Jessamy waits to see what Eli and Ventus find out.
I never did have much of a head for books. They're for dull people, not women of action!
Ventus and Eli stay up through the night, puzzling over the skillfully coded journal but make little progress.
With the aid of his extract and several more hours of tedious effort, Eli finally cracks enough of the code to make sense of the journal. It details much of the day to day workings of the mill both legal and not. Ironbriar mentions, in detail, how the cult was systematically abducting people with 'hearts of greed', ritually murdering them, and then mulching their bodies with the mill's equipment.
The journal goes on to reveal that someone Ironbriar refers to as “Lovely Xanesha” has stolen his heart and provided him with a new method of murder. There’s not much information about Xanesha in the journal, but the book does reveal that he’s visited her dozens of times at a site in northern Magnimar called the Shadow Clock.
It's late afternoon by the time Eli's finished. Just from others coming and going within the inn, the party learns the city watch has been mobilized on the hunt for Justice Ironbriar's killer(s) and that the elusive Order of Tears has been called in to assist them.
Pirknok looks distinctly nervous as the day wears on and the rumors flow in. "We rilly need ta go talk to 'um..." he begins, glancing at Kaplan as if he isn't sure how the older dwarf will take his statement.
Eli, looking tired but satisfied, slaps the notebook down on the table in front of him. "I think we have evidence now that the Justice was a criminal." he says. "But who to take it to..."
Kaplan simply nods at Pirknok, awaiting a decision from Eli.
"Maybe we should check out this Shadow Clock first? I mean, I'm too young to go to prison."
"The Mayor himself might want to know about this. If we can get to him without being arrested on the spot." Eli says.
"Let's go find 'im, then."
Pirknok, having already done his best to wash his clothes the night before, gives himself another brushing-off before nodding. "Ah gess you know thuh way?"
It takes into the evening but the party is eventually able to find their to the Lord-Mayor's office, make their way through the angry mob out front, and get the mayor's beleaguered secretary's attention.
"So what is the nature of this meeting?" the beautiful, but haggard, half-elven woman asks. "The Lord-Mayor is very busy with the killer about."
Pirknok frowns, glancing around at the rest of the party to see if anyone else is planning to speak up. "We um... we got sum infermashun uhbout that fer him. But only fer him."
The woman glances over the papers she'd been studying carefully long enough to look down at the speaking dwarf. She smirks.
"Oh? And this information can't go through other proper channels?"
The tattooed dwarf blinks a few times as he tries to parse her question, then shakes his head soberly. "We rilly gotta talk ta him. It's real importint."
The secretary smiles again, obviously finding some part of the burly tattooed dwarf's speech endearing.
"He has one more open meeting slot before the day is up. I'll squeeze you in. What should I say your names are?"
"Ah am Pirknok Stonemight uv thuh Shundar-Quah." responds Pirknok formally. He pauses, expecting her to give her name in fair exchange.
Oblivious of proper shoanti formalities, the secretary jots Pirknok's name down.
"Okay Mister Stonemight, people step aside until your name is called. It shouldn't be more than an hour."
The handsome dwarf blinks at her in confusion, one hand moving automatically to his weaponless belt. Does she... he tilts his head slightly, studying the elven woman. He frowns in deep thought. She doesn't seem like she intends offense... but why else not give her name?
As her words finally sink in, he jumps slightly. With a slow nod, he moves away a bit and returns to his musing.
Eli, freshly disguised with an Infusion, sighs as he hears the woman. "Probably be a lot longer than that." he grumbles under his breath as he moves to the waiting area.
A bit over a half an hour later, the door to the Lord-Mayor’s office opens and three rugged figures bearing featureless masks exit, a massive man with golden braided hair, a leaner man with dark hair and a nervous gait, and an elegant elven woman (obvious from her pointed ears). Each has elaborate tattoos visible on their flesh marking them as agents of the Order of Tears.
The secretary clears her throat.
”Mister Stonemight, the Lord-Mayor will see you now.”
