Guaril Karela's Six (Inactive)

Game Master Thrawn007

Thank youuuuu! I feel loads better about that! c: It's been a trying week, orz.

At this new piece of information, Lunevi nodded her thanks. Turning to the others, she asked, "Do we have all we need from this place? I think we may wish to speak with Sister Woodmere." As they did any last checks, she would attempt to sketch out a similarity to the prints on a piece of paper.
Scribe: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Ella turns to the deputy to give him a withering stare. Do these rubes do any of their own investigations?

I suppose we should.

Knowing that the sister is likely already on the way to the circus just outside of town, you head in that direction. As you begin to arrive on scene, it seems that the situation has heated up. Two large muscled men of varisian descent stand at the edge of the circus campus, seeming to try to hold back a crowd. Five townsfolk have surrounded them, with the rest of the crowd farther back cheering them on. You hear shouts coming from the crowd, "They are trying to bleed the town dry!", "The damned varisians are a pack of thieves!", "We can't let this go unpunished!", "Show them what good folk are made of!".

It seems the situation is close to escalating from shouting to an actual fight shortly.

Ella strides forward, hand on her rapier's hilt, but the blade undrawn.

What seems to be the problem? Five on two is hardly fair odds.

"Give not into your fears. Trust your sheriff and reserve your decisions until the job is complete."

”Back off townspeople. We don’t need violence right now,” Urah flared as he handled his blade, not defining who the violence might end up coming from.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

"The Sheriff will see justice done," Lunevi adds, reminding the rough and ready crowd that, well, "You wouldn't want to inhibit the investigation by causing a ruckus, would you? If the Sheriff has to send people here, that's fewer people trying to find out what happened and determining the best administration of the law."

Sorry, had to close a deal in Trinidad last week, and then storms knocked out power this week, so haven't been able to post in way too long.

Some people seem to take note of you calling out, but many more seem intent on a fight. Most of the crowd hurls insults at the Varisians. The two varisian men don't back down from the others closing in, intent on keeping people back from the rest of the circus. Diplomacy 15 sways some of the crowd. More arguments with diplomacy or intimidate may sway them further.

Someone shouts back to you, "The pickpockets need to be punished! We can't let this stand. Our town isn't here for thieves!"

"You should stop this!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Yeah, this might get ugly. YELLOW ALERT!!! lol

Diplomacy 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

”Leave those Varisians be! They are under our protection for the time!”

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

"Trust the law to learn the truth and punish those who should be punished," Lunevi urges the crowd.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

So your town is here for lynch mobs instead? Look at yourselves. Think how glad you will be tomorrow that you saw reason.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

"If the sheriff won't do something about them, then someone has to. They are bleeding this place dry with their thievery. I was pickpocketed right here at the circus."

A chorus of people with "me too" responses follows. Evidently, dozens of people have been pickpocketed while at the circus.

"There weren't problems like this until the Varisians got here. Makes it worse that they agree to meet with the local priesthood, and even while the meeting is going on, they rob people blind."

From inside the tent, you can hear the sheriff rather loudly and forcefully ask, "And WHERE is the Sphinx now? Why is she not in her cage?"

Addressing the crowd, "If you cause violence, you will be just as guilty as the pick pockets. You may not trust them, but you can trust your sheriff." To the others, "This situation seems to be under control for the moment, we should see what is happening in the tent."

Lunevi nods her agreement. "If nothing else, they'll not be able to leave until the true culprit is found, whether that person be among them or not."

She cringed at the loud voice - loud enough to reach them here, despite being well within the tent. "Yes, let's go," she agrees with Fate.

Dotting while I parse the story so far.

The crowd seems to be dispersing, groups of two and three going separate ways as the party heads through the tent curtain to find the sheriff in conference with Mistress Delisen and one of the rougher looking men of the carnival. "...hope that you can keep this confident..." The mistress of the circus trails off as she sees you enter. Her face is flushed, while her companion does not take his gaze off of the sheriff.

