Jon thanks kendra as she clears the table. He sees the concerned look on her face and he forces a smile to try and re assure her.
kendra I haven't had a chance to explore the town yet, I need some items. Is there a reliable alchemist in town?
Sebastian kneels before the girl and says sadly. "I was there when your father passed. I know there is nothin I can say to bring him back to you. I am terribly sorry for your loss but you must remain strong. The only advice I can give you is do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Live your life a day at a time and I promise the pain will lessen. My name is Sebastian Skarsol, I am in town for a month. If there is anything I can do for you or your mother, please call on me at Kendra Lorrimor's home. I will do my utmost to aid you."
Diplomacy
He turns to Ikkaku. "Is there anything you would say to this child?"
I would also like to go shopping I need to pick up some new cloths and sell off my old cross bow
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Well, Jon. I'm already planning on visiting Jominda, and she does run the apothacary. I'm sure you'll be able to find what you're looking for there. And Olav, the general store should have anything you need in terms of clothing and Jorfa at the Ravengro Forge will be able to help you out with weaponry.
Kendra spends the best part of an hour getting ready. Having bathed and brushed her hair she dons her blue dress with a high corset, all complimented with simple silver jewelry. You get the impression she doesn't does to impress but, regardless, that is the result she achieves.
Cara, would you care to join us or are you going to work on your performance for tonight? Also, I don't know what you travelled with but I think we are about the same size, I'm sure I'd have some outfits that would fit if you didn't want to buy a whole new wardrobe for the month. She is a little clumsy but cara can tell the offer is well-intended.
You set out into the day which, mercifully appears to be brightening up, the sun straining to break through the persistent cloud cover to send shafts of light down every so often that appear like puddles of sunshine in the road.
Several citizens wave good morning to Kendra as you pass and a few more doff their caps or touch their collars as a sign of respect at the professor's passing.
As you reach the town square, you can see about a dozen or so people going about their business. Zokar appears to have a new specials board outside the Laughing Demon that includes such treats as "bat-blood soup" and "liquid ghosts." It seems to be doing the trick as several intrigued patrons make their way inside.
It's that way to the General store, Olav. Kendra points. And over here to Jomind... what's this?
She is paused by the appearance of Sheriff Benjen Caeller and one of his deputies, Kendra identifies him as Riff, rushing across the square. They are apparently being led by a young male who seems out of breath and yet still talking quite rapidly.
He passes within only feet and you overhear the boy say something that sounds like;
...blood everywhere..!
Kendra calls out;
Everything all right Benjen?
And the Sheriff turns briefly just to say; Some trouble up at the old Memorial apparently Ms Lorrimor, you just go on about your business now. before he continues rushing across town and out onto the South road.
Olav looks at the others
We better go look, I haven't seen ikkipici since this morning, hopefully he hasn't done anything stupid like killed the mans family for crying or some other local for littering
Jon watches miss kendra descend the stairs, he has been patiently waiting for nearly an hour. His head ache had long since reached new heights of pain and his sweating trembling body was itching for a drink.
gods woman you took your time, I should have just gone without you but that would have been insensitive... Sweet lord she scrubs up well!
Jon bows slightly, you brighten this dreary day miss kendra. Shall we be off?
Jon follows kendra and Olav out into the town, he is scarcely paying attention, as the sheriff and his deputy start talking to kendra. The words "blood" and "trouble" cutting through his pain and penetrating his drink deprived mind.
what has happened sheriff? Is there anything we can do?
Olav joins the locals and follows the sheriff and the deputy
"Gladly" - comes Caradwens' response to the invitation both from Olav and Kendra - "I am most interested in better knowing the town, and we'll grab the opportunity to head on to the Outward Inn to present our will to participate in the open stage night"
Then leaning a little closer she adds with a stern look on her face - "PLUS, I am also officially one of your guardians, and intend to stick to you like glue!" - she finishes exploding with a smile into an Herculean muscular position.
As they cross paths with the sheriff, and hear the news about the ruckus at the old Memorial, she nods to both Jon and Olav, then to Kendra - "Hmmmm, we cannot simply pretend that nothing is going on - we need to go and take a look. Please stay close." - then follows up the others.
After eating his breakfast Davos packs up his writing equipment and moves over to Kendra
"Kendra do you know where Gharen Muricar house is located?"
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Of course. He lives in the northeast corner of town.
She gives Davos full directions before leaving for the day with Olav, Cara and Jon.
