<div class="floatleft">(https://www.naturallyamazing.com/americasparks/10489.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>GM Post<br/><strong>Date/Time:</strong>January 1st, 2018<br/><strong>Status:</strong>--<br/><strong>Notes/Triggers:</strong>A discussion with Count Harald. Questions With No Answers. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFBeH3ZfpRY)<br/><strong>Tagging: </strong>Everyone.<br/><hr/><hr/>There was a noticeable chill in the air as each of the six champions arrived. They arrived in a certain order--Richard, Arwen, Lilisa and her furred compatriot, Quinn, Corrin, and lastly Balthazar. Harald met them all with a personal grace that showed he was already showing the noble traits necessary for his new position. He had time to greet each of them in that more personal way as they arrived.<br/><br/>His eyes, touched with the redness of grief, nonetheless held a resolve in them there among the frosty trees and undulating icy waters of the lake.<br/><br/>"Greetings, Mr. Lancaster. Thank you for coming. And I appreciate the blunt speaking at a time like this; I admit that I am having difficulty keeping the demeanor that benefits my new position, so someone of a more frank approach is welcome, though I am now no longer permitted to be...less personally mindful...of courtesies as I was once. I will brief you as soon as the others all arrive; I don't wish to repeat myself. It is painful enough to have to do this as it is. And thank you for the condolences, but I much prefer you using that weapon of yours on whoever is responsible."<br/><br/>Arwen arrived after Richard's introduction, and Harald's face turned a very fine shade of red to see such a beauty kneel before him. He was almost at a loss for words there by the lake until he coughed and seemed to remember himself. "Sir Arwen, thank you--I accept your leal service on behalf of Duchess Gabriella for the duration and am honored to both make your acquaintance and call upon you for aid.. As the others arrive, we will get to a more thorough briefing. If you are not already acquainted, the fellow before you is Mr. Richard Lancaster."<br/><br/>Lilisa arrived after that. Or a better phrase might have been<em>dragged in</em>after that. As soon as Lilisa came within visual distance of the lake and was safely out of any conveyance, Woofs gave a baleful howl and strained at the leash as strongly as he could. Given Woofs capabilities, this was quite powerful, and it resulted in the adorable Pooka being dragged all the way to the lake's edge, Woofs howling and barking at the water like he'd gone utterly insane. Clearly Woofs had felt the leash was important. Maybe the animal had some foresight that a leash would keep him in check. Maybe it had just been for walkies. It was hard to say.<br/><br/>What was not hard to say was that Harald's eyes were the size of dinner plates watching the dog drag Lilisa around, and he said, concerned, "Um...I'm Count Harald. Who might you and your canine comrade be? The two who have come before you are Mr. Lancaster and Sir Arwen." He pointed to them respectively to be clear, though given Woofs excitability, he wasn't sure Lilisa would be able to focus on anything that<em>wasn't</em>the loud dog acting as if the water was his most dire enemy. Harald looked horribly sad and said gently to the dog, 'Me, too. Me, too." The dog quieted down after that, but stayed crouched at the lake's edge, as if watching...or guarding.<br/><br/>Quinn arrived, and after the loudness of Lilisa and Woofs, Harald almost didn't see them! But the Count heard that whisper, so reminiscent of a Slaugh, and he said, "Thank you--you know who I am. That over there is Mr. Lancaster. The lady is Sir Arwen. I am...not sure who the dog-owner is, but we'll find out soon. Thank you for coming; I appreciate your service."<br/><br/>Corrin arrived not too long after, and Harald acknowledged him as well, though his eyes darted to that flicking tongue. It was clear the new Count had never seen someone quite so...snakey. He didn't stare overly long, though, but instead inclined his head and said, "A pleasure to meet you, and it is my hope that the culprit is found as well."<br/><br/>Sir Balthazar arrived in the blue pickup, and something in Harald's eyes lit up with joy to see him. It was clear, from just a cursory glance at Harald, that he<em>recognized</em>Sir Balthazar. Balthazar's presence interjected some small moment of joy for the Count amongst the sorrow, and as the man approached, Harald gushed and said, "You! I saw you once before--I've read your fantasy works! To think that the Duchess and the Dreaming would send one of my favorite authors to my aid is nearly beyond belief--Fate truly is mysterious! I can't believe it--"<br/><br/>He caught himself and looked embarassed. "I...I mean, thank you for coming. I know that you're Sir Balthazar, but I also know you from your fantasy novels. I wanted to get one signed once, but I was too shy to approach you. Thank you for answering the call."<br/><br/>Pending Lilisa's introduction, he said, "But that...is six of you. Shall I start with the exact circumstances of my sister's death? From there, you could all ask me question. I...think that is how it should work? I have never been in this situation before. I'm at a loss about where to begin. Calla and I kept to ourselves to try to<em>avoid</em>trouble, and now she's<em>dead.</em>"