Demonborn d100 Playtest: The Clever Fox

[Gnomes2169]

It was a dry and sunny day when our heroes rode to town. Nomis and Sin were joined by a dwarf by the name of Vinc, a veteran guard from a Duran caravan who was there to provide some muscle should they need it. He'd been open to talk (perhaps a bit too much), and from the conversations he'd had over the three days of your association, it seems like he'd taken the job because he was bored, and thought it would be easy and interesting to keep you two out of trouble. He doesn't seem to be all that interested in the job itself, so perhaps he had been assigned as some king of baby sitter by Sin's superior among the city inspectors.

The wagon driver that had been hired by governor Longview hadn't pushed his animals too hard in the late-summer heat, so it was getting on in the afternoon when the arrived in Sheered Wood, and there was not much traffic on the road as they rode past the town gate. The town had started as a logging village, and the influences on the building style were obvious, with plenty of decorative animal carvings adorning the corners of buildings, and all the carpentry immediately visible in the walls and businesses being of high quality.

A few guards, lazily sitting beside a water barrel and fanning themselves with playing cards, sat at a booth just past the walls, and they stop you for a moment to check the driver's merchandise manifest and business papers. When they get to the papers relating to you, the guard reading them looked up at the three of you and said, "Well now, you lot are the inspectors the governor sent us, huh? The mayor will want to talk to you. If you hurry you should be able to get him while he's in town hall, just across from the park in the center of town. Biggest building we got, you should be able to see the bell tower from here." Handing your letter of introduction back, he tipped his helmet a bit and said, "Good luck to yah, and welcome to Sheered Wood."

Thanking them, your driver gets his mules moving again and looks over his shoulder. "Well lads and lass, I'm going to stop at the tavern over there, goes by the name of the Broken Fletching, but that's about as far as I'm taking you. Thanks for the company on this leg of my journey." A minute later he stops in front of the aforementioned building, which had a sign with a shield and pair of shattered arrows painted on it, and his cart stops again. "If you need anything from me I'll still be hanging around the market square for the next few days, selling my things. Just ask for ol' Moat Thumper's stall, and the locals should be able to direct you to me."

[GodEye Galatea]

As the afternoon sun dipped low, its scorching heat and damp air only added to Sin's irritation. The sluggish pace of their journey had already worn thin on her patience. Despite her polite requests to the driver for a quicker pace, he seemed to have his reasons for maintaining their current speed.

Yet, as a seasoned guard, Sin had honed her ability to stretch her patience during such trying times. She saw these moments as opportunities to conserve her energy and resources, a skill that had proven invaluable in her line of work.

She was the first to step down from the wagon, her gaze sweeping the surroundings. Despite her dissatisfaction with the service, she maintained her composure and spoke politely, "Thank you for your assistance and letting us know of your wereabouts. We'll reach out if we require your services again."

After a slight bow to the driver, Sin shifted her gaze on the towering structure housing the mayor’s office. She hoped fervently that he was still there; otherwise, waiting furthermore to gain his audience would surely test her patience once more.

She would cast a glance at the others as she waited for them to disembark.

[GoggleDog]

Nomis, unlike his unfortunate companion, didn't complain much for the weather, or the ride, or the blabbing dwarf. Actually, he didn't seem to have much to say for himself either. Leaving a lot to be desired with his short excuse of communication.

That didn't make the environment, sin, or the dwarf any less annoying, but it was not his problem, others and the weather weren't things in his control for the task at hand.
As he was ready to leave the wagon he found himself amused how Sin, in his view, practically stormed out of it on the first chance she got.
Surprising himself, with time with the dwarf and the guards he found himself glad that Sin was up to take the challenge of conversation. Himself adding only bits here and there.

He stretched once he got out himself, revealing his broad shoulders, his pale skin finally seeing proper sun, he gave himself a pause to take a breath. Most of himself was covered from head to toe with his sand silk, pockets all around the conveniently hidden locations to fetch any small suprise weapons from. On his backpack, he had the rest.
Nomis closed his bronze eyes to not get attacked by the sun's rays. His soft facial features bearing it. ****, it was hot. His long hair in a bun didn't make things any better.

[Gnomes2169]

Vinc showed a little bit of uncharacteristic haste as he hopped out of the merchant's wagon behind Nomis and Sin, a scarred hand rubbing at his bare, marble-white chin. "Now let's see, bell tower, bell tower... there it is!" Shifting the package that held all of his armor, weapons and travel gear on his back, he made his way towards town hall. "Let's see the mayor, and see if one of you can talk us into some free rooms."

There are a few people still on the streets, including children that ran about between buildings, but the heat keeps the way mostly clear for you. The walk was short, and the shortcut through the park was actually quite pleasant since it includes a pond filled with fish, and after just a few minutes the three of you were in reception room of town hall.

A two floor building, with a three-floor bell tower attached to its western side, Sheered Wood town hall was a substantial building for a town this size. Once you were past the heavy doors engraved with wood-stained carvings of oaks, you could see there was a large room meant for town meetings just past the reception desk, at least two small rooms attached to it, and a stairwell on the eastern side leading both up to the second level and down to a basement. The meeting room could easily hold seven hundred spectators and had a sunk-in stage with a podium and seating for town councilors, though right now it was empty aside from a pair of lazy cats snuggling atop the podium.

At the receptionist desk, a sharen woman with bronzed skin and near-black hair sat fanning herself, but when the three of you enter she immediately sits up and closes her fan up. "Oh, visitors! Welcome! What brings you to our town on this... lovely summer day?" Her tone is light, and she seems to be genuinely curious despite the strained cheer in her voice. While it was better indoors, it was still warm enough that even mild work could leave a person sweating.

[GodEye Galatea]

Sin remained silent as they made their way to the town hall. It was evident to her companions, these past three days, that she preferred not to engage in idle conversation. However, when discussions turned to their tasks, her voice was the first to chime in.

