The Hunt for Benjy Blue Eyes

[The Raven]

"Ser Richard!" Ser Malkym bowed in respect. "Our blades are yours for the day."

One of his men tapped another companion, and both the men murmured in horror about something. A turn of the head revealed that the greyscale stricken Ser Sebastian Florent had arrived, dressed in plate and a plain grey cloak.

"Seven blessings. It's good to see you again so soon, Ser Harlan. You must be Nyles. You're very fortunate you have an uncle who cares very much for you. Ser Malkym."

"Ser Sebastian." To his credit, the fop lacked the superstitious ignorance of his men and greeted the Florent like any other noble. "My apologies, Lord Hightower did not inform us one of his own sworn swords would be joining us, much less one of his finest knights."

"I am not here on my Lord's command. I'm simply here to assist a friend."

"Duly noted." Ser Malkym turned to the Kingsguard. "Well, where are we heading, Ser Richard?'

[Ser Richard]

Richard smiles at his nephew "I think Nyles here knows better than anyone. We're on a manhunt today, so we'll head to where this armor and weaponry were stored first, where my nephew was last night. They might still be moving the materials away, or don't know what is about to descend upon them. Find the underlings, then move up the chain as fast as possible. We have one day gentleman. I'd see us use it."

[Ethan Flatrivers]

Nyles nodded. "Hearty Herb's is as good a place as any to start," he said. "The only other leads I have are the taverns he frequents." He double checked his weapons and equipment. It'd be a long day. "We appreciate your help, sees," he said respectfully.

[The Raven]

Ser Malkym nodded. "We should grab some horses, or I fear this endeavor will not be finished in good time."

***

After a stop at the castle stables, the ten riders make their way to the dead tanner's abode. The sun is still fresh in the sky. Ser Malkym dismounts and orders his men to guard the scene while he and the highborn investigate.

The tannery is a two story building, with Hearty Herb's business on the ground floor and his living quarters upstairs. Ser Malkym gestured to the backroom. "The body was found in there. Clean stab into the gut. Work of a practiced arm. According to the watch's Maester, it looked as though the killer had attempted to nurse him back, perhaps out of remorse or a need to question him. The investigating officer, Sandor, said there were no witnesses and judging by the lack of valuables, clearly the work of a confused burglar. Then again, I wouldn't let Sandor investigate my boots for fear of them somehow ending up on the local black market. His cloak is as dirty as they come."

[Ser Richard]

"Hm" grunts Richard as he moves into the place "Good help hard to find, eh? Surprised the Watch has a maester. Lot of minor lords who'd kill for that. Any sign of the armor that was here?" Richard'll look through the building, looking for clues or signs that could point to Benjy Blue Eyes (Observation 46)

[Ethan Flatrivers]

Nyles just whistles innocently. He heads upstairs to where the armor and the room with the hole in it had been. "Damned corrupt guard," he said. He looks at the hole in the bedroom where the henchman had ripped the planks out.

33 observation

[The Raven]

(Success. One point awarded.)
"Why? The Night's Watch has one and they don't do shit but murder peasants. Our Lord Commander is responsible for protecting half a million people, as well as His Grace's family and inner circle."

Ser Sebastian nodded in agreement with Ser Malkym, for it made perfect sense.

Richard finds old bloodstains where the body must have laid in the backroom, surrounded by the tools of the victim's trade. The back door remains locked from the inside.

Upstairs, the party finds the bedroom has been torn apart in the search for something. Beneath the bed frame, beside the blanket, sheets, and mattress tossed onto the floor, Richard can see where the floorboards have been pried open, revealing some sort of compartment.

The other room upstairs is used for storage of various goods. Nyles notices that the crates containing leather armor are gone.

[The Raven]

(Success. One point awarded.)
Nyles sees a small worn black journal and a few coppers. No doubt this was where Hearty Herb stored his life savings, and Sandor had no use for literature.

[Vex]

Harlan wasn't even entirely sure what was going on, as Nyles's hadn't really bothered to brief him on the situation. Still, he did his best to be useful and scanned the rooms with the others, occasionally still wondering how the City Watch had come upon someone as handsome as Ser Malkym. It made no sense.

[41 Observation]

[Ser Richard]

Jul 16, 2016 20:09:05 GMT The Raven said:

"Why? The Night's Watch has one and they don't do shit but murder peasants. Our Lord Commander is responsible for protecting half a million people, as well as His Grace's family and inner circle."

Richard finds old bloodstains where the body must have laid in the backroom, surrounded by the tools of the victim's trade. The back door remains locked from the inside.

Since Nyles was already bending over the floorboards, Richard would continue the conversation while he tapped the back door lightly with one gauntleted hand.

"Didn't know Nights Watch had a Maester either. Interesting. Thought they were only for actual Houses." said the man lightly as he looked curiously at where the dead body lay "Suppose the house hasn't been under guard since the death of the man, has it? Any people around here see anyone moving boxes, supplies out of the front?"

[Ethan Flatrivers]

Jul 16, 2016 20:13:10 GMT The Raven said:

(Success. One point awarded.)
Nyles sees a small worn black journal and a few coppers. No doubt this was where Hearty Herb stored his life savings, and Sandor had no use for literature.

Nyles pockets the copper, because why not?  And then he proceeds to open the journal to see if it contained any useful information.

[The Raven]

Ser Malkym shrugged. "Couldn't say. We can always ask the neighbors."

Ser Sebastian inspected the window in the storage room. "This has been busted open. Someone either really wanted some of your famous seabreeze, or someone needed to make a desperate escape."

Nyles's newfound ledger contains information on a series of accounts. Most are quite mundane and harmless, but in the past few months, there have been multiple deliveries to something called 'Stranger's Hill.' The name means nothing to the Riverman, but the payment amount listed beside each shipment suggests it was his main source of revenue.

[Ethan Flatrivers]

Nyles heads back to the others. "Has anyone ever heard of..." He checks the ledger again to double check, "Stranger's Hill? I figure it's either a part of town or a tavern or something."

[The Raven]

Jul 16, 2016 20:42:39 GMT Vex said:

Harlan wasn't even entirely sure what was going on, as Nyles's hadn't really bothered to brief him on the situation. Still, he did his best to be useful and scanned the rooms with the others, occasionally still wondering how the City Watch had come upon someone as handsome as Ser Malkym. It made no sense.

[41 Observation]

(Success. One point awarded.)
Harlan finds the same evidence as Richard. It also occurs to him that Ser Malkym, despite his lack of a surname, almost certainly grew up in a noble household.

Though he swears like a commoner when Nyles mentions Stranger's Hill. "It's an old manse in Flea's Bottom. Used to belong to some house that got wiped out during the Dance of the Dragons. Now it's home to every fucking species of criminal knave you can imagine."

[Ethan Flatrivers]

"Wonderful," the squire said. "Our friend here was selling almost all his supplies to the folks at the tavern." He cracked his neck. "Sounds like this is going to get even better."