"Sounds like you handled things outside." Sheriff Feldane observes, obviously cross despite her casual speech. "I could use some good news, if you've any to offer."

"The tracks we found at the scene would seem to point to humanoids pretending to be something much larger...like a sphinx. While the prints have claws, they are the wrong shape and depth to be our friend from the circus."

"I'm sure that if you examine the sphinx's actual tracks that will be quite clear."

”They are correct. It was pure fakery! Someone was trying to set up the beast...”

"If someone has been setting up this creature, they've been working hard. Sister Woodmere was found murdered in the sphinx's tent and the beast was nowhere to be found." She looks over at Mistress Delisen and sighs in frustration. "I can't say for certain there is wrongdoing on the part of the carnival, but we're almost at a point where it ceases to matter. You've brought a dangerous creature into my community, one you cannot keep track of, let along control. For the safety of the town, I'm placing the circus under quarantine or house arrest or whatever you want to call it. None of your people leave the fairgrounds unless it's to leave permanently. I'll give you two days to pack up."

Lunevi grimaces at the sheriff's words, but she can't help but agree with the decision even if the reasoning is beyond her. For one thing, it's been made plain that the creature is being framed, which means that the circus isn't actually at fault, but there's no denying the animosity against them.

The sheriff may have done it for the town's safety, but Lunevi thought it was just as well for the circus's safety, too. "I imagine we'll need at least a few of their people to help us identify and track this creature," she points out instead. "Since we have yet to determine what is actually doing all of this."

"You lot are not a part of the carnival, even if you are representing them. You can keep working on finding proof of their innocence, but the carnies stay here." Another look to the mistress precedes the sheriffs next proclamation. "You call tell them, or I will." Delisen flushes deeper and nods.

"You will not need to hunt for Jherizhana. She is resting in her personal tent. We maintain her as a willing part of the circus, not a captive. She plays the captive beast to travel freely and increase her vast knowledge. The cage is a prop to set nervous audience members at ease." She sets her jaw in determination. "If you have found evidence of her innocence, then I hope you will be able to find more in her show tent."

A look of sorrow crosses Ella's face, "Rust! Not another one..."

"Show us to the tent."

Lunevi pauses, a bit confused by Ella's exclamation. It takes her another moment before her auditory memory kicks in again, but then she winces at the information. Another victim. This was hardly going to be the sort of news that anyone would particularly enjoy, but information was information.

"Hopefully we'll find more evidence." Lunevi murmured, eyebrows turning down in a slight frown.

The Lair of the Sphinx is emptied of people now, guarded by some of the carnival workers. Entering the darkened tent, the body of a woman lays before the cage. Adorned in the robes of a cleric, a holy symbol of Erastil lays on the ground beside her. The claw marks on her body seem to match those of a large animal, much as with the body of Archivin Walder.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Survival: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Ella gives the area a look, but the well-read duelist isn't able to make hide nor hair of the scene.

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Survival 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Urah also looks at the corpse and takes in the scene. The ifrit picks up three small vials he found laying around. ”Someone take a look at these. Not sure what what in them, but I bet it’s bad. And look, the cage door has been pushed closed from the outside, but it is unlocked.”

If Craft (alchemy) or Knowledge (arcana) are acceptable substitutes...1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (20) + 7 + (5) = 32 D6 only included if I'm rolling Knowledge

Now that keen eyes have done their job, Ella turns her intellect to unraveling the mystery of these vials.

Heal {Guidance}: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 = 22

After peppering his eyes with dried clay, the shaman peers closely at the body. He then performs a ritual of rites to bless the body and ease the spirit to the afterlife. He then takes a moment to search the area around the body, but it seems as if he cannot put his finger on something.

Survival {Guidance}: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 1 = 14

"The priestess was murdered, but not by any beast. See here, there is an injury tracing a thin line around her neck. She was strangled with wire or cord. Near as I know, a sphinx does not have hands to do such a thing."

Someone take a look at these. Not sure what what in them, but I bet it’s bad.

