Victor nonchalantly backs away into hiding as the Sheriff gives him a look for such a question before he continues on with the evidence of the case. I am guessing this is not the time for such questions.
Victor's eyes go wide at the claim of Shayliss's father being a suspect.
"As Victor well knows, Vin has a temper but I do not think he is capable of this sort of violence."
Victor nods emphatically in agreement. "Let me tell you... you just do not know the level of this man's anger, you do not. Oh and he is totally capable, I assure you." Victor looks around, thinking on it a moment before, "But probably not. He is an angry man but he is not that angry. At least, I do not think so," he shrugs. "No time to waste! Let us go hunt this Thorn person down."
"Sounds like Kern makes sense. Let's go question the captive and go from there."
The heroes of Sandpoint spring into action, ready to tackle this new threat to the community. Kern, Wren, Eponine, and Victor head down to the interrogation room where Ibor Thorn sits with his head in hands. Nuri and Roakkad sit unsure if they should follow, and the Sheriff motions that they should go as well.
The party enters the room and either take seats around the table or find a spot to lean against the wall. Thorn is a young man, handsome with a narrow face who looks like he has been through a lot. Ibor looks up, recognizes those of you who came to the towns aid during the goblin attack and sighs, "If Belor has summoned you this must be serious. I have told him everything I know, I just want to go an' get some rest." His eyes are sunken and red even though it is still early in the day.
Victor looks sternly at Thorn. "You can get rest when you tell us what you have done!" He slams his hand down on the table as he stands next to it. Feeling like he may have missed something, "Or... um... know!" *Slam!* Looking around, he still feels like there is something amiss; he leans in towards Kern, "What is the reason he is here again?" he asks a bit sheepishly.
"Tell us more about the scene you discovered. What else do you know about the two? Can you think of anything you haven't told the Sheriff, no matter how small it seems?"
Ibor fliches back in his seat as Victor slams the table and raises his voice. Wren tries to question the mill worker, but he seems rather indifferent to you now. "I do not understand the meaning of this kind of interrogation. I have answered all of the Sheriff's questions, I am the one who reported this tragedy...how dare you!
"The sheriff isn't investigating the case," the strange woman shrugs, "so anything you told him isn't doing anybody any good. I'm sorry he's wasted your time, but I'm afraid you're going to have to repeat it all again."
Diplomacy
Eponine rests a hand on Ibor's knee. "Nuri's right. This is such a tragedy that we are dedicating ourselves to getting to the bottom of it. And there is no telling what detail you are able to recall might be the clue that sets us on the right path."
Ibor sighs as Nuri and Eponine encourage him to reconsider and share what he knows. His spirit seems defeated, he is obvious emotionally worn out. "Well it is just as I told the sheriff. I came to work today, a tad bit earlier than usual...we are behind on an order that needs to get aboard ship tonight. I suppose that is out of the question now, any way, I came to the mill walked in and found the bodies. It was disgusting, blood everywhere...I did not get close but it looked like Banny was tore open. Then I saw poor, poor Katrine...her body a shredded lump of flesh lying at the end of the wood splitter. What evil sort of person would push a young girl through a log splitter? Katrine had been stopping by the Mill late the last few weeks, she and Banny had a thing going...trust me I did not approve and I doubt Vin knew anything about it. I know Vin is easy to rile up, but what was done to her, to Banny....that was not the doing of Vin Vinder...you know him, you know I am right about that."
"I know this is gruesome, but did you inspect the bodies and the scene, or did you leave as soon as you saw them? Did you see anyone else there?"
Ibor's eyes dart back and forth quickly, "I just ran and got the guard, I did not touch anything, I must of just stood there stunned for a moment...so, much....blood. Other than the bodies, the place was empty."
Victor looks sternly at Thorn. "You can get rest when you tell us what you have done!" He slams his hand down on the table as he stands next to it. Feeling like he may have missed something, "Or... um... know!" *Slam!* Looking around, he still feels like there is something amiss; he leans in towards Kern, "What is the reason he is here again?" he asks a bit sheepishly.
"He's just a witness, not a criminal," Kern says quietly, but slightly admonishingly to Victor.