Sin took the lead, walking briskly ahead of the group. Her swift pace was driven by a desire to escape the scorching heat and reach the cool confines of the town hall quickly. However, more importantly, she was eager for them to meet the mayor without delay, knowing that time was of the essence in their task.

As they entered the meeting hall, Sin took a moment to glance around while maintaining her stride. The sight of two lazy cats atop the podium caught her attention, and she paused to observe them for a moment. However, when the lady in the hall spoke, Sin quickly averted her gaze from the cats and focused her attention on her.

Approaching the receptionist, Sin gracefully removed her hood, revealing her shiny black hair tied in a neat knot. With a respectful bow, she initiated the conversation.

"A pleasant afternoon, madame. I am Sin Qia Graylight," she began with a polite nod. "My companions and I have been dispatched by Governor Longwood. We are here to meet with the town Mayor regarding a critical matter. Your assistance in arranging an audience with his honor would be greatly appreciated."

[GoggleDog]

Nomis didn't seem to be in too much of a haste. With people in high positions he always suspected that they had already made up the results of any conversation they were in before it had even begun, let alone predicted. If the mayor wanted them to have free rooms, he's already made up his mind.

"Oh, yes, count on me from everyone." He said with his usual flat voice
"But i do find intriguing you don't count yourself in the quest of free lodging." He replied to Vinc. Atleast the heat was good at keeping people distant. As he walked he spent time to see the scenery until they reached the building in question.

Inside he found it oddly pleasing to look at, from the very size of it to it's architecture. Its nothing he wants to see constantly, but a good reminder that there's always something bigger out there. He spent a bit longer of a time looking at the cats, even as the two women spoke.
He could practically hear Frost's voice inside his head, that damn old man.

"Your idea of lovely is unique, Ms."
He said, spending a time looking at the receptionist when he spoke to her.. and then back at the cats. They were far more entertaining. Sin could handle backhand conversations well enough.

[Gnomes2169]

"But i do find intriguing you don't count yourself in the quest of free lodging." He replied to Vinc. At least the heat was good at keeping people distant. As he walked he spent time to see the scenery until they reached the building in question.

The dwarf shrugged. "Surprising though it may be, I know I don't make a good first impression. I'm better at scarin' folk then convincing them peaceful-like." Flashing Nomis a harmless grin, the dwarf added, "'Sides, this is supposed to be your mission. Well, you and the lass. I'm just tagging along."


"Your idea of lovely is unique, Ms."
He said, spending a time looking at the receptionist when he spoke to her.. and then back at the cats. They were far more entertaining. Sin could handle backhand conversations well enough.

"Kari. Mrs. Kari Foreman." Clearly noting his interest in the cats she adds, "And their names are Paws and Claws. I'll let you figure out which one is which."


"A pleasant afternoon, madame. I am Sin Qia Graylight," she began with a polite nod. "My companions and I have been dispatched by Governor Longwood. We are here to meet with the town Mayor regarding a critical matter. Your assistance in arranging an audience with his honor would be greatly appreciated."

"Oh, you're the city inspectors! It's so good to finally meet you!" The forced cheer in her voice vanishes as she perks up a bit more, and she nods. "Mayor Foreman has been expecting you and would be happy to welcome you to the city. His office is upstairs, at the end of the hall. He should just be finishing a meeting with the local smith masters about the recent troubles with iron shipments, what with the Red Fox banditry going on their trade materials are being squeezed, so just make sure you knock before entering." After a moment, she added, "A lot of people will be excited that you are here."

The second level had a short passage at the top of the stairs that opened up into a wide, almost studio-like hallway studded with side rooms and podiums displaying sculptures and plaques with town history and information. One of them displayed a mischievous fox wearing a tricorn hat, with a small plaque calling it 'The Red Fox,' and a short series of podiums that displayed the town at various points in its history.

At the end of this hall there was a pair of thick, oaken double-doors which had a small knocker on it to make sure anyone inside would hear you. The muted sound of voices within the mayors office could also be heard, though the wood made them indistinct.

[GodEye Galatea]

After offering Mrs. Foreman a courteous bow, Sin proceeded upstairs. Occasionally, she would glance back at her two companions, ensuring they were following suit.

Upon reaching the hallway, Sin took a few moments to admire the decor and architectural details. The intricate designs and craftsmanship fascinated her, as architecture was one of her keen interests.

Sin's gaze lingered on the plaque depicting the Red Fox, her mind delved into the rumors she had heard about him. The stories passed down through word of mouth and the legends that surrounded his name filled her thoughts.

Growing up with tales of the Red Fox, the guard had admired his fame and cunning since childhood. However, as she matured, her perspective shifted. She began to question and analyze the man behind the legends, pondering his actions and character. Her admiration evolved into a complex mix of admiration, curiosity, and a hint of skepticism as she formed her own opinions about this enigmatic and sly individual.

[GoggleDog]

He raised an eyebrow at Mrs Kari, and then the cats in acknowledgement. Well, he was always willing to take risks. But before that, they had work. He didn't spare any bows for the mayor's wife, leaving to Sin to bow for him aswell.

"At last, our target's face."
He said looking at the plaque fox, in this heat, his humour was as dry as his voice.

As they walked he had seen already enough architecture. Going up to the next floor he glanced at Sin as she looked at them with that look of hidden superiority. Those people were useful if you didn't care about ego. Got everything done for you and gave away all attention to their ass.
Now on the next floor, not caring much about admiration he walked straight and knocked on the door.

[GodEye Galatea]

Sin regarded Nomis with a serious expression as he attempted his dry humor. She didn't find it amusing nor serious, seeing it more as a frivolous use of resources.

However, she was mildly surprised by his initiative to knock on the door. Sin followed behind him, straightening her Sand Silk attire to appear presentable.

