Dervak smiles. "Good idea, Magic Fang don't last too long, keep them talking and it will wear off. Wait, you are really going to talk to them? Oh, okay."
”I suppose you regularly walk into people’s homes, who clearly went out of their way to avoid contact, and 'ask who are you'?” With an exasperated sigh, ”Who sent you?”
Mara replied apologetically, "I'm sorry to bother you. A fisherman saw the lights in this cave, and started telling everyone that the Briarstone Witch is back! But I don't imagine you're the Briarstone Witch, are you? Cesadia, of the Sleepless Detective Agency, asked us to come over here and see what was really going on."
Ellery shrugs and nods at the voice's words.
”We’re mostly concerned with ruling out if you are a goblin or a witch. You know how villagers can be, a simple misunderstanding can quickly turn into a mob.”
“Also, we’re apparently pretty terrible people according to the barkeep, not that we can remember any of that.”
The voice softens a bit and muses, "I'm certainly not the Briarstone Witch. I don't know you from Erastil's off ox, but your voices do somehow sound familiar. And I don't care what your barkeep thinks. What I do know is that you killed my guardian, so you're not to be trifled with. I am slightly insulted but you did apologize. Tell no one you saw me here and you can leave in peace."
Through the barricade anyone can see two creatures that vaguely resemble wolves appear, however they are covered in mushroom caps and mold. Small puffs of what must be spores sporadically burst from their pallid skin.
Behind them a woman with unkempt auburn hair boldly stands. She is wielding a flaming spear and is wearing armor that appears to be made out of wood.
Mara decided not to point out that the trap had done some of their work for them. "Yeah, sorry about your plant; I'm afraid it attacked us.
"What we need is something to put these silly Briarstone Witch rumors to rest — they're causing unrest in the town. And Cesadia seems pretty sharp, so I don't think she'll believe us if we tell her there was nothing here.
"If you can help us out, we could bring you supplies, if you need something."
Theophilus begins whistling.
Not certain all this hostility for Witches is warranted!
Mara commented to Theophilus, "I don't think it's all witches; It's a matter of which witch is which!"
She waves her hand dismissively, "Tell this Cesadia whatever you like, so long as I'm not mentioned. I don't know, maybe you found some will-o'-wisps. I'll keep my lights at night better concealed."
Theo knows that these are fungal wolves. Wolves whose corpses have been infested with a certain kind of fungus that takes over the host body. Normally these creatures would aggressively try to infest other animal life.
Ellery shrugs a bit and then makes some hand signs.
Or we can always just kill her and drag her body back to Cesadia if that is what you all want to do instead. Of course there is not guarantee that she won't attack us as soon as we turn our back either.
Mara conferred with the others in a low voice, "I agree with Ellery — I don't see a reason to attack this woman just because she wants her privacy. To me, it makes sense to report the situation to Cesadia, and leave it at that. However, I don't think we can promise not to mention this woman's presence to Cesadia."
"Even if she's not the Briarstone Witch, she might still be the witch the crazy guy was talking about. The one who was working with the Count and the magistrate to abduct all the people through the elf's paintings. Elgrior might just have got her name wrong."
Ellery signs a bit more.
Mara replied to Dervak in hushed tones, "Perhaps, but I think we should talk to Cesadia about it before doing anything rash. I don't want to attack someone because of a possiblity that she might be bad."
Dervak will also be slightly quieter, "Ask about the Count and magistrate and see how she reacts. Don't attack, but see if she lets anything slip. If she really is working with them, she'll take advantage of our going away to escape or to get tougher defenses."
Theophilus loudly clears his throat.
Pardon us, Madame, but we have it on some authority that you may be working with the Count and the magistrate in abducting persons unaware. What say you?
She makes a show of rolling her eyes, "I've certainly never worked with either Count Lowls or the magistrate of Thrushmoor on anything. I have heard that Lowls is away on business and he fancies himself some sort of scholar but has been laughed out of academia for his outlandish theories. Perhaps he's on some sort of expedition to 'prove them wrong.' I find the idea that he and the magistrate are abducting people laughable."
Theophilus tips his hat.
Much ado about nothing!
Her face hardens, "Look I'm happy for the conversation, but would please decide if you're going to leave me in peace or attack me for no other reason than taking up residence in this cave. I have better things to do right now."
Dervak keeps quiet, but doesn't protest if the others want to go.
