasn't a coincidence in her eyes. By now, everyone knew about the dead faun, but nobody knew about her granddaughter, Alicia. They were keeping it under wraps to safeguard the minds of the community. With the news of the faun on the loose, if they heard about Alicia then the entire community would panic.

Her shoes clacked loudly against the wooden floor. When she arrived in the council chambers, Constance waited for Adam to step into the room before she slammed the door behind them and let her anger known to her colleagues and councilmen.

"What the hell is going on around here?" Constance demanded, regardless of whether or not anyone had any answers to her question. "Already, people are referring to it as a murder when we don't even know what's happened — and I can't take this." Constance sat down in the nearest chair, looking more worn for wear than usual. Adam took a seat beside her, a worried expression on his face. Constance hadn't wanted Adam to get dragged into it, but Alicia was family and he already knew about what happened to her.

"I've told Lucinda and Kelsey to keep quiet about Alicia. I've told Alicia, Zach, Adrienne, and Nico too. No one else is to know about this. If word gets out Alicia was attacked by a werewolf outside of the full moon and then a dead faun turns up, everyone's gonna think we have a psycho on our hands." Constance chewed her bottom lip. She said something then they all had to take into consideration.

" . . . And maybe it's time to recognize we do."

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elunesgrace
2008-08-18 09:13 pm UTC (link)

Theora had kept quiet since her return from Tol'Hith. She had been listening to the murmurings amongst the citizens, and had been keeping an eye on the happenings in the town and beyond. Thus far, nothing had caught the priestess's attention, but that did not mean that nothing was going on. Considering the recent appearance of the dead faun, the attack upon Constance's granddaughter, and the unsettling energies Theora had been receiving lately, the priestess was sure that something wicked was on its way.

"I think that there is a possibility that the attacks are not connected, but considering what occurred with the young Simon Myles at the festival I think we must take into consideration that he may have been the source." The priestess remained calm as her mind raced with thoughts. Violence was not something that they had prepared for within their haven. They had naively thought that those that were saved from the virus and the war would have been kind and compassionate toward their fellow survivors. The recent attacks, however, was making the priestess rethink that idea.

"What we must address first are the citizens' fears. We must tell them that the attack on the faun was not a murder at all. I have seen the body, and it has been severely mauled which could have been the result of a wild animal. For the sake of the citizens we must at least convince them of that. A murder is something that I think they would not be able to handle at this time."

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wishgranted
2008-08-19 06:22 pm UTC (link)

The latest events were no doubt disturbing. Dylan wished to withhold judgment until more facts were gathered on the matter. With a thief and the artifact still at large, this was yet another mark against them and their abilities to maintain a stable leadership in a new world governed by new laws. An unsolved issue as serious as the theft of Mîr'en'Galad weighed down by a mauled citizen challenged their competence. Dylan hoped these things were not enough to put doubt into the minds of their citizens, but he still could not trust that they would not have such an effect. It troubled him, but this was not within his power to control.

"We cannot announce it is a murder when we have no proof of it," Dylan said rather slowly, looking up from his hands to address the others. "Not only is that poor judgment, making assumptions without facts, but it will lead our citizens astray if it is incorrect." He agreed with Theora and the report from the autopsy. The faun was mauled by a wild animal, and no being of humanoid body could have committed the offense. "It is clear that an animal inflicted this damage," he continued. "However, the question remains for us to determine if it was an animal in both mind and body — or if it was animal only in body." He trusted they knew what he meant by his words. Was it possible that a werewolf or therianthrope attacked the faun? Of course it was possible, but they had no proof.

"If we have learned anything from the incident with Mîr'en'Galad," Dylan proposed next, "it is that we cannot make assumptions without proof. We must conduct ourselves outside of the knowledge of the citizens when it comes to determining what happened in this case. I agree with Theora. We should address the citizen's fears, and inform them that the whisperings of a murder are simply not true."

Dylan glanced between Constance and Theora. The minds of the citizens were his chief concern as they investigated the matter. "I think we should inform them a wild animal of the forest is responsible. After all, we have wild animals in the woods and mountains. We should also warn them that it may happen again. In the meantime, the Guards of Elysium will be on an enforced watch around the homes and borders of our land in order to protect our people from large, predatory animals. We should warn those in the forest or near it to keep watch at night and stay in their homes for their own safety." He sat back in his chair. "I think this is the best choice for us to pursue."

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constantguard
2008-08-19 06:37 pm UTC (link)

"Well, you two handle the press coverage 'cause I don't think I can stomach it," Constance said, crossing her arms over her chest. She thought this wasn't any mere coincidence, but two incidents added up to coincidence. Constance needed a third before any of her beliefs were confirmed. As riled up as she was over everything going on around her, Constance agreed on addressing the citizens with the news that it wasn't a murder. For the moment, anyway. Until they had proof of otherwise. But she had another thought in her head, too. Eradicating it wasn't going to happen, so she threw it out onto the table for the others to consider as well.

