A tragic mystery

You are awoken by a great commotion in the churchyard, just as dawn had broken. There was a great commotion of indistinctive shouting and tears. You quickly put on your vestments and rush out to figure out what's happened. Among the commotion, Mother Ferguson, the head of the sisters, sees you and rushes towards you as quick as her old body allows.

"Mother, what's happened?"

"Demetria, I am so sorry" as she reaches your hand and squeezes hard "You will have to Steele yourself hard child. Something's happened, we don't know how, we don't know why. The orphans a-" Instinctively, you rush towards the nursery where all the children sleep. You feel the blood leave your face as you slam the door open and see the rows of beds. They're empty, each of them! Hoping for a sign, you look through every shelf, every case, every chest for any sign of them, but there is nothing.

Running on pure instinct and adrenaline, you rush back to Mother Ferguson, standing with the Archdeacon. You want to talk to them, ask them what happened, when they found out, where they went, anything. Grief overwhelms you, and you start sobbing uncontrollably. Doolyn and Ferguson, the closest you've ever known to real parents, embrace you together until you begin to calm down.

As you regain some composure "Archdeacon, how did we-?"

Anticipating your question, he answered before you could finish "Easy now Demetria. It was one of the other sisters. One of the children had been getting up in the middle of the night with nightmares, and would run to go find the same Sister for comfort. She noticed he hadn't gotten up, so she went to check, and when she came in, they were all gone."

"But, how did we let -"

Doolyn interjected yet again "Please, try to remain calm. We had no reason to suspect anyone would try something like this. Except for adoptees, no one paid the children any real attention, more the pity."

"Well, what are-"

"We are doing everything that we can."

"We have to find him and make him give them back!"

"Him? Demetria, we don't even yet know if this was a ****. You cannot allow your passions turn into blind zealotry and a search for vengeance"

"All of their clothing and what few belongings they had are still here. They wouldn't have left those things behind if they all ran away"

"But there's no sign of a **** entry, or a struggle, and we have no one to suspect for this"

"Of course we do! The pompous ass who stormed into my classroom yesterday. He said he would get his payback!"

"Sister Demetria, mind your tongue!" as you were scolded by Mother Ferguson

"My dear, how could one person, even a Baron such as him, do all of this without detection?"

"I-I don't know." you quiet down "but we have to do something. I have to find them, and I'll do it alone if I have to"

The Archdeacon sighs at your outburst "I know, child. I knew your course of action while you were still asleep. Come, I have something for you before you depart"

You enter his office with him, after going through a complicated series of locks that seem unnecessary for an old limping priest. By the foot of his bed, he opened an old warchest. He groans as he rises to his feet, holding his old warhammer. Seeing the surprised look on your face "I was much like you at your age. Brave, headstrong, ready to go fix all of the world's problems at once, given the chance. I served the Goddess Phoenica well, and helped a group of adventurers fight off many evils, we corrected many wrongs, until..."

"Until what?"

You have a sense that the Archdeacon is withholding something "until I took an arrow to my knee" as he slaps his bad side "those days are with me still, but they are over. It's your time now, Demetria." He handed you the weapon, eager to not have the burden of holding it anymore, as well as a small key "someone is holding onto my old armor in the city. Show him this key, and he will help you. You go get those children Demetria, and you right this wrong"

"I will Archdeacon, and when I find them I'll return these items and come back here"

"No" Doolyn responded sternly "You have your whole life ahead of you, and the world will be better off with you out in it, fighting the good fight. You are free to visit, but don't you dare stay."

You feel overwhelmed again; this is suddenly feeling like goodbye, on top of still dealing with the loss of the orphaned children. Doolyn is feeling sentimental as well, as he leans against the edge of his bed "you were an adorable child, Demetria. I remember I would rock you to bed every night. You would never go to sleep until you were rocked. Still, I had thought that there was no reason anyone would say no to such a precious little thing as you."

"I always thought of you as my Father. I mean, you know" recognizing the oddness

"I know what you mean, my dear Demetria, and I am proud to have you as my Daughter" you embrace each other tightly, and say your goodbye's as you leave the church...