(PF) maggie's Rise of the Runelords: Skinsaw Murders IC

[Miraqariftsky]

A mask of a smile, betrayed---
---by her ears' flattened set and her eyes' wide twitching stare
Rico stands, tensed, still,
Of action as yet unable
Unholy still clashing with pity
In her life, in her career
As a warrior, as a constable
Never by want, but by need, by duty
Killed
Duty aye, but never yet an execution
IS it an execution? Or is it just putting a beast out of its misery?
Just a sliver of steel from the scabbard gleaming
Still the sword, sheathed, remains
While the arms and heart
That wield it
Tremble

Spoiler

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W'elp. If (and when?) Brin unleashes a blast of hallowed energy and one blast fails to put the not-Lorey out of her misery, readying an action to slish-slash-buh-bye.

[maggie_mcknife]

GM post

"How? Can you do it soon? Now?"

Fortunately for Brin, being undead seems to make the Attic Whisperer oblivious enough to the palpable strain in her voice, its fox skull angling towards the elf in what seems to you to be a hopeful manner.

[ProudGrognard]

Sirus

Sirus leaves out a big breath. It seems that the situation is getting in hand again. Setsuna! What more to say. She would try to pet Asmodeus Groetius himself if given half a chance.

[Bhaakon]

Brin lets out a little sight of relief and closes the distance with the attic whisper. When close enough, she crouches down and offers her tattooed palm to the cursed child. "I can do it right now, if you'll just let me impart a simple blessing on you. Please, Goddess, let this little one pass peacefully into your realm, like her mother before her." As the elf finishes the simple prayer her palm takes on a lavender glow.

"Just take my hand and Pharasma will lead you right to your mommy."

Spoiler

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Spontaneously cast Cure Serious Wounds for (3d8+7)[14] damage, DC 16 Will save for half

[Miraqariftsky]

Even as Brin began her benediction,
Rico began drawing the wave-blade
The oiled steel, smooth as silk's whisper

On seeing the cursed waif fail to fall
The halforc constable grits her teeth, slashes
Her justice following Brin's mercy

Spoiler

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Flank +2 Rage Str +6 Weapon +1 BAB +6 Power Attack -2
Str +9 Weapon +1 PA +6

First attack (1d20+13)[29]
(1d10+16)[20]

Second attack (1d20+7)[23]
(1d10+16)[21]

[maggie_mcknife]

GM post

The weight of the Attic Whisperer's paw as it is placed unhesitatingly in Brin's hand is little more than that of a fistful of dry sticks. As Brin speaks the words of power, violet light blazes forth from the spiral marking in her hand, the rays blackening and cracking the Attic Whisperer's tiny frame where they touch, wisps of grey smoke curling up from the edges of its skull.

The Attic Whisperer, though it makes no sound, is still clearly standing even as the violet light fades. Before anyone else can react, however, down comes Rico's wave-blade from behind, smashing the fox skull to smithereens and sending the twigs that make up the rest of its body flying violently across the Foxglove verandah.

For a moment, it seems to those of you nearest to the Attic Whisperer that you hear the barest traces of a child's sigh - and then nothing. All that remains are the cloven bone fragments, a very dirty rag that has snagged onto Rico's sword, a even dirtier headless teddy, and the little wooden cow.

[ProudGrognard]

Sirus

Sirus almost flinches as the Whisperer is laid low. Almost. Slowly, he bends and picks up the pieces in an almost tender way, and he packs them. He looks at the others.

"We will. Bury her. In a proper. Graveyard. In Sandpoint."

[bcool999]

Taladron

Hearing and seeing Sirus' tender act, Taladron shrugs and says, "If you feel like you must bury what was left of her by all means do so. However, I feel I must tell you that her original body has probably already been buried in a graveyard... perhaps in Magnimar no less."

Looking at the still decrepit house, Taladron asks, "Now what shall we do with this place...?"

[Desril]

Setsuna

Wanting to argue with Brin about offering a little girl a quick death, Setsuna starts to speak up before the look in Red's eye finally gets the tiefling to recognize that the little girl is already gone, and that this thing would be better off gone. It's not right to do this, but it wouldn't be right to keep her in this world now either...