"We'll let you get back to — whatever it is you're doing," Mara replied to the auburn haired woman.
She muttered to her companions, "Let's go and talk to Cesadia."
The trip back to Thrushmoor is uneventful and Cesadia sees the party immediately. "You have something to report?"
Mara entered the Sleepless Detective Agency, and asked to speak with Cesadia.
After being ushered into Cesadia's office, The half-orc gave her report: "We investigated the cave where Toli saw the lights. There's an auburn-haired woman living in the cavern, who doesn't want anyone to know she's there. There was an aggressive plant guarding the cave entrance, and the interior is barricaded as well. She had some strange looking wolves with her; it looked like they had mushrooms growing on them! She didn't want us to tell you about her presence, but we made no such promises."
Cesadia replies to Mara, "That... is highly suspicious. But without any evidence that she's doing anything wrong or has any malintent I'm not sure we can do anything. I would normally pass this over to constable Cesyll, but she's been unusually unhelpful lately."
Dervak coughs some more.
"What's wrong with Cesyll? Well you can tell us in a bit because, uh, Cesadia..."
He looks down at the ground.
"I remember Klyn. I remember what happened. It all came back when he returned to kill me last night. Undead. He nearly succeeded. I probably deserved to die. These others saved me. I know I have a long road ahead to make up for the wrongs I did, but I think I can do more for people out here against... against Lowls, and against things like what were in the Asylum. As to Klyn, I thought I could start by giving him a proper burial. I'm well enough to dig a hole."
Mara told Dervak, "I can tell that you're trying hard to be a better person, and that's what's important."
She turned to the detective and asked, "Cesadia, I would be grateful if you could tell me a bit about my past. I get the sense that I may have done some bad things, but I can't begin to make up for them if I don't know what they were."
After further discussion, she mentioned what she had learned the previous day. "When we were at the Silver Wagon yesterday, a man called Elgrior walked down the street outside, proclaiming the arrival of the Briarstone Witch. When we talked to him, he claimed that the magistrate and Count Lowls are behind some disappearances in town; he said that they took people through murals that an elf artist had painted. I know that sounds crazy, but when we were walking through the town later, we saw one of the murals, and I could detect a faint magic aura coming from it."
Something had been bothering her the night before and throughout the day. As they were finishing the meeting, Mara asked, "Cesadia, it seemed to me that Elgrior doesn't have a home; he went to sleep in the hollow by the trunk of a tree. Does he have any family?"
She blinks, for a moment speechless, ”We did strongly suspect you were involved and that does corroborate what evidence we have on the matter. It was a bit of an open secret you were the count’s fixers. He and the constable were protecting you from legal action and the count paid hush money to Klyn’s family. But the count got what he wanted in any case, an example of what happens when you slight him. As far as the corpse you should talk to Winter, since priestess Mavaine disappeared she’s probably the most qualified to deal with it."
Cesadia rubs her temples concentrating, ”I’ll be honest, I believe your story and you’re trying to make things right. So I’ll give what meager aid I can. When you feel you’re ready you should see if you can talk some sense into constable Cesyll. Last I knew Accuser Omari was headed to Fort Hailcourse to requisition aid in her investigation of the Count, that was right before she disappeared. If you can, see why the fort is shuddered.”
Looking to Mara, "I don't know a whole lot about what you did for the count. Perhaps you helped him with his research. You have manifested some disturbing magical abilities, I'm sure many people would like you run out of town for that alone."
She waves her hand dismissively, "As far as Elgrior is concerned I wouldn't put too much stock in his rantings. I'd recommend he be committed to Briarstone but as you know that's not an option now. I don't know of any family, sorry. As far as the murals are concerned the town blames Lelwyn Hasok, he was hired to paint a mural for New Chapel. He's from Caliphas I believe, people around here are suspicious of outsiders so it's no wonder they'd blame him. Talk to Lelwyn if you like he's harmless and a good painter, his studio is next to New Chapel."
Mara took in all that Cesadia related and turned to the others, "I suggest we go and see Winter first. She can treat some of Dervak's symptoms, and help us locate Klyn's body."
"After that, I'd like to speak with Lelwyn about the murals."
The Hatter follows along with the group.
"Yes, let's go see Winter."
Dervak follows Mara.
