Eloise walks through the Kin's show, keeping an eye on the people while viewing the various performances. Her hand rests on the hilt of her black sword, not in a particularly hostile way, but if violence does erupt...
From time to time, the Chelishwoman mutters a cantrip as she scans both crowd and performers.
Talia happily performs readings for the crowd, but asks that each wait their turn so the readings are private, and so that Kieli doesn't complain overmuch.
To Sour Heck, after grabbing the coin in one claw, Kieli bobs his head up and down in a parody of laughter.
Talia takes in fifteen silver pieces for her evening's work, and the Kin find themselves even busier than usual.
The next day, as they break down and begin to set out, Hesse approaches the heroes, and claps Heck on the back.
"A magnificent night. Good crowd, good coin, no troubles. Your Hawthorne Society folk are truly a blessing to us simple showmen. Now four days still to Lepidstadt. Should be getting there just in time for the trial."
Eloise, while unable to find a suitable shrine to Milani or Nethys within the city, does find herself an arcane library.
Every time she passes a pack of uniformed, clustered city guards, every time Eloise walks in or out of the gates, something tugs at her right hand, something sets her blood boiling just a bit more than than it had been before.
Eloise strides into the library, amused by how out of place she probably looks; a warrior woman in black leather and chainmail, a black blade at her hip and her hair tied back in a warrior's braid. Despite all this, she strolls up to the counter with easy confidence and looks for the librarian.
The librarian appears, and proves most helpful. Eloise has access to whatever spells she may be looking to learn.
"Thank you very much for your help, my good sir," Eloise says to the librarian while perusing the catalogue. "Meeting you and visiting this fine establishment has been a breath of fresh air after... Well."
The Chelishwoman glances through the window at a passing patrol and briefly rolls her eyes. "I am sure your city must be very secure," she murmurs politely.
North then, the reassembled caravan presses on... and on... and on...
North between the mountains that loom to the west, stone climbing high into the sky, casting long shadows in the afternoon, and the endless Shudderwood that spreads out to the east, an impenetrable wall of verdant green, coming to life in the growing spring. Always following the Lesser Moutray river.
The weather holds, a tender mercy in this merciless land, the caravan remains unmolested, joining a host of travelers: north to Lepidstadt; north for the trial; north for unfinished business for old friends, now long deceased...
Four days it was, to Lepidstadt, and on that fourth day, cresting a rise, the group finally sees Lepidstadt. A city, no doubt, but certainly not a large one.
Pressed up against the river before it spreads out into the Dipplemere marsh; the city is walled to the north, with little in the way of defense to the west and a walled fortress on the south end,; the buildings spread out, more spacious and larger as the city expands away from the river. A cluster of similar buildings near the fortress in the south could only be the famed Lepidstadt University. A church, the towering dome rising above a cluster of trees stands near a large pond in the city's center.
The three concentric circles of ancient stone surrounding a towering black obelisk to the northwest of the city could only be the mysterious and ancient Spiral Cromlech.
Arriving at the west gate, the kin begin to set up shop, so to speak.
"Thank you for the companionship on the long journey, my friends, you've been a gift from the fickle gods indeed. We'll be here for a good while, aye, and if ye have need of us, come find me. Before you head on, do get in touch as well, perhaps our future paths share similar destinations, aye?"
"And it's thanking you we are, for th' way was made shorter by your presence." The ranger nods to the rest of his companions. "Come, then. For it's to th' University our duty's calling us." Lepidstadt...seems odd, it does, to see it in truth after so long only reading or hearing of it.
"Thank you," Eloise says, bowing her head to the Kin from her saddle, "for your hospitality and your friendship. We shall definitely try to see you again before we must depart."
With a brief tap of the heels to set her mount in motion, the Chelishwoman sets off for the university. "Yes, let us be about our business. The sooner it is resolved, the better it will be for all concerned, methinks."
Nor is Peredur the only one to be puzzled by the city. 'Who would build so close to a swamp? And why only have defences on one side? Once you start raising walls, isn't it best to go the whole hog and build all around?'
"For a place with an enormous library, there sure sell a lot of books here," Sour Heck comments as the Society makes its way through an open-air market. "What kind of sense does that make? Oh, that's an interesting coat...hold on."
