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Assuming Marcus shares what he finds (with the +2 from Scion), Anthys takes a look.
"You're right. The sphinx would have had to walk inside this tent, and there are no tracks. Also, these tracks going out the back of the tent haven't been trampled over.
Maybe the vials held an extract of Invisibility?"
The tracks lead out the back of the tent, where they pass by a small pile of tear-away clown costumes before becoming muddled in a maze of wagons, tents, and other foot traffic.
As you're heading back through the new egress point in the tent you find Mistress Almara Delisen and Master Venlock, the circus’s chief enforcer entering. Venlock grits his teeth, but, as usual, Almara is calling the shots. She grabs a circus worker from outside and sends them to fetch Sheriff Feldane. That done she turns to your group, "What have you discovered so far?"
Almara breathes a sigh of relief, "That's good. Well, not for the town, but for the sake of my circus."
Sheriff Feldane chooses that moment to walk into the tent. "What's this about another murder? And where is the sphinx?! Why isn't she in her cage?!"
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Mistress Delisen flushes at the sheriff’s directness and Berato's questions, "The sphinx is a bard, who plays at being a circus star in order to travel Avistan and expand her already vast knowledge of history and lore. She enjoys performance art, and loves humanity, at least while she’s performing. Jherizhana does not truly reside in a cage, but rather a large, comfortable, and private wagon of her own. She willingly enters a cage—one that could never truly contain her—so the curious may regard her while feeling safe. She always appears accompanied by guards, not only to protect the public, but also to maintain her boundaries. Please don't tell anyone, this is the circus's biggest secret and attraction."
Feldane looks disgusted and seems to be entirely fed up with this. "“You’ve brought a dangerous creature into this community—a creature you clearly cannot keep track of, let alone control. I can’t say I know for certain there’s wrongdoing here on the part of your people, but after a point it ceases to matter. For the safety of my town, I’m putting this circus under quarantine. I don’t want any of your people leaving these grounds unless it’s to leave town completely. I’m giving you two days to get packed up and go.”
The sheriff takes a deep breath through her nose. "If you give me definitive and conclusive proof of exactly who is responsible for the murders the circus will be exonerated. Reasonable doubt is no longer enough with two corpses and potentially more on the way." Saying this she storms out the tent, thoroughly upset by Almara.
The Varisian circus owner turns back to you and answers Berato's question, "I can get Jherizhana back to the tent, but you'll all have to wait outside for her return. I'm not sure how much more information she'll have for you, but we'll do whatever we can to clear the circus' name. Head to the vendors and get a quick meal free of charge. Just tell them the Mistress requests it and you'll get what you want no problem. Jherizhana should be inside by the time you return. Is this amenable?"
Almara scowls, "This circus does not run on hopes and wishes. Unless you want to spend all of your investigation following me around you'll have a very informative, if dull, two weeks.
I do not play games when it comes to my circus, and I assure you I am doing everything I can on my end to find a solution. Follow me and I'll get Jherizhana to talk with you."
She leads you out to the circus and begins asking the lead entertainers to send Jherizhana to her tent if they see her.
She takes you back to the Lair of the Sphinx and pokes her head inside the tent. "Ah, she's back." She lets you in to see Jherizhana lounging outside of her cage, waiting for you.
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You are directed back to the tent called the Lair of the Sphinx. Jherizhana is notably absent. The body is close by the cage, wounds looking like she has been mauled by a large animal. Her robes indicate she is a member of the clergy, though there's no holy symbol to indicate which denomination. The ground is firm and the inside of the tent has seen a lot of foot traffic, so any recent tracks have been ruined.
That cleric.
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"I'm afraid I don't follow, Berato. We have already eliminated the sphinx as a suspect. Unless she's a shapechanger, I guess. Can sphinxes do that? Of course I've drawn conclusions! Look at the evidence:
No large animal tracks in the tent where the cleric was murdered.
Garrote marks on the victim's neck.
Alchemical vials on the ground.
Humanoid tracks and abandoned clown costumes.
So are you speculating that the sphinx drank the vials to turn into a human, donned a clown costume with some collaborators, strangled the cleric, turned back into a sphinx to use her claws a bit (without leaving any footprints), ditched the clown costume outside, and then flew back to her tent?
I think it more likely the sphinx was framed, and the murderers are still on the loose!"
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Berato asks a couple of random questions to the Sphinx to check Almara's story and to gather information on who the Sphinx would have seen or noticed as suspicious. Berato pays attention as to how the Sphinx arrives near her cage (from which direction, do her paws make footprints, etc.) He asks her if she can change shape, etc.
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Marcus follows along quietly, observing the exchange and Jherizhana's sudden appearance. "I think, perhaps, we should focus on what information Jherizhana may be able to tell us. It may prove most illuminating in several ways. Please, Jherizhana. Where were you at the time of the murders, both this most recent one and last night? Are you aware of any individuals or organizations that would have particular reason to frame you for this crime? And could you please explain the nature of your mysterious disappearance and reappearance?"
