Ortensia,adrenaline making her shiver,stared at the pair of bodies sprawled on the floor.
Men she had made into corpses.
Then she looked at the wounds from the ax that had been healed but left her clothing and armor gory ruins. Custom tailored to fit a creature of her stature!
My attire...! she muttered, aghast. She couldn't attend court like so!
Any remorse about taking lives and giving into the rage her kind were both reviled and renown for drained away at the sight of the unholy symbol of Norgorber.
Vorkstag's body also bore wounds unmistakably that of a crocodilian--specifically, a blood caiman.
Well, we won't have to worry about being tossed into jail for murder as we've found the perpertrators. This proves the Beast couldn't have been responsible and theses two were. We will need to take the bodies with as proof.
Ortensia collected her flail, cleaning it by dipping its weighted end in a vat of acid to eat away the remnants of Grine's face.
At the sight of the newcomers,she started as they casually strolled onto the scene. She hastily yanked the bloodied scarf up to hide the lower half of her face before facing them.
Hearing that they were allies from the Judge,she dipped into a curtesy reflexively. Good eve,Mr.Creeden and Ms. Jenn. I am Ortensia Deephevy,Occultist and de facto leader of this investigation party. These are my esteemed companions,Sister Zephra the war priestess and Miss Timona,our bardess.
She began to gather any valuables that would be of use to them later on down the path they tread.
Ms Jenn, can I get your assistance with this strongbox?
Creeden looks momentarily taken aback by the curtsy, as if he's unused to such politeness, but he recovers quickly and manages to bob a half-bow.
"Uh, pleased to meet you! I'm glad we aren't about to be arrested-- I've been doing my best to stay on the right side of the bars, for a change.
Who is this Beast, and how do those bite marks prove his innocence?"
We went to village in a swamp that claims the Beast not only killed several of their own, but was also guilty of graverobbing. Witnesses claim they chased it off and the last they saw of it it was attacked by one of the resident blood caiman, resulting in it cursing a blue streak.
Ortensia went through the various books they'd find,flipping pages and peering at covers.
The Beast is a shy,reclusive creature. More akin to a lost, lonely child now that its gained sentience. The clues and evidence we found led us back to this place due to the custom made and monogrammed surgical tools we found at the scene belonging to one of them. They must have impersonated the Beast by using alchemical mutagens to alter their forms. The guard dog they have patrolling the entrance is a flesh golem. They may have been harvesting corpses to create more. Not to mention the mask made from an unfortunate soul's face and a murdered dwarf. And the pregnant manticore.
Potion of cure light wounds Sister Zephra
potion of spider climb Timona
2 vials of acid Jenn & Nash
vial of antitoxin Ortensia
masterwork handaxe Sister Zephra or Timona
3 masterwork throwing axes Sister Zephra or Timona
disguise kit Timona
6 doses of black smear poison Timona,Sister Zephra,Ortensia 2 each
spell component pouch Timona
set of thieves tools Timona or sell
In Grine's room there are also various alchemy ingredients which are worth 750gp.Sell
There is also a metal strongbox under the bed.
Potion of bull's strength Ortensia
2 potions of cure light wounds Ortensia & Timona
potion of invisibility Timona
potion of spider climb Timona
potion of water breathing Ortensia
wand of acid arrow with 12 charges Timona
masterwork heavy mace Ortensia or Sister Zephra
2 doses of dust of tracelessness Timona
alchemist's kit Sell
2 doses of black adder poison Sister Zephra & Ortensia
2 doses of blue whinnis poison Sister Zephra & Ortensia
1 dose of deathblade Sister Zephra
Set of keys Use and keep
Vorkstag also has a collection of anatomy and surgery books worth 500gp.
Read & sell.
Jenn walks over to the box, squatting down to take a closer look. She checks it over from all sides before finally focusing on the locking mechanism. "Hey hey. Let's see here..."
Ortensia,finished with the distribution of the loot found so far, held up the ring of keys she'd gained. She joined Jen at the strongbox, searching for a ket that might fit the lock.
Jenn grins. "Careful, it's rigged." She pulls a long, thin pick out of her pouch. "Let's see here..."
That pair already proved to be a nasty sort. It must have slipped my mind.My apologies.
Eyeing the keys, she scanned the area for anything else of note.
We'll divvy up anything else we find later. We will need funds for our investigation and...our new lucrative career as adventurers as we've found ourselves. Especially considering the sheer trouble we've encountered along the way.
