Regardless, he won't be showing up until you finish your business here.
Cube, when I get home and can get on Steam I want to run an idea by you for how to bring your new guy in.
Ezekiel takes all of Azrin's stuff, and then crushes his head and chest to prevent reanimation.
"We go down now, yes? Kill what we find?"
Ezekiel and Bulldozer descend into the cellar.
There are a lot of charred body parts, among other things. All of the burned heads are deformed...save one, presumably Doctor Brada. This could be useful to you, if you knew someone who could cast Speak With Dead. Unfortunately, that man was just killed, and his resurrection made impossible.
Digging through the debris reveals a few useful items.
-12 Silver Crossbow bolts
-A (sightly melted) gold belt buckle (worth 15 gp)
-An iron bracelet with silver filligree (in surprisingly good condition). It depicts a moon eating an owl (worth 75 gp).
It also turns up a large quantity of broken glass. Suffering a few nicks turns up the remains of a glass vial.
It clearly reads "Vorkstag and Grine's Chymickal Bleach".
This marks the second time a crime scene has led back to that place.
Ezkekiel puts all the stuff in his bag.
"We take head, see if someone can make it talk."
Back to town?
You're back in town.
"I think is time to investigate this chemical place. Also, there may be an alchemist there, who could make potions like we found at other place, yes?"
He puts down Brada's corpse. "Do you have the magic to make this one talk?"
"What do I look like, a priest? The only talkin' I'm gonna do to this guy is sayin' bye-bye when I shove him to the morgue."
Either way, I'll pay for the casting.
"Hey Doc, you know how they say dead men tell no tales? Go prove it wrong on this guy."
"First: Doc?, Second: WHY in the Pale Lady's name are you plopping down a severed head in front of me like this!?!"
"Look, I don't know what you're playing here Doc, but I want you to see if you can get this guy speaking, otherwise I'm taking my gold AND my severed head back."
"You can make this talk, yes? For a price?"
"Umm...maybe. Why do you need me to?" the priest asks, warily.
"Very honest, not super sure. Seeking to protect a maybe innocent life. Seeking closure for a friend. Taking life one step at a time."
Assuming the right questions are asked, for expediency.
Doctor Brada begins to explain what REALLY happened at the Sanctuary.
Sanctuary started off as a noble ideal. Brada started off helping those who couldn't help themselves, and nobody else would help either.
But after years of thankless toiling, and fruitless research, Brada had had enough. He DESERVED something better, and he was going to use the proceeds to further his research anyway...
So he entered into an arrangement with Vorkstag of the Chymic Works.
He provided Vorkstag with his deformed patients, for some unknown purpose.
In exchange, he received a generous cut of whatever profits they accrued, and exotic body parts the good Doctor could experiment on, slowly descending into darker and fouler research with his help.
The arrangement continued for a good while, until Brada got greedy. He demanded more money, Vorkstag refused, and they had a falling out.
Brada, fearing for his life, made his final mistake. He threatened to reveal Vorkstag and Grine for the monsters they were unless they increased his cut.
Not soon after, a huge shambling creature entered the Sanctuary, hell bent on murdering Brada. In the scuffle some oil lanterns were knocked over, starting the fire that ultimately claimed his life, Karl's sight, and all of the patients.
Interestingly, the description of Brada's assailant, besides the size, doesn't match the Beast at all. It is 8 feet tall, but thin and gangly, covered with an amalgam of fur, scales, and flesh in equal measure, in addition to hideous boils and erupting pustules scattered on every bare piece of flesh.
It was certainly not the Beast who burned down the Sanctuary.
"Good. You act as witness at Beast's trial."
"Okaaay..."
Assuming you're done here, I'll make an intro for our new PCs later.
When you arrive back at the courthouse you see a new face greeting you, standing next to Kaple.
Kaple steps forward, looking both dejected and relieved at the same time.
"This is my...replacement." he says, with only a hint of bitterness.
"He came into town last night and offered his services, which the court graciously accepted. I'll be in my office if you need me for some reason."