Davos takes the direct route through the centre of town to reach the house, noting Sebastian and Ikkaku at the town square.
The house is a comfortable property with a high fence and a large garden, mostly becoming over-grown.
He knocks the door and a human male of about 50 answers.
Yes?
Markus spends the morning discussing the finer points of Iomedaeian law with the children but finds the finer points of the tenets are being lost on most of the younger pupils.
The class consists of children from across the town (and in some instances further afield), ranging in ages between 7 and 17. This range of ages and abilities makes it extremely difficult for him to find common ground in his teachings and the morning session crawls by.
You’re doing fine! Alendru tells him enthusiastically, having been taking notes himself on a number of topics. I’ll take the next session and you can help out with some group work. I think we’ll move on to math next.
After a quick break, Alendru puts the kids through their paces with a range of mathematical problems. Despite his rigid appearance, Markus has to admit the wizard is a natural teacher, tailoring the exercises to the ability of the children in each age group. The priest meanwhile, looks after the youngest children, getting them to complete problems involving five mice being chased by two cats and so on. At one point, the youngest child in class wets himself.
By the afternoon, when they have moved on to the history of Ustalav and then again on to the geography of the region, Markus is becoming exhausted.
The final session is basic magical theory, which Markus can tell is the favourite for all the children, regardless of their age. Alendru gives a talk on the nature of magic and then to the children’s delight, demonstrates how to create dancing lights and how to mend broken objects. Markus joins in with his own orisons and the day ends with a buzz of excitement in the class room.
Once everyone has left, Alendru and Markus sit down with a strong coffee, the wizard offering to lace it with a shot of brandy – I find some days I need it! he says.
You did very well for a first day Markus, I must say. he exclaims. I don’t know how different that was to your sermons but you’re welcome to come back any time you like – I know the children would enjoy it. Have you considered a career in education?
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You follow the Sheriff south out of town, past the Lorrimor house and onto a smaller trail.
Half a dozen others have followed and Caeller’s calls for them to return to town only serve to fuel their curiosity.
The trail runs past a beaten down old shack. It looks derelict but a small puff of smoke rises from a make-shift chimney and what can loosely be described as the front-yard show heavy tracks in the mud.
Beyond the shack is the reason the young boy sprinted all the way into town to fetch the sheriff. A twenty foot high statue stands proudly beside the river. It depicts a man in some kind of uniform standing stoically with his arms behind his back. The plinth on which it stands is about ten feet high in itself and you can see bears what appears to be dozens of engravings, probably of names.
But it is the blood you notice first. The ground surrounding the statue is saturated in it, a great pool of crimson drenching the grass and splattering the marble of the plinth. As your eyes are drawn upward you see more blood, splashed all over the lower portion of the statue and then, written in the same blood, right on the man’s chest, is a huge ’V’.
Despite the quantity of blood, there does not appear to be a body.
The Sheriff takes it all in and at once is shouting to the citizens who have followed;
Get Back! Everyone get back!
I've heard of painting the town red but this is a joke, It's like the cheap room in a brothel here
Olav looks over the statue more and then at the growing crowd,
He says quietly to those who are with him
Think this could be for our benefit done by Gibs or someone to turn the town against us get enough fear in to people to drive us out of town?
Markus looks out the window as the children begin to do their work. I wonder what the rest of them are doing, i really hope no ones getting into trouble for the sake of Kendra... Shes a grown woman, but she needs protecting the Professor was a wise man theres no point second guessing him. He then snaps out of his day dream, as two kids in the back are messing about. "You in the back carry on with your work please, I want at a page on Iomedae laws by the time you leave." I might have started them on a subject a little to hard. Happy with the class carrying on Markus sighs. This will help Kendra if she decides to stay i hope us being here is not doing more harm than good."
As the day goes by Markus starts to get exhausted, but picks up again at the end of the day as all the children have some fun as him and Alendru entertain the children with some magic, as the priest smiles and laughs along.
Markus nods at the offering of brandy and coffee. "This should help, i'm not sure how you can do that all day those kids seem to never run out of energy." He takes a long sip savoring the taste. "Thats good. You seem like a very good teacher these kids will thank you when they're older and all the wiser because of your teachings." Markus then laughs a little at the thought of teaching everyday. "I seek out knowledge, i thirst for the unknown right now i still have a lot to learn but i think some day i could settle down and teach people. The Professor taught me a lot so it could be my way of giving back..." He then looks down at this coffee. Maybe it's finally hitting me. He wont be around to teach me anymore, not there for me to fall back on. Markus then takes a deep breath and smiles. "Thank you again for giving me this opportunity, if i have the time i will be back."
