Stefan sands silently with head bowed and hands behind his back wile Vivian and Tara perform last rites on the children's remains.
After the ceremony, he says, "Thank-you for performing the ceremony. That said... it is my opinion that we return to Lepidstadt posthaste and see what we can turn up on the gentleman with the hight hat and green-tinted spectacles who'd purchased those chirurgical tools we'd found in Morast. If we can prove that miscreant was responsible for the murders in Morast, it would likely go a long way to prove the innocence of our client." He then regards the skeletons with a piteous expresstion. "Perhaps we could return to bury these remains after the trial is over... or we could send word the the former villagers to take care of them themselves."
Bert nods, rubbing the cold spot in his chest.
It would be better that the villagers bury their own dead, and give the last farewell. I agree with you Stefan, we should go back to town. The trial and a few more mysteries wait for us..
Sophie leans on her spear and considers. "If the village people do indeed return, they should bury their own dead. But we should see to it that these dead really are buried, should the village folk still shun the place."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Tara buries her head in her hands at the conundrum. "While I am uncomfortable with leaving these remains here unguarded, I understand our need to make haste. What if we were to wrap the remains in bedrolls and take them with us? We could then bring them back to town and have the funeral arrangements dealt with in the morning." wringing her hands, Tara glances back and forth from Stefan to the others.
No worries, real life happens. Whatever you can contribute with your schedule is appreciated.
After performing the proper rituals honoring the dead and shepherding their souls to Pharasma, the majority of the group decides to return to town.
The party then begins their journey back to Lepidstadt in the early hours of the evening. Other than the occasional sighting of a wagon or person on foot, the trip back is completely uneventful.
Stefan nods at Tara's words, with a pensive expression on his face.
"That sounds like a good idea, Tara. I have a chamber in the basement of my practice that I have used on occasion as a morgue. We could keep the remains there until funeral arrangements can be made."
With surprising gentleness, the doctor helps gather the skeleton of each child into a blanket, and carefully rolls them up.
After securing the remains of the dead villagers in Dr. Van Herzog's medical office, he joins his friends in asking around about the man who purchased the surgical tools.
Vivian does her best to help Stefan, but can't stop coughing from time to time, having caught a cold as the unholy creature stole her health the previous night.
People gave her a wide berth.. no one likes being coughed on!
Stefan and Tara have no issues transporting the skeletal remains back to the Doctor's basement.
With the aid of his compatriots, Dr. Von Herzog finally finds an inebriated merchant who remembers a man with a penchant for wearing high hats and green tinted glasses, "Ah, yesh. Sounds like ol' Radniche. He's got a shop of the stuff. Er, I think it's a chirurgery supply shop in the Surgeons’ Flats."
Following the man's directions, you come to the well maintained exterior of a shop with a wooden sign hanging above it, announcing 'Radniche's Chirurgery Supplies and More' with carvings of a hacksaw and clamps underneath the wording. Although you find the heavy wooden doors locked, you do see lights flickering behind the green stained glass windows.
"Shall we knock, then?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
I guess we should show some civility and politeness.There are enough unpleasantness already.
Vivian shows a tired smile and knocks at the door
Besides, if they don't answer the door, I could pick the lock quietly..
Stefan quietly whispers, "We're no longer in an abandoned village... I would rather not get arrested for breaking and entering."
I agree.. I may be quite restless, sometimes, sorry. These fights with the undead rattled my nerves. Let's just knock.
Bert leans forward and knocks on the door.
Vivian knocks on the door and slyly suggests picking the lock. While some of her companions talk her out of the notion, Bert knocks again.
"Coming, coming!" A high pitched male voice calls out as you hear the sounds of the door being unlocked and swiftly opened. Behind it you then see a rather dapper middle-aged man wearing green-tinted reading glasses, who appears rather nonplussed by lot of you. "You're late with the delivery. I was just about to retire for the evening." He says with tint of annoyance. Behind his head, you can also see what appears to be several inert skeletons and some pickled items in jars.
"So, where's the delivery?" The man asks with a scowl after a few moments pass without a response.
Tara glances to Vivian, before stepping forward. "Um Mr. Radniche, about your delivery..." Tara mumbles, constantly glancing at the others for assistance. "We have a few concerns about the location that they were found. May we come in?" Twisting her handkerchief between her hands, Tara offers the oddly dressed man a nervous smile.
"Wait, what? This isn't about my delivery? I'm confused here. What do you people want exactly?" The man replies, not budging from his position behind the door of the shop.