"There seems to be some evidence that you are being framed for murder, but the mysterious coming and going is most peculiar, and leaves some doubt if unexplained."
Almara is not happy with Berato's decision, "I do mind, but you seem determined to prove something."
Jherizhana does not appear with a roar, with a step, with a pop, instead she is not in the tent one moment and the next she is there, lounging, one eyebrow quirked at Berato. "Surprised human? I am a sphinx, it does not take much for me to teleport as I please."
Something about her voice is weird. It sounds like it is being modulated, though Berato can't quite tell where it is coming from.
When Berato offers to cast spells on Jherizhana Almara and the others return to the tent. Jherizhana sniffs with disdain, "Please human, how can you not believe this!" She flutters her wings briefly and strikes a pose, showing off her assets. She turns an eye to Berato again, "Tell me what you wish to cast, and if I disagree I may just teleport away again."
"Last night I was in my cage, not allowed to spread my wings at night you see. Been one too many calls of dragons and griphons in the night, pulling herds of animals into barns. Quite a hassel, makes the town we're at nervous.
"As Mistress Alma has told you, I am a bard and enjoy my travels and learning. I do have some amount of magic because of this and can teleport and turn invisible as necessary." She leans in and speaks from the side of her mouth while looking back and forth around the tent, "Makes going out to the countryside easier. No widespread panic and what have you." Almara rolls her eyes at Jherizhana's theatrics.
Jherizhana stands and paces forward a few steps, flirtatiously predatory, "Do you not believe I am real? That I am carrying something on my person? I know what that prayer of yours is good for, and I can honestly say it will show no aura for things not made of magic. You may be able to fool common folk with such a thing, but remember, I practice magic." Her fangs gleam just a touch in the torch-light as she smiles.
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As Berato questions Jherizana, Vindlér turns his attention to Almara. ”So, Mistress Almara, why don’t you enlighten us about what you were signaling to Madame Masque when you spoke to entertainers outside. Odd that you would discreetly instruct your master of illusions to prepare something just before we go to speak with your prized attraction. Perhaps there is more here than meets the eye...or perhaps there is less.”
Almara tries to scowl, but quickly shakes her head and laughs. Berato's spell very quickly reveals Jherizhana is covered in illusion magic. Looking harder he realizes that she is nothing more than an elaborate illusion. Almara calls to the area behind the cage, "They've figured us out Ika, you can come out now."
Jherizhana's voice comes back, "As you wish mistress." The sphinx throws you one last wink before disappearing completely. Ika steps out from behind the cage and reveals a beautiful young woman. The reason Almara and the carnival keep her out of sight (or in the guise of Madame Masque) is immediately evident: she and the fictional Jherizhana share the same face. She stutters and blushes some, looking everywhere but your faces, "I'm sorry for the deception. It's just so ingrained that it has become habit."
Almara steps in front of Ika, "If you must blame anyone for deceiving you, blame me. Ika is the carnival's most closely guarded secret, thus the elaborate double ruse with Jherizhana. It was my decision to keep everyone in the dark."
"But mistress, those people were killed! I feel partially responsible. Perhaps we should tell everyone the truth?"
Almara is vehement in her choice of keeping the secret, "That doesn’t bring these killers to justice. It doesn’t change people’s opinion of us, or maintain Ilsurian as a venue we’re welcome to visit again. All it proves is these bastards were too stupid to figure out they were framing an illusion. No one here is going to come to our shows anymore. We’ll be forced to leave town and they’ll get away with it."
Both women look at you, and it is Almara who speaks again, "Now you know why I'm fighting for my circus's innocence. A fictional being cannot murder. Please, keep this a secret between us. I maintain what I asked you in the beginning, help us and your Society will hear great things about your deeds to help the wrongfully accused."
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Berato blushes at Ika's beauty. It is a few long moments before the young priest can recover from the shock.
"Your secret is safe with me. You shouldn't have kept that secret from us though... that made things much tougher than it needed to be. So let's summarize: there's no Sphinx, a dead priest of unknown origin, and some thieves we caught red handed. And the dead priest might have died at the hands of assassins that like to dress like clowns and use invisibility potions. Am I missing anything? I think we need to go check the clown trailer Almara, to ask if they've recently hired new clowns, that is... or lost some costumes... or perhaps you already know about that?"
Berato waits for Almara's answer and while he does so, checks out the belts, pourches or bandoleers worn by both women to make sure there's no similar vials hanging at their belts.
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Vindlér smiles briefly as the veil drops and the illusion of Jherizana fades away. "Good. One step closer to the truth, one step closer to justice. As for your little secret, I suppose a show like yours needs to keep an air of mystery about it, so I see no reason to spoil it. But you must help us without further deception, Almara. Agreed?"
Almara shrugs, "This was the only secret I was trying to keep from those who have promised to help in my circus's days of need." Hearing Berato she looks rather curious, "I've not heard of any missing costumes, I'll talk with Atepmo about it."
