"I guess what I should have said was, who did that to you? You mind if Alaiana here takes a look at it? I'm sure she could help."
"Really? I didn't know that about you."
Pavi is readying to initiate a grapple.
"Tell me, where you cooking extracts or shiver?"
Orne bows his head in salutation. Orne... pleasure is mine.
Are you married? The half-orc cocks his head inquisitively.
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Before Robella Moncello runs away from Pavo, she answers Orne.
"MISS Robella Moncello, yes, I am married, Mr. Orne."
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Robella will run for it, and unless Pavo runs after her, she will "escape" :P
Pavo, Fish... Please. I have a few questions.
Married? Yet walking from town to the carnival alone? Your husband did not insist to escort you?
He pauses.
Walking alone, along the path where one murder occurred.
Alone with an allegedly murderous beast on the loose. A beast alleged to call the carnival itself, your destination, home. All for a... refund.
Pavo will give chase. He move and draw his net in the process, unless someone wants to stop Pavo before it gets to that point. Pavo is hot tempered and quick to act, but he's not a fool, at least he didn't used to feel like one.
Pavo runs a few steps, and then stops. "We don't need to cause any more of a scene. Whether Orne hits her with a crossbow bolt or I snag her with my net, it doesn't look good for anyone. We know where she lives. I believe she is lying about her wound. I don't know what Orne picked up on, but I'd wager she's not being honest with us. I say we take a leisurely stroll, all of us, and go find out what she, and possibly her husband, are hiding at their house. We can also check to see if the Locked Box records indicate if they have any possessions in storage there too. Your call constable."
Pavo turns to Almara Delisen. "Ms. Delisen, I'd like to ask you a private question if you don't mind. I'll understand if you choose not to answer, but I'd be remiss for not asking. What debt does the Shoanti Champion owe you? Is it something that I could pay?"
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Almara Delisen looks at Pavo surprised.
"Owe us? Pay? She is not a prisoner or an indentured servant. She is free to do what she chooses. We found her wandering near the cinderlands, and she has travel with us since then, by her own volition. I don't know what happened to her that made her be alone, or since when she is mute, but I now trust her, and consider her one of us. And I think she consider us her family now."
I've fine with that as well.
Yeah, let's go with that.
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Pavo arrives where the Shoanti Champion is smiling, on top of the unconscious Robella Moncello, which now sport a bloody nose.
Once she bolts, so does Pavo, at least as fast as he can in his scale mail armor. He tries to close the distance but its clear that he's not going to catch her before she leaves the carnival. He notices Orne begin to raise his crossbow but shouts out "NO, we need her alive!" not knowing what Orne's true intentions are. As Robello closes in on the carnival exit, he sees the Shoanti Champion and takes a risk. "Stop her!" he shouts. "Don't let her escape!"
Shocked at the news of the Carnival's closure, Aliana just watches as the scene with Robella Moncello unfolds. At Pavo's shouts to the champion to subdue her, however, she comes back to awareness. Almara, is there somewhere secure we can keep her while she recovers, one of the wagons perhaps? I'll stay with her, help her come back to consciousness. Alexite may not be able to talk us out of this one...
"Put her in manacles and we'll take her to a cell, or a spare carriage, or the empty sphinx cage since that's not in use anymore. Also, check her for one of those packs that Aliana's has, with the vials and what not.
Aliana, take a look at her arm and tell me what you see.
And Orne, what did you notice earlier, before she ran, something caught your attention, what was it?"
All right.
She will not stay at the carnival. You, Elric points at someone, Get a stretcher. Orlin, Aliana, check her wounds. Aliana, is there any connection with her wounds wih shiver. Does she show any symptoms? Do you have a concoction that lets us identify it?
This is a woman who - with her husband - owns a trading post on the docks and they came from Korvosa. There is a possibility that they're the shiver dealers, as they have direct access to trading ports. If we can find a connection between her and the drug, it will give us the evidence we need to justify searching their homes and shops. But, just like the carnival, we cannot assume innocence or guilt until we have evidence.
Once we check her out, we're taking her to the .
What happened here is she freaked out at Pavo for some reason, yelled they he was crazy and ran. There are multiple witnesses here, including myself, who saw Pavo do absolutely nothing to provoke her. Unfortunately, she ran straight for some of the guards, flailing wildly, who reacted appropriately and stopped her. Her delicate constitution caused her to go unconscious and I ordered her to be taken to be seen by medical expert.
With that, Elric checks her over and casts Detect Magic.
No concoction to identify it, just experience. Orlin, see what you can figure out about her arm specifically; I'll focus on any others signs she may show of Shiver use.
