Dinner on the first night

You unpacked your things in your room after Dee left and spent a bit of time going over all of the notes you'd jotted down, while adding new ones. It was lonely and quiet at that wing of the house. The sound-proofing of the study meant that you couldn't hear Wanda bumping around up there and everyone else was hanging around downstairs. Even if someone did come up, they'd be on the woman's side. For a few brief moments it felt like you were entirely alone on the island.

The sound of a bell nearly made you jump, making you think that the Ring of Ursa Major had been used again. Quickly, you realized this one had a visible source. There was a servant's bell that could be rung in each of the guest rooms, including yours, and it also appeared to double as a dinner bell to let you know supper was ready. It was about that time. Your mind wasn't on dinner at all, but instead, the mystery at hand, as you made your way back down to the first floor.

As you entered the dining room, you spotted first the snooty face of Old Eric, closest to the door. He didn't even look at you, but everyone else did, a few of them turning in their chairs to watch you. They were all seated, once again making you the last arrival-- not surprising, given you'd been on the second floor. The meal looked elaborate and sumptuous, with the centerpiece being a large, whole-roasted hog--for just a moment, dinner finally jumped to the forefront of your mind.

No time for that. You needed to scan the crowd.

The head of the table was empty. That's where Wanda Croft was probably supposed to be sitting, but given her condition, she was probably still locked up in the study. The butler team had even bothered setting out dinnerware for her and a plate, albeit no meal, in case she showed up and decided to serve herself from the many dishes set out across the table.

Working clockwise, Dee was seated there. You'd imagine that if Wanda was there, it might be a pretty intense stare-down between the two of them. Your fellow detective's face was as inexpressive as ever. She'd had the decency to leave her hat in her room and not wear it at the dinner table, but that appeared to be as far as her socializing extended. Otherwise, she was glaring straight at you and ignoring the one next to her.

Linda came next in order, giving you an encouraging smile as you walked to the table. Her friendliness almost balanced out Dee's attitude. Perhaps she'd deliberately taken the spot to help shield you from Dee's accusations? You returned her smile, silently thanking her for her thoughtfulness. She'd dressed out of her scarf and coat and now wore a simple mint-green button-up along with her skirt.

Next came your spot. You pulled out the chair and slid in. It occurred to you that if Wanda had made it downstairs, she'd be seated directly opposite of you. Actually, you weren't sure which side of this table was the "head..." was there a possibility you were in the wrong seat? You assumed not, since anyone would have figured you'd go next to Linda.

Continuing clockwise, Brunhilde sat with her arms crossed tightly, giving you little attention. Beside her sat Yara Ashour, yapping away with her bodyguard... or more like at bodyguard. The blond wasn't doing any of the talking. It seemed like her eyes were focused on the hog at the center of the table rather than you... she might just be hungry. She had removed her leather jacket to reveal a very casual, sleeveless gray t-shirt, showing off the crazy sculpt of her immensely buff arms and shoulders. You actually felt like eating without her jacket on was going to make her less appropriate for the setting, not more.

Yara was her usual self, grinning from ear to ear. She was the first one to raise her voice to greet you. "There's the straggler! Nice and settled in? It's rather late for dinner, isn't it?" she giggled. "You've been working up an appetite, stomping all over the mansion, haven't you?"

You laughed awkwardly, unsure what you were supposed to say to any of that. You took your spot at the end of the table and then hoped someone else would jump in to give the go-ahead to eat, so that you could silence your growling stomach and ignore the topic of who's suspicious for a bit.

Finally, Tallula entered through the kitchen, dressed in her usual attire-- a maid's apron, not a cooking one, so you could assume she didn't have much to do with the feast. She bowed hesitantly and you noticed her holding something behind her back. She looked between you and Old Eric for a moment, then sheepishly produced a violin and bow. "I-I'll be entertaining you all during the dinner. I hope that's agreeable."

"Of course," Linda reassured her, giving a calming smile.

"Are you any good? I'd hate for you to ruin the pork, my dear," Yara chuckled, sounding skeptical.

Eric fielded that question, as Tallula became increasingly skittish. "But of course, Ms. Ashour. Tallula has been training with the instrument since she was a child. Her playing was often a source of great comfort, easing the worries of the current lady of the manor. She is an excellent servant."

Tallula smiled hopefully.

"When it comes to playing the violin." He finished, frowning distastefully.

She seemed to deflate again, slumping her shoulders and practically allowing the violin to drag the carpet. It seemed like your hunch was correct: Old Eric was no friend of Tallula. You wondered if all of the other butlers treated her the same way. Stepping in for what little good you could do, you gave her a smile and encouraged her to play for you all. If it was good enough for Wanda, it was too good for you, surely.

If she had a tail, it would be wagging. She nodded, encouraged, then brought it up into place against her substantial breast to begin playing. Tallula might be clumsy in most other ways, but she was clearly a qualified servant in this one. Her music began, soft and tasteful, immediately giving the tense dining room a sense of ease that it had been sorely lacking up to this point. In your mind's eye, you could picture her playing for the lady alone in this place-- a remarkably elegant image that didn't match anything else in this sordid mystery.

"She's quite good," Linda complimented her, quietly whispering to you so as not to talk over the music. Most everyone followed her lead, keeping any conversation to a reasonably low volume... apart from Yara, who was so loud that there were times where you could barely hear the music over her voice. Brunhilde wasn't doing too much to help in that regard, instead stuffing herself at an amazing pace. If that was as weird as the dinner was going, it might actually be pretty pleasant...

... But Dee watching your moves from the other side of the table, barely even touching her food, was spoiling your appetite.

As you were nearly finished with your meal, you experienced an odd sensation. A voice spoke inside your head... the voice of Wanda Croft! How were you hearing her? She was still locked up in the third floor. It was like you were "thinking" her words without total control of them... like a dream.

"My master wishes to applaud you for your earnest efforts so far. However, what comes next may be difficult. This isn't your 'time to shine' as a real detective. It's no less than a struggle for survival against the whims of my master. Should you become the agreed-upon culprit, the game will end with the immediate control of everyone at this table. For that reason, you must be prepared to deflect suspicions others have placed upon you, then name a culprit of your own."

"There are some suspicious of you, aren't there? Do you really have enough clues? What are you going to do? As a reminder, you'll need three clues related to a single suspect and you need less than three suspicions on you, though some affections may cancel out suspicions."

"Well... if you've made it this far and you aren't confident... I'd be willing to throw you a bone. Does your pride allow that? Hm hm hm hm! Are you willing to accept my help? If so, simply think what you are lacking and it will be given to you. I will, however, be keeping a tab. Debts must be repaid, Mr. Wolf."