They continue to the bakery, their mood grim. Upon entering their senses are assailed by the mothwatering smell of fresh bread. Sebastian calls out.
"hello. Is anyone here? I hear that workers are needed.to help build a new oven."
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Ikkaku hears the words uttered by the girl, he stiffens and his eyes widen almost as if the mans ghost was stood in front of him, he cannot even bring himself to look at the crying girl. After a few moments he turns to Sebastian his eyes now start to fill, glaze over like the thousand yard stare of a war veteran, he forces himself to speak...
"what could i possibly say to this girl that would bring her any peace, what words would she possibly want to hear from the man who took her father from her?"
He looks down at the floor and a single tear falls from his eye, it takes what seems like a lifetime for it to splash on the dusty ground, he speaks again he does not look at her but you know he is adressing the girl...
"if i could....if i could take it back i would....i would"
he wipes his forearm across his eyes, and looks again at Sebastian..
"can we go now?"
Cursing under his breath Jon takes a long look toward the apothecary and sighing follows after kendra and the others. the pace they set isn't too quick but Jon finds himself breathing hard by the time they reach the shack.
Stopping momentarily Jon wipes the sweat from his brow and leaning over, hands braced on his knees he grimaces as his head ache intensifies. Bbreathing deeply he fights the urge to throw up.
g** d@&n! My head is splitting, it feels like someone is dragging razor wire behind my g$% d$$n eyes!
straightening up he trudges on after the others , he finally sees the crowd up ahead and can hear the sheriff shouting for the people to get back.
olav, cara what's all the fuss about? he says as he pushes through the crowd toward Olav and the others sweet iomaedae! what the hell has gone on here ? Jon says as he takes in the scene.
something or someone has bled out completely to make this much mess. There must be a body somewhere. And what the hell is this statue?
The usual smile is wiped from Caradwens' face as she takes in the scene - her forehead wrinkles, and after a first moment of horror she calms down - Life is not all fun and games, there are truly ugly things out there - someone had once told her.
Steadying her breath she begins by looking around the crowd to examine peoples' faces.
Then, turning her attention to the scene again, she searches for details, her mind furiously working.
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[dice=Another Random Knowedge for the "V" -> Lettering, Religious Significance, Local Folklore or History?]1d20[/dice]
As the sheriff requests everyone to stand back, Caradwen takes a chance and approaches him - "We are not here to cause any confusion - Please let us simply observe the scene? Maybe we can help"
"Hello Councillor, I'm here for the scribing job may I come in?"
Davos walks into the house and follows Councillor Muricar into a study which has stacks of newspapers all over the room
Davos lays out his equipment on the table and starts to make copies of the paper
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The man looks flustered and has a thin sheen of sweat breaking out on his forehead when he opens the door.
Scribing? Of course! Thank Pharasma, I’ve been scribbling all day and I haven’t even got half the copies I need. Councilman Gharen Muricar, pleased to meet you. he offers his hand and leads you through a short hall into a well-lit solarium where he has set up several writing desks adorned with stacks and stacks of paper and just about every stationary item you can imagine.
He asks you briefly who you are, how you came to be in town and a little bit about yourself.
So you were actually at the funeral? Wow, what a unique opportunity! Is it true that the foreign fellow was laughing when he cut Tam down?
Davos explains it was in the heat of the moment and he felt the professor’s memory was being disrespected.
The headline reads; Foreigner murders local. Legal loophole gets him off.
Oh. Well it’s too late to change the story too drastically but I’ll quote you as an eyewitness, perhaps balance it out a bit. That Tall Tam was a damn drain on town resources anyway, always showing up at the Town Hall for food stamps for him and his bloody brat, that foreigner did the town a service in my opinion. Here is your quill, there’s the paper. Off you go.
By the end of the day, Davos has copied the article so many time his head is spinning and his hand is cramped but the councillor seems delighted that his work will reach an unprecedented number of readers.
The little girl looks up at Sebastian, over to Ikkaku and back to Sebastian, her big brown eyes lingering on the aasimar.
Your face is shiny...
The monk breaks out into a broad smile but Ikkaku’s eyes well up. He is about to speak again when a woman fairly howls the child’s name.