Orne's right. She came directly into the lion's den asking for a refund. A Refund! No one who is afraid of the Sphinx and the Varisians does that, or cares so much about money that they risk death for some pauldry booth fee. And she came with a rehearsed speech. And then she freaks out trying to claim that Pavo went crazy. Combined with Gunthus telling the town that Pavo is crazy and that we're all under some Varisian spell, that racist is going to start an entire riot.
Now, he's a racist. And he's definitely a bastard. And he's trying to destroy my town out of hatred for the Varisians. But that doesn't make him a murderer or the one responsible for what has happened so far. There is zero evidence pointing toards Gunthus at this time.
What we do know is that some beast morph alchemist is staging murders, using the Varisian Carnival to take the blame. Someone - maybe the same persons - is or are also using shiver to control the skulks and perform robberies. For what purpose we do not know. The people who have been killed are so far unconnected. There may be others. We do not know.
Our responsibility - our duty - is to protect everyone in and around this twin from these murderers. That includes all the Ilsurains, all Varisians, even the skulks. Our duty is to prevent a riot. Our duty is to prevent mob justice. Our duty is to catch these murderers.
So think. Can anyone think of any connect between the victims. Whatever connection they have, we may be able to use to stop the next one.
"Would now be a bad time for suggesting punching Genthus in the face until he admits his involvement, cause I could totally do that?
People don't want the carnival here, because it threatens their business, like Berthold Flavin. You know, he runs that business that captures and shows off wild animals. Plus that's who Vea made the claw like weapon for.
Maybe Agnes had her husband killed because she really didn't like him checking out the sphinx. All though she'd have to pay someone to do it. And whoever did it took the key and ran straight to the Locked Box, where we found the skulks.
And then there's the Moncello's now. With a curiosity shop and I think I heard Borvious basically threaten Arhaneem the other day. I don't know, I think everyone wants the Carnival gone because it's impacting businesses but this many people involved would require some serious planning and I didn't get any invitations..."
So far, it's been all townspeople that have been murdered; no one from the Carnival's been affected yet. As Pavo said, it's all been fairly well-off residents, too, and all Chelaxians. All worshippers of Erastil, too, maybe?
Race and faith are the obvious choices for motives, and clearly that's what many want to make it about, but they were all people who were relatively well-disposed toward the Varisians, so it doesn't make sense that they'd be the targets of a Varisian-led hate crime. It seems like if it was a Varisian hate crime, they'd be targeting Genthus and the Truth Advocates, not Sister Woodmere.
And the "bad for business" angle doesn't make sense either. Berthold's circus travels with the Carnival; he needs the Carnival to keep going. And as for all the businesses in town, the Carnival would be a big influx of sales, with so many new people coming through. Or it would be if anyone would pull their heads from their rear ends and sell to the Carnival's people.
Really, the only other clear similarity I can see is that the victims were alone at the time, and in at least two cases, they were alone under somewhat strange circumstances. The guard left alone at his post at the Locked Box? Sister Woodmere left alone at the sphinx's cage because of Genthus's mob? And did we ever ask why Archivin was out by himself this morning?
"So besides my Genthus plan, I'm thinking of taking a stroll down to the docks alone, to see if someone comes for me, to wait on Filton, and just kinda get some alone time. I have the Constable's whistle if anyone should show up if you guys wanted to come running. I might let my girlfriend in on the plan as well. Plus I do need to check on my lines and traps and what not. Other than that, I'm running pretty low on ideas here guys."
Actually, I was going to suggest we go check in with that Shiver distributor. Put a little pressure on him, see if we can't get anything from him about the Gilded Hands. At least get some sales records, see who it is he's been selling to in town. It might give us a few new leads - after all, the supply they feed the skulks has to come from somewhere. It's a place to start, at least. These Gilded Hands seem like the best option we've got so far for being at the center of it - they did know exactly when to break into the Locked Box, after all.
And as for being in the right place at the right time, I still can't shake a nagging suspicion at Genthus's timing, coming and picketing the Carnival right as Sister Woodmere was at the sphinx cage. Did we ever ask the Carnival guards if they saw anyone else besides the Truth Advocates coming onto the grounds around that time? Or did we ask Ika if she saw anyone?
I simply noticed that while the men of the town huddle together, with their tails tucked, for security... She exhibited no fear. That was the reason for my questions.
She then reacted strongly when Pavo... offered to help with her apparent wound. She claimed being an accomplished healer, like Miss Merali.
I would suggest asking her husband to come collect her.
Miss Merali, I caution conjecture in the negative. It hinders free thought and willingness to participate.
The carnival master herself states their presence is haphazard at best, inconsistent. The monies made by having a booth at the carnival and the influx of a hundred or so possible customers who may or may not need the Moncellos' goods or services... may be overshadowed by all the townsfolk than have another channel when the carnival is in town.
