Olivia has joined the Quiet Booth.

Rysen has joined the Quiet Booth.

Puff, a dainty yellow-green canary arrives, delivering a message to Rysen before departing.

Rysen has left the Quiet Booth.

Rysen has joined the Quiet Booth.

Rysen has left the Quiet Booth.

Rysen has joined the Quiet Booth.

Puff, a dainty yellow-green canary arrives, delivering a message to Rysen before departing.

Puff, a dainty yellow-green canary arrives, delivering a message to Rysen before departing.

Rysen has left the Quiet Booth.

Olivia has left the Quiet Booth.

Sandor, the Tree Scout Captain arrives, following Rhiannon.

Rhiannon arrives, following Olivia.

2 House Velenosa Guards arrives, following Leta.

Ramona - A Guard in Ashford House Colours, Bigsby - A Thoughtful Looking Young Man in Nondescript Clothing, 4 Ashford House Guard arrive, following Lisebet.

The whispers have been going around for days, maybe weeks even. Any casual query directs the questioner to Trader's Tavern, to look for a man by the name of Sam Harsdin. Ol' Sam is a regular at Traders, he has his regular table, his regular order... hells he even has a hook he always uses to hang his cloak. Tonight is a night like any other. Sam is holding court at his table, a pint of ale in one hand as he peers down at a hand of cards. "An' I told her, wull, that's what you get for not payin' attention to your surroundings!"

The whispers about the missing folk. That is helpful information. There are a number of people looking perturbed by the rumors swirling about the numbers of missing people.

Rhiannon walks into the tavern. She's with Olivia, watching her back as always. She's not going to win negotiations, but she can keep her cousin alive under some unusual circumstances. She looks around the room, eyes dropping on the man and she gestures with her head toward where the man is, sure Olivia knows what she's seeking.

Lisebet comes into the tavern, her curiosity piqued by the rumours she's heard. She looks for a table near that of Sam, but doesn't try to interupt anything, at least not at the moment. All she's looking for, at least to begin with, is to check out the food and drink they have here. It's as good a pretext as any right? The petite noble probably couldn't pretend she isn't noble if her life depended on it, and she's not even trying to do that. A seat, an ale, and a plate of today's dinner special - that's her starting point.

Merek makes his way to the tavern to find a drink, while he has on his black dress attire with a cloak meant to keep the weather away, as he makes his way into the place. He moves to the bar to order a drink also.

Olivia makes her way in with Rhiannon. When the scout gestures, Olivia turns, catching the tail end of the mans tale. She finds a table close by so she can try to casually listen to the man continue his tales. Waving a server over to make sure they don't look too suspicious.

Leta is sitting at the bar already, enjoying a nice cup of red. She has a lute with her, in case there's a sudden need for musical accompaniment. But in between sips she does turn her head and take an interest in the stories, a small frowning marring the brow of the burly woman in black silks. She scratches her temple, adjusts the length of cloth dangling from her voluminous hat, and gets to her feet so she can stroll closer. "Not any pets missing, are there?" That's what she asks.

The others at Sam's table all have similar expressions on their faces. They are all more intent on their hands of cards than on the story, the reason for that is likely the fact that they have heard it all before -- so says the fact that one of the women at the table is mouthing the words along with Sam's blustery tones. Sam selects a card, laying it down, even as he says, "So I says to her, I says, if you kept an eye on yer boy better he likely wouldn't have gotten snatched. But did she listen? Naw." The woman mimicing his words rolls her eyes and says, "And the fact that the boy was thirteen and doing his job same as he did every day for the last three years, eh?" Sam squints at the woman and shakes his head. "I'll take two." The other man at the table slides two cards over to Sam.

Sam turns and cranes his neck, to look at Leta, perking up at the question. One of his tablemates groans and flings her cards on the table. "Oh here we go." Sam makes a show of lifting his hand to his chin and stroking it thoughftully. "Pets? Well, I mean, animals go missing all the time in the Lowers. But in the Uppers? Not as often. Still happens though."