She paused to tend to her remaining wounds by chugging one of the healing draughts. Afterwards she took a moment to consult her notes, updating them and jotting down any new findings related to the two related cases.This, being the Trial of the Beast.
Once she was satisfied, she put away her pen and journal. She hefted her flail and strolled onwards methodically.
Aye,Sister Zephra. 'Tis been a long day but we're not down just yet. We'll rest after we've thoroughly searched this place for enough evidence to present in court. The tools are a solid link but we'll need much more damning proof. To protect ourselves and our...client.
Jenn looks over at Ortensia. "Don't know how you usually do things, but I'm happy to walk point, or at least split it with someone. I'm quiet and I've got good eyes and ears."
She shrugs, and gives a lopsided grin. "Your call."
As you say quiet, you hear Timona pluck a string on her banjo. "Oh opps, it's out of tune."
Scout away.
Jenn looks over at Timona, before looking back at Ortensia and nodding. "If it's too dark, I might need some help or a torch, but otherwise can do."
She does a quick gear check, returning her pick to her tool pouch before setting out.
Creeden's jaw drops at the sight of the cabinet's contents.
"What a gruesome sight! Why would someone craft such a macabre costume?"
"Oh gross, this guy wears these?" Timona partly vomits in her mouth. "Well this is no good. We need to tell them about this. Can you imagine the other things that were done by Vorkstag & Grine while wearing these."
Jenn grimaces. "I need to stop thinkin' I've seen some pretty bad stuff, because each time I do, somethin' comes along to beat all."
She looks at the group. "What do you make of this?"
Zephra recoils at the sight, but calms herself with a quick prayer. "The Lady of Graves clearly led us here, and I feel she is with us. Uh, Ms. Ortensia? Do you think this would make good evidence for the Beast's trial? We still need to visit the scenes of the two other crimes they accused the Beast of, right?"
"Correct, we have the start of the trial tomorrow and when given time we can investigate the other locations. But this is very incriminating evidence."
Ortensia, both awed and repulsed, took out her journal and started to sketch and scribble furiously. She muttered to herself and nodded.
Yes...Yes! This is just what we need! This not only proves that these two were using the Beast as a scapegoat for their crimes to remain undetected, but without a shadow of a doubt that they've been behind most of the disappearances and grave robbing happening as of late! Who knows who they've been impersonating as after murdering them and taking thier place. Those two must have had quite the monopoly upon illicit dealings.
Doctor Brada of Sanctuary...Auren Vrood... Ortensia wrote these names down as something told her they would prove important in the future.
We'll be taking the cabinet and its skins as evidence,alongside the bodies of Grine and Vorkstag. We may need to use a method to speak with the dead to further support our case in court, for them to admit their guilt.Well, Vorkstag at least since I may have ruined Grine's head with my telling blow.
Jenn sets off ahead of the group, in the direction of the basement, eyes scanning for trouble.
Zephra casts light on Jenn.
Jenn pauses at the door for the others. "It looks safe to me, but it's locked. I can try to deal with the lock, unless someone else wants to check the door over, in case I missed something?"
"I can't unlock this but I can inspire someone with competence." She strums the banjo with a smile.
Jenn eases into the room, checking the space for any threats or items not in plain sight.
Creeden follows Jen into the room, then says, in a whisper:
"Quite a spooky place we've found, here. What do you suppose is in those crates?"
"Looks like we've got something here." Jenn says, keeping her voice low. "A door. Let's take a quick look for traps...
Timona moves in to read the ledger. Particularly the last entries.
Hm. Not much to go on. They were clever with this. Ortensia thumbed through the ledger dismissively. But evidence, nonetheless.
"These alchemical mixtures may be handy," says Zephra. "Good find! We are lucky you two came along."
Ortensia stuttered to a halt, refusing to enter the waters.Urk...A way to store corpses and preserve freshness. Reminds me of that pit back in Harrowstone.
Creeden also steps back.
"I'm sure that's over my head. Anyone see a good reason to go wading through there?"
"I'll go if we need to. But I don't really want to.", Jenn says, visibly shuddering at the sight.
Creeden whispers to the group,
"If we pull back a bit, I can try to draw these monsters out. It's only a matter of time before more people get killed, if we don't destroy them. I don't relish fighting them in a wading pool, though."
Pull back!
Ortensia ordered, backpedaling towards the door they'd entered.