Dash it all Hansford, I am not sure but it wouldn't do to leave a chum out of things - lets ask them when we meet later today. They're a colourful bunch.
"Not the first time we've slummed it. After all, not all soldiers are cut from our cloth!
Derrick pauses. "I... I don't know. But there are reasons for events, yes? Things happen in patterns, not in random moments. Lives affect lives, past leads to future, everything's connected."
He takes a breath, seeming to gather his thoughts. How much of this do even I believe? Is there a reason for everything? Or was this another random murder in the slums, another stain to join the rest in the alleys of Blackchapel?
Making up his mind, the young man sets his jaw and looks back to Master Qwinn with fierce determination in his eyes. "I should investigate. There must be a reason I found the body. Maybe I can do something."
Master Qwinn nods, "When you leave each night, make sure you tell Brother Rendren where you will be going then. I will trust your instincts on this young Derrick. You have my blessing to investigate but I advise you to proceed with caution and walk with your eyes always wide open".
Dunstan dresses in his uniform, heavy cloak and takes his loaded pistol and calvary sword with him, sword secured to his belt and under his cloak.
Won't do to track a murderer unprepared for his villiany, he tells his friend and leads them off to the rendezvous with the others.
Your doors are flooded with people seeking their fortunes. Specifically they wish to know whether they should stay inside by day and night until the killer is freed. The paranoia gripping the city is much stronger then you remember the last time. The sheer number of visitors prevents you from getting out until the late afternoon, unless of course you decide to turn business away.
Khalid keeps his doors open for all comers, and skews all fortunes in a positive light as a way to not spread further panic.
Gavin looks to Wyatt, "Whilst I could surely make it back to the tavern, twould be a waste not to see more of this city, and p'rhaps shed a bit of light on our mystery. I'll accompany ye to the library, assumin' I can read the local tongue..." Even as the words roll out of his mouth, Gavin finds it curious in fact that he shares a common language with the inhabitants of this unknown land. But then, so much was lost after the Awakening...
Wyatt and Gavin head to the library to see if they can learn anything about the prior murders from the past. Much to the dismay of Wyatt, the papers archived by the library are missing every 13 years going as far back as the archives are dated which is 78 years ago.
"My God. That cannot be a coincidence. It is as if someone or something does not want details to be remembered from incident to incident. Let's head to the Tavern and meet with the others".
All of the members of the group meet at the Twin Sons Pub at the appointed hour.
The sun still shines though it is obscured, as it almost always is, by the cloud cover of the skies over Paridon.
Accompanying Dunstan is a middle aged gentleman who carries himself with the same noble bearing that Dunstan does. He introduces himself as Hansford Kensington with a firm handshake for all though his expression as he shakes Gavin is one of curiosity. He says nothing though as you all enter the Tavern.
The crowd has yet to gather for the evening. Only the Williams' brothers and Morton are inside. Morton seems bored by the empty table before him and his expression lights up as you all enter.He then calls out to the Bartenders, "I'll have that round now".
Hey, Mort! So, when can we get a look at that body, laddy?
Marco pulls out a chair, turns it around and straddles it as he folds his arms across the back.
Mort looks dumbfounded, "No way I can do that! Though for a pint I can tell you what I discovered when I looked at poor Beatrice Bump today. Tis a shame, she was a real looker that one!"
"Well, let's pay the man a pint, shall we?" Derrick eases into a chair much as Marco does, and he pointedly lays a small throwing dagger on the table before him. "So, what's the word, Mort? And skip to the important stuff, we don't care 'bout how much a looker was she."
Gavin ponders what few clews exist as they walk to the tavern. Looking over to Wyatt, he inquires, "Pardon, but does the number 13 have any significance in yer culture? P'rhaps for one of yer gods? Seems a bit strange, tis an awfully long gap between attacks, an' yet it clearly is a pattern."
Wyatt shrugs at Gavin, "I was never as pious as my parents, perhaps in the Divinity belief systems, the number means something but I am not aware of what it is".
Mort smiles at teh pint coming his way and shrugs at the dagger, "Whose to say a looker ayn't a clue? The last one I remember doin' a while back was a looker too. I only handled the one back then as a 'prentice.
Anyway, them bite marks was the same as I saw las' time. Two fangs like. This time there was blood in the woman. Seems you blokes stopped that 'afore it could happen".
"I suppose that we interrupted that.. thing, is some small comfort. I wonder though, why does it bite them AND slit their throats? Did you find any sign of poison?"
Mort shrugs, "No but I didn't look truth be told. I suppose someone could look at poison but why bother, she was dead from th' other wounds".
As you continue to sit with Mort other patrons roll on in.
Mort, you say this time there was blood in the molly. So, are ya sayin' that last time she was drained? Mayhap our interruptin' stopped the drainin'?