Olivia glances at Sam. "What was this child's job? The others that went missing. Were they also children?" Her eyes locked on the mans face.

Lisebet eyes Rhiannon and Olivia, shaking her head as they settle together, and here she is all alone. She places her order, and turns as Leta asks a question. After all, that catches everyone's attention, so why would Lisebet be any different. She's not asking anything yet, just listening.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Lisebet before departing.

Rhiannon settles at the table with Olivia and then nudges her to go join Lisebet. But she doesn't interrupt. Then again, she doesn't seem very much like a noble lady.

Merek listens to the conversation while he seems content to focus upon his drink, a whiskey he has with him while he looks to Sam also.

"Right. I hadn't heard anything, but you never know, do you?" Leta continues conversationally before bringing the wine to her lips for a long sip. The woman's voice does have a hint of the Lowers to it, after all, but that's a lot of silk velvet and brocade she's wearing. Then she goes quiet and looks around to listen as other people get into the conversation.

Eurion had made his way in with the rest of the Ashfords, his arms are crossed over his chest as he stands next to Rhiannon, a brow lifted questioningly

The more eyes turn on him, the more Ol' Sam begins to preen. His chest puffs up and his voice pitches lower, more sonorous, as if to seem more authoritative. The others at his table give up on the card game and start to get to their feet, moving to the bar. Sam gestures for those listening to come closer, not at all mournful over the loss of the game. "Well now, they tend to be on the younger side, but not all is kids, no. This one that went missing today... what's 'is name? Jeremiah Koller? He was a messenger. Up and comin' too. Quick on his feet that one. Makes you wonder how he got caught. But he's only the last of this batch, really."

Rhiannon looks over at Lisebet and then as everyone gets up to move closer, she nods to Eurion to stay with Olivia and moves to try and talk Lisebet into joining them. "Those messengers go everywhere and are hard to catch," she admits. "Had to be something."

Lisebet has food, and a drink, she's not moving. That's like work! Also she is near the story telling fellow, and she's curious now. "Who's catching them and why?" she asks, curiously. Because hey, maybe Sam knows? She's not at all sure, but well, the petite ebon haired woman can't be blamed for being curious, can she? Mind you, if Rhiannon takes her stuff and moves it, Lisebet will probably follow it.

Olivia hmms a bit as she considers what Sam says. "And the others that have gone missing.... Are they also messengers?" She seems to be looking for any common thread to follow here.

It seems the information on missing pets has reassured Leta somewhat, but she continues to listen to the talk with intent eyes and a small frown creasing her brow, lips pursing tightly together between sips from her wine. She looks thoughtful, but stays quiet as an assortment of nobles start asking questions, an eyebrow arching subtly.

Merek stands up to make his way to where the man Sam looks to be, while he places his drink to the side, hood up from the cloak while he looks about a bit, and scratches at his beard in thought, listening for now as others ask the important things.

"How would I know?" Sam asks looking back at Lisebet with a blink. "I mean, if I knew that dontcha think I'd have told someone?" He peers at the Duchess and shakes his head, and then back to Olivia, "Naw, naw. The first one was a young man, maybe nineteen, twenty. He was a bit of a layabout. Claimed to be an artist, but really he was livin' off his parents money and trying to woo a girl. The second was a young mother, maybe twenty five? The last before this one was a great big strappin' lad of near thirty. Frequented this place."

Lisebet checked perception + empathy at difficulty 20, rolling 41 higher.

Merek checked perception + empathy at difficulty 20, rolling 1 lower.

Olivia checked perception + empathy at difficulty 20, rolling 7 higher.

Rhiannon checked command + leadership at difficulty 30, rolling 35 higher.

Eurion checked perception + empathy at difficulty 20, rolling 1 lower.

