GM Ancalima's Murder's Mark (Inactive)

Game Master ElenionAncalima

Jenni has a 40ft movement, I believe :)

Vard turned from the window. No sense in me going after, the bigfolk have too much advantage there.

"Children, we're not the enemy! We just got here and Mr Borvius and his men were the ones who attacked us." He walks slowly out of the room, removing his remaining weapons and dropping them near his hammer. "See, I've got no weapons now. The others will drop their weapons too, yes?" A quick look at the others remaining "And think! If he really wanted you to be safe, he would have held the door shut and told you to climb down the rope yourself, not just lead us to your room and then abandon you by leaping out the window. If you want, you can stay in the room and close the door until the Sheriff arrives. We won't try to come in.
But we think Mr Borvius is trying to trick people and we need to know what happened this morning. D'you think if we ask you some questions you can answer them?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
3, 2, 3. Checks d20 to make sure it isn't a d4

Thrym shook his head in exasperation but did agree to put down his axe, spilling it back to its place on his belt. Children... nuisances, one and all. He could see no way they'd be able to persuade them he had had nothing to do with the demise of their parents, and thus, saw no reason to waste his time trying.

Jenni's face showed an expression of fierce determination as she sprinted towards the killer. She was catching up to the human, her long, strong legs making up for his head start. "Stop!" she shouted. "Stop running and I won't have to kill you."

I was looking for some sort of tackle combat maneuver, but couldn't see anything. Can I charge and jump on him? Is that a charge and a grapple? Trip? Can it be done?

Also yes, Jenni has 40 feet speed

Fain walked into the kitchen and grabbed a piece of cheese from the table. He was suddenly spooked by the hurried sounds of footfall overhead and did a sort of worried little stumble. Then he moved to the east while eating his stolen edam. He opened up the little door to the east checking out C7
Run Jenni! Run!

Grapple or trip would both be acceptable, especially since you are faster than him.

CMB: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Ugh, that probably won't do it

As Jenni caught up to the murderer, she kicked a leg out to try and trip him, hoping to end the chase.

Assuming that doesn't work, I'll keep chasing him and try again next round. Or since I'm faster, can I attack next round?

Borvius saw Jenni trying to run next to him and veered away from her attempt to trip him. Though the movement caused him to clutch his side in pain, he took the opportunity to gain some ground on the crazed looking half-orc. "Help!!!" He screamed as he ran. "Murderers! They are trying to kill me! Please! Somebody help!"

--

Back at the manor the attempt to convince the children that the party were anything other than boogeymen was not going well. The kids slammed the door behind them and the sounds of scraping furniture could be heard from the room beyond. "Liar!" The girl shouted through the door to Vard, "He was trying to protect us! But that crazy woman with the cleaver..." Her voice broke into a sob, "She was going to kill him...But he's coming back for us with the guards! He's going to come back!"

@Fain C6 I believe is the door you are referring to/your piece is near. Apologies if I misunderstood.
Fain, ignoring the commotion upstairs, continued to check the rooms below. Opening the door he saw another upsetting sight. In the modest bedroom beyond, he saw more slain bodies, this time an elderly man and woman. The positions of the bodies seemed to indicate that the old man had desperately tried to shield his wife from the violence, but had been tragically unsuccessful.

"Amin ikotane anta istim- templa missile," the annoyed sorceress said as she staggered to her feet to, slowly, pursue the children. Leaning heavily against a wall the entire time.

"That thing is a doppleganger girl! Thrym couldn't have been at the top giving orders and the bottom yelling in skald at the same time. He can't even speak Common when he is fighting. And why would we attack the doppleganger's minions?"

Or a human with a disguise spell but Luk Luk wasn't picky about clearing it up right now.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Are there people around? Is he being noticed? That will inform Jenni's actions....

May I assume Thrym has managed by this time to a) search the prisoner and remove every weapon and either b) tie him up with something... his own belt, shoelaces, something or alternatively c) used the flat of his axe to smash his both thumbs (hard to hold a sword without them) and a couple of toes from each foot (hard to run or even hobble away with broken toes)?

@Jenni: No one is in the streets, but there is some curtain movement in the houses.

@Thrym: You have had plenty of time.

Vard turned from the door. "The kids are blocking the door, they're sensible in that, at least."

