#IDV | The Wind Whistles in the Trees

[idv-elysium-investigation]

August 13

As with all investigations, I shall record my findings as they occur. They will be written informally until such time I have need to transfer a report back to the agency. Lady Truth, if you would kindly refrain from transferring these notes as reports, I would be ever so grateful, and perhaps I shall return with some souvenir in return. The train ride is longer than that of our usual clients. Travel time is rarely over an hour; this journey is expected to take most of the day on the train alone. My final destination lacks a train station, so I will need to pay the services of a carriage or automobile, should one be available, to make the final leg of the journey. The client is a noble estate housed in a town named Elysium. I would expect it to be a small town as there are no records of trade imports or exports, and it is quite frankly nestled in the middle of nowhere. There is not an official map that shows the town's location, and as such we had to resort to other means of locating it. I find it suspicious. Moreover, the noble house is not recorded in the London Registry, nor in the English Residency. Were I less dedicated, I may have had reservations about this contract. As it is, the lack of information and the amount of digging we had to do to garner what little we have suggests any number of untoward scenarios. For all we know, this could lead to my death. That is why I took the case personally, Lady Truth, and requested you remain in London. I suspect you may follow regardless, but I would prefer that you did not without further information. What information we do have is sparse. The client sent a letter to the agency requesting our services. They vaguely described a monster, which has been responsible for the destruction of property and livestock. As they fear its wrath turning upon the townsfolk, they requested our services to track and eliminate the threat. Not outside our usual parameters, but I do wish they had been more forthcoming. I will see what my investigation brings and decide how to handle it accordingly. Naib Subedar Inference Detective Agency Occult Division

[idv-elysium-investigation]

August 13 (cont.) … … {It's been half an hour…did you get in?} … I have found talismans in the branches. I {oh thank heavens!!} may need you to {You can't scare me like that!!} … {Right. Go on.} … I will need you to find our files on rune talismans, especially those involved in obfuscation. Burning it would normally do, but there is more than one talisman, and a number are out of my feasible reach. Alternative methods are required, and I would rather know what I am doing rather than spend the rest of the evening - … … … {?} … {You either got distracted by something or you've been eaten.} … … {Please tell me you haven't been eaten.} … {Don't make me come out there!}

[idv-elysium-investigation]

August 13 (cont.) The carriage I hired dropped me off at the side of a narrow road. There is apparently no path for vehicles to reach Elysium. There is only a post that marks the direction of the town from the road, and the appearance of an overgrown path. Intentional irony, perhaps? Nevertheless, it is well I've packed light. A peculiar side note: the carriage driver held no misgivings of my destination when I hired him, yet when we stopped, he began to exhibit some effects of paranoia. Only upon reaching the marker did he mention anything of the monster mentioned in the letter. Further investigation may be warranted during my return trip. … The town is spelled, as I suspected. I have made three attempts thus far of my own to enter the forest. These attempts have led me right back to the road on which I've arrived, despite my intentions to follow the overgrown path. Twice a coincidence; thrice is intent. I suspect talismans of a sort, as they {You would think they'd let you in if they asked for you!} Yes, one would. Please refrain from writing as I am taking notes. {Sorry! There's a pretty big delay this time. You must be really far out there!} Quite. I shall try once more. …