Not sure what to do, she remains silent, deciding to let Lorey make her own decision, and releasing her grip on the Attic Whisperer when it reached out for the Pharasmin's. Undead amalgamation of toys or not though, Setsuna refused to watch as holy light and heavy swings made short, messy work of what used to be an innocent child, only staring at Foxglove Manor and doing her best not to think about what was happening.

Doing her best to keep a level voice despite the obvious cracking in it, she answers Taladron's question as simply as she could. "Burn it. There is nothing but bad memories there now."

[Bhaakon]

"A worthy thought, Sirus. I don't know how Father Zantus will take to having that form she crafted for herself buried in his cemetery, but I will help you give her a proper send off should he refuse." She responds to the man as she looks down at her tattooed palm. She'd done the right thing--the only thing--but somehow the fingers where Lorry's delicate tinder hands had touched felt dirty. She wipes her hand on her cloak and checks again; still no mark, yet still the oily-gritty feel of filth. It takes effort to push aside the niggling doubts about whether Lorey would be granted the same fate as her mother, or even whether there was enough of a soul left in the Arttic Whisperer to face judgement. It could be that Brin had just sent the thing to oblivion.

"Given the number of corpses here--Aldern, Iesha, Caizarlu, and the cadre of ghouls--Setsuna might be right. Pharasma allows for cremation; let this place be their pyre."

[bcool999]

Taladron

Nodding at his friend's decision, Taladron says, "Very well, I believe I can handle the burning, though you should all stand back a bit."

Once everyone retreats to a safe distance, Taladron focuses the arcane formula in his mind before chanting and gesturing with one hand over the other. Those of you who were expecting a large flame to appear in Taladron's hand are sorely disappointed when merely a red glowing bead about the size of the last digit on you little finger appears floating above Taladron's palm. Cautiously, Taladron uses a bit of magic to launch the bead to it's target. Those of you with sharp eyes spy it entering the manor through the open doors and passing above the manticore on display within. Suddenly, bright flames and a roar burst from the innocuous bead silhouetting the manticore and setting fire to the interior of the house.

Nodding in satisfaction of his work, Taladron proceeds to use the now familiar swarm-killing fire spell to set both of the entrances on fire.

Spoiler

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Casting Fireball centered around B3 inside the manor to get everything burning nicely in there, I will also use Burning Hands on both entrance ways to get the exterior burning as well.

Fireball Damage (not that it is needed since mostly I want to get things burning): (6d6)[23]
Burning hands 1: (5d4)[14]
Burning hands 2: (5d4)[18]

[maggie_mcknife]

Red

Despite the soothing abyss of the years, Red cannot help but visibly flinch as the Attic Whisperer is smoked and smashed to little pieces. Undead or not, it was still a child and she didn't like to see children hurt. No use in dwelling on that now though.

Cayden, Defender of the Innocent, intercede for her at the Lady's feet...

Shaking her head slowly, Red glances at Setsuna, then up at Rico. Then, breathing a quiet sigh, Red offers her hand to the tiefling. This was no place or time for a gentle soul. "Setsuna... I don't want... to see the house burn. I will walk a little way on. Come with me? To wait?"

[Desril]

Setsuna

Taking Red's hand and holding it tightly, Setsuna simply nods her head, not trusting herself to speak as she lets the red-head lead her away from the impending inferno and shattered corpse of the undead child.

[maggie_mcknife]

Red

There was a time for words and a time for no words. Red guessed that now probably wasn't a time for words. Leading Setsuna back around the bend in the path leading to the manor, to where they wouldn't be able to see anything, she finds a likely looking boulder to sit on and leaves the space next to her for Setsuna.

Red says nothing as the mansion goes up in flames, though her nose twitches at the acrid smell of burning mold, the callused hand that is holding Setsuna's merely tightening its grip as she strokes the tiefling's knuckles in thoughtful silence.

*****

GM post

Though Foxglove Manor is constructed largely out of timber, it is of severely mold-ridden timber, its wooden planks either caked with brackish fungus or tumid with moisture. Thus, even with magical aid, it takes Taladron quite a bit of effort to get a large enough fire going.