Seeing Thrym attempting to secure the man (or starting to maim digits) "If you need a rope, our man used one to climb down from the kids' window. I'm going to check the bod.." a quick glance where the children are "hm, main room to see if there's anything to learn.

He examined the room and look over the corpses for anything suspicious.

Heal: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20
Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

While he searched, to anyone listening:

"We should send someone to get the Sheriff if Borvius doesn't reach her first. I reckon they must have been here while we were at the temple, so the priests should vouch for us.

@Fain C6 I believe is the door you are referring to/your piece is near. Apologies if I misunderstood.

I thought I saw a little door in the bottom corner of the kitchen leading to C7. I'm afraid my character icon was covering it

Luk Luk tried her best to reason with the children. When she mentioned some of the anomalies they fell quiet briefly, as if whispering to each other. Finally the girl gave a tearful response. "We don't understand what's happening...and we're scared....and...and...we're not letting anyone in here! Not if they're strangers!" The boy let out a cry too. "Where are mama and papa!". But the girl hushed him. "I don't know Martim...I just don't know..."

Vard did a careful examination of the Braetons' wounds and he did make one observation. The crime scene felt a bit staged. Their bodies were positioned like a long fight took place. However, their wounds indicated that they had been killed quickly, perhaps even without any fight.

@Fain: Ah, my bad. Yeah, the door was covered. I'll add that room's description below.
Fain continued to explore the downstairs. He found that the back doors were firmly looked and investigating the area made it seem unlikely that the attackers had snuck in that way.

The other eastern door connected to a well-appointed office, with a large desk sitting in the center of the room. The walls were taken up with bookshelves, trophies and curios. The desk appears to have been rifled through, as papers are scattered everywhere. However, one noticeable piece of documentation seemed to lie inside a metal scroll tube with a scrimshaw cap, carved with the likeness of a turtleback ferryboat. The tube had been left out on the desk and contained Arhaneem Braeton's last will and testament. The will was quite clear that in the event of his death, his businesses were to be held in trust by the town for his two children. However, there was also a clause that indicated if there was cause to suggest that his business may deteriorate before the children came of age, the council would have the option of selling it on their behalf.

CMB: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Jenni launched herself again at her quarry, hitting him in the back of the legs with her shoulder. Hooking on arm around him, she caught him in a tight grip, holding on the wriggling murderer. "Goggles! Do we kill him? Or take him back?"

Jenni got her arm around the man's neck. However, quickly she realized she had spoken too soon. Like the weasel he was, he slipped out from under her grasp and continued his flight. Soon he reached the center of town, screaming bloody murder the whole way.

Sorry Jenni, but 15 was not high enough. He is a slippery SOB. Unless Alena wants to shoot at him or something on one of her two turns, he has now reached town and caused quite a scene. Two more rounds (one more trip or grapple attempt) until the guards get involved.

Man, I just couldn't catch a break on those rolls!

Realizing that she just wasn't going to catch the murderer without raising a scene, Jenni continued to chase him, also shouting. "Come back! Help! Stop! Murder! Call the guards! Call the sheriff! Help! Don't let him escape!"

Short of throwing acid at him - which I'm not sure she's close enough to do - there isn't anything Alenka can do to help corral him.

Alenka was fighting a losing battle trying to catch up. There wasn't really anything she could attack with from this distance and she was not the tackling sort. Knowing that the man they were chasing could change his face, she kept an eagle eye on him so that she could track him wherever he tried to slither off to.

Luk Luk stumbled over to the door the children were behind, "I know not children, and I am either anemic or tired." Luk Luk slid down the wall beside the door into a sort of sitting position. Her outfit has quite a bit more red then it did before.

"I can go and get the guards as soon as the world stops tilting. Or someone else can get them before the doppleganger does," Luk Luk then realizes she is saying this right beside the children's door, "Er, I'm sure they guard will sort everything out when they arrive. You can stay behind the door and it will all be fine, don't worry."

Bluff I'm okay: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Short of throwing acid at him - which I'm not sure she's close enough to do - there isn't anything Alenka can do to help corral him.

Melt him with acid! Get's the Commander Strax stamp of approval.

Borvius finally stopped his flight as he saw the guards in the distance. He ran to them declaring, "Help they are trying to kill me! They have slaughtered the Braeton's" The guards looked from Borvius to Jenni and Alenka and put themselves in front of the very injured man. "Stop! Drop your weapons!" the men ordered, as they drew their own longswords.