[Gnomes2169]

Conversation stopped when Nomis knocked, and a few seconds later a barrel-chested thirty-something year old human male opened the door and adjusted a pair of compact spectacles to get a good look at you. The buttons on his dress jacket had been undone, leaving his undershirt exposed to try and help him get through the the heat in the closed-off space of the office, and he had two golden cuff links on his sleeves imprinted with stylized oak trees. Looking between Nomis and Sin he asked, "Can I help you?" His voice was just as solid as the rest of him, and it projected through the hall even though he didn't seem to be yelling.

From the Red Fox statue, Vinc piped in. "These two are here about the problems, sir. City inspectors." And of all things, he saluted the man in the local style.

"Oh." The mayor looked over your dwarven companion for a second, as if trying to place him, but seemed to decide that this must be a member of his guard and dismissed him with a, "Well, thank you for showing them in. As you were." To Nomis and Sin he said, "Give me just a moment." Then he closed the door again and you can just barely hear his voice telling his current guests to clear out.

Vinc manages to give you a wink and a, "Good luck in there," before the door opens up again and a group of three well dressed middle aged men filed out, each of them bearing the tell-tale builds and scars of a life-long smith. They look you over a bit in passing, curious, before filing down the hallway and mumbling to themselves about what they'd seen. You can hear some chairs being shuffled around, a window opened, and some cabinets being closed before Mayor Foreman's voice calls, "Come in, come in!"

Within, the office was effectively an overly-large manor study. There were shelves with various books and trade manifests cluttering them, a set of three cushioned armchairs, an unlit fireplace, a desk upon which a map of the town and its surrounding area had been laid out, and a small carving station off to the side, which had a few blocks of roughly carved wood just starting to be shaped. It had been warmer in here than outside, so a cool breeze was drifting from the two open windows as all the body heat from the previous petitioners drained out. Gesturing at two of the chairs with a glass of brandy, which had been pulled away from the fireplace and set next to his desk, the Mayor said, "Please, take a seat. I trust you'd like a bit of refreshment after your journey? A bit of brandy or some of the wine from our vineyards?" There were a few bottles on his desk and a pair of glean glasses beside them. If the smiths had taken advantage of the mayor's hospitality, their cups had already been put away.

[GodEye Galatea]

The human would execute a courteous bow the moment she realized it was the mayor standing before them. This act was ingrained in her, a reflection of her training as a guard to be respectful and deferential to these political figures.

As the smithies passed by, Sin also offered them a slight bow. This time, it was a gesture of respect towards fellow individuals.

She wasted no time once the Mayor extended the invitation to enter. Before taking her seat, she took a moment to scan the interior of the office, noting any details that piqued her interest.

Sin's prim and proper demeanor was evident in her every movement as she gracefully took her seat. It seemed second nature to her, embodying grace and etiquette effortlessly.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Honorable Mayor. However, I must respectfully decline. I do not partake in alcohol, particularly while on duty."

[GoggleDog]

Unlike all other times, when they met with the mayor he did, to the world's suprise, bow slightly, mimicking whatever Sin has been doing for the duration of this trip. The blacksmiths and anyone else really didn't get the same treatment.
He decided to enter after Sin, she's the one that talks fancy, better have her in the spotlight.

The map was intriguing, so was.. wood carving? Everyone needed a hobby after all.

He almost rolled his eyes to how Sin spoke, but again, it was all part of the disguise. Just how he could hide in the dark, she could hide in plain sight.
Once they were given the okay to sit, he indeed had a seat. There was no flavour to it, the man simply just sat down after a long time of having his ass on wagon.

Also unlike Sin, he had no such weakness to alcohol.
"Some brandy sounds nice." Was the response that came from him.

[Gnomes2169]

The Mayor poured Nomis a glass and pushed it to the sharen, then put everything else away in a cabinet under his desk. Leaning above that hardwood surface, he studies the town map for a moment and sighs. "Thank you both for coming. I'll get right to it so that you can ask any questions you have and settle in: We've had a problem recently with a bandit calling himself the Red Fox. If you grew up near here, you might have grown up with stories of the original Red Fox and his exploits, but those happened decades ago, back when my parents were children. He became kind of a local legend after he disappeared, and there have been people every decade or so that try to emulate him, mostly kids that get caught, spend a night or two in jail and get released to their parent's custody without any real harm done. I'd almost call it an unofficial right of passage at this point, if I weren't the mayor and wasn't in charge of keeping and enforcing the law here." He smirked at that, took a sip of his brandy, and resumed frowning.

"This Red Fox is different. Unlike the others, he doesn't seem to be content to bloodlessly rob from the local nobles and their vaults, and he isn't working alone. He and his band have held people at knife point in the streets, robbed merchants on the road at the outskirts of Sheered Wood, and sometimes leave their victims dead." Another sip, an he sets his glass down. "Surviving witnesses have reported that this band's leader wears a red silk mask, a scarlet cape, and a red tricorn hat like the one you saw on the fox statue in the hall. His men also wear masks, though none of their attire is quite so colorful. My guards haven't had any success with tracking these bandits down, which is why I've posted the bounty and called for help from Longview. I'm hoping you'll be able to make some headway where my men did not."

[GodEye Galatea]

Sin leaned slightly forward from her seat, "Have there been any recent sightings or encounters with the Red Fox or his band that we should be aware of?"

[Gnomes2169]

"The most recent one was two, maybe three days ago. A small merchant ship on the river was boarded and burnt. As far as we know, all hands on board were lost. This was to the north, at the edge of our forests, perhaps a day's travel from here." Shaking his head, the Mayor added, "Whoever this group is, they've been smart enough to either sell their ill-gotten goods slowly, or they've found a shady enough merchant to sell to, because we have not noticed any large influxes of materials or valuables in any particular stall. What they sell is just vanishing, as far as we can tell."