For those of you who stay to watch, it is a painful and awkward spectacle. The drier interior of the house goes first, with the burning curtains lighting up the shattered windows in a hellish orange gleam as foul grey smoke pours in an unsteady stream from the cracks in the walls and eaves. The outer walls, soaked with sea-spray or buffeted by the winds, groan as the planks bulge outwards from the excess of hot air, before finally being consumed and charred by licking flames. The Manor had reminded you of a decrepit old body stubbornly clinging to life when you'd first seen it. Now, as you behold it being destroyed, the crackling and pop of wet wood, punctuated by the louder bang of exploding glass, seem like uncomfortable death throes, the house struggling to breath even as it slowly folds and collapses in on itself. The stench of smoked wood and burning mold moreover sears your nostrils - you had no idea that mold could smell this bad, and hadn't you read somewhere before that inhaling this sort of stuff was bad for you? At least no ghouls or rats come screaming out of the place, which is a small comfort indeed.

By now, the burning house belches a thick column of black smoke high into the air, pluming overhead in a menacing low cloud even as the sea winds shred its edges. This smoke cloud is large enough to be seen by many from miles around, meaning that your actions can hardly go unnoticed at this rate. And sure enough, a hour or so later, as the largest of the house's support timbers smoulder, those of you on the alert catch the sound of frantic hoofbeats coming up the winding path - the Sandpoint Watch is on their way.

*****

"You should have consulted me before lighting the place up. There may have been valuable evidence in there. Perhaps clues that you missed. What are we to tell the Foxgloves when the rest of them come calling, as they surely will, once we inform them of Lord Aldern's misdeeds? It also seems to me that perhaps more murders could have been avoided, had you all acted sooner. Perhaps not."

Sheriff Hemlock, with coffee on his breath and still perspiring in the chill air from his hurried ride, is distinctly sour, though not entirely displeased, when he learns that you all were the source of the smoke cloud. Still, he seems satisfied enough when you all produce Aldern's corpse and the letter from the mysterious Xanesha, sufficiently so that he closes an eye to your blatant looting of the Foxglove legacy. Though the fire that Taladron made was fierce enough to have razed the upper levels of the manor to the ground, most of the basement and the underground caverns with the seal of Urgathoa, where Aldern had lurked and made his last stand, remain intact - since stone and earth do not burn easily. Enough remains of the Misgivings for Sheriff Hemlock to continue his investigations and verify your testimony, as well as to retrieve any bodies of local unfortunates turned ghoulish at Aldern's machinations. All in all, the next few days are going to be very busy ones for the Sheriff and his Watch indeed. It doesn't seem as though any of you will be getting all that much rest, especially Rico and Brin, who will surely be asked to assist with the criminal and religious aspects of this case.

Players, please refer to the OOC for your loot distribution and add all items kept to your CS.

*****

Day 34: Lamashan 25, 4707 - one week later

It's been a week since you all left the smoking fiasco that was Foxglove Manor behind and handed over Aldern's dead body to the Watch. Nevertheless, none of you can quite shake the gnawing idea that your troubles as far as Aldern's murder spree goes are not yet quite over.

Sure, the Watch and Father Zantus had taken over the task of clearing out the foul taint of the underground caverns beneath Foxglove Manor, even commandeering the services of a few itinerant Sarenrites who had happened to be in the area. Most of the families whose loved ones had become ghouls hadn't wanted the bodies back, which had made their funeral rites a simple issue of praying over the pile of burning remains. Iesha's clan had yet to be contacted, despite the efforts of Madam Mvashti and her daughter. Father Zantus had not objected to Lorey's remains being interred in a quiet corner of the Boneyard, provided all her effects were first subject to a vigorous blessing process. As for Aldern, his corpse had been consecrated and then burnt, with the ashes scattered out to sea near Chopper's Isle, as it was custom in Sandpoint to do with the remains of convicted murderers.