The bard disappears for a time into a warren of clothing stalls, and exits transformed. He's replaced his traveling clothes with the well-mended castoffs of a half-dozen University students. Where before he looked like a grubby, hungover, half-starved, down-on-his-luck peasant, he now looks like a grubby, hungover, half-starved, down-on-his-luck scholar.
"Best to blend in," he explains. "To the university! Perhaps we'll learn a bit about your background at their library, Talia."
The streets bustle with travelers, and the kind of folk who follow them; street performers, hawkers, doomsayers, pickpockets, and the like. Passing south toward the university, however, brings the party into a different crowd. The students and professors go about their days, all academic robes and stacks of books. Accidental collisions and polite, if automatic, apologies are commonplace, as the populace largely seems too focused on their reading (or writing) to properly navigate.
Peredur chuckles quietly at the difference in the crowds. "So, 'tis Embreth Daramid we're after wanting. Sour Heck, would y'care to do th' honors?"
"We should find a reception office of some sort," Eloise says. "That's where the people are most likely to know who is supposed to be where, and how we can contact them if they're not."
The bard shrugs. “We’ve got an address for Embreth Daramind, the lady we’re supposed to deliver the locked purple book to. Why don’t we knock that out, and see if she can help us chase down old Lorry’s university contacts?”
Sour Heck saunters over to a pushcart food vendor. “Some fresh fare to fill the bellies of five famished travelers, friend.” He buys a few silvers worth of whatever’s on offer, and while the vendor hands it out to our crew, Heck shows him the address. “You must know the streets well as anyone. How do we get to this building without getting mugged more than once or twice?”
Talia bids farewell to the troupe as well, with smiles and promises to say hello before she departs the city after the party's business is concluded. Following her companions through the streets, she remarks, "It is an odd place, to be sure, yet it cannot be that rustic, boasting a university. And I'm quite looking forward to see that place. I enjoy learning and old books and the smell of paper."
To Sour she says, "It's entirely possible, if we've the time and inclination to look. I've no idea how extensive is their library."
While passing out the food, a nice selection of fresh sausage and bread the vendor nods at Heck, and points generally northward.
"Just a block off the Municipal Square. Heading up there soon myself. The throng gathered to gawk at the Punishing Man they built for that monster caught in the University Library's liable to be hungry! Only person I've seen not thrilled at the Beast going to trial is poor Montie Crowl, seeing as it smashed up his library 'fore they caught it."
"I should like to know more about all of this," Eloise says. "When is the ah, sentence to be carried out?"
"So, if Mr Crowl is upset it smashed his library, why doesn't he want it destroyed?"
"Few days from now. Way I understand it, the trial starts on the morrow."
"Poor old Crowl is a bit too preoccupied. Doubt he even realizes there's to be a trial. He's got a pile of damaged books and stolen artifacts to keep his attention."
"So, if they caught this 'Beast', how did it steal stuff? Why didn't they get his things back?"
"Madame priestess, I am no cleverly disguised detective, nor am I privy to the intricacies of the investigations. I just sell sauasage." he says with a grin and a shrug.
"You can ask Crowl yourself, his library is right there."
he gestures to the large building nearby, carved of heavy gray stone, ominous and educated all at the same time
Peredur looks over the building with a satisfied expression. "It's Master Crowl we're after talking to, look you." He strides up to the building and goes in through the most obvious entrance (if it's unlocked).
Iesha rolls her eyes at Peredur's impetuousness, then smiles and follows him.
“Hold on...before we go in, I want to update my list of places you can be attacked by a horrid monster. A: The library we’re about to enter. B: Everywhere else in Ustalav.” The bard straightens his cloak. “Ready.”
Talia gazes about the building marveling at what knowledge might be contained within. She follows her friends into the library with relish and anticipation.
Eloise, always interested in a good library, follows as well -- after tethering her donkey out front.
A few doors inside, a brass nameplate reading "Department of Antiquities" and "Professor Montagnie Crowl" leads to a small foyer.
Across, a solid wooden door showing signs of recent damage, is open, allowing the breeze to waft in.
To the left, another door, undamaged, opens into a circular auditorium. A wide walkway, usually populated by students during a lecture, surrounds a lowered room, with a desk and chair for the lecturer's convenience. Opposite the entry, a staircase leads down to the lecturer's floor. Another door, also open , is behind the stairs. You can hear a raised voice echoing out into the auditorium from beyond.