Lisebet looks at Rhiannon, tilts her head, looks over at Olivia and Eurion, looks back to Rhiannon, and then she shrugs. She gets to her feet, picks up her plate and her stein of ale, and starts to move over to the other table without a word. On the way, she stops to stare at Sam and manages to tip her plate over, spilling the food. With a sigh, the plate gets set on the table, and there's a very neutral look on her face, though she says not a word at the moment. She squares her shoulders, sets her drink down, and just stands there, not bothering to sit. But at least she's now standing by Olivia. Her gaze goes back to Sam, and she listens to what he says, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Fair point," she agrees with him. "But you might have told someone and I just missed it. I thought I came in, in the middle of the story. So, there were four people gone missing, in this - batch you said, right?"

Leta checked perception + empathy at difficulty 20, rolling 8 lower.

Olivia listens to the mans recounting of who is missing, "Well... you sure have a great memory... Do you keep the census around your neighborhood or were these all people you were close enough to remember in such great detail..." She seems to believe the mans list, but is a bit suspicious as to why it is /so/ complete of a list.

Rhiannon returns with Lisebet and then leans against Olivia's chair as she leans in a little. "I am amazed at how you're keeping track of all this. Seems you noticed a pattern and ensured that you were kept up on things that matched it."

"I pay attention." Ol' Sam offers a little pause, a jut of his lower lip, a slight furrow of his brow. "You don't gotta make it seem nefarious or nothing. Someone has to remember." There is a grunt, a grimace after. He looks to Olivia, a lengthy look laid on the Ashford lady. "When I was younger, a girl I had my eye on... well. She ended up missin'. And it ain't like it's hard to put them together. What with those... masks that get left behind." There is a shudder from the man, he lifts his ale for a long gulp. "It stuck with me. I seen this before. I'm sure I'll see it again."

Lisebet smiles at that. "I believe you," she says warmly, letting her belief ring in her words. "it's just - it is new to us, or at least to me. I haven't been in Arx that long." She frowns though, and then adds, "Masks? Like from a masked ball, those masks?" Curious really. Her attention is all on Sam, at the moment, the Ashfords nearby but not focused on.

Olivia nods to Sam, "Apologies. But yes... most do not pay so much attention. They are lucky to have you around noticing these things..." She seems to leave that as it is... for now... "You say they leave masks... is this where people are last seen? Or are corpses ever located... or is it as if these people just vanish?"

"Masks?" Merek asks, while he lifts his brow in thought, not quite keen on if the man is completely honest. He lifts up his flask to take a drink while he does also.

"Nah. No corpses. That'd be better. Then you'd know. Just.. masks." Sam looks to Lisebet and lifts a hand to scratch the top of his head, nails scraping at the scalp visible through his wispy hair. "I don't know. I never been to a fancy noble's party. But these masks... they ain't like mirrormasks. But the cover the whole face. And they are painted just like the faces of the one taken."

Leta furrows her brow, taking this in, and scratches lightly at the side of her head again. "Well, I know people go missing sometimes, it's just hard to believe it's all the same thing," she remarks quietly. The mention of masks makes her grimace in visible displeasure. It's one thing for people to just vanish. But masks? "That sounds like - well, it doesn't sound like normal, does it? How long's that been going on, with the masks?"

Lisebet frowns a bit, and she nods slowly. "A mask that covers the whole face and is painted to look like the face - do you have one of them? Or do you know who might? Heard any such information?" she glances over to Leta at her question and shrugs delicately, interested in the answer to that too.

Sandor, the Tree Scout Captain have been dismissed.

"Well if it ain't the same thing, then how come all the masks are all alike?" Sam counters to Leta and then at her second question he shrugs, "At least ten years. That's when Shiela was taken. I was young then, I heard stories. You know the kind of stories all kids share. But that stuff is just nonsense." Sam shakes his head. Looking back at Lisebet there is a little frown. "There was one left here. Raspar's. He is the big man that frequented here. I guess he didn't really have a place. Spent most of this time here."

Olivia checked charm + empathy at difficulty 20, rolling 13 lower.

Merek listens, both hands to the pockets of his pants while his cloak is shifted about him in the cold weather while he does.