Although there remains some lingering resentment in Sandpoint as to why you lot hadn't upped and gone after Lord Aldern sooner, the mood of the townsfolk towards you has much improved, with most people still inclined to reclaim you as the heroes who'd once again helped rid the town and its lands of pests and plague. Cheery smiles and halloes greet you wherever you go, and while Constable Alena still glares daggers at Taladron each time she crosses his path in the street, there have been no further eggings of the elf's abode. Even Setsuna, though her deathly pale skin still garners wary gazes and a few gestures of warding behind her back, is greeted with more than enough warmth to her face.

No one seemed much bothered as to exactly why the dashing young Lord Aldern had suddenly gone undead and started ritually slaying the townsfolk like sacrificial cattle. Unfortunately, that is now your problem to solve, even if nobody else cared much.

Most of your inquiries into puzzling out the meaning of Aldern's letter have met with a dead end. True, the address of Aldern's Magnimar townhouse is easily obtainable, and a late night baijiu tasting session with Ameiko Kaijitsu had turned out the information that there is in fact an exclusive gentleman's club in Magnimar called the Brotherhood of Seven, that Aldern might have perhaps been a member of, the rest of your investigation seems to be at a dead end. The name 'Xanesha' cannot be found in any peerage or citizen lists, nor in any tales or rumours borne by bards. The 'Brothers' could refer to any sort of secret cabal or monastic order, of which there are innumerable ones in Varisia. Even this 'Brotherhood of Seven' mentioned by Ameiko remains frustratingly obscure - all that even Brodert Quink can recall is that its founders made their wealth on underground pesh and slave smuggling, and that only the most filthily rich even have a chance of being invited to a Brotherhood tea party. The odds of you all going to Magnimar to find the last pieces of this puzzle are looking increasingly likely with each passing day.

Right now though, there seems to have been a slightly more worrying development than a lack of information.

The days have been growing a little shorter and the nights a little more chilly. The six of you have been gathering for late supper in the Rusty Dragon, to share your findings and unwind after the day's bustle, in a quieter corner of the dining hall. You have barely raised your glass to your lips though, when Constable Gareth hurries up and taps urgently Rico on the shoulder, his gauntleted fingers ringing against her breastplate.

"Garrison's been broken into. Someone was after the evidence from the Foxglove case. Boss wants you and the shortarse- um, Miss Red, there right now."

[bcool999]

Taladron

Continuing to sip his wine as the constable speaks to Rico about the break in, Taladron eventually asks, "Just Rico and Red then? I suppose that means the Sheriff is still miffed about the fire?" Taladron smiles sardonically before continuing, "At this rate I will be run out of town dodging sling-stones while the guard looks the other way, or, even worse, while they add a few crossbow bolts to the mix."

[Bhaakon]

Brin

"Somehow I doubt the townsfolk much care about us burning down the house of a ghastly murderer, and never mind that it was built atop and Urgatoan temple." Brin answers the wizard's musing. "The sheriff must be drowning in paperwork, but we did the town a favor. Nothing good would have come of the Foxgloves returning to claim the place, pawning it off on some unsuspecting rube, or, worse, selling it to someone who knew its secrets. It had to be destroyed before a Korvosan fop with more greed than sense could object." The elf shrugs and takes another sip of brandy.

[ProudGrognard]

Sirus

Sirus has had an easy, relaxed week. He did not took heed of the villagers' reactions against him, though he much preferred friendly greetings to angry mutterings. Sirus had time to think, to clear his mind and his body, to pray. He spent much of his time in the church, praying to Pharasma and helping around in any way he could. He meditated in the graveyard and he spend hours practicing the basics of his style. It was ... peaceful.

But deep inside him, Sirus knew that this was an interlude. He had unfinished business, and duties that drew him on. But that was alright. Sirus welcomed the pull. He lived for it.

Seeing the constable, even before he spoke, Sirus nodded silently.

Here we go. The break is over.

After Gareth is done speaking, Sirus stands up, silently. He is ready to follow.

[maggie_mcknife]

GM post

More than a little irked at Taladron's casual denigration of the Watch's impartiality, Gareth visibly bristles, shooting a cold stare in the mage's direction before turning his back in an obvious snub, his fists clenched by his side as he addresses the rest of you.