He turns to Ibor. "I think you're probably right that Vin didn't do this," he says. "Tell us a little about Banny. Other than Katrine, who did he tend to hang out with?"
"Banny? He, ah, well recently Katrine was coming by often. Before that a lass by the name of Ginta Ollath, the First Mate on the Rogue Sally...a...merchant ship that was in the bay for repairs. He tends to keep to himself, we meet with Mister Scarnetti for business of course. Some nights he might be over at the Dragon, others at the Feed Bag. "
Sensing that the lad was holding something back, Roakkad reassured him. The Shoanti's voice was authoritative and compelling and he put his considerable charm to good effect.
We're only interested in solving a vicious crime, Ibor. Now, you may not know me but I can give you my oath that any information you divulge to us will be in the strictest confidence. Tell us more about Mister Scarnetti and your meetings with him. Help us, and be a patriot to your town. Answer the questions of these fine folk honestly, with no more half-truths, and i'm certain that we can all come to an understanding.
Ibor shrinks back in his seat as Roakkad speaks, to the looks of it the man might believe the Shoant just peered into his soul. With a sigh he admits, "I hated those meetings, I was worried what might happen if Mister Scarnetti found out. You see Banny had been playing with the money figures, at least since the goblin raid. I never took part in the scams, but Banny might have stashed a good sum of money away. You all have heard the rumors, I can not say they are true but if they are I wouldn’t put it above the Scarnettis to hire someone to kill Banny if they found out he’d been embezzling money."
"Would this be yet another of the Scarnetti's intimidation tactics? Would they resort to murder to send a message?"
Ibor sits at the table, while the rest of you question and contemplate his answers. The door back to the cells is cracked open at the moment and an angry voice echoes down the hall. "Is that the sheriff's precious new deputies? Is that no good Victor Montoya out there? That's who you should be looking at...he is the one! That no good scamp, aways flirting with the ladies, and with my daughters! Find that one, I bet he is behind the deth...the murder! The murder of my daughter....ohaah..." The voice is recognizable as Ven Vinder's, and it starts out angry but ends succumbed to grief and sobbing. A moment later something crashes, perhaps he tossed the cells meager cot.
Kern looks out into the hall and yells back, "That's enough, Ven! We'll talk to you later!"
He turns back to the others. "They might resort to murder, but would they resort to such a gruesome and ostentatious one? Maybe to intimidate, I suppose."
Wren was silent, listening to Ven's rage. She couldn't imagine losing a loved one, let alone in a manner such as this. She knew Victor was innocent, but she knew quite a bit about lashing out in anger, so she let Ven vent.
Moving away from the table as Roakkad is able to talk sense into Ibor, Victor is impressed, albeit, annoyed at the fact. "Not bad, not bad... I guess. He possesses a silver tongue, I will not argue; but I think I had him pretty scared initially so all Roakkad had to do was push the leaning tower over. A simple task," he mumbles to himself, shrugging.
Once Ibor finishes with his response, and Wren as well with her own questions, "It is the Scarnetti's, to be sure! I knew it! Well, not really but I am not surpri..." Victor looks up as he's interrupted by Ven who begins screaming from down the hall. Cringing at various intervals of the yelling, Victor finds himself wishing he was far, far, far, far, far, far, far away at this very moment. And while grateful for Kern's retort, it doesn't come close to removing his desire to find a hole to crawl into and never be found.
"Is that no good Victor Montoya out there? That's who you should be looking at...he is the one! That no good scamp, aways flirting with the ladies, and with my daughters!"
Nuri gives Victor a pointed look, raising her eyebrows. "Up to the same tricks, I see," she murmurs.
"I suppose this goes without saying, but you didn't do this did you, Victor? Just checking. If you didn't, we will have to do much more work," Wren grins.
His attention drawn toward Nuri with her murmuring, Victor goes from a look to a instant glare. Moving a bit closer to where he can speak without interrupting the others questioning, "I heard that, Nuri. And what is that suppose to mean exactly, hm?" he asks, obviously perturbed. Victor is then startled as Wren addresses him. Doing what he can to play off his surprise, he returns her grin with one of his own, albeit mainly for show. "That is a good one, Miss Wren," he simply responds. Rubbing his forehead in an attempt to cover up his actions, he shoots a look back at Nuri that easily tells her he's still waiting for an answer.