REBECCA! a heavy set woman with fat arms and jowls that jiggle when she walks almost charges over from the group of women. She stands before Ikkaku who towers almost a clear foot above her, and slaps him hard across the face.
Don’t you speak to her, you murdering b*astard! she shoves the girl behind her. The three playing rope begin to cry and several bystanders turn to watch the scene.
Don’t you ever speak to her! My sister just about drank herself to death last night. And now you want to break this girl’s heart as well? despite her obesity, the woman has a certain dignity in her anger.
That coward sheriff might have let you off but there’s good folks around here what saw what happened and don’t forgive so easy.
She yanks the girl away, leaving Sebastian and Ikkaku standing in stunned silence.
The pair head to the bakery, hoping that hard work and toil will help take their minds off the confrontation.
The smell of fresh bread and baking goods is intoxicating and the counter, laden with loaves, cakes and pastries is very enticing. But the pair find they have little appetite.
At Sebastian’s call, a small, rotund woman comes from the back room. She is wearing a long cotton apron covered in floor and has skin as dark as her black bread. Like the pair of you, she appears to be far from home. She smiles, almost sadly, when she sees you.
Hi sugar. she says to Ikkaku, coming around the counter and taking him by the hand. I saw what just happened. I’m sorry about that. These are good people, but they are suspicious of outsiders – trust me I know – and quick to anger. You seen the paper this morning? It says you wormed out of facing judgement for your crime. Well, where I come from a man is innocent until proven guilty but here, blood is thicker than water. I’d just work on trying to show people you ain’t so scary – at least put doubt in their minds that you ain’t some marauding killer from a faraway land.
Anyway, that unpleasantness out of the way, I’m Millie – pleased to meet you. I been looking to build a new oven in here since the day I bought the place. The business does ok but some folks still don’t trust bread baked by black hands, you know? But since i got you two big fellas to help maybe I’ll get it done after all!
The work is hard, the heat of the existing oven quickly saps strength and the huge dark bricks are heavy to lift and place even between you. But the pair make good progress and the thick slabs of fresh bread and butter sweetened with sugar certainly help.
By the end of the day, your backs are aching and your arms are sore but it feels good to have done some honest work, like you have earned these aches and pains.
The Sheriff looks at Cara... with suspicion? But then with a slight shake of his head refocuses.
Miss, I got my hands full just keeping these people back for now. If you think you can spot anything important be my guest – but don’t touch anything!
He then becomes a one-man barricade, pushing back the gawkers to the tree line, some distance away. Satisfied that they aren’t going to further contaminate his crime scene further, he returns to the group.
Hmm... someone has a lot of anger here. Or is it a message? A warning? Retribution?
The blood has dried and congealed leaving great dark stains on the white marble.
Cara is unaware of who the statue depicts but once she is closer, sees that the engravings are actually names of several dozen people. It’s obviously a memorial of some kind and when you ask the sheriff about this he confirms;
This is a statue commemorating Lyvar Hawkrun and the sacrifice he made for this town. He was warden of Harrowstone prison – the ruins are up on the hill south of town. he points further down the path you came down. He died in the fire that destroyed that place stopping an escape attempt. A bunch of his prison officers died with him. This was about, I’m not sure, 50 years ago?
Jon follows Caradwen as she makes her way around to the front of the statue . He can see the blood is everywhere and more disturbingly someone has daubed a great v on the statues chest.
Jon shudders as the sheriff talks about the prison fire there is no worse way to pass than that, I would know
a bad business sheriff, you ever see anything like this before? Jon asks as he looks at the blood drenched statue
have you found the body yet? If you don't mind us sticking our noses in we could form a search party and help you cover more ground.
After 8 hours of writing Davos hand starts to ache he massages it to try get some feeling back into it
"Thank you for the job councilor anything else let me know, ill be staying at Kendra's house"
Davos gathers his equipment and heads back to the house
"thank you for the opportunity to do something for this community. Hopefully by building this oven in some way a part of us will always remain here and will always serve this town. We need to visit the sheriff at midday but will return to complete the work as soon as we have seem him."
Str
Wis
Wis
Sebastian strips off his coat and shirt and begins work.
Caradwen nods first to the sheriff as he seems willing to give them an opportunity - "Thank you" - is her simple answer.