"It's an unusual sorta break-in, see. So th'boss figgered that it'd be best to set another thief on the premises, maybe see if she sniffs out something we missed. He didn't ask for the rest of you, probably didn't want too many folks tromping around. Still, if you want to come by, I'm sure he wouldn't turn down some extra eyes..." At this point, Gareth can't help but sneak another glare at Taladron out of the corner of his eye, as if contemplating telling the elf to not bother showing up, his upper lip curling up in a scowl.

*****

It is now about 2100hrs.

An 'unusual sorta break-in', as Gareth had put it, is exactly what those of you who follow him to the Garrison find.

None of you, save the indomitable Rico, have actually been allowed into the lightless back room where evidence from cases past and pending are kept before. Now, you get to muscle past the battered desks piled high with paperwork and various oddments of the Watch life, clumping through the armoury, the worn timber of the corridor floor booming as you follow Gareth past various cubbyholes and a few rooms ripe with the sour smell of unwashed leathers. There are only a handful of other watchmen on duty in the Garrison itself at this hour, most of whom don't seem particularly interested in your presence, though you do spot Vachedi squatting on the front steps with a lit Shoanti-style pipe clenched between his teeth, the burly jailer bobbing his ritually scarred head in genial greeting as you walk past.

It occurs to the more observant of you that the rest of Watch probably hasn't yet been informed of the situation - there is no other explanation that would account for the fairly relaxed atmosphere in the circumstances. This surmise is proved correct once Gareth halts at a closed unmarked door, where you find Sheriff Hemlock deep in discussion with Sergeant Hannah. The Sheriff looks up at your approach, motioning to Hannah for a pause in the conversation before he greets you and thanks you for coming.

Even by the fairly weak light of the lantern that Gareth has been using to guide your path, you can see the faint purpling under the Sheriff's eyes, the creases in his forehead deeper than ever - the good man has not been getting much sleep these past few days. Nevertheless, the Sheriff's voice is as steely as ever as he folds his arms across his broad chest. "I am sorry to interrupt your victuals. I'd only asked for constable Rico and Miss Allin in the interests of a speedy resolution. But since the situation may require some delicate and swift handling... Well." The Sheriff pinches the bridge of his nose and takes a deep breath that ends in a sigh, with only the bowing of his shoulders to give lie to his frustration. "I suppose Gareth has told you that someone's tried to break into our evidence room. Only those who need to know are aware of this, for I do not rule out the possibility that the one responsible might have had some inside help."

"I found the door ajar myself, coming back from patrol. No evidence of tampering with the lock. It was just open. Hannah and I, we've combed through the room - nothing seems to have been taken, though the evidence boxes with everything pertaining to the Foxglove case - the daggers, the sketches - they were dumped out and scattered over the floor, like someone was looking for something but didn't find it. But we did find something else, which leads to me to why Miss Allin is here."

Red startles at the mention of her name, glancing warily up at the towering Sheriff and leaning a little closer to Rico. Sheriff Hemlock, for his part, does not seem to notice as he stares down the length of his nose at the young woman. Next to him, Hannah silently holds up something that gleams in the lantern light - a long black kapenia of watered silk, intricate beadwork visible in its folds, bundled up in Hannah's fist "Miss Allin. I know that the black kapenia is only carried by Sczarni. If you know of any in this town, or if you've been associating with any, now would be an excellent time to come clean."

"...I- I told you before, I-" Those of you with better eyes can see Red flush the colour of her name in the gloom as she stutters, though only those of you who have bothered to get to know the young woman recognise her agitation to be from anger, rather than guilt. "I'm not... Sczarni. I do not h-have anything to... do. With them. I- I've told you... before. Jubrayl V-Vhiski. Y-you didn't... believe me..."

For those who need to refer to the last post where you met Jubrayl, please refer to here. You may make the Knowledge (local) roll in that post now if you didn't do so last time.

