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"What murder scene was the dagger found? The one by the store I assume?" Pooka asks as he scans the letter, looking for who sent it, and any other details that might be on it.
"I appreciate your help in this. I understand this is a dicey, trying time, and I can see you are doing your best to look after your town. Please know that if these three are in fact guilty of these atrocities, I will not hinder you in any way to carry out justice. I just need to know for sure. Thank you again for your time, I know it is valuable."
Pooka examines the letter, but it appears to be just a plain letter.
"Yes, the dagger was found at the scene by the store." the halfling responds between bites and chews.
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Sun looks crestfallen that his new friend is not here to discuss the finer points of nature. "That is a shame that he is not here today, Master Orug. I was hoping to ask about a good usage for Taraxacum Officinale, I seem them everywhere these days, I still have not found a good use for them yet. But I digress. I didn't quite catch the first part of your story. Mind repeating it again for me, I am sure the fellows around us would love to hear the story again. Isn't that right boys?" Sun asks Orug
@ Sun
"So I hears this scream, followed by a big THUMP!" At this, Orug slams his hand on the table. No one in the encircled group jumps or flinches at the startling loud noise. He continues, "So I runs outside, and there and I see this huge person running aways. So I hollers, "Come back and face Orug you yeller coward." I sees the other murderer staring into me eyes, and I swung a mighty blow. Being sleepy I couldna a put all me weight into it. Hit 'em though. Probably had a shiner a day or two. Then ... well" he clears his throat uncomfortably, "Wells yous heards. One of them murderin' hobos snuck up and wonked me from behind. I teels yea, I would have strung them up meselves if I didn't receive that cowardly blow."
Unimpressed the circle remains silent next to him, one even goes as far as to yawn. Most just glare at the aging druid.
@ Pooka
@ Sun
"Like I said, twas dark and all. But can tell ur this, hims gonna never forget what Orug give 'em."
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Pooka smiles at the halfling mayor. "It seems I have taken enough of your time. Please, I am so grateful that you have allowed me this much. I understand you didn't have to. Let's go Luna."
Pooka stands up, brushes off his armor, and starts walking to the door. Just as he reaches the threshold, he stops and turns around.
"Sir? Just one more thing. Actually, if you don't mind. The story I heard was that the person murdered near Orug's place was bludgeoned to death. Doesn't it seem odd that the dwarf's dagger was found at the scene then?"
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The inquisitor strides forcefully from the building and August takes a moment to feed Luna the remains of his breakfast and then is out the door himself, trailing behind. He quickly downs the potion offered to him from Xull and attempts to leave a sizable distance, so as not to draw unwanted attention to himself. Only when he sees the inquisitor entering buildings or engaging in conversations does August attempt to move in close.
He is prepared to use his great-sword, if he must. But even August knows a duel with the inquisitor will undoubtedly end poorly for him. With a smile, he laughs as this thought occurs. Even August is unsure if he does not fear death, or at that very moment is beyond frightened and simply trying to bolster his courage in defiance.
Tobias turns from Pooka with a perplexed expression, "Don't know who you've been talking to, stabbed, a lot, with that dwarf's dagger. Lots of people telling stories lately. Good luck to you, and stay out of trouble." With that he turns back to attacking his breakfast.
Agustus, as stealthily as possible, moves from over turned barrel, to abandoned store front. Squatting, sprinting, barrel-rolling out of sight. Staying as far behind the Inquisitor as possible, but close enough to be observant, he only gleans that she stop pockets of locals, and tell them New group in town of Pathdinfers. Halfling, Shaonti, an old man, and some cocky green recruit. Be vigilant."
As Pooka emerges from the mayor/sheriff's house and into the warm daylight of mid-morning, he see Ekira striding purposely towards him. By Iomedae's grace, what are you doing here? And you can tell your friend to stop following me. I break no law and do no evil." Ekira points to where Augustus is hiding, sitting behind a crate, a bit of tumbleweed in his hair, clothes covered in a fine layer of road grit and grime.