Olivia rests a hand lightly and tries to turn on her 'award winning' (please note there was never an award) bed side charm she is 'famous' (not famous) for at the Hospital. "I am sorry you had to lose someone special, and still no one seems to take you seriously. I know I will do my best to help... I can't speak for anyone else but I am sure a few will..." Lets hope it works on this 'patient' (not a patient)

Who can say what it is, the words, the tone, the fact that a Lady of the Realm is touching him, but Ol' Sam skitters back a bit, his eyes squinting and suspicious. "You putting me on, Lady? Alls I'm doin' is telling you the truth! You don't need to make fun. I don't need all of this. Other folk'll listen to what I got to say without mockery."

Zane, a tall and silent servant arrives, following Venturo.

Zane, a tall and silent servant leaves, following Venturo.

Lisebet's expression softens as she regards Sam. "I am Lisebet," she says. "I don't think I caught your name?" She might as well be polite about it. She takes a step over but pauses as Olivia seems to have that covered. Instead, Lisebet takes a breath and then she says, "Might I buy you a drink? Maybe your friends too?" She gives those card playing folks a glance - they might have something to add too, maybe. "For such a good true story is definitely worth a drink." She certainly sounds sincere, and doesn't even come close to touching the poor guy. "I think she might actually mean to be helpful honestly."

"Does sound like it's all the same thing, doesn't it?" Leta eventually nods to this and draws a sharp breath. "Odd, though, isn't it? If it was the Lowers it wouldn't surprise me any that no one's looked into it. In the Uppers, though, they must not have vanished anyone important, no wealthy folk or nothing?" the very common-sounding woman remarks, and drains the last of her cup with a sigh. "So what do these masks look like? Takes skill to make a mask that looks like folk."

Lisebet checked charm + empathy at difficulty 20, rolling 34 higher.

The huffiness of Sam seems to be checked by Lisebet's charm and he rolls his shoulders. "I know who you is, Duchess Ashford." Sam offers a deep bow of his head. He looks back to Olivia, untrusting for a long minute before he says, "I'm pretty sure one of the masks is here. They didn't know where else to put it. Like I said. Boy didn't really have a permanent home."

Rhiannon isn't charming. She's not about to convince anyone that she's charming. Or even really nice without spending time with her. She is listening mostly, pulling in information and then looks up at mention that the mask might be here. "Is it? Where would it be? I don't mind going to get it and bring it in here."

Lisebet smiles again, using that same charm. She calls out, "A round for the house, why not?" And then she moves to the bar to pay for said round, making sure that is taken care of. And then returns to the conversation, having given everyone around the place something to think about. And yes, she has some guards here, not just family.

Olivia kinda just backs away from Ol' Sam and finds her seat again, content to listen.

The drinks are received well, a rousing cheer for the Ashford Duchess in light of that offer. More people ease forward and look like they are contemplating adding their own touches to the story if Ol' Sam falters. The man looks to the person behind the bar and calls over, "Louis! You still got that mask?" Put on the spot, the man makes a face, "Wull.. truth to tell, it was creepin' me out something fierce and I put it out with the refuse." He looks back towards a door that leads to the space behind the Tavern. "Might still be there. But, uh... I don't really feel like lookin'."

Olivia checked perception + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 10 higher.

Lisebet checked perception + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 25 higher.

Leta checked perception + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 6 lower.

Rhiannon checked perception + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Olivia hmms and looks at the Barkeep, "May we go check?"

Merek checked perception + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 10 higher.

Lisebet glances at the barkeep, and then she gives him another long look. She looks over at Sam and then to Olivia. "Sure, we could go get it, right?" She's already on her feet, after all. Might as well go see - how hard can it be?

Rhiannon looks at the two cousins and then glances at her brother and straightens her shoulders. "I'll go with you. Might you show us where it is, good Sir? Might save us some time."

Put on the spot, the florid-faced barkeep starts to sweat. He looks back at the door and back to the ladies. His eyes take in the leathers each wears and there is an overt calculation in his eyes. "Uh... it's kinda... messy and there may be...." The last word is mumbled and inaudible.

