Asuriel walks into the room alongside Pavanna and the others, but lets the tiefling do the talking. She tries to put on as pleasant of a face for the poor woman that she can, but the oracle is clearly distraught and has a hard time maintaining a calm expression. She positions herself slightly behind Horatio so that she will not be seen directly.
Waiting patiently in the shadows she takes note of how the curtains are drawn and the sun is kept out of the room. Believing it will improve her spirits, she quietly moves over and parts the curtains to let the light in. As the warmth spills over the shivering woman she offers a small smile before tucking herself into the background once more.
Saroune hangs back by the door, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. She waits for Katrine to respond to Pavanna.
"Hy vill," Gkirkhan tells you as he pulls you in for another brief hug, "und Hy vill haff a drink vaiting."
With that, he lets you go and head off after the others before heading back to the Rusty Dragon.
Her pulse is weak, but steady. Her skin feels as if she'd been out in a snowstorm with nothing on, though. It's like touching ice.
As Pavanna calls to her, Katrine's eyes flutter open, though it's easy to see that she isn't really seeing the Iomedaean at first. After a moment, she focuses on Pavanna and speaks through chattering teeth.
"S-s-s-s-s-so c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-cold," she says in a thready voice. "H-h-h-h-he said h-h-h-he'd m-m-m-m-m-make y-y-y-you as c-c-c-c-c-c-cold s-s-s-so h-h-he c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-could m-m-m-m-make you f-f-feel h-h-h-his l-l-l-l-l-love f-f-for you."
She collapses back onto the pillows with a pained gasp as what little strength she had gives out.
Saroune looks at the rest of her companions, puzzled. "What in the world does that mean?"
Noro heads out in search of the rest of the group.
Saroune looks at the rest of her companions, puzzled. "What in the world does that mean?"
“I couldn’t say off-hand,” Pavanna murmurs, almost absently, as she hurriedly bundles the bedclothes around Katrine. “But she’s almost frozen solid herself; I’d almost swear she’d walked bare-skinned through a blizzard. If ‘he’ is even colder ....”
She glances over at Asuriel as the aasimar opens the curtains, nodding approvingly. “A good choice — this poor lass could do with all the touch of the Dawnflower we can muster for her.”
Pavanna’s mouth thins as enough pieces fall into place. Standing, she draws the others outside of the room to speak discreetly. Even so, she switches to Infernal — she doubt Katrine will understand it, and she doesn’t want to alarm the girl.
«Я, наконец, признал, что с ней случилось. Она имеет «вурдалака Лихорадка», еще более пагубное, чем любом случае я когда-либо слышал раньше. Iomedae не украсил меня силой, чтобы вылечить такую болезнь еще, так что если Asuriel не повезло больше —» here she glances a question at Asuriel «— потому что теперь нам придется довольствоваться наливая ее полные противочумных проектов и надеясь на лучшее.
«Он также говорит нам «неприятные» вещи о нашего корреспондента. «Орда» он писал в своей записке к вам, Asuriel, по-видимому, из нежитью.»
“«It also tells us unpleasant things about our correspondent. The ‘horde’ he wrote of in his note to you, Asuriel, would seem to be of the undead.»”
Olivius arrives just as Pavanna is drawing everyone into the hall. He listens and concern cross his face. Out of the Goblin pan and into the Undead fire. Do you think the Father could help?
Horatio gives a low whistle, lacing his fingers behind his head and glancing back towards the room. "That doesn't bode well," he sighs. "Where do we go from here, then? Look for further signs of undead activity? Check the graveyards and crypts?"
"Perhaps we should inspect the other murders?" Saroune offers. "Jubrayl's men?"
The other sites and the tombs aren't going anywhere. Let's ask around town before any witnesses conveniently forget what they know. But carefully. Don't want to tip our hand.
Noro eventually arrives at the church. Sorry, I miss anything?
she apparently is not aware of the situation here.