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Pooka regards the brash woman with open contempt. "Iomedae's grace? Milady, Grace requires forgiveness and truth in the search for justice. Claiming Iomedae's grace would imply that there is some search for truth in what you do, but as yet, I have seen nothing of the sort, only wild accusations based on rumor and perceptions. Watch your tongue woman, before you make the god you claim to worship sound like a hypocrite."
Pooka spits on the ground while Luna curls her lips, snarling ever so faintly.
"My business is my business, and not yours. Why would you care if I pay a visit to the leader of this fair town anyways? It is just as you say, I break no law and do no evil. As for my friend, mayhaps he has a penchant for strong women, and is just to afraid to ask you to his bedroom. Don't be so quick to judge." Pooka bows, and lets the irony of the statement hang in the air.
"Perhaps if you tell me what you are doing here, I may find myself inclined to share what I am doing here."
Scowling at the halfling, "There was more than enough to convince this entire town that your Pathfinder friends were guilty enough to die. And who are you to suggest an even rudimentary knowledge of Iomedae, and her tenants? Really, Cayden Cailean, a drunken upjumer. I have pledged this town my services, and by extension Iomedae's services to eradicate evil. Lest you forget, two victims lie buried in this town's soil, both cruelly and evilly murdered, well before their time. Just because you murder hobos belong to some made up club your think them innocent. Open your eyes to the evil you society propagates. I shall once again extol you to do no evil, commit no crimes while you reside in Dawntown."
Turning to Augustus, "Your wait for me to attend you in the bedroom is a quest in folly. Begone before you find something sharper than my tongue."
With that she brushes past Pooka, and strides into Tobias' house. Pooka and Augustus can hear a heated conversation taking place in the house, but fail to discern any details.
---- RETCON -----
"So one person running away was Huge as you called it. You managed to punch a second one before a third got behind you somehow and knocked you out? Did you get a good look at the fellow you punched by chance?"
Looking at Sun, disappointed he is looking at the details of his story, shakes his head in resignation. "Well, huge, meaning about me height. Maybe about me weight."
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Sun looks Orug pointedly up and down. "You are a big chap, I see. Must be proud! Nothing like little old me. Well then, I will be on my way. Thanks for telling me the story again. Good day to you sir." Sun tells Orug before turning around to leave the store. Stoping halfway, he turns back to Orug. "I would like to buy some something while I am here, at the very least as a thank-you for telling me your dashing tale. Do you by chance have any black tea? I have not had a good tea for a while. Oh, and some oil for my ever bald head. The sun does bake it so."
"Oi, that we do. Oil for a head?" He turns to Tessa.
She shakes her head at her husband. "No problem, good sir. Let me show you." Grabbing Sun gently by the arm, she leads him through the store, pointing out various sundries she thinks he might like. "Planing on staying in town for the hanging. Nasty business, but those were some horrible murders. Glad the perpetrators have been apprehended and will soon meet their fate. To think this close to the Worldwound, and people see fit to kill other people. Makes me wonder why one would ever want to join a society like that."
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"Yes, I am here for a little while, though not directly to watch the hangings." Sun starts to say, while grabbing a small tin of tea and the closest sunscreen he sees before making sure the husband has left earshot as they walk through the store. "You must be proud of your husband, knocking one of them out. Seems like he has his story memorized. Any juicy little tidbits he left out by chance?"
She giggles at what Sun just said, "We'll the guy he is knocked out by gets a little bit bigger each time. When he first told it to me, the guy was just a normal guy. Now he is big enough to be a half-giant. I do love him though."
She leans in close, 'When the Pathfinders were arrested, the accused halfling had blood all over his hands and clothes.'
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Xûll swaggers in to the taproom after a hard morning's labor, actually hoping to see Ekira so he may examine the buttons of her top. Failing to see her, he begins casually examining other patrons' buttons, earning a slap from a particularly busty diner.
"Many pardons, me was merely being checking your buttons..." make that two slaps.
Unsatisfied, Xûll orders the garden salad with a side of steamed vegetables and takes a seat at the table to await his companions. Quite sated with the goats milk at the farm, and certain whatever he gets here won't taste as good, he contents himself with the still fresh skin of spring water he drew the previous day.
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August watches Xull with an eyebrow raised in confusion, or possibly concern. After the shoanti proceeds to deftly flirt with seemingly all the women in the taproom, August voices a thought while they are back at the table, perhaps knowingly jumping to conclusions.