Eurion's brow lifts a bit and he cocks his head to the side and crosses his arms over his chest "Shit, the word you're looking for is shit I assume..." He rolls his eyes and shakes his head "Right, I'm guessing I can just follow my nose to the pile then?"

Lisebet tilts her head, gaze on the barkeep. "Maybe two of you can go?" she offers, along with our friend here to show the way?" She turns to Sam and the rest of the group, since they have come by. "It's all very mysterious, isn't it?"

Rhiannon looks at her brother and then at the barkeep. "What else might be out there. We know it's a refuse pile. Anything else out there that might be of an issue?'

There's a roll of the barkeep's shoulders, a further flush of his already red face. "Er... I-uh... if you want. I can't be hld accountable for anything that happens out there." The man is shifting his weight from side to side, clearly not happy about this turn of events. "I'd go myself, but I already got bit like twice today." He looks to Eurion, "Yeah, there may be some of that too."

Olivia doesn't really think that Rhiannon or Eurion will want her to join, so she hangs back and will wait for them to call if they need her help.

Leta has no more wine, so she just stands there, hands on her hips, but gives the bartender a long suspicious look, which grows more and more suspicious the more the man talks, a heavy scowl that ends up in a long wary glare from the brawny woman. "What's back there, besides the mask? Rats? Rats'll eat anything, won't they?"

"Bit?" Lisebet says, with a brow arching. "Maybe more than two? Any other volunteers?" She'll totally go, unless Eurion and Rhiannon stop. Or she can send Ramona with them. "Bit by - " A glance over at Leta, in agreement with her. "What?"

"C'mon, really?" The man looks around the Tavern, and then turns pleading eyes on Lisebet and Leta. "There are beasts out there. Rats. Raccoons. Dogs. I dunno. Critters." He hisses his answer, trying to keep it from carrying to his other patrons.

Eurion waves a dismissive hand "Rats and critters and such?" He'll head on his way towards where the pile was mentioned "Really, how bad could it be?"

Lisebet gives the bartender a shrug, and a sort of half apologetic look. "Seems you like critters as much as Olivia." There'a a bit of humour there. "I'm going to move to the door and keep an eye out, just in case." She'll compromise and not go outside, but to the door, in case there's additional trouble.

Olivia hears the talk of critters and wrinkles her face, "Call me if you need a physician."

"As long as it's just rats and dogs and not unnatural things..." Leta mutters, though she gives the bartender another squinty, wary look at the mention of unnatural things. At least she's well-armed, if not armored, though she does glance down regretfully at her silk hose. "We'll see, won't we?"

The Barkeep moves to unlock the door and coughs a little, his face redder and redder as he gestures for those who want to venture out to go ahead. For those that exit the tavern, they find that once the last person is through, the door is slammed shut behind them. The alley is a morass of rubbish. The stench is pretty terrible and there are mounds of junk. Some of which are moving.

Eurion shifts his weight on his heel to look over his shoulder at the slammed door "Remind me not to be nice next time." His usual smile faltering for a moment before he just rests a hand idly on the hilt of the blade sitting at his waist

Lisebet arches a brow, and takes a breath, her expression going to that neutral again. "That bartender," she murmurs. "I am not all that impressed with him." She glances around, looking for the mask that is supposed to be out here.

Eurion checked perception + survival at difficulty 35, rolling 11 lower.

Lisebet checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 13 lower.

Lisebet checked luck at difficulty 20, rolling 4 lower.

Leta wrinkles her nose as she comes out, "Someone oughta come here and clean this place more often, that's what. There's sewers in the Lowers cleaner than this," the brawny woman remarks. Then she starts to undress. Not entirely, but she does begin to undo the laces on her fancy brocade doublet and remove her velvet hat. These she sets down, very very carefully right up against the door, leaving her in just her white linen undershirt and hose below. "Right, then."

Leta checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 2 lower.

Leta checked luck at difficulty 20, rolling 4 lower.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + stealth(4) at difficulty 30, rolling 28 higher.