Ibor looks exhausted, "I think I have told you everything you need to know. Can I please go home now?
Eponine looks up when Ibor asks, realizing that she has been brooding over that cursed letter. Snapping herself out of her obsessive state, she sits up and looks to the others to see if they are done with Ibor.
"I heard that, Nuri. And what is that suppose to mean exactly, hm?"
"Only that the firepelt obviously hasn't changed his spots," she replies cryptically before stepping forward to address the group as a whole. "I have heard of the Scarnettis in Magnimar. Assuming that the family's interests are related, the Magnimar Scarnettis are known to be enemies of the Shoanti." Her eyes flicker to Roakkad. "Perhaps the feud has spread as far as this backwater. Someone could have been tasked with sending a message."
"Victor, would you like to go question Ven? I'm sure it will be productive for you. But seriously, he might have some knowledge. If so, we can speak to him, but if he is just going to yell at you, then we'd be wasting our time."
"I could talk to him," Nuri volunteers. "He doesn't even know me, so he oughtn't to be driven into incoherent rage by my mere presence. You do make an impression on people," she gives Victor a smirk.
"That sounds like a good idea," Kern says to Nuri. "He'll hopefully be more cooperative without Victor around. No offence, Victor," he adds as an aside.
"Only that the firepelt obviously hasn't changed his spots," she replies cryptically before stepping forward to address the group as a whole.
Just as he's about to respond, Nuri begins speaking to the others. Irritated at the fact he was unable to produce a retort, Bah! Insufferable woman. He mentally berates her, glaring at her through narrowed eyes.
"Victor, would you like to go question Ven? I'm sure it will be productive for you. But seriously, he might have some knowledge. If so, we can speak to him, but if he is just going to yell at you, then we'd be wasting our time."
Victor looks to Wren quizzically a moment before responding. "Yelling, Miss Wren, would be the least of my worries with Ven at this moment. If he happens to know anything, the last person he would share it with would be me. Honestly, the only thing Ven wants to see right now is my blood spilling on the ground by the gallons. Outside of that, there is really nothing he would choose to say to me that any of you have not just heard - or that I have not heard already. And given his situation... I do not blame him." He shrugs.
"I could talk to him," Nuri volunteers. "He doesn't even know me, so he oughtn't to be driven into incoherent rage by my mere presence. You do make an impression on people," she gives Victor a smirk.
A sly grin forms at that last remark she makes to him. "You are absolutely right, Nuri. Hate me or love me, one shall never forget me, hm?" he winks, an arrogant look about him.
"That sounds like a good idea," Kern says to Nuri. "He'll hopefully be more cooperative without Victor around. No offence, Victor," he adds as an aside.
Victor waves it off freely. "None taken."
I agree that perhaps it is best that we not rile up the man further. Lady Besnic, may I accompany you?
"Just 'Nuri' will suffice," she reminds the Shoanti with a smile. "I have no claim to nobility." She goes into the cell area to speak with the victim's father along with anyone who wants to join her, other than Victor. "Mr. Vinder? Can you tell us anything about your daughter? Did she have any particular friends or enemies? Did you notice anything unusual about her mood or behavior lately? Do you know ... did she have anything to do with the Scarnettis?"
I understand you have some suspicions about a certain Victor Montoya. No matter his status in the town, you have my assurance that he will be fully investigated based on whatever legitimate evidence or help you can give us, Mr. Vinder. However, we must be thorough. I'd like to ask for your full co-operation. You have my deepest sympathies for the tragedy that has taken place; and my sacred oath to the spirits that you will live to see justice done.
Before getting to the heart of things, Roakkad ensures that he takes a genuine interest in the man's daughter and listens sombrely to whatever the man has to say.
Roakkad added a little to Nuri's questioning, imploring the man for his assistance.
Anything you can tell us about your daughter's activities, whereabouts and associates in the past few weeks would be greatly appreciated. Take your time Mr. Vinder.