"We are agreed, correct?" August begins shifting his gaze with a look of disgust to the garden salad. "Ekira did it."
"But how can we prove it?" after tapping his finger on his jaw momentarily, August continues. "Can we catch her in a lie or use magic to show what she truly is? I know we certainly can't wait for the rest of the town to become disgruntled with her unlady-like conduct, if they aren't already."
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"I like the idea of trapping her in a lie better than the magical recourse. Though I am Holy-Druid-Sun, my spells are not that powerful. Yet. But trapping her in a lie would require us to actually have a discourse between that odious woman and us. I am not too keen on starting that path." Sun suggests, nibbling on his salad.
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As the dog follows her master obediently, she senses something, but just can't verbalize it. She whines, nudging the halfling to get his attention, frustrated she can't tell him what she noticed.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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"what is it girl? "
Pooka pets his mount on the head, looking around to see what she might be trying to tell him.
Back at the tavern, Pooka shares his experience with the prisoners.
"the mayor seems indifferent almost to finish the executions, content with the evidence against them, even if there seems to be some logical holes in the stories. The halflings dagger was found at the second scene. I can't shake the feeling that this is an elaborate set up to publicly murder a group of pathfinders. Though the more information I find, the more I am thinking we will be fighting against public perception as well as the false facts in order to prove the pathfinder's innocence. And I would be remiss not to mention that Luna seemed to be bothered by something on our way here. We are likely being watched... Closely..."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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"Is Sun being able to speak with Luna? Or are we not to be telling if Luna is being illusion or real dog?" asks Xûll with a wink, remembering the last time that might have been useful, "As for Augustus-Aeyon-Though-Everyone-Call-Him-August-For-Short's assertion that it is being Ekira who is doing it, me is not being so sure. She is seeming genuine in zeal for findings of murderers, if not caring which murderers she is to be finding. If, on other hands, she is to be having buttons matching this," Xûll produces the strange ebony button he found at the hanging scene on the farm, "Then she is being guilty as proverbial poorly behaving child who is being found with hand being stuck in bee hive, having sticky mouth and body being covered in stings."
Xûll waits a while for the wisdom of those ancient words to sink in, "Me was also to be finding that there is being stranger in town with patch of missing hairs. He was being arriving in towns when Pathfinders did. What was Holy-Druid-Sun-Desin able to be finding?"
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"So after lunch here, I say we all make our way out to the tent city, then perhaps to the beer garden after that. It might be best to stay together. Whether we were pathfinders or not, that inquisitor is convinced that we are. Based on the theory that the last group of pathfinders are being set up, it's best we don't make it easy for that too happen to us."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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"Me is thinking it best not to denying Pathfinder natures, nor revealing," says Xûll, "Is best to say she is being making assumptions for us - and for Pathfindering friends. She is calling whole Society murdering hobos, but there is not being evidences of this. We are being fighting demons of Worldwound to be protecting citizens of this areas. Is perhaps best to be convincing citizens that Pathfinders are being force for goods - rather than to be lying. Is for me feeling best."
Xûll muses some more, "Tent City is perhaps not being best place for to be going. Me would like to be checking Pathfinders for buttons - we are not to be forgetting that accusings are perhaps to being true. If they are not to be having buttons, me would like to be looking at letters that Pooka was finding and talking to mayors about no black eyes and other evidences. Is good to be sowing seeds of doubt, yes? Better than to be sewing buttons!" Xûll drinks heartily of his water at that last quip.
"We should also be asking about if anyone is being seeing man with shaved back of hairs," Xûll thinks some more, "And also to be establishing timelines for Ekira and other murders nearby. Me would like to being knowing of where she is being traveling before Dawnton."
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"Aye," says August in agreement to the last of what Xull said. The young man seemed bored of the prospect until bringing the questions to Ekira was proposed. "Let us go speak to her more about this and establish a timeline. She has been hounding is from the start, and I say it is now time to put her to the question."