As the search begins, the heaps of trash are pushed around here and there, sometimes seeming almost to move a little oddly, though nothing overtly wrong is noticed. The first layer is pushed around, some faint rustling or soft sounds that are not immediately identifiable. The only spot of good news is that there are sticks lined up against the wall of the Tavern, rather perfect for pushing the garbage around.

Lisebet checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 8 lower.

Leta checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 27 higher.

Eurion grumbles a bit and starts to toe at the piles of refuse "It's a mask, how hard should a mask be to find?"

Leta checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 2 higher.

Eurion has rolled a critical success!
Eurion checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 15 higher.

Merek checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 38 higher.

Eurion checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

Merek moves with the others to search about, cloak shifted about him while he nods to the others a bit.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + brawl(2) at difficulty 20, rolling 11 higher.

Sticks. Leta grabs a stick. She's good with sticks, and she's not too bothered by the trash, now that she's got her fancy clothes off. She does wrinkle her nose and scowl, but looks more irritated than anything else, prodding her stick into the mess here and there, sifting through it.

5 inflicted and Leta is harmed for minor damage.

Olivia sits in the bar alone with Sam and the Bartender, "So.... My friends gonna die out there?"

It is nearly at the same time that Leta and Eurion spy the rounded edge of what looks like a mask buried under some muck. As both reach for it, Eurion is able to get his fingers on it, while Leta gets the sharp teeth of a rat latched onto her fingers for her trouble.

Sam and the barkeep look at one another and Sam says, "Oh, no. Likely not. It's just... filthy back there. And the smell is terrible bad. And there are big, giant ra--" He's about to finish when the Barkeep waps him hard. "Sam! Do I need to remind you of your tab, man?"

Lisebet is looking, but she's not touching anything. She really wasn't meaning to come out here. It's stinky, dirty and ick. She actually looks like she might throw up. She stays near the door, more or less.

Eurion spends most of his time on ships, not the most sanitary places to begin with. He doesn't mind smells or rats actually because hey those are there on ships too. He wriggles the mask free and snatches his hand back quickly though

"Why you little fuckin'..." Leta expletes at the bite, yanking her hand away and flailing it around. She dances away from the garbage and the mask, rat still attached. With the stick in hand, she looks like she's doing one of those stick-based folk dances, trying to whack the rodent with it. The rat's dangerously close to her fingers, so this is easier said than done.

Lisebet might be outside that door, but her guards are not. They're inside, and about now they're starting to get annoyed. Ramona turns to say, "We're opening that door now."

Leta checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 25, rolling 15 higher.

Inside the Barkeep is trying to defuse the situation, holding his hands up and pleading, "Just two more minutes! I'm sure they're about to come right back inside any second." It's unlikely that Lisebet's guards are going to wait the full two minutes and from the look he's getting, the Barkeep mutters and moves to unlock the door.

Olivia tries to get eyes on the door to see what is going on.

Eurion checked luck at difficulty 20, rolling 10 lower.

Eurion was distracted for a moment as he reaches for the door. He was just about to wipe the mask off on his legs when he remembers what it's covered in. He shakes his head and steps foward only to have the door careen directly into his oh so pretty face. He stumbles back and -almost- loses his balance. But he's been at sea for years and those reflexes don't go away so easy and he manages to keep his balance. Now the bloody nose though..."MOTHER FU..." His hand reaches up to snap his nostrils closed and to keep him from shouting out some more

The door is opened, Lisebet's guards peering out. When Eurion's bloody nose is seen they glare at the barkeep. The man groans and hisses, "Get it, get in, and shut the door!"

Thunk! The staff smacks the rat, and the rat finally lets go of Leta's fingers. "Should've brought my freakin' gloves or something," she winces, shaking off her bloodied finger before wrapping it in a corner of her linen undershirt. At least it's not bleeding on the rest of her fancier clothes. Then the door opens. "My clothes!" She hurries over before someone tramples all over the fancy silks she carefully piled right by the doorstep.