[GoggleDog]

As the mayor and sin spoke, he had a sip and two of his newfound alcohol.
Interesting.

"Perhaps they don't plan to sell anything, but gather it up.. sent elsewhere.." he murmured in assumption, not directly bringing it up.

Well, atleast this fox killed nobles, there's something to respect to that. Even went out of his way to design a charlatan costume? Cheers.

"Have you considered a pattern on his attacks? The time to get the information of the shipments and to plan the ambushes must take him a certain amount of time. Let alone figure out if the shipments are of his attention. Other than metals, has he targeted anything else? Are there going to be any new shipments any time soon? And.."
He took a sip
"From the nobles, who haven't been targeted yet? Has he targeted one twice?"
He seemed.. fairly layed out, relaxed but his eyes were sharp. For someone that until this point only made jokes and jabs in the air.. he seemed to understand the difference between free time and duty, despite those two blending more than they should when he's involved.

(“Skullduggery to sus out any hints: 119”)

[GodEye Galatea]

The guard cast a sidelong glance at Nomis, nodding slowly with a hint of contemplation in her expression.

[Gnomes2169]

Pointing at Nomis, the mayor said, "We've looked at it, but haven't been able to determine a pattern. They started like the Red Foxes in the past; the first two times he struck he announced his intentions ahead of time with an anonymous paper pasted to the fountain, though who he chose was rather strange, now that I think about it." Tapping his glass of brandy, he goes to the map of the town and points at two parts on near-opposite ends of town. "Normally a new Red Fox will try for one of the larger noble houses, the whole point is the spectacle and daring, after all, but this one started with two minor houses. The first one was a newly landed aristocratic house on the eastern end of town, and the Fox stole from them bloodlessly. The second was an old family that had fallen from high status when they defaulted on too many loans, without an heir to their name... not only were their valuables taken, but the family line was ended and their property burnt down."

Frowning, he begins pointing at various streets and areas around the town. "Since then, they've stopped following the formula and instead picked victims seemingly at random. Iron carts, merchants staying late in the markets, loggers in the Silvervine plots, fishmongers, people wandering through an alley, the only thing they don't seem interested in is live merchandise, like cattle or chickens. Too pedestrian for them, perhaps?"

"And I haven't heard reports of anyone being hit twice by this new Fox. In fact, since the incident with the Vanderbilts, I haven't gotten a report that he's targeted any nobles at all. His crime spree has changed from larceny to banditry, though we don't know exactly why. Any noble houses that could afford to hire more guards have done so and are ready to protect their neighbors, so he might just be going after softer targets?"

From what he's describing, whoever is running this operation is either extremely clever and using their random hits to disguise what they are really after... or they're new to this and don't actually know what they're doing, and just doing what they are doing to cause general mayhem. There might be other possibilities, but from the information you have, those seem like the most likely situations.

[GoggleDog]

This was... Messy. He expected to be fighting some kid that decided to spare a few people the loans the noblemen hold, but this..
*Or trying to take down competition.* He added to himself as the mayor finished.

"Whoever is doing those operations is smarter than we give him credit for."
And after a second of silence
"Or stupid." He left humour to settle in.

"The animals would be too much bother to handle, to take away, keep, or sell." He got himself to look at the map, trying to find any areas of high activity.
"If they just wanted valuables, two noble families, no matter how minor, would have done the trick. He's after something else. He's preparing something else. Οr acting as a diversion."

In war, they'd do false attacks on a regular basis, you could never keep your enemy from thinking it's safe, or that you're planning something. You had to keep them guessing. But what was his deal? If he wanted more nobles, he'd just go silent for a while and strike again, right?

"I heard you mention of survivors that have witnessed the red fox himself? Where can we find them? What were they carrying? It'd be tough for anyone to be on all ambushes. Unless anyone could wear the mask."

"Where are the rest of the minor royals on the map?"
He asked and asked on top more questions, he was sharp and straight to the point, the man had an odd bruttish attitude to how he spoke, it almost did not fit the rest of his body, but it was carrying it's own charm nonetheless.
In his head he was trying to connect the royal residencies with the attacks around the map. Perhaps there was something there. Even if it was random, it was definitely to have a pattern of thought. Even international chaos could be analysed. But this..

[GodEye Galatea]

Sin remained silent, allowing the conversation to flow uninterrupted. The guard was in complete agreement with Nomis' questions and conclusions, finding herself aligned with his thoughts and inquiries. In fact, she would have asked the same questions herself. Without a word, she rose and approached the map, her curiosity evident in the way she studied it. She took meticulous mental notes, absorbing every detail while she pondered on how to narrow down this seemingly chaotic puzzle.

[Gnomes2169]

The mayor nods along with Nomis's observations, but doesn't interrupt. At the first question, though, Mayor Foreman says, "Actually, I'll be letting you ask them about that yourself. I'll be calling an emergency town meeting tomorrow, now that you two are here it won't do to delay the announcement of your arrival. The members of the town council and many of our more active townsfolk will be present, and at least a few of those will have first-hand experiences." Saying that, he tosses back the last of his drink and finally sits in the chair behind his desk.

"As for where the nobles are..." He gestures to the map. "About seventy years ago, there were two greater families that had purchased land here and sold titles and properties to other nobles and their laborers, basically making them the founders of Sheeredwood alongside my family. They didn't get along much to start with, but when the town grew large enough my family was still able to bridge the gaps between them and unify the two neighboring villages into one town. Still, how the town developed was highly influenced by that rivalry, and the nobles and other old families still mostly have their properties around the two great houses: Forwins to the south and the Veronas to the north." On the map, there were actually two different colors of ink that displayed the different districts; A red-laced black in the south, and a silver laced grey in the north.