"As for the Pathfinders," he says with crooked smile and a devious fire that seemed to spark into life behind his eyes. "If they did what they stand accused of, we have no further reason to stay in town and can leave straight a way. I would see no reason to stay in this place any longer than necessary. I feel no need to stay and watch them swing."
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"Though I have the ability to speak with animals," Sun starts to say, "It will have to wait until tomorrow. I currently do not have that particular spell prepared." Sun looks down to scratch Luna behind the ear. "Sorry girl, you'll have to wait until tomorrow. Don't forget now."
Sun lifts his head to look at the group "I did not find much else in terms of news. The story from Orug seems to be mostly true. His wife said that in the beginning, the person he seen was about his size, but as tales often do the size of the man grows. She did also say that the halfling's clothes and hands were covered in blood when he was found. Sun says to the group, scratching his head briefly unconsciously. "Going in groups seems to be the best idea, I agree. We have been marked whether or not we like it. But how shall we establish a timeline? Simply asking her where she was on so and so day i doubt will get us very far. We'd almost need to find people to stand for her and testify her presence. But this button idea does sound promising. That could pin her at the scene, but not the exact time however."
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"Is possible to be asking her if she was being at tree. If she is saying no, but her button is being there..." Xûll lets it hang for a little while, "Me is loving when liars are being caught by own lies. Best to be giving them chance to make lie that cannot be unsaid first before confronting with truth, otherwise they be making lies to cover truth.
"Also," continues Xûll, "We are also not to be forgetting that Augustus-Aeyon-Though-Everyone-Call-Him-August-For-Short is needing to be having looks at tree on farm. So, first to be going to mayor's house for looks at letters and Pathfinder buttons. Then we are to be going to tents and beers. Then we are to be going to farm for lookings at old footprints. Pooka is to be writing down timelines. Yes?"
Assuming everyone is happy with this, Xûll wolfs down his mediocre salad and grabs the larger of his steamed potatoes before heading for the mayor's house.
So, first to be going to mayor's house for looks at letters and Pathfinder buttons. Then we are to be going to tents and beers. Then we are to be going to farm for lookings at old footprints. Pooka is to be writing down timelines.
As the Pathfindes leave their various meals at the Tap Room, the head once more into Dawntown's dusty streets.
As they make their way to the Tobias' house, they quickly come across Ekira, and small crowd. In the middle stand two farmers. Both Farmers take turns yelling at each other, then turning and talking to Ekira. She stands impassively, arms cross, eyes closed, her perpetual scowl can be made out from this distance.
As the Pathfinders come within ear shot, they begin to hear snippets of the conversation.
"Thief …. farming that land for four generations ….. NEVER!"
"More than enough …. kids hungry … wasted."
The Pathfinders joint the small throng of bystanders, and listen as Ekira begins. "You Burnd, you have extra land, but you say it has been in your family for four generations. And you claim that your neighbor here, Lurgum, planted this without your permission?
Burnd, you have markers, property markers?"
"Yes, Inquisitor, been there four generations."
"Yes, we have covered this. Lurgum, did you not see them?"
"Well Inquisitor, kids are hungry. Some foxes going in the coop, killed my two best layers. Crops in the east field were stunted, probably too close to that devil worshiping Pathfinders that killed that boy."
With that, Ekira glares at the Pathfinders, but does not address them.
"Lurgum, to take another many property, no matter the reason, is stealing. For this crime, you owe Burnd your best coated ewe."
At this the crowd whistles, and begins muttering. Lurgum looks on the verge of tears, his face storming in rage.
"Brund, a fair man by all accounts, most likely would have allowed you to farm a portion of his land, had you only asked. Yet you are in peril, and Brund has unused land. I decree that Lurgum may farm this land for six years. At the end of six years, the land reverts back to Burnd. During those six years, Lurgum you must sow and reap. If you prove to be a derelict tenant, Burnd has the right to reclaim that land. During those six years, Lurgum must give Burnd a tenth of all crops harvested, and the first fruits of that harvest.
Iomedae teaches us that we should not move thy neighbor's landmark.
Now go forth and do no evil"
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Xûll approaches Ekira once all this is done.