"Please, allow Ella and I to view them." Fate again chants. He takes a small bit of clay and rolls it quickly between his hand to make a long thin strand. He pulls another piece and rolls it into a ball. He places the strand on his forehead in the shade of an eye, adding the ball as the iris. He holds each vial up to the third eye and studies each in great detail.

Spellcraft {Guidance}: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 = 9

"There is something here, but the trauma of the priestess' death has made the auras of magic too difficult for me to sort through at the moment. Perhaps after the moon has set and the sun rises to cleanse air."

From the PRD: Try Again: You can retry checks to identify a spell. When using detect magic and identify to learn the properties of magic items, you can make only one attempt per item per day.

The scenario says Spellcraft, but given the results I am more than happy to allow Craft Alchemy. Ella is not sure what they were before they were used, but they were definitely alchemical in nature. No magic aura is detectable on the vials. Sorry for the late response, PaizoCon prep kept me busy.

"Lunevi, anything you can sort out about what might have been in these?"

Lunevi is unable to determine anything further about what the vials used to hold.

Anything else you wish to do at the murder scene?

Urah couldn’t find out anything else, so he was ready to head out when the rest of the group was.

"We should see if anyone else was seen around here. Apparently we should also be on the lookout for anyone who has particular alchemical expertise as well."

You could of certainly use Diplomacy to gather information around the carnival if you wish.

Diplomacy (Inspiration): 1d20 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (13) + 4 + (1) = 18

Ella quickly canvasses the carnival, particularly focusing on the Varisians, who would have a better sense of whether someone was out of place.

"I apologize, but this is not quite my expertise," Lunevi shakes her head, her personal disappointment clear.

Speaking of personal disappointment, my bad, guys. I had a family situation come up suddenly and didn't even remember I had an online life for a few days. ;A; Apologies!

Not a problem, I hope everything is okay. I will try to update tonight, as I passed out after a long day getting to the con yesterday.

Ella is able to hear that many people were aware of Sister Esrelda's intentions this afternoon. She was very public about planning to confront the sphinx after she heard the news of Walder's murder. Being half-Varisian, she strongly defended both of her heritages, making her a respected leader in the community.

Everyone expects a few purses to be cut at a carnival, but no one saw anything out of the ordinary on the first day. It was shortly before Esrelda's murder that the thieves were out in droves. Once someone noticed it, the alarm from the crowds led to many people discovering they'd been "pinched". This caused the tensions that led to the altercation on the parade grounds.

Any reliable descriptions of the thieves?

Unfortunately, no one caught the pickpockets in the act.

”Well, what now? Looks like another case of someone putting the blame on the circus...”

"I wonder," Lunevi spoke slowly, "Did any of those pickpocketing victims report the incident to law enforcers? If only a few of the group submitted reports, it may be worth getting our hands on the others to learn why they didn't report - their reasoning may be significant."

"It is also possible the Sister had enemies who used this time to eliminate her and framed the circus. Otherwise, who had something to gain by her death?"

The crowd milling about does not seem to be enjoying the carnival any longer. Many of the townsfolk have left to go back to their homes, and the performers entertain the remaining few with less vigor than before.

Is there anyone else you wish to talk to, perhaps gathering more information, or someone in the circus? You also have the option to go back to town to rest.

Ella turns to Urah, "We should at least find an example of Jherizhana's tracks. So that we can prove to the Sheriff that she's been framed."

"Perhaps we would be afforded the opportunity to speak with her ourselves. That could help us determine what has occurred."

In all honesty, I do not remember if we tried to do this or if she has flown the coup, so to speak.

"I agree," Lunevi murmurs, nodding as she folds her hands before her. "It does us no good to make any assumptions of our own. The more evidence we have the better."

I'm not 100% sure either, but we should definitely try to talk to her. Maybe she has enemies of her own?

Urah nods at Ella. ”Yep, we need to start proving the circus is being framed around these parts. Whoever is doing this doesn’t seem likely to stop anytime soon, so we need to prepare ourselves. It might even get worse before it gets better.”