---

Back at the manor, the others faced a similar situation. Several guards arrived at the house with weapons drawn. "Anyone in the house identify yourself immediately! We have received reports of a disturbance from one of the neighbors!"

@Thrym: Are you still by the stairwell? Did you end up going the rope route or the break his phalanges route?

Fain stayed in the office and hurriedly copied the relevant details of the will into his 'murder' journal. As he did he looked it over to see if it was fresh, or had odd speelling, or if the Taldane grammar weren't too good - sure signs of a fake.GM? - you may want to roll that one Then he went out to the entry hall with the will in hand, ready to present it to the guard.

Stairs seem as good a place as anywhere, and rope is preferable now that Vard kindly found him some. I assume he threw the coil at Thrym at some point here. He can always cut off bits later ;^)

"Anyone in the house identify yourself immediately! We have received reports of a disturbance from one of the neighbors!"

"Disturbance? That word is too mild, Southerner. Try massacre and see how it fits," Thrym grunted. "Step on in - the killers have fled or paid for their crimes, except one little crow, all nicely wrapped up for the Sheriff's pleasure. And how he will sing... as if his life depended on it."

"We are the outsiders circling the truth about the murders, appointed by the Keeper of Laws here, and for once, it seems we are getting close to knowing the truth's guise. The Queen of the Carnival and her friend are chasing the leader of the killers, a magus who can shift his appearance, and once they catch him, much will be revealed," the shaman went on, gesturing for the guards to enter when he caught sign of a head peeking cautiously in.

The tall Ulfen shaman was sitting on the stairs, resting his feet on the bound prisoner's back. "We got here too late though - the black deed was already done, with only the little tykes still breathing. They are well, though, and feisty," he went on, grinning at the sounds of battle he had heard from above a while ago. Despite Luk Luk's obvious pain, to the Ulfen her being caught unawares by the very children she had sought to help was a great joke.

"Help they are trying to kill me! They have slaughtered the Braeton's" The guards looked from Borvius to Jenni and Alenka and put themselves in front of the very injured man. "Stop! Drop your weapons!" the men ordered, as they drew their own longswords.

Alenka lowered her cleaver and started putting it away, "Gladly. As long as you take that weasel into custody as well. He's the one who orchestrated the massacre at the Braeton's. We arrived too late to save the adults. The sheriff is aware of us being involved in investigating the murders that have happened lately." She pointed at the man they'd been chasing. "And he's neck deep in the murders and needs to be questioned. If you have your doubts, fine, just make sure you take us all back to speak with the sheriff. Do not let him walk away."

She glared at the detestable human who had so casually had the Braetons killed, "And we're not trying to kill you. We were trying to apprehend you and you were resisting a citizens arrest."

@Fain: You would need to be trained in Linguistics to spot a forgery. It's unfortunately one of those skills that cannot be rolled without ranks in it.

The guards listened to Thrym's explanation. While their tone became far less accusatory, they still had a lot of questions. "How many people are in the house right now? Just the two of you? How many are dead? How did you discover the crime scene? Where are the children? Are they hurt? How many attackers did you see? Which way did the leader flee?" The man turned to his two companions, "You. Start searching the house. You. Go find Feldane!"

---

The guards on the streets were far more on edge. "No! I said drop your weapons! Not sheathe them! " He barked at Alenka. Borvius took the moment to jump in. "They're liars! Why would I kill Arhaneem? I caught them in their crimes and this is just a desperate attempt too..." However, the guard did not seem amused by this either. "Save it! I want your weapons on the ground now! All three of you!"

A red hand raised up to wave in greeting, "Hello," Luk Luk drawled from her sitting position, "I am Luk Luk, no I think the two halflings are still around investigating. Plus two children behind the door. No idea how many fallen since I tried to calm the children but the tykes beat me up." The elf laughs then winces, "I am a little winded from a earlier sword tickle," She presses her hand back against her chest. She takes a deep breath to explain things to the guard.