Tapping the center of the northern nobles district, the mayor adds, "The Veronas were actually the primary victims of the original Red Fox, I think mostly because they kept rising to his challenges rather than any kind of personal vendetta, and the current head of their house doesn't enjoy his grandparents being cast as the villains of most of those fables... Kal Verona is probably going to have a few things to say to you." Frowning again, he taps the southern district. "Oddly, both of the noble houses that the current Red Fox attacked were in the Forwins part of town. Most Red Fox mimics go after a Verona-associated house, to keep with tradition, though attempting to rob a Forwin isn't completely unheard of..."

[GoggleDog]

Nomis nodded, this was a messy. All in all, what could the fox want? He went to have a sip, and realised that he run out and let his eyes trail on the map.

"The red fox could very well be a disguise and that alone. I'd also like to know of any new shipments coming your way, tomorrow. This behaviour is bait. Sometimes it's best to bite."
He looked at the half finished wood carving
"We'll have to make our decisions then."
He frowned to himself as a realisation came to his mind..
"Until then, I'll need rooms for me and my companions."

[GodEye Galatea]

"We deeply appreciate the opportunity to speak at the meeting tomorrow. I'm sure their insights will greatly assist us on this matter.” She nodded at the Mayor.

“But for now," Sin turned to Nomis, exchanging a knowing glance, "He is right. We could use a break."

[Gnomes2169]

Nomis's request came at just the right time, as the alcohol from the drink was just enough to make him start to feel a bit bubbly. Not drunk, but there was certainly a buzz making it a bit harder to concentrate and fuzzing at the edge of his thoughts.

The mayor seemed to be thinking things through himself as the conversation winds down, before blinking at the mention of rooms. "Yes, lodgings, of course! We'll see about arranging you a room in one of the inns tomorrow, at my expense, but tonight you can stay here. We have some rooms on this floor for dignitaries and such, and my wife and the staff make sure they stay in living condition. Will you be needing one room or two?"

Nomis drank a full dose (a shot) of bourbon, and this stuff was brewed strong. So after 10 minutes it makes an attack against his Fortitude.

Nomis's Fortitude defense: 88
Bourbon's attack roll (1d100+50): 99, hit!

Nomis has suffered 1 level of exhaustion due to intoxication for 3 hours, at which point the effects of the drink end.

[GodEye Galatea]

"Three rooms, if that's not too much trouble. The dwarf is with us," Sin requested.

[Gnomes2169]

He blinked again and said, "Ah. I thought he wasn't familiar... we have enough rooms, and one for the guards of dignitaries as well. I'll make sure to tell my wife we'll have guests, and we'll make sure there's food for you at dinner. Now," Standing up, he gestured for Nomis and Sin to follow him and he said, "Let me show you to your rooms tonight, so that you have a chance to unpack and relax."

With that, he leads you into the hall and two doors down from his office. When he spots Vinc, he points at the dwarf and says, "You. I'll want to talk with you as well. Your room tonight is at the end of the hallway, first door past the stairs on the right." When the guard nods assent and moves to his bunk, the Mayor says to the two of you, "And for you, these two rooms are yours. No keys, but there is a deadbolt that can be slid if you desire privacy, and a bell string beside the bed if you need a servant for anything."

Seeing Vinc already leaving the guard bunk room, Mayor Foreman nods to you and says, "I'll give you some time alone. Excuse me." With that, he steps away from you and gestures for the dwarf to join him in his office.

[GoggleDog]

He exchanged glance with Sin, and suddenly he felt something.. yes..he knew what it was. The drink.
Nomis tried to keep his focus, he really did. But all in failure. Silently glad Sin took the lead he followed to see themselves to their rooms.
Huh... He felt he needed to inform the Mayor that the dwarf holds more of a babysitter role but decided his mind would not comprehend any more talk from someone with more money than fingers. Once the mayor was out of the picture, he rubbed his temple.

He closed his eyes, opened them, looked at Sin.. and with full certainty started making steps to a general direction, there was still a task at hand he had not done.

His mind clear, he knew what he had missed.

[GodEye Galatea]

Sin's glance lingered at Vinc with a certain depth until he entered the mayor's office, sensing that something was off about how the Mayor treated the dwarf. Once the door closed behind Vinc, Sin turned to Nomis, her gaze holding the same depth.

"As intricate as it may appear, I dare say this boils down to a mere 'family dispute' case. Would you care to share your assessments?"

[GoggleDog]

Having made a considerable distance now, he turned to face her

"Best case scenario, it's drama between the families. Worst case scenario, we're not getting damn paid. Whatever the case, you can handle them tomorrow, can't you?"
He sighed, he seemed.. tired? Did he really get tired from the talk or perhaps the hints of his alcoholism came fourth?
"I'm off to challenge the Fae themselves." He said as he started making his way back to the cats.

[GodEye Galatea]

The guard's expression nearly faltered at Nomis's response, but she managed to maintain her stoic facade. Vinc had been unwaveringly pragmatic during their three-day journey, emphasizing his motivation purely for financial gain rather than commitment to the mission. Now, Nomis was exhibiting a similar lack of enthusiasm.

She had hoped for a more in-depth discussion about the mission's details and plans, but the Sharen seemed disinterested.

"Very well," she acknowledged, slightly bowing at him, concealing the disappointment she felt.

[Gnomes2169]

Nomis makes his way downstairs, all of his equipment still on his back, and he gets a glance from Kari. While she raised an eyebrow at the rogue, she still gave him a knowing smile a second later and pointed at the meeting room stage. The cats have not moved yet, though the last bits of sunlight are just starting to slip from the podium they were napping upon. One cat is a tuxido kitty, black furred with white spots, while the other is a patchwork tabby of varying shades of brown, with ripples of black making waves through their fluff.