Knowledge (local) DC 14, no roll needed if you're an ethnic Varisian or were raised by one

Spoiler

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A black kapenia, as the Sheriff has said, is indeed one of several items carried exclusively by Sczarni as a covert means of recognising each other. The kapenia, however, is also an extremely valuable item for Varisians - it is a scarf that traces one's lineage, that one receives upon reaching adulthood or being initiated into a new family. Kapenias are often passed down from generation to generation, and are sometimes even buried with their owners, being such important markers of one's identity. For a kapenia to have been left behind so carelessly by a thief does seem a little odd.

[bcool999]

Taladron

"Sheriff, I believe the fact that the Sczarni are known to carry around this type of kapenia almost proves that they had no involvement with this break in. Whoever the culprit was knew right were to go and was able to enter and leave without a trace being left behind other than the obvious kapenia which would immediately implicate the Sczarni." begins Taladron as he processes the information, "The fact that the culprit seemed to be looking for something specific and failed to find it also gives me a clue as to the identity of the culprit."

Taladron pats his haversack and says, "There was a letter in the manor that implied that Aldern was hired or working for a larger organization seeking to gain something by the killings Aldern preformed. Possibly a ritual designed to gather power from souls or something equally evil in effect. Furthermore," Taladron says, looking at his companions, "If this organization really has sent an agent to hide their existence, we may get a chance to uncover their identities and find their lair."

Turning back to the Sheriff, Taladron asks, "With your permission, I would have our group seek out the culprit and gather what information we can, then we can turn him or her over into your custody for the break in."

[Desril]

Setsuna

Having spent the vast majority of the week polishing up on the smithing skills that her father tried to teach her, Setsuna's mind was wandering when Gareth showed up. Even as she followed along silently she was thinking more about how out of practice she was and how much harder she was going to try.

It isn't until she hears Red's agitated tone that the tiefling finally snaps back to the present and steps forward. "She has no reason to lie, if she says that Vhiski-san is Scazrni, then I believe her, and you should too."

Nodding in agreement with Taladron, Setsuna doesn't feel a need to add anything more, the elven wizard having already put together more than she had. Instead, she recalls the previous encounter with Jubrayl and the embarrassing scene he'd interrupted with a barely perceptible, thanks to her new-found complexion, blush. I really must go speak with Shayliss. I have not had a chance to really talk to her since...

[Bhaakon]

Brin

With nothing else left to do except drink alone (which wasn't as fun as it sounded, in the elf's experience), Brin tags along with the others to the scene of the crime. It takes some will power, but she managed to hold back a chortle when Sheriff Hemlock mentions need for swiftness and delicacy after the incident at the Misgivings and his subsequent admonishments. She isn't so strong willed when the man all but accuses Red of complicity in the break-in, letting lose a derisive snort which makes her opinion of that bit of slander obvious to all.

Clearly the man was a fair bit of desperate, and no wonder. There was nothing mundane about a blackguard sneaking through the garrison unseen in the middle of the day and rifling the evidence locker. It stunk of betrayal or magery, and both options made it wise to seek help the Sandpoint watch.

Taladron does a good job negating the superficial conclusion drawn from the carelessly discarded kapenia. She lets him finish speaking before throwing in her two coppers.

"Seek out what, Taladron? There's no evidence here to follow, except the kapenia, and I think we both know that's a dead end." She shrugs and looks back at the door wistfully, wondering if Ameiko has shut down the kitchen for the night. "No, I think we should go back to the Dragon and finish our meal. Whoever cracked the evidence locker left frustrated, which leaves them only two options: Give up--which I doubt they'll do--or hit the next most likely target. Which is, of course, US."

All we have to do is set a trap and wait for the thief to make his play.

[maggie_mcknife]

GM post

"I'm perfectly aware that Miss Allin isn't Sczarni. Constable Rico here has told me as much. And as for Jubrayl... let us simply say that in all my time as Sheriff, I have suspected but as of yet failed to ever find enough evidence to bring a warrant against him," says the Sheriff evenly. "Of course, the kapenia is a false lead. It is a rather obvious and ham-fisted attempt by the thief to make us think that the Sczarni did it. There are few in this town who have a grudge against Jubrayl, or who might have contacts within the local Sczarni. Miss Allin is the only one who fits both categories and she is thus uniquely suited to assist us in our investigations. She is most certainly not a suspect. Had I wished to arrest her, I would have already done so. Nevertheless, since she expresses unwillingness to do so..."