Ellery shakes his head with a look of disgust at the mention of locking someone up in the asylum. He nods in agreement with Mara's suggestion to go see Winter and follows along with the others.
The sun would be high in the sky if it weren't for the dreary clouds. New Chapel is a two story building with flying buttresses and stained glass windows depicting the Lady of Graves pronouncing prophecies, judging the dead, and overseeing births.
Across the street squats a pair of small cottages with a gathering of townsfolk carrying rotten fruit, rocks, tools, and other implements around one. A man with a hoary beard yells, "Come on out Hasok! We know you're in there!" A plump woman screams, "Come out and answer for your crimes!" Soon an elf with blond hair and a neat beard opens the door and says in a high pitched voice with careful words, "I know you are upset about the murals, but I simply did not do them. Why, they are not my style at all and I haven't worked with charcoal in 50 years."
Mara figured she should try to calm the angry townsfolk, and see if she could get more information. She said a quick prayer to her father for guidance, and then approached the assembled mob and addressed them, "My apologies for not recognizing any of you, but I'm suffering from memory loss.
"I've been out of town for a while, and I'm no longer employed by Count Lowls. Like you, I'm concerned about these murals. When did they appear, and did anyone see someone actually painting them?
"I would like to talk to Hasok, and see what he has to say about who did paint them."
A middle-aged man with a lazy eye answers Mara, "Well my wife's brother's cousin saw the elf paint em I swear. And he's the only artist here in town, and that vandalism didn't start showing up on our walls until he arrived. And now the priestess is gone! Some folks keep talking about how the Briarstone Witch is coming back for Thrushmoor, but I know that he's behind the troubles."
At Mara's suggestion that she talk to Hasok they mutter a bit but begin to disperse without too much complaint.
Dervak has a long-shot guess for the party to consider. "Didn't Zanadalus do his drawings in charcoal? Could he have drawn on these walls from inside the Asylum, maybe in his dreams?"
Mara thought for a moment before replying, "That's an interesting theory. Normally I would say that's impossible, but who would have thought that a dream creature could become real? Let's try comparing the sketches we have to the murals."
"We might as well talk to Hasok now, while things are calm." She went up the the artist's door and knocked.
A most troublesome thought. Let us hope that he has indeed been dealt with.
After introductions are made Lelwyn invites you in, "Thank you for dispersing that dreadful crowd. Not a lick of sense in these people. I must make you some tea."
Assuming the party enters his studio is cluttered with canvases, supplies, and partially completed paintings. Among the completed and partially completed works are views of the bay, portraits of well dressed individuals, and several abstract pieces that are disquieting. On an easel in the middle of the studio is a triptych still in the sketch phase. Five people in full figure with incomplete faces. In the background, three different cities flow seamlessly into one another under a yellow sky.
Theophilus approaches the triptych. The gentleman walks slowly around it. He smiles.
Want us to stand in?
Mara entered the studio and looked at the artist's works as he made tea. She studied the work on the easel and called to Lelwyn, "This triptych looks interesting. What do the three cities in the background represent?"
Lelwyn returns with a tray of steaming cups of tea and promptly drops them on the floor when the painting is mentioned, "Oh my! Why you are perfect." Without moving to clean the spilled liquid he moves to arrange the party, "Stand here where the light is right. Now there!" The artist resumes his piece adding the party's face to the triptych which seem to blend all too naturally into five figure's form. Finally answering Mara's question, "Oh the cities, well this is from one of my dreams. I suppose this one represents my desires, this one the rebelliousness of my spirit, and finally this one the ultimate emptiness and pointlessness of my existence. Oh my that sounds like I might be depressed but nothing is further from the truth!"
Dervak is not sitting still for a portrait. He has a bad feeling about what might happen if he does, so he keeps moving.
"Is one of these cities where the King in Yellow lives?"
"And the yellow sky?", Mara asked Lelwyn.
She changed the subject to the murals. "You say that you didn't create the murals around town; do you know who did? Someone must have been seen working on them."
He huffs at Dervak's squirming "Oh you must simply sit still. Why it's a privilege to get a portrait from me. Oh but I must finish this work. How about this you be good models for me and I can pay say 500 gold for the lot of you."
He replied to Mara, "I should say not! They appear overnight and are just garish." He mocks retching.
Dervak grumbles, but sits still. Money is good.
Ellery also wanders around inspecting the area, but also sits still when the money is offered.
Theophilus smiles.