"You are having been made a fair and equitable judgement, Inquisitor-Ekira," says Xûll, sounding impressed, "In homeland, theft be causing ejection from tribe. In Korvosa, theft be causing ejection of hands. Me is being liking Ekira's answer better. Me is thinking that perhaps we are being getting off on wrong foots."
Xûll opens his arms in a gesture of openness, "I am thinking that Inquisitor-Ekira may be being too quick at jumping to concludings, but is having hearts in right positions. We are not being what you are accusing us of being. You may have being meeting of Pathfinders who were not being so nice. This is being big organization. You should not be holding grudges held for some members against all. I would not be holding grudges against Iomedae's clergy for things I not be liking from you, is okay you be granting us same courtesies?
"If you be willing to be listening to reason, and being interested in dealing with real justices," Xûll eyes her carefully as he says this, "Then perhaps Inquisitor-Ekira be willing to listen to other evidences that we are being possessing of that are being shedding doubt as to current convictions. After all, if they are not being murderers, then someone else is being murderer and this someone else is being free."
Wearily, she turns to the Pathfinders. "I do not understand. You compliment me on my fair and equitable judgement here, do you think I did not extend that to your compatriots. The evidence mounted against them was sufficient for the town to vote them guilty. You are all welcome to your opinion of me, matters not. Those Pathfinders are guilty, and will pay the price for it. Interfere in that justice, and you will find Iomedae's holy warrior against you. She has spoken to me, told me your friends are guilty. Not amount of evidence could sway my opinion once my god has spoken to me so plainly, so directly. I will admonish you again, go forth and do no evil."
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"You are just saying that you are not to be willing to be convinced by evidence because your goddess is to be speaking to you - directly," Xûll says skeptically, "This is sounding to be less and less fair. You will not even be listening to arguments or new evidence that are not supporting of this opinion?
"Also, I have been meeting many clerics and a few inquisitors," Xûll continues, "But none are to be speaking to their gods directly. How are you to be sure that what you are speaking to is Iomedae? Is not possible something is attempting to be tricking you? Were you casting of powerful spell that is allowing inquisitor to speak with gods themselves? Or did voice just come to you? Is very worrying that you are not to be looking at evidences when murderer could be being walking around free as birds."
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August looks at the inquisitor, and is plainly trying to keep from smiling at Ekira in agreement of her decision. The young man cannot believe her reaction and skilled handling of the situation. Internally, the questions race through his mind...
Could I have been so wrong about her? That does not seem like the actions of the possessed, and yet, I was so ready to challenge her. Could our previous encounters truly have been a misunderstanding? he thinks to himself, still looking at her. His rigid and angry face, set initially into a scowl upon seeing the inquisitor, has now relaxed and shows even a hint of curiosity toward her.
"Belief is a powerful thing, Inquisitor," August responds to Ekira, hoping to get a few words in before she dismisses the pathfinders entirely. "But knowledge is even more powerful, and you are lucky enough to know the truth of it."
"Though it may be a fools errand, would you consent to letting us continue our inquiries... in order to prove to ourselves of their guilt? I have never been honored with a gift from the gods, such as you have. In fact, when I left cheliax, it was for resentment of their chosen divine, devil. I assure you, we wish only to gather the same knowledge which had been bestowed upon you."
"To prove to ourselves that the pathfinders deserve to swing..."
Okay, this is spooky. I've spoken to my friends that I played RotRL with in IRL, but this didn't happen in RotRL. This exact situation happened in another game... but while many remember these details being in it, we can't recall which game it was! Our regular GM hasn't weighed in yet, but it wasn't RotRL. What it was is a direct copy of this - except we have to have played it before the release date since I was in America when this was released and we definitely played it face to face. We've also never done any PFS together. Is it possible I've played a playtest for this? Deja vu doesn't even come close to describing what I'm feeling here.
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"Me is not meaning to be belittling faith of Inquisitor Ekira," Xûll adds, "Merely voice she is being hearing. Me is just wanting to be knowing how she is being so sure Iomedae is being speaking to her when gods is not normally being talking to any but most powerful of clerics, and even then not often. Topic of slain boy who maybe not even be worshipping of same god hardly seem big enough for god's attention. Not that isn't tragic, but such tragedies are sadly many. Me not be hearing of gods involving so directly in small town court matters before."