"I still think we need to talk to Simon Myles about his little switch-a-roo at the festival," Constance seethed. "He damn near tore Adrienne's arm off, and all of them saw him shifting. Eyes, teeth, claws, and even some snout. Something like that needs to be questioned, even if it's questioned as unrelated to this whole damn faun business."

Personally, Constance thought about her own agenda. She wanted to get Simon alone. She wanted to have a little chat with him. When no one was looking, Constance had the right to question him about his shifting ability and her granddaughter all she liked without interference. With Adam at her side, if she could convince him of it, she'd get some answers to the blazing questions in her mind.

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elunesgrace
2008-08-21 08:03 pm UTC (link)

Theora remained in her seat while her peers spoke their opinions. She agreed with Dylan's words, and even more so when he spoke of not jumping to conclusions. Assumptions should never be made when there was simply no evidence to back it up. On the other hand, Theora also agreed with Constance. While there was no direct evidence for Simon's involvement with the faun's death and Alicia's attack, his behavior at the festival (and subsequent shifting) made him the most likely suspect.

Theora let out a quiet breath, a delicate brow arching when Constance mentioned Simon. The priestess could sense what the older alchemist had in mind, and she could sympathize with wanting to get to the bottom of Alicia's attack. Theora wasn't sure if a one-on-one questioning would have been the best approach since the young man did have a bit of a belligerent streak. And with it being so close to the full moon...

"Perhaps you should wait until after the full moon," Theora said with a smile. She worried about Constance's safety; not because she thought the older woman could not protect herself, but because she did not quite trust a young man with violent tendencies. "But I do agree, we need to confront him about his abilities." Theora grew thoughtful for another moment, her finger moving to tap along her chin.

"And maybe others as well. He is not the only born lycanthrope in our community, after all."

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wishgranted
2008-08-22 02:28 pm UTC (link)

Dylan nodded his head in agreement with Theora. If they were to question Simon, it was best to wait until after the full moon. "That will be the best time to question him," Dylan said aloud. "I would not trust a confrontation with an agitated werewolf one night before the full moon. So close to a transformation, it is not easy to hold the best control over one's emotions and reactions. Let us wait until the full moon passes, and we will see to confronting him about his abilities and ask him about what happened the night of the festival." Dylan did not want to simply trust the words of the other young people and not hear Simon's side of it.

As for letting Constance question him alone, Dylan was not comfortable with that either, but for now he said nothing. He believed the elder alchemist let her emotions cloud her objective judgment in the matter of her granddaughter. When it came to her family, Constance was nothing if not brutal in her reproach for others she believed to be at odds with those she loved. Dylan knew now was not the best time to worry about this, though. Once the full moon passed, Alicia's condition would be brought to light. That alone might have a swaying effect on Constance's opinion. "We should also not issue letters," Dylan mentioned. "I want to keep this out of the ears and minds of the community. We do not want them to think the interrogation of a werewolf is related to the faun."

Theora brought up another good point. Simon was not the only born werewolf in the community, nor the only one who had been a werewolf for a long time. "We should question all werewolves with the ability to shift outside of the full moon," Dylan said. "Born werewolves and those who have mastered the ability over time. It would not be wise to focus only on Simon Myles."

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constantguard
2008-08-22 04:39 pm UTC (link)

Constance couldn't argue with her colleagues. Every point they brought up was a good one, and she sat there with her arms crossed and the same stern look on her face as she tried to let her feelings pass. Glancing over at Adam, her features softened when she noticed how he looked at her with such concern. Constance unfolded her arms and reached over to pat Adam on the knee. He was still a child in more ways than one. Exhaling heavily, Constance leaned forward against the edge of the table and met the gazes of Dylan and Theora.

"I agree," she conceded. "After the full moon. Before is too tricky and possibly dangerous. We need to be safe, and we do need to keep this as quiet as possible." Constance nodded her head and chewed on the inside of her lip. "We know we don't have to question those who were seen at the festival the whole time, and we know we don't have to question Adrienne. There is more than one we should focus on, though." The calmness exuding from the other two helped to calm down Constance for now. Although, admittedly, it wasn't going to last for very long.

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Fin.

elunesgrace
2008-08-22 05:15 pm UTC (link)

If there was anything about the members of the Head Council it was that they worked well together. They respected one another, and complimented each other in both strengths and weaknesses. Theora saw the motherly gesture from Constance to Adam, and smiled softly at it.

"We do need to be safe," Theora said in agreement. "It would probably be best if you took Adam with you while you questioned Simon Myles. Or at least one of us," Theora said gesturing to herself and Dylan. "We do not yet know what he is capable of and I do not wish to see you getting hurt." The priestess rarely kept her feelings to herself, and she openly expressed them to those around her.

"Questioning of the Weres will begin after the full moon then," Theora said with a slight nod. "And I will address the citizens later on behalf of the entire council." Theora smiled at her colleagues and leaned back in her chair as she mentally prepared for what she was going to say later that day.

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