Turning to Jon and Olav she adds - "Curiously enough, for as much knowledge I have amassed over the years, finding tracks is not one of them... We really should check the surrounding areas and see if we can find any useful details"
Again turning to the sheriff, she asks - "Sheriff, what are the closest settlements? From what I have understood, we have the ruins of the Harrowstone prison not far to the south, but as far as inhabitants go - who lives close enough that they could have seen or heard anything? I noticed we passed by an old shack back there - can you tell me who it belongs to?"
Addressing the sheriff and the others in a lower tone, she continues - "I do not know if there is anyone thus specialized in town but... We need to collect samples of that blood there, and check exactly what it is - human, animal? We could be deceived by this gruesome image by someone wishing to put on a show, and I know there are some arcane methods of obtaining information about such remnants"
Olav listen to caradwen suggestion but then laughs
yeah I'm not collecting any blood human or animal you can do that your self. I will have a look around though to see if I can see anything suspicious
Olav walks around the statue look round trying to mimic the sheriff
But does this really involve us? I know we are trying to get more liked in the town but the way people's minds work round here the more we are involved in it the more they will think we did it.
"Don't worry Olav, I was not suggesting that we would be the ones doing any forensics - unless there is actually no one specialized for those tasks in town. In that case I have no issues with doing it myself"
At Olavs' question, Caradwen answers - "I am not doing this out of any need to be better looked at by the people in town - simply put, it doesn't make much sense for me to look the other way. Sometimes better, and sometimes worse, I usually try to do the right thing. In this case, I will offer my assistance simply because I do not condone wanton murder"
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The construction of the oven is more complicated than you first thought. Moving the bricks is difficult enough but its clear stacking them atop each other with simply a void in the middle is not sufficient and when the oven is lit it does not retain sufficient heat for Millie's purposes.
Hmmm... it's not quite right, its losing heat somewhere. the baker says. But listen boys, you've still done me a huge favour getting it this far. Why don't you take a couple of loaves with you on your way?
The Sheriff walks a slow circle around the scene, being careful not to step in any of the blood.
He sounds like he is thinking out loud when he says;
Maybe Jominda... he is most likely addressing Cara's suggestion about the nature of the blood.
Then, more definitively addressing Jon;
No, never anything like this. Drunken fights, poaching, the occasional stabbing. This is.... he looks up at the statue. ...something else.
That shack we passed on the way. It's the closest 'home.' Gibs Hephanus lives there.
in the meantime, Kendra takes a handkerchief from her sleeve and casts a spell. The handkerchief floats in the air briefly before her and then, concentrating, she guides it into a portion of the blood that is still partially liquid. Then, she casts mage hand again, and brings it back to her person.
I have your sample, Cara.
Olav notices something in the river
S%~#... What is that?
He runs down to the river to get a closer look
Jon turns sharply as Olav shouts, too sharply. His head pounds and he nearly passes out.
well that was a mistake, gods everything is spinning
Taking a deep breath Jon walks toward the river.
what is it Olav, what have you seen?
Jon asks as he rubs his temple with one hand and scans the river trying to see what the young Olav has spotted .
At midday Sebastian and Ikkaku pause work and go to find the Sheriff. It is clear that he is nowhere to be seen at the jail, so Sebastian scribbles a note on a chalkboard on one of the walls and they return to the bakery to continue work on the oven. The note he left reads 'Sheriff, Ikkaku and I reported as instructed at midday, but you were not here. We shall return at the same time tomorrow. Sebastian Skarsol.'
Upon completion of the oven Millie tests it but it does not work as intended. Upon hearing her thanks and the offer of some bread Sebastian shakes his head. "No Madam Millie. I am not satisfied with this oven. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy so we shall deconstruct it and try again. It must be letting air in somewhere. Perhaps if we use more mortar."
They spend an extra two hours taking the oven apart and getting materials ready for trying again the next day. When they are finished Sebastian dons his shirt and coat and bids the baker farewell.
"Until tomorrow madam. I shall see you first thing in the morning."
As they make their way back to the house he says to Ikkaku. "I wonder where the Sheriff was today? It seems strange that he would not be present when arranged." I hope it isn't something to do with Kendra. He thinks as he washes the grime of his labours in the water but outside Kendra's house.
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[Too many questions, Mr Moulton. Benjen waves a hand in the air before him almost like he is clearing cobwebs.
There's already too much foot-traffic to get any workable tracks. Dammit! Ms. Lorrimor, I am desperately short-handed here. I can't examine the statue, see about Gibs and get that blood evidence to Jominda all on my own. Id be grateful if you could help me out here, I know you've just suffered a loss and...