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Vindlér chuckles quietly at Berato's pun.
After enjoying the joke, Vindlér returns to the task at hand, [b]"Aye, speaking to the clowns could help a bit. We should also ask around town to see if anyone knows this clergyman. Vindlér gazes down at the victim's priestly robes and tries to identify anything that would mark him as part of a particular faith.
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When the party finishes with the sphinx and comes out of the tent, Anthys is singularly uninterested in the mysteries of the creature.
"You're satisfied it isn't the killer? Good."
He accompanies the rest to the tent where the cleric was murdered, as they look at her robes.
"Does Sheriff Feldane know who this cleric is? We should also fill her in on the evidence we found in the tent. Maybe she has an expert who can tell us what alchemical preparation was in the vials. Or hounds that can track the scent from the clown costumes."
Almara shrugs, "You can come along if you wish, though Ika won't be much help with intimidation. The entire circus does guard her secret after all..."
The dead woman is wearing the vestments of Erastil. Your explorations of the town from before have proven fruitful as you remember the temple being close to the edge of the nearby wooded area.
Following Almara to the Master of Account's wagon is very revealing. There are fewer people here from the town today, and those that are here are looking with suspicion at the circus and all of its workers. Almara asks Atepmo if any of the costumes have been reported missing, which his reply is that three clown costumes were just reported, though no one has any clue how they went missing.
Leaving Almara with her Master of Accounting you go to find Sheriff Feldane and give her the evidence you've found so far. She is just on the edge of the Umbral Carnival, directing her deputies to quarantine it, doing what she can to keep the folk from the circus out of the town. "Hm? Do you have more evidence you wish to submit?" she asks gruffly.
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"Sorry for the interruption, Atempo. I know you must be busy, especially with trying to keep the crowds interested enough to keep coming and keep paying. Thank you for your help."
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Leaving the circus mistress with her accountant, Vindlér makes his way out of the circus grounds and finds Sheriff Feldane waiting for another report. "We do have something to report," Vindlér states simply, "First, we've concluded that the spinx is not responsible for these deaths. The claw marks were a red herring to throw us off the true cause of death. Furthermore, we discovered that three clown costumes have been stolen from the circus. It would appear that someone is using the circus to cover up their crimes. At this point, it's not clear if this is because of a specific issue with the circus or if it's just a crime of opportunity."
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The Sheriff has expressed that her patience with the carnival is at an end, so Anthys decides to give her all the information that he knows.
"Specifically, we found garrote marks on the priestess's neck. Do you know who she was and what she was doing here? That could help us identify the killers.
We found three discarded vials containing alchemical compounds. We found humanoid tracks headed out of the tent leading to where the clown costumes had been discarded. And, there were no large animal tracks in that tent.
We don't know what the alchemical vials were, but perhaps they gave the assailants the ability to inflict wounds that looked like claw marks. That's the only piece of evidence that suggests the sphinx, whereas all of the other evidence points to a framing attempt.
We should examine the body of Archivin Walder as well, and the site where his body was found. There may also be similar evidence."
Feldane nods, "I'll bring you to his body, it's currently with the undertaker waiting for burial. As for the latest victim, that was Sister Esrelda of Erastil's fold. Many people in Ilsurian knew Sister Esrelda planned to speak to the sphinx directly this afternoon. She was very public about this after the news of Walder’s murder. Esrelda was half-Varisian, a strong defender of both her heritages, and a respected leader in the community. Both acolytes of the temple are heading here to retrieve her body right now. I'll show you to the spot where Archivin was killed, but I'll have to come back here and continue directing. Where would you like to go first."
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"If she planned to speak to the sphinx, the killers struck to prevent her from clearing the creature of suspicion.
Let's meet these acolytes from the temple and make sure they are who they say they are before they retrieve the body.
And after that I'd want to see where Archivin was killed."
Anthys is mostly hoping that the killers will come after the PCs if we keep poking around.
The two acolytes arrive to the site of the body bearing a stretcher for the body. They are both clothed in the vestments of Erastil, his great horns proud on their robes. They introduce themselves as Bennie and Telas through scratchy throats and red, puffy eyes. "We were told by the sheriff you wanted to talk with us briefly?"
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Anthys believes clerics of Erastil to be straightforward people. No need to beat around the bush.
"We believe Sister Esrelda was murdered by killers in disguise. We must make certain you are who you say you are. If you please, describe the burial rites and prayers that she will receive."
Anthys doesn't know these things, but he knows that Vindlér and Berato do. And he can still do a Sense Motive on their response.
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"Yes, thank you very much for coming. I know the circumstances here are difficult, but this is still an opened investigation, so before we begin there are formalities such as a search of your belongings. Please spread your legs slightly apart, thank you; it will only take a moment."
Berato frisks the two acolytes while the other party members begin asking their questions.
They are a bit shocked, but ultimately answer the questions with 100% accuracy and are concealing nothing, though they look askance at the sheriff who just shrugs.