Sheriff Hemlock shrugs and sighs aloud. "Master Taladron. If you are capable of finding our thief, we would be indebted to you. But what exactly are your plans and how may we assist you?"

[ProudGrognard]

Sirus

Sirus has been watching the conversation impassively. He had guessed that Red was not a suspect from the way she was summoned. They had come across the Sheriff too many times now. He was a straightforward man.

But now, they were again into something he could not easily help with. He did not know the Sczarni or anything about them. Nevertheless...

"How many. Knew. Where. The evidence. Was? Did. They. Go. Straight. For it?

Can we. Look. Around?"

[Desril]

Setsuna

Thinking about everything that's been said, the tiefling starts to consider another possibility. "Wait, before that, we all agree that this kapenia is supposed to just be framing the Sczarni, correct? What if it is not? If who ever broke in left this on purpose then they either believed that the Watch was incompetent and would follow this fake lead, or it was left for another reason. Maybe the Sczarni are involved and it was left to throw us off because it seems like such an obvious framing attempt."

Glancing from Red to the Sheriff, she continues, "We could try to spy on Vhiski-san to find evidence if he is involved with the Sczarni or this break-in. If they are responsible, it will put them on the defensive but we will be making progress. If they are not, then who ever broke in will think we took their bait and might get careless when they try again."

[Miraqariftsky]

"WAAAAAAUUUUUGGGHH!" bathed in the smoke of the burning manor and the soot from Taladron's handiwork, her legs and shoulders leaden, for once, her cry of defiance felt false, rang empty in her heart. Rico didn't allow that doubt to cloud her voice, for the spirit is a terrible thing to waste.

Still, though her visage was hidden by her helm's shadow, her frown cut deep as she quietly passed around her flask, passing around singular back-pats as well, slowly saluting the Sheriff as he came, preparing to answer his inevitable battery of questions...

~~~

The intervening week went by for Rico as a haze of numbing paperwork, of cleaning up and archiving the remains of the manor, and such fatigue that the clutches of the usually robust constable's slumber had been strangely strong.

Even dinner and drink had seemed dulled affairs. She blamed the stain of the horror they'd endured as having somehow clung to her guts, feeling sea- landsick every so often.

Just another undead bust. she'd liked to have stated, but there was the whole as yet unsolved conspiracy coiled in those papers they'd found on the late unlamented lord Foxglove.

And truth, despite the results they'd gotten, a part of her still feels guilty for all the times they'd, she'd, failed the duty to serve the public trust, to protect the common good, to uphold the law... Was that one day of delay truly worth it? No amount of worry or what ifs could bring back either time or dead. No amount of sweat and slashing, nor drudgery of paperwork, or filing and re-filing the Watch's archives no matter how many times she'd gone through them could...

~~~

Damn this all... and damn... Am I sick? Did I contract something? DAMN this weakness, hellsteeth. Should I have had these ribs checked more? Are my guts still all well? Are...?

"...HMRRGH...! 'Scuse me! Outhouse!" Rico blurts out, shrugging out of Gareth's grasp, making a dash for the privy.

It is quite some time before she arrives at the Garrison, unfortunately... Her standard scowl fixed on once more, Rico salutes hastily, her face flushed with embarrassment, "Apologies, sir. I... don't think I'm as well as... I should be. You mentioned an infiltration?"

[Bhaakon]

Brin

Setsuna's twisted logic was hard to follow. Too hard for a sober (well mostly sober) brain to track without slipping into the beginging of a migraine. Brin rubs her temples as the tiefling argues in circles around the significance of the kapenia. Finally she gives up and just blurts out her own plan, hoping for a hasty acceptance and return to supper.

"The Sczarni, the Brotherhood of Seven, who knows, maybe the blasted Pathfinders want the evidence for some reason. Whoever it is, we know that they want something connected to the case, so let's use that to bait them in. Spread rumors to the effect that we'd been entrusted with some of the evidence to further our own investigation, but that you're getting impatient, sheriff, and want to send us with the whole lot to Magnimar for a more intensive magical examination. If the thief is desperate enough to break into a the guard headquarters, then they'll have to risk ambushing us and revealing themselves in the process."