An argument... We should find out what that was about prior to speaking we with Mr. Moncello, Constable. At least that's my thought.
A small wolf... a cub? Would a sample be required to create this... mutagen? The capture, keeping or mishandling of a wolf cub could attract the attention of Sister Woodmere.
No, it shouldn't require anything of the sort; at least, mine doesn't. But my mutagens differ so greatly from a beastmorph's that it's difficult to guess what it could require. I suppose it's possible that another formulation could, especially if the person seeks to gain bestial qualities from the mixture.
Perhaps, simply a study of the creature... Honestly, I'd thought we were dealing with a lycan.
My knowledge is limited, but there are stories out there. With many a wives tale to muddy the waters. But, this could begin to explain things...
Oh, I hadn't even considered the lycanthropy angle! I think we can rule it out now, with the vials we found and the moon out of phase, but I can't believe it didn't even cross my mind! I wonder if the beastmorph mutagens are connected to the lycanthropic curse at all, perhaps a hormone or...sorry. Back on track.
Perhaps we should ask Mr. and Mrs. Moncello some questions, gauge their knowledge of alchemy, animals and the like. Mrs. Moncello seemed terribly concerned about the Sphinx yesterday...it seems strange that she'd be so bold today, with a strange creature supposedly on the loose. And she was trying hard to hide that bite.
Alchemy, indeed... How do you turn a sphinx into a scape-goat? It may have even worked, if the sphinx were real.
I have no idea why or how they're involved. But, there's smoke. And where there's smoke... I'm just following clues and cues. Not accusing anyone. They may very well be in danger, themselves.
It sounds like a bad riddle, when you put it like that...sphinx into a scapegoat. It's kind of poetic, if the events weren't so terrible.
Amd yes, I'm just trying to connect dots, too. I just think better out loud. She laughs halfheartedly. It about drove my mother crazy, before I had my own workspace.
Your mother is a saint. Orne takes on a pious look.
Aliana smiles and gives Orne a playful punch in the arm. I'm a woman grown and she still reminds me of that. Regularly.
"Before we get too far off track, we did really want to talk to Master Flavion. To add to the things that we might want to do, is go talk to Genthus, again, and find out who told him about Sister Woodmere, as that information was pretty much under wraps."
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Robella Moncello wakes up with Aliana's attentions. She looks scared around.
"Aliana, dear! Help me! Don't let them kill me!"
Almara Delisen, still in shock about how you "captured" Robella Moncello, points away.
"I think they have come to arrest me."
Sheriff Feldane arrives with half a dozen town guards.
"Almara Delisen, you are under arrest as suspect for the murder of Archivin Walder and Sister Esrelda Woodmere. We want the sphinx in your carnival to be surrendered to us so it can be arrested too. There will be a fair trial for both of you."
Robella Moncello starts screaming.
"Sheriff! Help me! Fish tried to grab me, I ran and that woman attacked me! Help me!"
Sheriff Feldane and the guards get their hands to their clubs (haven't draw yet), and surround the Shoanti Champion.
"Is that true?"
Shoanti Champion seems tense, and ready to jump, flee or attack.
"Sheriff, I never touched or attempted to touch Mrs. Moncello. And Ms. Delisen is innocent of all charges. Further more, Mrs. Moncello tried to flee when we began to question her. I asked the Shoanti Champion to prevent Mrs. Moncello's escape. If you are going to attempt to arrest the Shoanti Champion, you will have to arrest me too. At that point, Pavo will force his way to stand next to the Shoanti Champion. "And I might remind you Sheriff, the you agreed that the Carnival maintain their own security, and the Shoanti Champion's involvement occurred within the Carnival's grounds, hence, she was working as the Carnival's security."
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Sheriff Feldane frowns.
"Deputy Krupt, you are out of order! They can have their own security, but they are not free to attack Ilsurian citizens unprovoked. Release Ms Moncello at once. Ms Moncello, why did you ran away? Who attack you? Did you attack anybody?"
"Sheriff As an update on our investigations. We have determined that it is impossible for the Sphinx to have killed either of the two victims. At this point I find it unlikely that Master Delisen had anything to do with them either, but that portion of the investigation is still ongoing.
As for Mrs. Moncello, her statements upon arrival have shown to include out and out lies, whether those lies have impact on our investigation has yet to be determined. She fled rather than resolve any of these discrepancies, and has just woken up from the assistance rendered.
A more pressing question Sheriff, is how Sister Woodmere's death was leaked to the public? It was out understanding that information was to be withheld for a time, as much as possible. This makes is plausible that the party who DID leak the information may in fact, be our missing killer."