Blood on the Floor.

Internally grumbling about being disturbed from his break, Ardylan exits his room in the Old Skull and makes his way down the hall quickly toward the source of all the noise. Scimitar drawn just in case, he slowly pushes the door to the suspect room open. Scanning the room quickly to ensure it is clear of any obvious dangers, his attention falls to the pool of blood first. His eyes follow the mess to the wall, and then to the book.

Weapon still drawn, he approaches the book and - without touching it - looks down at its bloodied pages to inspect the visible contents.

Wu Ling, whom usually gets his meals from the inn, hears the commotion while he is waiting for it to be prepared. Somewhat spooked from all the undead incursions, he heads upstairs while smoking his pipe. He sees Ardylan and wanders over in a somewhat cautious manner. Wu Ling waits by the door and asks the elf if there is treble.

Loora having heard the commotion opened her door but stands well back and watches from the darkness of her room. No candles or windows illuminate her space, and she stands motionless watching, waiting for Ardylan to answer.

Satisfied nothing is going to leap out at him for now, Ardylan slides his scimitar away. He picks up the book, holding it closer. He skims the contents on the open page, then checks the front cover and flips backwards through the pages - he is looking for any identifying information in the book.

Something glints off the armor, catching his attention out of the corner of his eye. He turns, still holding the book close, and peers at the armor, a frown crossing his features.

Hands shaking, Ardylan cursed under his breath as the realization hit him.

"Ivaris?" He called out to the empty room, as if he expected the Ilmateri to crawl out from under the bed and say he was just kidding, tomatoes are cheap these days. He either hadn't noticed anyone else gathering at the door or in the hall, or hadn't saw fit to say anything to them yet.

Still clutching the book in one hand, Ardylan approached the smaller, halfling-sized desk. Tilting the small lantern to the side, he studied its designs briefly, frown on his face growing deeper. Turning his attention to the paper next to it, he called out again:

"Ivaris? Zii?"

There would be no response from the halfling, at least. She's nowhere to be found, though something must have happened for her to leave that precious halfling-sized lantern behind on the normal-sized desk. Something obviously happened, considering the sizable pool of blood - more than enough to be a mortal spill if it were from a halfling, though it was more likely from someone larger.

Moric had been weighing the options of getting up. He was awake, but far too comfortable to roll over and start the day. Time was completely ignoring him, which only tempted him to close his eyes and forget he had ever woken up to begin with.

But the noise. Doors opening and closing, people walking about. The normally quiet inn was a bustle with something. It screwed into his moment of comfort and buzzed in his ear. Soft things were so loud. He thought to himself. Always talking. Always moving. Couldn’t they let things be still for just one moment? Moric’s eyes closed in the hope the universe heard his silent plea. Quiet descended upon him like a curtain, fading into a hazy sleep. Then it was ripped away by another wooden thud.

A seed of irritation planted itself in Moric’s throat and he grumbled, rolling over and pushing himself up. The soft creatures were up to something, and it better be good. He took a deep breath in, shook the rest of the sleep off him and leaned down to pick up his crumpled pants. He tugged them on as he walked for the door.

A somewhat awake, half-dressed, and disheveled Moric peered over the group. Looking into the innroom and the hin-sized pool of blood. His thoughts were slow, sluggishly piecing together what he saw.

The room remains a bloody mess. Except for the lone lantern, none of Zii's belongings can be found anywhere in the chamber.

Hearing the names the walking shadow steps from her own room and approaches the open door. An audible breath is heard when she spots the blood on the floor.

Ardylan shoves the book into his side-bag and ponders the lantern for a moment. Zii always had it with her - was it important to her, and perhaps magical, or did she just not like the dark? Erring on the side of caution he shoved the lantern into his side-bag as well.

Turning to those clustered in and around the door, he spoke, concern in his voice.

"I'll be making a report for the Sheriff...Did anyone see anyone coming or going from this room? Or.... anything at all?"

He sighs, studying the room once more, looking for any signs of forced entry or signs of foul play beyond the obvious huge blood splatter.

Loora speaks up, "I heard nothing unusual, though I was out for some time. I could have been away or what ever did this was too silent for me to notice."