"We'll fill you in on the way, Noro," Saroune explains. "I agree with Olivius. We should go ask around and see what we can turn up."
"Right. Anyone who lives close to the mill should be a good start. Maybe someone heard or saw something."
Olivius doesn't hear anything useful. He does gather a few drinks, however, so he counts that as a win for the day.
When Olivius asks about Zantus, Pavanna waves a hand. “It can’t hurt to ask him, and it may save Katrine’s life. Unfortunately, if ‘The Knight’ stays at large too long, he can infect people far faster than we can cure them. We need to kill this vine at its root.”
As the band moves off, Pavanna backs Olivius’ suggestion on other grounds: “Besides, this creature writes notes to specific people with specific messages, and uses stylings like ‘The Lord’. The one fact makes it smart enough that a graveyard is a little too obvious a lair; the other makes it self-important enough that such a humble abode would be beneath its dignity.”
Noro gets filled in as the group heads out to get more information.
I think I should pay a visit to an old "friend" see what he knows.
Turning to Olives, I might need some back-up. Just in case they don't like my methods of asking "nicely"[/b]
Noro is obviously referring to her old boss Jubryl.
Olivius tags along with Noro. She surly can handle herself, but having someone watching your back is never a bad thing.
You find Jubrayl in the Fatman's Feedbag with several bottles, both empty and not, on the table in front of him. From his lethargic movements and the glazed over look in his eyes it's fairly obvious he's deep into his cups despite the hour.
While the townsfolk know little about the murders, there is some interesting tidbits that may point to a motive.
Jubrayl and Titus Scarnetti had recently had a falling out.
Banny Harker was skimming some of the profits from the lumber mill and putting them into his own coffers. The lumber mill is owned by the Scarnetti family as well.
There have been rumors that Scarnetti is schmoozing a Sczarni family that has been looking to expand into Sandpoint.
There's been sightings of a large goblin in town. The guard has yet to see it though and believes this to be the tale of men with a few too many drinks in them.
Olivius stands behind Noro in a show of support. This was her show. He doors sneer at the drunk though. Such laziness. It would be pitiful if it didn't smell so bad.
Noro takes a seat across from Jubrayl. she grabs a bottle that still has some in it. taking a wiff to see if its actually worth drinking.
taking a small sip she then sets the bottle down. that will never work, I should know. Lets talk murders, I think you know what I mean.
Noro tries to maintain a show of no fear before her old boss, but Olives can see she hiding her nervousness from Jubrayl.
Jubrayl's eyes take a moment to focus, but once he recognizes Noro, he just gives her a sneer, one that is jsut a might bit marred by having to be paused while he keeps his lunch in his stomach.
"An' why would I wanna talk t'ya? Don't ya have some farm boys t'deflower seein' as yer th'hero o' this s*&%hole," he asks, swaying drunkenly with every word.
Olivius huffs in annoyance Look. Either you talk to us our I carry you like the sack of sh** you are over to Ameiko's and give you some of that juice that'll set you straight. It's not fun.
"Already wi' th'foreplay, huh? I told Hemlock all I know, alright," Jubrayl slurs at Olivius, "go bother him if yer so damn antsy for answers."
Since when have you Ever told Hemlock everything you know? Olivius retorts.
"Lemme ask why I'd kill my own men," Jubrayl asks as he glowers at Olivius.
I don't ask why anymore. I've seen way too much crazy for that. I'm asking if you did. And much more pointedly than the good sheriff did, I'll wager.
"Scarnetti seems to be a good start," Horatio agrees, trying to remember what he knows about the man in question and where to locate him.
The Scarnetti manor is located across the Turandarok River on the bluff overlooking Sandpoint. There is a good bit of bad blood between the Scarnettis and the Varisians. In addition, the Scarnettis are one of the most conservative families in Sandpoint, holding to traditional Chelish views and social mores. They control the lumber industry and own the sawmill outright. Despite the stickler nature of Titus Scarnetti, there are many rumors about his ties to the Sczarni and his less than legal tactics that helped the family secure its fortunes.