"My dear Mr. Radniche! I'm not sure if you know me, but I am Dr. Stefan von Herzog. I run a medical practice on the other side of town.
I am sorry that we're bothering you at so late an hour, but I was hoping you might be able to assist us in a life-and-death endeavor."
Sir, we really, really need your help right now. We wouldn't come here at this late hour if that wasn't the case.
The man relaxes a little, but still doesn't move from the door, "Why don't you tell me what you all need precisely and I might be more amendable to letting you inside. This is all highly irregular."
"As the lady said, it's a matter of life and death" Bert says.
"And life and death." Bert reminds him.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Surgical tools you say? Well, yes, I do deal with such items since it is my business. Do require a set for emergency surgery? I may have some in the back. Although I would hope a well qualified doctor would already have a set on hand in such cases." The man replies nonchalantly despite the group's insistence of their task's importance.
Without giving too much informations, here what I can say to you. We are seeking someone who could have bought chirurgical instruments here, and use them to commit atrocious crimes. We were hoping you could find in your ledgers the name and maybe the adress of the buyer, because we believe someone else, an innocent, is set up to take the blame for the aforementioned crimes.
"Ah, well. I would need to know the specific tools in question, as I have sold a number of sets throughout the years." He says with a slight shrug, then pushes open the door to allow the group inside his shop.
The cramped shop is piled with inert skeletons, pickled things in jars, and alchemical components. If the man sells surgical tool sets regularly, you don't see any on display, but there are items like hacksaws and scalpels in glass cases.
"Alas, even if you do provide me with the necessary information, I'm afraid I'm not in the habit of betraying my customers' confidence. Although, business has been quite slow as of late, if you perhaps could make a purchase this late evening we might be able to come to some sort of understanding. I'm sure a doctor could find something of use."
Bert looks around for something that might help him hit incorporeal monsters. Or something that will help with his cold chest thing.
Distracted by the strange day and the cold hovering in his chest, Bert looks around listlessly but finds nothing he's interested in buying.
I'm pretty sure the good doctor Von Herzog would be interested in your items, and I could replenish some of my healing kits supplies here too. It's always useful to have top quality stuff, when the price is right...
Vivian looks at the man, trying to discern what he imply
"Oh, I'm sure I might be able to provide some assistance with the purchase of a fully stocked healer's kit." The man says with a smirk. "That'll be 50 gp."
Watching that man's reaction, Vivian's pretty sure that he's willing to give you some information in exchange for a purchase in the shop, although he's probably not willing to give out a name.
Vivian puts a small amount of money on the nearest table, put keep her hand on the coins
50 gold pieces? That is an honest price. And I'm willing to pauy it as soon as I get some information..
"Of course!" Stefan examines a kit to make sure that everything is there, and then hands the bespectacled man five platinum coins.
"Now that's settled, perhaps you would be able to let us know who may have purchased these." From his satchel he takes out the surgeon's tools with amethyst handles.
The man you assume is Radniche smiles sharply and presents a fully stocked healer's kit. He seems a bit put off when Vivian demands information first, but when Dr. Von Herzog hands the money he lifts the coins quickly and drops them into his pocket. "Ah, thank you for the late evening purchase! Now, what are these tools you are asking about?"
Once he gets a glimpse at the tools, the man nods in understanding, "A very well made set of tools, I do recall them. As for the buyer, I seem to remember that he was a striking fellow, very dapper in black from head to toe, who said he owned a chymic works somewhere nearby. That's probably enough for your purposes, I think."
While the interaction takes place, Sophie has been watching the man closely. She figures that he doesn't seem like the sort that would divulge the buyers name with a larger purchase, but he does seem easy to break if enough pressure was applied through intimidation.
Bert listens to all the talk and waits for a request from the rest that he step in and help.
Sophie looks around at her companions, curious if they have learned enough to be able to find the man from that description.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Peering closely at the preserved something Tara wrinkles her nose at the smell. Stepping away from the shelf, she turns her attention to the slimy salesman. With an amused smirk Tara saunters over to the counter. "Now Mr. Radniche, you are surly aware of the trails taking place concerning Ga-the alleged Beast of Lepidstadt? It would surly be a shame if it was discovered that your establishment was in the nature of selling items to grave robbers?" Feigning innocent, Tara curls a lock of brown hair around her finger as she leans in towards the strange man. "Or worse yet, that you had a hand in the disturbed graves up in Morsat? I would hate to think how your business venture could turn around if this got out."