Sin, on the other hand, is left to make herself at home in the diplomat's chambers. While the bedroom wasn't lavish, it was still reasonably large for a single person, and somewhat 'cozy' looking. A single down bed large enough for two people was pressed against the back wall, just under a curtain-shrouded window, and a fur-lined quilted blanket covered it. There was a chest, a wash-basin and a mirror on the left wall, a closet and dresser across from that, and in a corner near the door was a small desk and stool for writing.

[GodEye Galatea]

The guard quickly assessed the room. Sin was not particularly picky, yet she preferred spacious areas with minimalist aesthetics. Despite its condition, she paid it no mind. After all, she knew her place, now and as always.

She admired the room. It was a step up from the guards' barracks, which were typically cramped and utilitarian. More importantly, she wanted to be alone above all else.

Closing the door behind her, she made her way to the bed and tested its comfort. The invitingly soft mattress tempted her to sit and relax, which she did. Soon enough, the bed enticed her to lay down.

Why not?

The long journey with her supposed ‘companions’ had been tedious and feeling the weight of exhaustion in her body, she longed to rest. Amidst the temptation, Sin couldn't allow herself to do so just yet. The thought of unfinished tasks weighed on her mind, urging her to keep moving rather than succumb to the comfort of rest.

Swiftly, she set aside items she deemed unnecessary and packed her bag lightly. With haste, she left the room before changing her mind. Descending the stairs, she spotted Nomis with the cats. After acknowledging the mayor's wife with a bow, she let her gaze linger on him as she headed for the exit.

[GoggleDog]

Nomis gives a knowing glance at Kari, as naturally dramatic as he ever was. There was no time to put his staff away, there was a cat to pat. Entering the hall he kept his silence as he approached them.

Nomis analysed the cats, and in his confusing decides to head pat the tuxido kitty.

Nomis rolls 44 to pet a *****

[Gnomes2169]

((Nomis))
The tuxedo cat was an absolute angel and not only allowed the sharen to pet them, but leaned that black and white face into his hand to ensure that he really gave this kitty proper cheek and chin rubs. The tabby cat answered the mystery of which one was Claws, however, when they reached over, grabbed Nomis's petting hand with sharp little talons and ushered his hand to their fluffy self instead. Perhaps both of them were actually social critters, and Claws was just a bit aggressively handsy. No real damage was being done, fortunately, but Nomis wasn't going anywhere until he either satisfied the kittens or paid the price for his insolence via murder mitts.

((Sin))
The center of town is finally starting to cool down, and a few of the townsfolk have started coming out. Being at the apparent heart of the industrial district of Sheeredwood, the main buildings around are home to carpenters, smiths and trade offices, all arranged around the park she'd passed through to reach the mayor. The one non-business related building (other than town hall) seems to be a guard house, given a patrol had just entered it. A few people notice her, and nod politely while passing by on the street, but no one pays her any special attention that she can see.

[GodEye Galatea]

Sin reciprocated the salutations to those who greeted her. Years of working as a guard had ingrained this act into her routine. Perhaps it was due to constant interactions with people in her line of work, or maybe it stemmed from past experiences.

Observing the patrols of guards, she decided to head in that direction. Guards often had valuable information. Although the mayor had mentioned that his guards were handling the situation, Sin was aware that approaching them might not be the best idea. Nevertheless, she saw it as an opportunity that could potentially lead to valuable leads or insights.

[GoggleDog]

He- oh. Oh. I see what is going on."
He spoke to the cats, as he continued to obediently pet his new masters.
How long would he have to stay? How many years? Well, he cannot stay for that long, not until his business is over.

"Excellent. I will need that hand back, sooner or later. Claws, Paws."
He spoke with the same voice he always has, even to the cats, as if they by themselves were people.

"She liked cats. Are you a couple? Well, if you're siblings that'd be unfortunate now." He made a shy attempt of letting go.

[Gnomes2169]

((Nomis))
"They aren't siblings." The mayor's wife told him, walking over to stand beside him. "Paws was my cat when I moved to this town, and a year after he brought a wet, grumpy kitten home with him out of the rain." Closing a small ledger that she handed to an aid, and waving a few others off with a, "Don't you have somewhere else to be?" she said to the sharen investigator, "So, you met with Erick. Good. I trust he was able to give you the big picture and I've been sending runners to convene the town council tomorrow, which I'm sure he'll want. You'll also be staying with us tonight, I presume?"

Stepping up behind the podium, Kari set her hands on the sides of the wooden surface and said, "My husband is good at keeping a story in mind, but leaves the finer details and gathering of resources to me. If you or your partner have any questions or requests while you stay here, please, feel free to ask."

The cats seem content with the offerings given to them and allow Nomis to reclaim his hand with only light scratching... for now. Having been woken up at this point, Claws stands with a stretch and hops from the podium, and Paws follows the tabby a second later.

((Sin))
Her wandering brought her to the guard post, a compact three-level building that had all of its windows opened at that moment. From her experience in the city, the top two levels would be for lodging, so that guards who were on duty but not out on patrol had a place to bunk could sleep and practice whatever hobbies they wanted, while the first floor would be home to the Captain's office, a small holding cell, the mess hall and racks to store equipment. It wasn't really a place where the guards would live, unless they were particularly hard on cash at the moment, and it wouldn't have space for all of the guards in this district, but it would comfortably house each shift until their replacements reported for duty.

Normally, the central guard station (like this one) would also hold the offices for local investigators, but from what Governor Longview had told her this town didn't have any dedicated inspectors, relying on their guards and freelance detectives (as she was acting at the moment) instead. Apparently, large criminal operations just weren't common enough to justify the expense of that department.

The patrol that she had seen walk into the guard post was taking off their equipment for the day when she came in. A group of three had split off to begin playing a game of cards in the corner, another one (still wearing his breastplate) stirred a large pot inside of a wood-fire stove, and the other three were polishing their boots and armor. It was the members of the last group that faced Sin when she entered the room. A hard-faced woman with streaks of white in her auburn hair and a few lines around her mouth spoke up, "What's your business here, stranger?" Her tone carried with it a measure of authority, and from the knots on her shirt sleeve she was the sergeant of this patrol.

