Khaleem has interviewed the surviving guard Jin Smith. Below is a transcript of their talk made by one of the servants that accompanied the Prime Minister to the infirmary, but summarizing...
- Sabine was abducted in the woods in High Garden by three individuals
- One of the assailants was a female elf, wearing a First Kingdom mask and carrying a warhammer
- Another was a wolf
- The third one was a feathered dragon
- The assailants wielded magic
- Sabine was carried unconscious; the guard Jin was left for dead
[00:18] Jin Smith is laying back in one of the beds - there's a healer at the desk keeping an eye on him, which probably isn't a great sign, and the man is covered in bandages and fresh signs of healing - even with all that, he looks quite weak indeed.
[00:19] Khaleem was informed that Sabine's guard was finally conscious, so he came to the infirmary, to question her and file the report on what went on! Arriving in the room where Jin is in, he perks his ears and looks around, and asks in a quiet, soft voice, "What's the status here?", and looking to Jin, "...are you strong enough to talk?"
[00:22] The healer looks up from her work when Khaleem's voice sounds in the room, and she speaks softly, ".. He should be able to talk, but.. If possible, keep it as tame as you can. He very nearly didn't make it." She says, - the cheetah himself doesn't seem able to really sit up to address Khaleem, but he does nod, speaking in as strong a voice as he can manage, "Yes... Anything I can say that might help. I can't believe I failed.."
[00:26] Khaleem nods to the healer, and he turns his attention to the cheetah, reaching gently to pat pat an uninjured part of him, saying tenderly, "You're still alive, so keep that way and it won't be such a failure. The fact that you're here can help us with this matter. ...So, tell us, what happened?"; and he gestures to one of the 'secretaries' that came with him, for them to write down whatever is said.
[00:31] Jin Smith would manage a weak smile at the pat and at those reassuring words, speaking, "Still.. I'll.. Feel better when she's safe again.. We were walking through the forest, Lady Sabine likes doing so on some days to clear her head inbetween business matters.. We never go too far into the forest. But it didn't matter this time... They came so fast. Three of them.. They.." He says, going quiet a long moment, before glancing up to Khaleem, ".. They.. Didn't have a bunch of soldiers with them.. But.. One woman had a mask with the First Kingdom's insignia on it... Except it doesn't glow like the symbols did on their armor during the war. They were strong, though.. Two mages and some masked elf woman. SAbine fought as well, but the three were too much for us. I saw them dragging her away while I was losing consiousness from the worst of the blows I received.."
[00:34] Khaleem perks his ears to what Jin says, "...three you say? One was an elf woman, and the others... any indication of what species they might be? And mages? What sort of power did they display, do you remember?"
[00:36] Jin Smith would close his eyes as he thinks harder, trying to scrawl through that memory that was laden with injury, "One was a wolf.. He.. Empowered the others somehow, but he also packed a hard punch.. He was the one who did the worst of my wounds. The other... A dragon? But.. He had feathers. Was an exotic species as i've ever seen.." He says, going quiet before looking to Khaleem, "At the mercenary house.. They talked about how there's some first kingdom leaders that aren't accounted for.. Do you think there's still some holdouts, maybe?"
[00:43] Khaleem nods a bit to Jin as he recounts the encounter, "...how many of you were there? And could you describe what type of magic they used?", and he says with a slight shrug, "The First Kingdom itself is gone, but there are always lunatics who will try to fill the vacuum left by the kingdom's fall. It could be a former leader, a former general, a popular soldier, it's hard to tell at this point..."
[00:49] HUD-Weather: Partly cloudy.
[00:50] Jin Smith would speak softly, "Just me and Sabine.. We didn't go very far in. The forest guardians were there before i fully lost consiousness, but the attackers were so quick about everything they did.."
[00:52] Khaleem nods a little to Jin, saying softly, "It's curious that people would attack Sabine while there's all the activity going on not too far with Lord Ausar's new construction project... ...probably what helped the Scouts be there so quick. Do you remember anything else? How did they subdue Sabine? What was her condition when she was taken? ...how was she taken?"
[00:59] Jin Smith would sigh some, speaking, "Don't think she was dead.. She was unconsious, though. I'm sure of it, because she's very fast in combat as you'd expect fennecs to be. The elf was carrying her."
[01:02] Khaleem nods a little, "So this elf woman was strong enough to carry an unconscious fennec. ...not that fennecs are hard to haul around when they're out cold...", and he pats pats an unwounded part of Jin again and says gently, "...we're going to get her back. When Sarah or Mishra or Mariah get around, they can heal you up like new and you may even join the effort to recover her. But for now you need to rest and save your strength, alright?"
[01:08] Jin Smith would frown some, nodding, "She seemed damned savage for an elf in general.. She had a warhammer and all." He says, smiling to the pat, and speaking softly, "I'll do that.. I hope they can, I want to help as much as I can.. We may have been outnumbered but I still feel entirely responsible.. It was my job to keep this from happening."
[01:17] Khaleem says softly, "You were outnumbered, and caught by surprise. Even the best defense forces can be overwhelmed under the right circumstances. But you're still alive, which means you get a shot at this again if you are strong and well enough when the time comes, so rest, and let's see how things develop. I'll file the information you've given us with the Guard and the Scouts will have access to it too and proper search and rescue efforts will be on the way! We'll get her back, don't worry!"