"Hello! My name is Jones Shei'lac. I've heard a lot about this case and it seems most intriguing. Unfortunately the locals have been, shall we say, less than helpful."
"From what I've gathered, you seem to be the only ones acting on the Beast's behalf. If you're interested, I would like to join your investigation. I believe you will find my services quite invaluable."
"How about instead of us hiring you, you hire me? I apply this baby where it hurts," says Bulldozer, pointing to his Dorn Dergar while doing so.
Jones shrugs. "It makes no difference to me one way or the other. I simply have an academic curiosity in this case. I think it will be an intriguing intellectual challenge."
"Which reminds me - I would very much like to see this Beast, if possible. It would help immensely with my investigation."
"Hi. My name is Ezekiel."
You continue your introductions as you head down to see the Beast.
When you get there, you notice he is not alone. A pair of fellows stand in front of the Beast's cage, studying him intently.
The Beast, for his part, cringes away from their scrutiny.
A loud crack comes from the ground and one of the men present strikes the ground with what looks like a reticulating whip, holding many segmented parts together. He wore what looked to be refitted noble clothes for adventuring uses. It was adorned in a black and royal blue, High collared with a fine breastplate covering the chest. His skin was pale but hair silky and black as midnight and eyes of crimson. His face angular and attractive though clearly had seen some wear as the slight cuts along his lips and scar across the forehead shown, not intimidating but clearly a sign of experience. " Hrmph.. is THIS the supposed BEAST? I expected much more fearsome of a creature and worthy of the name.. something furred. Clearly these people must be mice strung along by a cheese-thread. If this was some true monster a cage like that would be child's play... "
The Beats whimpers and covers its head at the sound of the whipcrack.
Darius pulls the the whip back into its tight circle with a gauntleted hand and a twit of his wrist; the Beast disgusted him but for a different reason. " It's timid, like a house animal.. was my travel here for naught! Sarenrae likes to play games of faith at the oddest of times. " He looked around at the other persons here, then back to the Beast. " Can it even speak? "
"With more manners than you. Be polite."
Darius looked to the creature with a scowl, who had dared to question his words? Once he realized his inquisitive scowl turned into a knowing smirk. He turned fully to the creature and spoke, sharp-tongued. " Oh and the thing telling me this is a Teifling of all creatures? One with origins in the Tian lands no doubt? Please oh beast, regal me the reason you know of this Beast's manners. Why should I be polite to one on trial? Besides due to it's inadequacy as a monster they perceive it as? "
The dark haired man spoke firmly and was confident in his words, his stare was also unsettling as if a predator looking at prospective prey. His Hand never left the Whip's handle either.
"Why should you be polite to this guy? Well, for starters, the pays good. Keeps you from starving. You also get to bash peoples' skulls in the name of justice."
Darius laughed as he looked upon the other one who seemed to spout nonsense. He contains himself long enough to respond to the new one. " And look here! A Duergar, What are you doing in the above above-lands? I admit you see much more... civilized than I thought you would but still spout the same confused drivel your kind tends to do. Now tell me of this.. pay. I'm surprised to find two monstrous races today along with this.. construct who seems.. sentient."
"Monstrous? You should watch your words- your hasty, foolish judgments speak badly of the god you claim to represent."
Darius raises a brow, but gives a eloquent bow as if to ask forgiveness " I see you have confused my words as if I had condemned you on sight. You also misunderstand my goddesses teachings so I would politely ask for you not to ignorantly badmouth her. The fact is, I had not accused you of any misdeeds nor have I stated anything that is not true. Merely observations, I will let you know my judgements are neither foolish nor hasty. Not every one of her order need be nice. " His face then lights up as if he forgot something and only then remembered.
" Where are my manners, I am Darius of House Ral'Algul, A family of Chelaxian professional Hunters.. Monster Hunters to be Exact, More specifically of the Lycanthrope variety at it's core, though we do wipe out the other evils. And you are...? "