Lisebet slips in through the door, once it's open. The fact that Eurion is back to the door and reaching for it, that's a good thing. "We got the mask, let's go in," she calls, since she's standing right beside the man. There's a couple others out there with them, and she wants to make sure that they come back in too.

Merek makes his way about, finding plenty of things, though some might wonder if he's actually looking for the mask or something else. He then makes his way to the others also!

Once the seekers come back inside, the door is slammed once more, and there is, for those of keen hearing, a series of thumps and squeaks, as if a cluster of rats were trying to rush the door. Once the door is closed the barkeep looks relieved. "You found what you're looking for?"

Eurion stomps his way through the door. He still has one hand covering his face. The other lifts up the creepy looking mask "Right then..." Which is muffled of course but he just scowls as best he can

Leta comes in with her big hat back on her head and her doublet folded under one arm, finger bleeding into her linen shirt. "You ought to get a cat," is her advice for the barkeep, but then that's probably her advice for most people. Then she hears the thumping against the door, and scowls, correcting herself a moment later. "Lots of cats. Now, what's that mask look like, then?" She tilts her head to peer curiously at the object Eurion is holding.

Once back inside, Lisebet takes a moment, and gives the barkeep a black look. She's going to remember that man and no mistake. And not in a good way. "It seems we did find it, yes," she agrees quietly. She too looks at the mask, now that they have it. She isn't touching it, but after a moment, she says, "Olivia, I think both Eurion and this wonderful lady here may need a physician's care."

Olivia perks up a bit. "What was out there? Let me see the wounds." She starts getting her satchel ready.

The mask, once its been cleaned up a little, is actually a damn fine piece of art. It is the face of a man in his late twenties, not especially handsome, but there are some good bones there. His nose has been broken a few times, he has a number of small scars. The detail and realism is so good it is downright eerie. Copying details down to the shading of a faded bruise under one eye, a scab on his lower lip.

Ol' Sam seems to be ready to call it a night, he's moved to the cloak hooks and is pulling his wool cloak off the peg. He moves towards the door, hands in his pockets, head bowed as he reaches for the front door, pulling it open.

"Thank you for sharing a drink with us," Lisebet calls to the departing fellow. "And for the true tales." She looks at the mask and shudders a bit. "That looks really too real to be a mask."

Olivia hmms, "What is it made out of?"

"I just got bit, it'll be fine, just didn't want to mess my clothes or nothing," Leta replies at the mention of a physician's care, waving it off with an easy smile. Her attention's on the mask, though, her brow furrowing in a scowl. "Uh. Well, odds are the... person responsible for folk missing is a crafter or some kind of artist or something, right?"

Eurion gives a big sniff of his nose. Nothing was broken just a bit of blood. He still grumbles a bit but grabs a rag from the bar to wipe away the blood

The door is not yet closed from Sam's departure when a blood curdling scream comes from right outside the Tavern. "No.. no...NOOOOOO!" There is a metallic scrape across the window and the patrons within all jump, clearly startled by the sound. Several of the patrons get up and rush to the windows to get a look at the source of the sound, but the windows are foggy and not the clearest view. The door hangs open, a void of black lingering there. For those that move to the door -- the sight is disturbing, to say the least. A large, uneven shape is disappearing around a corner and into a darkened alley. The gait is odd and there is a clanging, rasping sound on every other step. The shape is dragging something behind it, and while the gait is uneven, it is surprisingly fast. Resting on the stoop of the Tavern is a mask. A perfectly painted mask of Ol' Sam's face.

Olivia turns and goes a little white at the scream.

Merek turns around to move to where the man was, then looks at the front, and also to the mask of him.

Lisebet squeaks at the scream, her face turning pale, and she moves to the door, pausing as they see the mask there. Her eyes widen and she stumbles back, turning more than a little green. "There - is - did you see that?" she asks, after swallowing three or four times, from where she's ended up against the nearest table. "Don't go out around here alone!"