As the two leave, Victor leans against a wall with his arms crossed. "Hmph. 'Lady Besnic', that is rich." As Roakkad goes in there with her, Wait a minute; they both could be in there raking me over the coals. Probably filling Ven full of: 'I'm sure it was Victor's fault'; 'Victor is a bad person, I agree', and all other sorts of trash. And plus I am curious as to what is being said. Glancing over at Eponine, "Eponine. You should go with them. Since they are fairly new to all of this, I think one of us who have been here far longer and know Ven better than they do should be in there. I nominate you. Go go go!" He helps nudge her along before a thought strikes him. "You know, an even better idea is that you should all go." He pauses a moment on that thought, pondering it. Eventually coming to a shrug, "But if not, then I nominate Eponine again." He looks to her impatiently.
Eponine starts to go, puzzled as usual by Victor's sense of urgency. "I'm sure they will be fine, but yes, I will go with them. I'm not sure why my name was included in this at all, but I want to make sure I get to the bottom of it."
Nuri, Roakkad and then Eponine step into the hall of cells beyond the interview room. Vachedi, the Shoanti jailor stands as you come through the door but seeing Eponine signal its okay he returns to his post on a stool at the end of the hall, the cell door keys rattling at his belt. Each side of the room has been sectioned off into three cells with thick iron bars as walls allowing you to see all the occupants. Each cell has a cot and a fat bucket in it, and the oder in here is less than appealing. The only cells occupied currently are on the right side of the room. In the first a Varisian man is laying face down on the cot, one leg hanging off. His bucket has been dragged to the head of the cot, but the splatter of sickness indicates the currently passed out fellow must have missed when he vomited last. In the far back cell Ven Vinder sits on the cot, his head hung low sobbing as the three interrogators approach.
It seems Roakkad's words are soothing enough and Ven wipes his eyes and nose on the sleeve of his rumpled shirt. "Yes, be sure to look into that cur Montoya. Back after the goblin raid the town loved him, loved them all... but scoundrels they are most likely. He propositioned my daughter, flaunting the towns good will. If anyone one was flirting with my girls it is probably that scoundrel. The mayor loves em, says they are the protectors of our town..ha! Cheats and liars the lot of em. " He does not seem to notice Eponine at the end of the line of questioners. He continues, chocking back tears, "Katrine was a good girl, she worked in the shop, minded her own business. Oh sure she was sneaking off to see Harker a few months ago, but I forbid it then and I know she obeyed me. As for the Scarnetti's the only business she had with them would have been deliveries from the shop I suppose."
"Did she have business at the lumber mill? What was she doing there?"
"The killer must have dragged her there, she certainly would not have disobeyed me. I forbid her from seeing Harker months ago. Katrine was a good girl." Ven hunches over, wracked with sobbing...it's as if he is trying to convince himself.
"While they are questioning Ven, how are we going to occupy ourselves? Who else do we need to investigate now?"
"While they are questioning Ven, how are we going to occupy ourselves? Who else do we need to investigate now?"
Victor looks to Wren as he leans back against the nearest wall, his arms crossed. "I do not know," he answers impassively before quickly changing the subject. "Do you think they are talking about me? I think they are. They are probably in there agreeing with Ven about me. Well, at least Eponine will defend me if necessary. She will not stand idly by and just let them hang me. No sir! No she will not, I am sure of it. I am almost positive she will not." He begins to pace as he periodically looks down the hall to where they are speaking, chewing on his nails, appearing not nearly as sure as he suggests.
"Stay calm, Victor. We know you had nothing to do with this. Everyone who knows you understands that as well. Ven just has that particular reason for hate you, you know. I'm sure they will be done soon, and we can find the real culprit."
Victor nods. "Yes, perhaps you are right, Miss Wren. There is no reason for me to be so paranoid. Honestly, I do not believe Ven can help them in any real way. I truly believe there is no sense in us questioning him. He is a father who has lost a child." Victor pauses a moment, doing his best to keep himself together as he feels terrible for the man. "We should just let him be. You should go tell the others to let it go and let us move on, Miss Wren. I think that is the wisest course."