You've all traveled been to dispatched to Nerosyan to meet with Venture-Captain Jorsal of Lauterbury.
Venture-Captain Jorsal of Lauterbury is stoic yet shows signs of exhaustion as he strides into the room and places a piece of paper on the table. “Pathfinders, some weeks ago we received this letter from an anonymous source, advising us of the discovery of a Sarkorian site in rural Mendev, near the village of Dawnton. We sent three Pathfinders to perform an initial investigation." He pauses, sighing loudly.
“Word came to us two days ago that the entire team has been arrested for murder and is scheduled to be hanged in seven days’ time. I would appreciate your traveling to Dawnton, investigating the crimes, and finding any evidence necessary to clear their names.”
He pauses for a moment, as if gathering his will or holding back strong emotion. “As much as it grieves me to think this possible, you may find evidence that implicates our comrades. If they are guilty of this crime, let them hang. It’s justice of a sort, and we must all remember that we are guests in Mendev and subject to all its laws. Your predecessors’ reputation has tarnished the Pathfinders’ name in Dawnton, so I recommend you not travel and investigate openly as Pathfinders agents."
He frowns in thought. “Be careful,” he recommends, “and remember that three comrades are relying on you.”
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"I agree," the hooded Garundi man says, his large scythe towering over his head, the hand holding it pale and covering in gaudy rings of fine quality. "I am Khamul, by the way. I do not think I have traveled with you before." He offers his other bejeweled hand to Rayne and any others who stumble in. "I was once a Blood Lord of Geb until my disagreement with their. . . apotheosis," Khamul spits the word in disgust, "of undeath caused me to seek asylum in Osirion, where Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir took me in as an agent of the Sothis Lodge."
Looking to the Mendevian Venture-Captain, he intones, "Be reassured, though, that the talents for the necromantic art that I developed in Geb are used only for good and to advance the goals of the Society. Fight fire with fire, so to speak."
Finally turning to Rayne after the briefing, Khamul agrees, "I believe you are correct. It certainly sounds like a setup. But we should keep our minds clear until we get to Dawnton and gather some actual evidence. I am ready for the journey whenever you are."
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"Well met Sirs. I am Lord Artemis Del'Sol." Artemis says while taking a closer look at his comrades. He then directs a look at Jorsal. "It appears that the organization still has not learned that you cannot throw muscle heads at every problem to make it go away. This crew does look more suited to tact and discretion though. Who are these comrades of ours we search for?"
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A knock at VC of Launterbury's the ever-familiar Tien-Min teenager. However, he now wears a chain shirt and backpack of traveling gear.
"Ah, I apologize" the still-quite-accent-having boy states as he bows to the group, "I could not find Launterbury on a map! I am Toshi Ibi, and I apologize again for lateness! What did I miss?"
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Jorsal says. "The Pathfinders were Corwin Burke, a male halfling ranger, Torum Grunsch, a male dwarf cleric and Dakota Spire, a female dwarf fighter. The trip to Dawnton should take you about three days by horse, I can lend you mounts, if needed." He says grimly. "Any other questions?"
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"I can only hope my height is acceptable, then..." Toshi notes at the shorties comment, "Though I believe it is the demonkin they do not like; not halflings."
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The party makes some last minute purchases ands heads out toward Dawnton. The three day trip is uneventful, and in the early evening of the third day, you enter the mud-packed streets of Dawnton.
Not long after entering town, you find it is abuzz with activity relating to the pending executions. With ease, you learn a little about the town, speaking with passerbys.
Dawnton is little more than the crossroads of a highway and a navigable river, and its population barely exceeds 100 during most of the year. Because of this crossroads, though, as many as 3,000 people converge on the settlement just after the harvest to transfer crops from wagons to barges. In the off season, more than half the village’s buildings lie empty, awaiting their seasonal tenants’ return. At the peak of harvest season, a tent city forms in the fields east of town to house and support the surplus population.
It is not harvest season, but Dawnton is crowded with visitors who have come to witness the executions. Despite the morbid circumstances, the villagers see this as an unexpected opportunity to gossip, barter, and celebrate, giving much of the village a festive atmosphere complete with games and drunken revelry. At night, most of the village becomes eerily quiet as people retire and fearfully watch the shadows for signs of more murderers or demons. A portion of the tent city remains active long into the night.
Rayne heads to the tent city on the edge of town. Dozens of tents of sundry sizes ring an open area where the visitors gather for games and talk.
During the morning and afternoon, the field near the tent city is abuzz with activity. An impromptu marketplace springs up during the early hours of the morning, locals set up festival games, and dozens of men and women of all ages participate in contests and sports. The vast majority of the people visiting Dawnton for the execution grew up in the region and are familiar faces, but strangers like the party may have a hard time fitting in and convincing others to talk. Soon after arriving, though, it becomes clear that those who excel at the local contests and sports tends to win friends quickly.
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"Aah! Do they not know splitting up is a thing that is against laws and rules?!? I suppose I must learn to lone wolf rebel, too. Leave the nest to fly, as to speak."
Toshi, knowing his lack of sociability, will take to the streets and listen around.
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Rayne tries to impress the locals at the marketplace, but isn't so impressive! Still, he hears a couple rumors among the laughter.