Moving through the auditorium toward the voice, the party comes into the remains of the workshop / library for the antiquities department. An aged man barks orders to several younger men, who must be students. Most are attempting to arrange several toppled bookshelves, and piece together damaged antiquities. Several long, windows reveal the comings and goings of the students outside. Despite the nice weather, they are firmly closed, and in fact look rather difficult to open.
"Goodness me," Eloise says out loud. "The place does look a mess! Nevertheless, I can see it is quite the magnificent collection."
Peredur steps forward. "Professor Crowl? We've brought something for you from th' late Professor Lorrimor, at his behest."
“Yes, old Lorry wanted his books to go somewhere they’d be safe and secure, “ Sour Heck says, looking askance at the toppled bookshelves.
The man turns, and adjusts his spectacles. He seems momentarily perplexed by the motley group in front of him, but confusion fades to grief at the mention of Lorrimor...
"Ah... He was always the thorough sort. Certainly a kindness on his part to return the books." By this time, the assistants have stopped working, more or less gaping at the adventurers.
"As you can see, and have no doubt heard, we've had a bit of a break-in." The man bends down, picking up a piece of some kind of carved stone. "The Beast of Lepidstadt itself deigned to pay a visit to this humble office. You can see the result." Crowl makes a grand, sweeping gesture over the ruins of his workshop.
Peredur nods sadly as he looks around. "I see. There's another book of yours came up whilst we were in Ravengro, look you. 'Tis a--" The half-elf stops before continuing. "Well, 'twas your name were in th' front."
"Oh? What book would it be?"
His curiosity seems genuine enough.
The ranger hesitates again, then replies. "A magical manual for th' creation of...flesh golems."
"Obviously, such a manual would need to be secured, and could be used to determine weaknesses of such creatures, should they prove a threat."
"Oh my! I had thought it lost... More likely stolen, but preferably lost, anyway. Hoping an overzealous student hadn't decided to take up that dark craft! A fascinating work, very valuable and dangerous... Please, tell me where you found it?!"
He's not lying, seems he was genuinely studying the thing with no ill goals in mind.
"'Tis finding it we were at th' Unfurling Scroll, in Ravengro. Alendru Ghoroven owns th' place. He thought 'twas stolen, but gave no more details."
Eloise raises an eyebrow, but otherwise gives no reaction to the discussion -- yet.
“A book that explains how to make a flesh golem goes missing, then a flesh golem breaks into your library? Sounds like you’ve got a book thief who made a henchman for himself.” The bard frowns. “Lorry’s books are dangerous...they can’t be lying around where some irresponsible Dirge Bard could pick them up and learn the ghastly, maddening secrets of the universe from them. They should be locked away and hidden. How do we know the next flesh golem won’t make off with them all? What kind of security do you have around here?”
The man's eyebrows raise at Heck,
"The Beast has been a presence in this area for many a year before this little book went missing, thankfully. And rest assured, I keep these volumes under a watchful eye. Obviously Professor Lorrimor did the same, entrusting them to you. he nods as he takes the books. "But do remember that knowledge itself is not dangerous, nor the books that keep it. It is the intent of those that seek knowledge that can be dangerous."
The man turns to survey the wreckage.
"And I can certainly say that security will be increased after this break-in. While there was a theft, nothing of particular value was stolen and none of the guards or constabulary were injured while subduing the Beast."
"Has it yet been determined what, precisely, was stolen? Though I suspect it may take a while to catalog everything."
Sour Heck rolls his eyes when he hears, “knowledge itself is not dangerous”.
“Nothing particularly valuable was stolen, eh? What did they make off with, a graduate student?”
"And, since they captured the thief, did you recover whatever was taken? Was it damaged? Or, given the nature of golems, did you learn of it's master?"
Despite everything, the man grins at Heck
"I have more than a few I'd never miss, that can be true. But that's the oddity, isn't it? The only thing missing was an old statuette that's been in the University's possession for years. A hideous thing, some sort of monstrous sea-creature. We called it the Seasage Effigy, and it's the only thing that hasn't been accounted for."
To Iesha he shrugs.
"You could find more information at the public trial, perhaps. I have heard no mention of a 'master'."
"This effigy," Eloise says. "Have you a picture of it? Perhaps a tome on its subject? And... why a trial for a flesh golem? Are they normally not mindless automatons?"