Nonsense, Benjen. she replies. You'd be amazed how little thinking I've done over the past three months. It's like my brain has stagnated. I'd be delighted to help in any way I can and I'm sure the others here agree. Olav, whats that youve found?
Olav rushes to the river's edge and examines the body as best he can, it's pink flesh spattered with blood.
It turns over suddenly and a wide, black eye gazes directly at Olav!
The body, is in fact that of a pig, split down the middle - it's guts still floating on the river surface, splayed out like reaching fingers.
Millie smiles at Sebastian, displaying almost impossibly straight teeth.
You're a good man, Sebastian. May I call you that? She looks at him for a moment. You're an aasimar aren't you? I thought you were but it's your colouring that really gives you away, it's like you shine somehow. Aasimars are considered lucky we're I'm from. "Kissed by the Gods."
She pats him gently on the back of the hand.
See you tomorrow gentlemen. And thanks again.
As you are walking back to the house from the Jail, you notice a newspaper drifting through the street. You don't know what makes you pick it up but the headline reads;
Foreigner murders local, legal loophole gets him off.
Olav shouts up to the the sheriff
Sheriff I think we may have found the source of the blood? Or someone's unwanted dinner
As Olav turns the pig over he jump slightly with shock and has to shake off the urge to wretch
Come on man you've seen dead animals before
Yeah but never this close
He says to himself, Olav then shouts up to the sheriff
Sheriff I think I may have found where the blood has come from, or it could always be someone's unwanted dinner
Upon entering the house, Sebastian realised there us no one there. He takes the opportunity to meditate while the house is quiet. He sits quietly, cross legged and gradually slows his breathing. After some time he appears as a stairway, his chest hardly moving as his breathing is so shallow., his heart rate slowed to barely beating. he counts his breaths, up to 9 then back to the start. This ancient method of centering one's being and clearing one's mind. He gradually becoes aware of looking down at himself from just behind, as though standing directly behid his seated form. This is his Is true self, the part of him he refers to when he says'I'. In this state he gradually retreats into the void, seeking infinity and enlightenment. he stays this way for over an hour.
Davos enters the house and notices Sebastian sitting on the floor doing some sort of breathing exercise, takes a seat in the corner and reads a book
Can't say I've seen this before quite remarkable
Jon looks down at the slaughtered animal and shakes his head.
well it looks like we've found the body. Maybe this wAs some kind of sacrifice? Or maybe just kids.Bloody waste of a good pig if it is.
What do you think Sherriff? does anyone know what this "v" might stand for?
Bored kids seeking attention? summoning the overlord kathulu? I have no idea sheriff your guess is as good as mine but since there is no murder here ill be off, I am sure my companions here would love to stick round and help with all the tedious evidence collecting
Olav smiles to himself as he runs up the river bank and back into town trying to get away before anyone can stop him
he continues his shopping trip and sets out to the general shop to see if he can get some new clothes.
Caradwen thanks Kendra for her assistance, and comments - "The sheriff did say that maybe Jominda could assist with identifying this? Even though it seems Olav has discovered the source of the blood... I would like confirmation"
"Do you know by any chance where her home is located?"
When meeting down by the river with Olav and Jon, she adds - "Ok guys, Kendra has been so kind as to collect the sample and we should take it to Jominda for confirmation. But perhaps it is not also a bad idea to talk to this Gibs character - his house seems to be the one closest by the scene, so maybe he can provide some input on all this, maybe he heard or saw something..?"
Smiling she continues - "Any volunteers for either task, or shall I just take care of it?"
She also takes the opportunity to check the pig a little further, to confirm if there is any singularity about the way it was slaughtered.
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Ikkaku accompanies sebastian back to the house. On the way there a newspaper blows into his path he catches it and looks at the headline it seems the some higher power is trying to make me feel as guilty as possible, seeing that man's daughter was bad enough. Why?...... Why did he have to be such a damn fool, why couldn't he have stayed home with his family that day..... Damn it all! I never set out to destroy a family.... I just wanted him to stop!
Ikkaku scrunched up the newspaper and throws it away, he continues on the the house where his and sebastian find that nobody is home, he takes this opportunity to care for his blade, he removes a small box from where the rest of his gear is stored in the house it seems to contain different powders and oils and strange implements, he then uses these items almost in a ritualistic manner to make sure his Katana is in perfect condition, as he does this he watches as sebastian meditates. Once again impressed by the man's focus and the stillness of his mind.