"And if they don't take the bait, well, there might be some loose ends worth investigating in Magnimar anyway."

[Desril]

Setsuna

Concerned about Rico, but tactful enough to at least wait until they weren't around the sheriff to ask, Setsuna nods at the half-orc and does her best to quickly sum up the situation, and then nods again in agreement with Brin. "That might be easier. I would like to look in to Vhiski-san, but your plan might be faster, so maybe we should do that. Do you think you could spread the rumor, Sheriff?"

[maggie_mcknife]

GM post

"Who knew that we were keeping material in the evidence room? Why, just about every woman and man in the Watch, I should think. The evidence room's definitely been searched, but perhaps that is only another false lead as well. Still, you're welcome to have a gander at the evidence room if you like." Sheriff Hemlock shrugs easily, though the lines creasing his forehead betray his frustration.

Massaging his temples, the Sheriff grunts when Brin suggests luring the burglar out by acting as bait. "The evidence isn't much - mainly sketches of the bodies and the murder weapons. I can certainly arrange for Mayor Deverin to write a letter of recommendation for you to seek the assistance and expertise of the City Watch. Would that do?"

[Bhaakon]

Brin

"That should work, Sheriff." She replies. "Just make sure that the news gets around, and mention the extra papers we'd been holding back. Laying a trap is no good if the bait is kept secret. If you can have the evidence sealed in something official-looking, we'll come by in the morning to pick it up."

Looking back at the others, she adds. "I suppose we should get some mounts, unless you all fancy walking?"

[maggie_mcknife]

Red

Slightly nettled by the Sheriff's casual dismissal of her, Red retreats a step into Rico's shadow - why was Rico looking queasy? - and listens to the others debate in silence. She sighs aloud at the plan to go to Magnimar but remains quiet, her hands massaging Rico's wrist, looking down at the hide-wrapped hilt of the new kukris at her hip. Taladron and Setsuna had been very nice to help her get those done. Perhaps she'd be able to defend herself better now if she got into trouble in Magnimar again.

Magnimar. Red's face turns thoughtful as she purses her lips. Getting through the gates with her prison brand would be a challenge, though a letter from the Mayor would likely be helpful there. Which would be good because she did rather like the place, despite the Hells. Especially Dockway, with its exotic smells and raucous watering holes and bustling markets where you could buy anything and everything for the right price. She'd downed her first fiery tin mug of Chelish whiskey in a seedy little watering hole just by the harbour. Slept with her first woman after the fifth mug. Woke up the next morning with a pounding headache behind several crates in an abandoned warehouse with someone else's shirt on and all her money gone. Yes, those had been some times, until she'd gotten too confident and tried her luck at thieving the monthly tithe out of a guildhouse in the Capital District.

But she wouldn't be stealing anything this time though. Not when she had enough money in her purse. Especially not if she had Rico with her and if she was on a mission of sorts. (Was she even going to get paid for this business with Aldern?) She'd be good. She'd prove Sheriff Hemlock wrong about her. Catching the Sheriff's eye as she glances up, Red frowns and makes a face at him once he looks away, oblivious to Sergeant Hannah's smirk of amusement as she does so.

*****

GM post

"If it is mounts you need, I can let you borrow what we have from the Garrison stables. They're good horses, though not built for speed. Though if you do wish to draw the attention of the burglar, setting a slower pace might not be a bad idea either."

The idea of an ambush clearly appeals to Sheriff Hemlock and he warms to the idea quickly, sketching out a quick strategy plan on the spot for how to best. Given the late hour, obtaining a letter from the Mayor will have to wait until tomorrow - "Just as well, if we want to spread the news around on where you're going and what you'll be carrying" - but it shouldn't take too long to gain Mayor Deverin's permission. Any supplies that you all need can be requisitioned quickly and the evidence can most certainly be placed into something more glamorous and official looking. As long as you all are ready to leave once the arrangements have been made, there should be no problem in getting you all that you need to take you to Magnimar.