Pirknok gives the masked agents a wary look as they exit. When the secretary addresses him, he looks up and nods, glancing around at the others. "Wull, let's go then."
I hope this doesn't end up being anything like the last time I had to go before the chief elder...
Taking a deep breath, he strides forward toward the inner office.
Sensing the young dwarf's apprehension, Kaplan puts a firm hand on Pirknok's shoulder as they enter the Lord-Mayor's office. "Korkma, biz birlikte bu karşısında olacak."
The Lord-Mayor's office is a well appointed and luxurious space. An exotic silk rug adorns most of the floor and all of the furniture is heavy, expertly crafted, and gilded.
Lord-Mayor Haldmeer Grobaras sits behind his desk looking worn down from a long day of official business. Despite his portly appearance and foppish demeanor, there's a certain ruthlessness visible in the way he carries himself.
"Welcome. What can I help you with?" he asks with a sideways glance at the strangers entering the office.
Pirknok takes another deep breath and throws a glance at the book Eli carries. Standing straight, he returns his gaze to the official and speaks confidently, carefully articulating his words. "You ar lookin' into thuh... into thuh death uv thuh Justice, right?"
The portly man studies the dwarf.
”Not personally - that’s not a Mayor’s job. I have people in my employ investigating”, he says a bit condescendingly.
”What’s this about? Do you know something about Ironbriar’s death?”
The handsome dwarf nods slowly. "We do... but you need ta promis ta hear us out."
The Mayor sits up straighter.
”I’m listening.”
Pirknok's head turns to look at Kaplan momentarily. He nods ever so slightly and bites his lower lip. How did I end up as the one doing the talking here? Doesn't matter, though... I am a warrior, and I act with honor. And... I've been learning. Now it's time for the test.
His eyes roam slightly as he looks for a glimmer of colored feathers, before returning to the mayor's face. "I killed him." he says, his eyes meeting the mayor's, watching for the other's reaction. He quickly holds up one hand in hopes the mayor will remain calm. "He wuz... was... disonneruble. My bruther has thuh proof, and he wull... will, I mean... he will explain."
Pirknok looks to Eli, closing his eyes momentarily and trying to calm the rapid beating of his heart.
”Oh?” the mayor answers calmly. ”And why did you do that?”
The portly man’s features are suddenly a well-practiced blank mask.
Kaplan listens to the conversation intently, unsure if he could help Pirknok here.
Jessamy's stomach twists in knots, a sour taste in her mouth as Pirknok confesses to the crime.
"He was trying to kill us," she blurts out. "He sent someone to attack us in Sandpoint!"
Pirknok grimaces at the mayor's unreadable expression, and looks at Eli pleadingly, hoping the book will convince the mayor of the true nature of the situation. Here it comes... any minute now he'll call the guards, unless we can convince him...
"Sorun yok. Ona doğruyu söyle. Biz öğrendim ne söyle. Biz iyi olacak," Kaplan says to Pirknok with a nod.
The younger dwarf starts at the other's words. Taking a deep breath, he nods toward the book now on the mayor's desk. "He was part uv uh... cult. He wuz—was—killin' people fer sum dark god or sumthin. It's all in ther, I think..."
Eli steps forward. "Justice Ironbriar was involved in a conspiracy. I have here proof in his own hand of his acts of murder here in Magnimar." he says, placing the book on the desk in front of the Mayor. "We are from Sandpoint, and were hunting leads to murders there which led to the Mill where we were attacked by the Justice and his co-conspirators. We defended ourselves and after recovering this evidence, retreated to heal our wounds and decipher the book. And once we did this, we came straight to you."
Haldmeer takes the offered journal and flips through its pages, pausing on occasion to examine the notes Eli's taken in translation.
He puts the book down and looks at the party seriously for the first time.
"I may look it but I'm not a fool. I've known about the Brotherhood for months now. You've done me a service in removing Ironbriar but you've also put Magnimar in terrible danger."
"Wait, what? Why? If you knew about him, why didn't you do something to stop him from killing people?!" Jessamy asks in exasperation.