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I don't know what the significance of the 'V' is. I... literally have no idea. Do you have any tought? But it means enough to someone to go to a hell of a lot of effort.
Listen; he says to the two of you. Cara, you've come up with some good suggestions at the scene here and Jon, Father Grimburrow said you spoke well for the Professor. I'm woefully short-handed for this kind of thing and my instincts are rarely wrong about people. That intuition has done me well so far so I'm sticking with it and you two seem like you want to help. If you want to speak to Gibs, I'll allow it. But make sure all you do is speak to him. As for Jominda, she lives above her apothecary. After I've secured the scene here, Kendra and I can pay her a visit with the blood evidence. I've still got to meet Skarsol and that foreigner. Dammit, but there aren't enough hours in the day for this... whatever this is! Agreed?
After the events at the Memorial, you spend several hours around town shopping for various items and equipment. You pick up several changes of clothes from the general store - not exactly the height of fashion but serviceable enough. You suspect the more wealthy citizens of Ravengro probably import their clothes or else have them specially made.
you eventually make your way back to the Lorrimor house in the late afternoon to find Sebastian, Davos, Ikkaku and Markus all there after their various jobs have ended.
Olav struts through the front door to find the others in the house
What's up b!%+#es?
Olav laughs to himself
How did all the working go today? You missed some interesting things in town
Markus stretches trying to get all the knots out of his muscles being cooped up all day. It will be nice to see how everyone has gotten on today. Nice to see if Kendra got out "I better be off then, a long day makes for sweet sleep." He then picks up his books, and waves good bye.
He then takes in the fresh air. Nothing like fresh air after being cooped up all day. And with a fresh smile he heads home, waves a good afternoon to the people starting to pack up their shops giving a blessing to those he passes.
Finally making it home he seeing Sebastian, Davos and Olav. "Good evening gentlemen. How was your day? I spent it teaching the kids of this town." As he's talking he starts to ready himself in the kitchen, peeling vegetables and skinning some chickens. "I'll get us some food ready for when the rest show up, did Kendra go out with anyone today?"
Jon sighs to himself your getting yourself In deeper and deeper here Jon, before you know it hell be deputising you . I must admit this has got me curious
Jon turns back to the Sherriff ] this is a new one on me sheriff, I know quite a bit about religeon and there are several who utilise animal sacrifice not counting individual oracles and soothsayers who regularly use animal entrails to foretell the future. However I can put no special significance on this letter "v" I don't know of any religeons that use this as a symbol. But I admit I bloody well want to find out.
Jon almost forgets how bad he is feeling as the excitement of this whole gruesome discovery takes over him.
we will help any way we can sheriff, cara and myself will check on Gibs. I give you my word we will cause no trouble. turning to cara Jon smiles well if your ready Cara , we can go check on Gibs, see if he's at home
Olav turns to marcus
yeah I was about to tell the others, well My day was good I went shopping with Kendra, Jon and caradwen bought some new cloths looked at some nice stuff and oh yeah followed the sheriff to a statue coved in blood with a huge V written on it also in blood, turned out the blood only belonged to a pig so I assume its kids acting up because the school here is so boring, but you never know so I left Jon and caradwen there to investigate while I came home to attend other important matters
He starts to look round the room with some urgency
Nobody move! Where is it?
He starts to look panicy running round the room searching under chairs on shelves till finally he finds it
Ahh there you are.
He starts playing with a cup with a ball attached to it by a piece of string he then begins to try getting the ball in cup
My records up to 8
He boasts
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Ikkaku chuckles to himself at seeing olavs antics, he notices Marcus purposefully ignore him as he comes into the house still hasn't descended from his crystal tower then I see, what a pompous man, and that's coming from me
He chuckles to himself again. He listens to the group as they recount the days events and Racks his brain to try and connect it all but the answers he seeks elude him.
"Blood covered statue?" Markus says fading everything else Olav said. I hope this has nothing to do with the man that was killed at the funeral. He then just looks at Olav with a stern look. "Where are the others? still at the statue? did the sheriff say anything about it? He starts reeling of a hundred questions, while slowly watching the sauce boil. "If there's anything we can do to help we should, i'm not jumping to any conclusion but this is a little strange. The kids around here all seem well behaved.. the one's i've seen anyway."