[GodEye Galatea]

Sin entered the guard post with a confident stride. She posed professionally yet approachable. She greeted the guards with a respectful nod before turning her gaze to the hard-faced woman.

"Greetings," Sin began, her tone polite yet determined. "I'm Sin Graylight, a freelance detective currently investigating the activities of the Red Fox. I was hoping to speak with you to gather any information or leads your patrol may have encountered regarding the Red Fox."

[GoggleDog]

Nomis observed the cat couple as she spoke, before finally looking at her, now that the deities were satisfied and the retrieval of his hand certain.
"Yes, your husband has offered us some of the rooms to stay for the time being."
And after a pause
"I will admit, it's the finer details that I would like to know. The fox purposely makes chaos, there must be something else in his mind." He said
"What type of merchandise they've targeted more, where they were meant to go, who was to take them and pass them on to the final destination, what they'd be used for.."
Nomis rubbed his temple with his tattooed hand, he hated thinking, he was never good at it.
"Do you have records of the fox's attacks? Sightings?"
He asked, before letting a smile escape him
"I imagine there's whole stacks of ledgers." While it was meant as a joke, with his attitude it'd take a sense of humour to notice.

[Gnomes2169]

((Nomis))
"If it isn't worth filing in a ledger, than is it truly a report?" The mayor's wife asked, giving the sharen investigator a wry smile in return. Oh gods, she had an administrator's sense of humor. "Most of them are in my short-hand, though, and almost completely illegible to normal folk, so I'll make copies translating them for you and have them delivered to wherever you make your home for the duration of this case. I should have them to you within three days." She nodded, tapping her pointer finger and pinky of her left hand on the podium, and sighed. "Is there any other information you think you might need?"

((Sin))
The woman frowned at your statement, looking over Sin a bit, and then shrugged. "Huh, you're the one the captain talked about? Well about time the governor actually sent someone." Folding her arms, she leaned back on the bench and noted, "Been waiting almost a month for the blue bloods to take us seriously. You'll want to talk to Captain Kindly, most likely. He won't be in his office, though. Late enough in the day he's either still on his last round, or he's gone home, like he usually does at day's end."

[GodEye Galatea]

Sin took a moment to assess the sergeant's attitude, and it didn't appear to align with her intentions. With a subtle yet intentional exhale, she prepared herself for another round of diplomacy. While she didn't particularly enjoy these formalities, she understood their importance in her line of work, often compensating for the aspects that she lacked. It was a skill ingrained in her.

With a rare, albeit somewhat forced, smile, Sin addressed the sergeant. "It would be nice to speak with the captain, but I truly believe that conversing with someone as experienced and knowledgeable as you would be invaluable. I highly regard your firsthand insights and expertise about this matter." She glanced around discreetly before continuing, Perhaps after your duty, we could find a more private setting to discuss matters further. How about we grab a drink together? I'll be happy to cover the expenses.”

Sin [Negotiation] Roll Result : 111

[GoggleDog]

The Fae be damned. She had an administrator's humour.
"Three days? That is enough time for another attack and two. Maybe I *would* like to give my chances on it after all. I've had experience with that gibberish."
He seemed.. odd, in a sense. Not many actions out of him as he spoke, just standing there, with all his equipment intact, as if there was a separate brain for actions. Finally, he placed his hand on his chin.
"Information on the families. How have their relationships been? Any recent drama.. I have heard royal families are more stubborn than corpses." He eyed the administrator,

[Gnomes2169]

((Sin))
The sergeant frowns a bit at first, turning her head to look at the other guards who were watching this conversation by this point, and then she lets out a long, purposeful sigh. "Well, I suppose I could let you buy me a drink and show you over to Blister's." The other guards nod and get back to whatever they were doing before at this, and a note of barely perceived tension fades away. "My rotation just finished, so if you give me a few minutes to grab a bite and make sure these fools don't burn the place down, I'll be good to go."

The other guards seem to be ignoring Sin, now, though not in a rude way. They just don't seem worried about the investigator-in-training, and are going about doing what they need (or want, in the case of the gamblers) to do.

((Nomis))
"Fortunately, we don't have any royals in this town. Our noble families are all aristocratic merchants rather than people who's bloodlines were 'blessed' with rulership by the gods. It's good old fashioned trade rivalries and land ownership that they feuded over back in the founding times." Kari said, reaching into a chest pocket of her shirt to pull out a small note pad. "It would be better to ask my husband or the families themselves about that, however. They know the relationships and heritages better than an outsider like me. I run the numbers."

With that, she slapped her note pad down on the podium, took hold of the platform, and spun it so that it faced the sharen investigator. Apparently someone had installed a swivel system in the podium's base, probably so a speaker could switch between addressing the audience or the people seated in the councilor's seats, and it spun nearly silently. "As for my shorthand, this is how I notated business expenses and merchant dues last month. Tell me if you can make any sense of that."

Chis 94/6 L, F(i), Che 60/ Ced 400/ Wal 300
Vin Ferm, De
Mar 66/2 Ot, Op(r), Fe 260/ Qua 10/ Au 50/ Ag 120
Thu 35/5 Ot, P, Var, Ar: NW
etc...

[GodEye Galatea]

"Of course!" Sin replied politely. "Please, take your time."

As she waited for the sergeant to finish, Sin continued to observe the inside of the post. Her attention briefly turned to the guards playing cards in the corner, but her curiosity quickly faded when she realized they were just playing the bland version. She swiftly shifted her focus, continuing to observe the other guards and the post itself, looking for clues or anything that might pique her interest.