When the Pathfinders were arrested, the accused halfling had blood all over his hands and clothes.
When Kenabres fell, half the survivors got possessed by demons. Those poor Pathfinders most certainly killed those people, but it’s not really their fault.
Khamul finds a place to secure some lodging for the party.
Artemis mingles in the beer garden and learns a few rumor.
Another stranger, this one tall and quiet with a patch of hair missing from the back of his head, has been in town for about as long as the Pathfinders have. He sometimes asks more questions about the accused than is considered seemly in these parts.
The sheriff himself wants to hang the murderers. He has a written testimony from a witness that says they’re guilty.
Toshi hits the street, but has trouble understanding the local dialect.
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"Splitting party has oriven most not well for me. I will be assisting" "you today, Mr. Rayme, if you accept."
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Kahmul heads over to the general store and queries the shopkeep. He finds the owner quite talkative and learns a few things. Orug, the store owner tells the story about how he “witnessed” the second murder. "I was just in the store here, figuring the day's sales in me books when all o' sudden I hear this scream and thump! I goes outside to have a look see and there's this tall figure running down the road here. I started to give chase when I was taken down from behinds like. Yes sir, that is how it all happened, I tell ya!"
Tessa his wife frowns at Orug's story. "Pish posh dear." She says disapprovingly, then tells Khamul some of the rumors she's been hearing around town.
Everybody knows Ekira hated Pathfinders even before this series of murders. She was elated—almost disturbingly so—at the decision to execute the condemned prisoners.
Some aren’t sure the prisoners are guilty, but it’s hard to get anybody to speak his mind with that inquisitor throwing accusations and the whole crowd screaming to see some necks get stretched.
Ekira says that Iomedae began speaking to her directly after she arrived in Dawnton. She’s thinking about setting down roots here, establishing a church, maybe even challenging Sheriff Tobias Luin for the title of mayor.
Ekira is a demon posing as an inquisitor. She’s used this trick to murder ten heroes up and down the countryside, and nobody is brave enough to speak up.
Meanwhile, Rayne, now with the aid of Toshi continue entering competitions. Apparently a few stouts drinks helps Rayne, as he has much better success in the afternoon and learns a few more rumors while swapping tales over tankards of ale.
When he arrived at the second murder site, Sheriff Luin found a dagger that fit a sheath belonging to one of the Pathfinders who was hiding nearby.
Otto, a farmer who lives just outside Dawnton, found the body of the first victim the morning the accused Pathfinders arrived. He’s still going about his business as though nothing had happened.
Artemis, now starting to feel a little heady after imbibing so many crinks with is fellows, learns some more rumors.
Orug Foram discovered the second victim in front of his general store. He says he fought the murderer before he escaped, but has been known to stretch a point in the name of a good story.
Ekira says that Iomedae began speaking to her directly after she arrived in Dawnton. She’s thinking about setting down roots here, establishing a church, maybe even challenging Sheriff Tobias Luin for the title of mayor.
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Toshi, having made the fatal mistake of drinking "whatever moonshining is" on an empty stomach, curls up somewhere and mutters to himself.
Watashi wa mōshiwakearimasenga senseidesuga, watashi wa anata no isu o miteinai.
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Khamul travels out to Otto's farm and finds the man unwilling to speak to him.
Everyone else heads to the beer garden, where Rayne and Toshi find Artemis well into his cups. Rayne manages to ply some patrons with ale, while Toshi learns the evils of alcohol.
Two small children saw one of the Pathfinders mutilating the body of the second victim. They barely escaped when the Pathfinder chased them.
There’s going to be a jailbreak tomorrow night. The Pathfinder Society sent another gang of their adventurers to bust the first bunch out. Those thugs all have orders to kill the sheriff and anybody who gets in their way.
Otto worships demons out at his farm. That’s why the murderers skinned the first one alive out on his property.
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Not finding anything useful at the farm, Khamul turns in for the night. He informs his companions, "Someone less imposing should speak with the farmer tomorrow. I couldn't get a word in with him."
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Down and out about his failure as an investigator, Khamul heads to the Beer Garden the next morning and tries to drink some young locals under the table. Unfortunately it's been a while since he's had alcohol and he falls asleep at the table after just two mugs of ale.
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Toshi, having more experience in the arts of the "Garden no Beers", will attempt the trial again,
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All four of your party head to beer garden early in order to get a good start on the day's drinking. You learn a few things, almost all debunking false rumors, though Khamul learns that alcohol does not agree with him, and Toshi learns what a boilermaker is!
On the night of the first murder, two of the murderers were seen dancing in a devil’s circle in the woods outside of town.
There’s a witch in town who plans to bring the hanged murderers back as undead. They’ll slaughter the whole town on the morning of the execution.
When the Pathfinders were arrested, the accused halfling had blood all over his hands and clothes.
Ekira is a demon posing as an inquisitor. She’s used this trick to murder ten heroes up and down the countryside, and nobody is brave enough to speak up.
When Kenabres fell, half the survivors got possessed by demons. Those poor Pathfinders most certainly killed those people, but it’s not really their fault.
As you finish out your second morning, a stern looking woman with a severe expression approachs you. "You there! I've heard you been nosing around town and asking a bunch of questions! You're all a bunch a Pathfinders aren't you!?"