Noro lets the exchange happen for a bit, Look, never accused you, but, you keep your men on a tight leash, something is going on I think you have some idea who is behind this.
leaning in closer, you can tell me nicely, or you can tell me... well, not so nicely. besides, I think you owe me that at least.
"Fine! Fair 'nough I guess. Three o'm'boys were settin' up a job, an' things was goin' great, but this s*#+ started happenin' and the next thing I know, m'boys are dead, murdered and messed up worse than the Chopper hisself woulda done."
Jubrayl turns back to the bottle he was nursing and, finding it empty, screws his face up in a snarl and shatters it against the wall in a fit of rage. With a bloodshot glare, he looks to Noro.
"I didn't do it. They were my family, and Varisians never betray family, unlike the devil-binders you seem to be shacking up with. Now get out of my bar," he growls.
“I’m heartily in favour of discomfiting hidebound Chels of high standing, but if we go straight at Scarnetti, he’ll just lock shields in our faces like a phalanx of armigers,” Pavanna points out. “If we’re to question him, how to do we phrase it? Would we be implying we were trying to eliminate him from suspicion?”
"That seems wise," Horatio agrees, nodding slowly and scratching his fingertips. "With enough flattery and reason, we should be able to get the information we need."
Olivius retrieves another bottle and straddles the chair across from the nearly skunked gang leader. That's when the Chelaxian in him starts to show, especially in his accent. What I'm hearing is you got jumped, metaphorically speaking, and a few of your men died. That must dent ones reputation in a small town life this.
He pours a drink. Slowly.
Nobody you haven't already bought will work for a man who can't protect his own. Which means you have just run out of new blood. Which means you're finished. Maybe not now, but eventually.
He pours more as necessary.
So, you have a problem. We have a problem. I suspect or problems come from the same place. Don't get me wrong, I would like few things more than to watch you shrivel into irrelevance like your manhood, but frankly I don't have time for that. How about we help each other just this once.
Noro snickers at Olive's comment, he never had much manhood to start with.
looking back at her former boss, So, what ya say, we can work together, and I'll see what I can do to salvage what's left of your reputation.
"Damn chelish," Jubrayl growls as he snatches the bottle from Olivius' hands, "all of you ox-s%*@s are the same. You think you can do whatever you want because it's you gods-be-damned given birthright that you get when your mother shat your out like the s&$# you are. Go f!@! yourself."
Far quicker than would be expected of a man so drunk, Jubrayl topples the table with one hand and grabs the front of Noro's tunic with the other. With a tug, he lines her up with Olivius and turns her to face him and shoves her into him, causing the both of them and the chair to go tumbling to the floor.
"Or better yet, f**~ her and get out of my bar," Jubrayl says before turning around and staggering to the bar.
A short walk over the Turandarok River has you approaching the manors of the founding families. Scarnetti's home is on the bluff that faces away from Sandpoint to the southwest. It is finely made and of the Chelish Colonial style from before the Thrune's rise to power. After using the large brass knocker to announce your presence, it takes a minute or two before a young maid answers the door.
"Y-y-yes? M-may I help you," she asks.
Olivius tumbles to the ground and manages not to hurt anything on the way down. He gets to his feet as graciously as he can and dusts some imaginary grime off his shoulder. He says in a nice clear voice as he leaves. Have it your way. Just let your men know what when their buddies start turning up dead with parts torn off and their boss is too drunk to do anything but skulk in his own pi**, we'll be at Ameiko's. And if their boss starts jumping at shadows, waiting to see which one is going to snatch him, not to worry. We'll have the situation resolved soon and they can go back to guarding his pasty a** as he attempts to drown himself on land.
Flashing his most disarming smile and bowing slightly, Horatio takes the lead. "Good day, miss. Would we be able to speak with Master Titus Scarnetti? The Heroes of Sandpoint have important matters to discuss with him."