"Aye, I think that's what 'e's drivin' at, Marco," Derrick says with a frown, repocketing the dagger and tapping the table. "Though whether that means summat...?" The monk trails off, his mind wandering to other clues and the conversations around him.
"Yep, tha's wha'I am sayin", Mort grins.
Taking a more serious look,"If tha' is wha' I think it is. Count blessings to the Divinity and move on away from here. Unless ye' have no value to your lives and the las' thing yer dead eyes wanna see is me..."
Perception
All of the members of the group meet at the Twin Sons Pub at the appointed hour.
The sun still shines though it is obscured, as it almost always is, by the cloud cover of the skies over Paridon.
Accompanying Dunstan is a middle aged gentleman who carries himself with the same noble bearing that Dunstan does. He introduces himself as Hansford Kensington with a firm handshake for all though his expression as he shakes Gavin is one of curiosity. He says nothing though as you all enter the Tavern.
The crowd has yet to gather for the evening. Only the Williams' brothers and Morton are inside. Morton seems bored by the empty table before him and his expression lights up as you all enter.He then calls out to the Bartenders, "I'll have that round now".
I mean no offence my colourful friend but what do you man the last thing our dead eyes would see is you... is that some sort of threat or something to just put us off what may be a fools errand?
I mean no offence my colourful friend but what do you man the last thing our dead eyes would see is you... is that some sort of threat or something to just put us off what may be a fools errand?
Mort shakes his head and raises his mug, "No threat, jes' don't want to see any more dead, especially folks who're buyin'!"
"I hear tell they got guards usin' elven cloaks n boots to sneak up on tha' culprit!"
"Damn lousy kids prankin' the guards're yellin' out false alarms!"
"The watch called the Metalworkers Guild to get a "special" creation out on patrol tonight".
Derrick muses over a glass--water tonight--and listens in to the conversations around him, his meditative training taking over. Most of the chatter seems like idle gossip, but one bit of information piques his interest, and the monk leans over to the speaker. "Beg pardon, but did I hear you say the Metalworkers Guild sent something out on patrol?"
The local turns to you with his pint Derrick, "Yep, some kind of contraption. If I hear tell right they made the damn contraption look like a woman to boot!"
"Interesting." The monk takes another sip of his water and raises an eyebrow. "Any idea what it's supposed to do? Is it a decoy?"
A contraption that goes on Patrol? How ever would that even work? It can't talk to people - would it just attack anyone it came across?
The patron shrugs, "It's sapposed to catch the killer! How I don't know..."
Wyatt turns to you all, "Should we patrol the streets? It seems that the Constables and the Metal Workers Guild are doing just that. Still, I am not sure they realize that this killer is more than a mere man".
Perhaps the streets of Black Chapel then? The Constables are unlikely to patrol in strength.
Gavin continues to listen to his new companions intently, trying to figure out how best he can assist. "Ye all know the city bet'er than me, but I'll be 'appy to lend me talents as they are. Got an eye fer spot'in' trouble, a light step, an' can pack a whallop if necessary. Last time we met this... thing, me magic didn't seem to have much effect."
I am dressed for a night of action - let the murderer come and taste cold steel and hot lead.
Marco agrees it is time to take to the streets.
Derrick nods. "Agreed. Let's see if we can't find this thing."
The narrow streets are cloaked in fog. Here and there, a shadowy form lingers on a street corner or hurries past, cloak drawn tight against the chill.
Suddenly, from off to the right, you hear a woman's scream. The sound is overlaid by a pealing bell. Someone is sounding the alarm!
Zounds! Its that blaggard again, what! Its coming from over here - I'd swear!, Pointing he leads the way at a run while freeing his pistol from his belt.
Marco draws his rapier and follows at a dead run.
Derrick follows quickly as well, this time drawing his short sword as he goes.
Khalid follows the rest of the groups direction as he apparently has no idea where he is.
"Dunstan, perhaps if you take to the roof you can get a different angle on him?" Khalid casts Spider Climb on Dunstan.
As the scream echoes through the dense stone alleys and streets of the alien city, Gavin is caught off guard and cannot determine its origin. Luckily, he keeps his eyes on his companions and runs forward with the company, staff gripped firmly in his hands.
Your group along with Hansford rush to investigate and find a terrified young woman ringing a small hand bell and wearing some sort of leather strap collar around her neck.
"Help, that man stole my shoulder bag!" she points into the fog.
As you all turn you are unable to see the assailant.
Dunstan as you have scaled the wall with the assistance of Khalid's spell, you are able to see above the shroud of the fog and spot a man running down the alley.
Before you can alert the rest of the group to the location of the fleeing perpetrator. You hear a male voice cry out,
"Murder! Murder! Come and see the Murder! the voice sounds somewhat slurred.