Sin [Perception] Roll Result : 114

[GoggleDog]

He opened the notebook, fully believing whatever was inside he'd manage to read it, how worst could it be from his?

It was far more horrific than he ever imagined.
There was a good one second pause from him and then he slowly took his eyes off the pages, directing themselves at her.

"You are a different beast all together."

And placed the book down, copying her own motions to send it to her direction via podium.
"I cannot imagine anything else necessary that won't be addressed tomorrow, with numbers, that is. I stand impressed, defeated, and in need of learning patience."

[Gnomes2169]

((Sin))
One thing that stood out under closer scrutiny is just how new everything seems to be in here. The floor and furniture only have minor scuffing, the equipment doesn't have the wear that Sin might have expected from well-used spears and truncheons, and their boots and coats are only lightly scuffed. The walls, stove and window frames, by contrast, are weathered, as if they hadn't been refurbished since the post's construction.

Wearing much more casual clothing, the sergeant straps her short sword back on her side and nods to the investigator. "Right. I'll see you lot later. Everyone listen to corporal Tims," There was some groaning and complaining about that, but it seemed lighthearted in nature, "and make sure you lock the door behind you this time. Inspector Sin, follow me." With that she marched from the building and turned to head to the northern end of town.

Once you're outside and a little ways down the street, she turned her head to look over her shoulder back at Sin and said, "Thanks for the excuse to get away from them. Someone should talk to you lot, but when an outsider bumps in on another officer's territory... well, you know how it is. Gotta save face and all that."

((Nomis))
She smiles, tapping parts of her notebook to explain, "It's more simple than it seems. The first three letters are an abbreviation of the business owner's family name, the first number is their reported profits for the period, the two numbers beside that are how many of their current tariffs they've paid and what they owed for the period, with the letters after that determining if they've underpaid, overpaid or have fully paid. Everything else is material business inputs, broken down into how many of each material they've purchased, minus any universal inputs such as coal, crates or water..." She closed the notebook. "But it'll be faster for me to write all of that out instead of making you go through translating it yourself. Again, three days. I'll make sure to include family major outstanding debts and loans that we know of, and which families those debts and loans are owed to."

Looking over his shoulder, Kari told Nomis, "It looks like my staff is almost ready to serve dinner." And she tucked her notebook away. At one of the doors, a few well-dressed butlers were wheeling a dish-laden cart into one of the rooms next to the reception desk. "Let's not keep them waiting." She said, gesturing for him to take the lead.

[GoggleDog]

Ηe held at her a look of uncertainty as she spoke...and spoke...and spoke about her book, it's not that he made an expression, it was that he simply stared..but somehow just a bit differently, before smiling faintly. By the cursed Fae.. He always thought that, despite that he did like reading and writing, he'd need none of it as a mercenary, and now here he was.
"Lords.." he murmured. A thought transcended him that perhaps Sin could read it for them, if he didn't find any paculiarities.. would she? It didn't matter. Things tended to blow up around him, the Fox will make himself appear.
"Yes, I could do that." He said to her as he lifted himself, food would help with his..other problem.. his head atleast didn't ring.
"I'll go leave my equipment."
He lifted his bag as an indicator
"In my rush, i kept it on. It was quite a bit of importance." He stated, perhaps they would be kept waiting.

[GodEye Galatea]

Sin sighed at her discoveries. It dawned on her that the equipment might be new or simply underused. The lack of signs of usage was evident, contrasting sharply with the well-used state of the cooking equipment. It seemed the kitchen saw more action than the armory.

She bid the other guards a respectful farewell before following the sergeant outside. She matched the sergeant's pace, walking side by side.

As the sergeant spoke, Sin listened attentively, a polite but slightly forced smile gracing her face. "You’re absolutely correct. As a fellow guard, I completely understand your position."

"However, sometimes, that same pride can prevent us from reaching our objectives. Wouldn't you agree?" She glanced sideways at the sergeant.

[Gnomes2169]

((Nomis))


"In my rush, i kept it on. It was quite a bit of importance." He stated, perhaps they would be kept waiting.

Kari nodded and waved him on. "Go ahead, we will save you a spot." Having dismissed him, she made her way over to the dining room.

Upstairs, Nomis found himself alone among the historical gallery. A servant had walked past him on the way down and mentioned that dinner would be served soon, but other than that there didn't seem to be anyone else around. Mayor Foreman's meeting with Vinc was still going on, with voices raised just enough to be heard indistinctly through the office door, so they might be occupied for a while.

((Sin))


"However, sometimes, that same pride can prevent us from reaching our objectives. Wouldn't you agree?" She glanced sideways at the sergeant.

The sergeant grunted a bit, then nodded in agreement. "As I said, someone who knows their hands from their arse needed to talk to you. I'm sure the captain will help some, once you get to him, but he's more of an administrator than a boots on the ground officer these days." She hesitated for a moment before adding, "Also, his last name isn't Kindly, we just call him that because he isn't. A it of playful ribbing on our part. Don't call him that if you want to get along. His actual family name is Arnestad. Captain Kal Arnestad. My name's Neva, by the way."

Having made her proper introductions, the sergeant became quiet as she made her way around a crowd that was lined up to enter a tavern with named "The Blistering Flame," and just kept walking past it. Once past the people who could overhear she turned her head to Sin and asked, "So, what can I tell you, inspector Sin?"

[GoggleDog]

Gratitude. He thought, it would feel good to sit on something royally comfy after being on a bandwagon all day long and eat something that didn't resemblance soldier rations.
He only glanced at the servant, without saying a word and was about to leave his stuff, until.. they were still talking?

Maybe it was the alcohol, or that he has learnt to not trust anyone that smiled too much, or that he was actually curious to what they were saying but didn't wish to interact with the dwarf's antics more than necessary, or all of the above.. He, carefully walked towards the door, from the side of it and movee himself to listen.

107 for stealth
72 for perception