"We went to the temple of Erastil to investigate Filton's background before following the placed card's lead to here. We entered to seek and audience. Then the shapeshifter and his minions sprung rom a a prepared ambush. You can see outside," Luk Luk points to the entrance, "The burnt grass yes? Tis where I burned one of them before he stabbed me. The shapeshifter looked like Thrym before his appearance altered into the man Jenni and Alenka are pursuing through the streets. Didn't even change his clothes or speak a lick of Thrym's battle tongue. I think Fain recognized him. The man was a very bad actor, tried to play the savior yet not striking his accomplices. Not sure if he'd planne dto kiss us and be the hero but he'd an escape route ready in the room he was," Luk Luk raised both hands to make air quotes, "protecting." Luk Luk then lightly knocks on the closed door she is sitting behind, "The kids are hiding in there. Are any of you good with children? I would rather not be laid low by children. Again."

Vard came to the stop of the stairs. "Hello. I'm Vard, paladin of Kurgess. There's four of us in the house now. We've only been here a short time - we just came from the temple and got jumped by this lot when we arrived. The children have barracaded themselves in that room there - probably best to get someone they know to convince them to come out - an aunt or uncle maybe - they're pretty shaken, poor things. Two victims are in the main room behind me - haven't looked in all the other rooms yet.
If you want my thoughts, I reckon they staged the bodies afterward - it looks like they were putting up a fight but you'd think they'd be sweatier or their clothing would be more rumpled and torn if that was the case."

The guard rubbed his brow. "Wait!" He shouted to the man he'd sent to fetch the sheriff. Summoning him back, he added to his orders. "Once you send the sheriff, go to the temple. We'll need them to corroborate the story..." He glanced over at Luk Luk. "Plus, it looks like we're going to need some medical support."

"Oi! We've got more bodies in here!" The remaining guard shouted, as she found the bodies of the elderly servants. He ran over a shook his head. "Erastil rest there souls..." He turned back to his companion and asked, "Can you see if the children are okay?" The woman nodded.

He extended a hand to take the will from Fain. "Maybe that'll have some information regarding next of kin. If there is anything else I should know? Can you give me a description of the man that got away?"

@Fain: You would need to be trained in Linguistics to spot a forgery. It's unfortunately one of those skills that cannot be rolled without ranks in it.

That makes perfect sense - and Fain's Taldane is none to grand either

The elf laughs then winces, "I am a little winded from a earlier sword tickle," She presses her hand back against her chest. She takes a deep breath to explain things to the guard.

Sword tickle ;) nice!

Fain inched the door of the study open and stuck his hands out, one of them clutching the will case. "I've had enough of being shot a', thank ya' verymuch. I'm coming out. Listen, you'll need this. It's a will and Feldane will most likely be very interested in it. Um, it's all very terrible an strange. We saw a man looked much like our friend Thrym here and then when he was out of the sight of the children he changed ... "

He extended a hand to take the will from Fain. "Maybe that'll have some information regarding next of kin. If there is anything else I should know? Can you give me a description of the man that got away?"

Fain continued, "...into none other than Borvious Monchello!"

If the guards don't object, Vard will retrieve and holster his dropped weapons, then go downstairs and examine the servants.

Heal : 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

"Poor souls. I'd guess they've also been moved like those upstairs."

After investigating that, he will also retrieve his thrown javelins from outside, again if guards don't mind.

Jenni obligingly dropped her sword and put her hands up. "Actually, we were going to k..oof!" Alenka's elbow to her ribs knocked the wind out of the half-orc and she shut her mouth accordingly. "He's the bad guy," she said helpfully.

"Fine," Alenka snapped before dropping her cleaver. "Just make sure you treat that monster," she pointed at Borvious, "in the same manner. You can't let him get away."

Who finds the sheriff first - Odd Team Street/Evens Team Manor: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Borvius watch Jenni and Alenka carefully, but when they finally discarded their weapons, he too complied and dropped his longsword to the ground. The guard, still tense, barked, "Now come with me!". He led them through the streets to the town jail. "Where's Feldane?" He asked a nearby guard urgently. "Just missed her! Apparently there's been another..." The man started to reply, before being cut off! "I know there's been another murder! And I think I have one or more of the culprits! I...I just don't know who yet! They keep accusing each other!" He shook his head in confusion and frustration. "Just put them all in cells for now! I have to go find her!"

He handed them off to the other guard before running off down the streets. The guards let them down to the cells. As they walked down the block, they saw that they were not alone. Lounging on a bed in one of the cells was Almara Denissen. She looked up and her eyes grew troubled to see Alenka and Jenni being led to cells.

I'll leave it open ended as to whether you guys willingly enter cells, protest or torch the place...

--

"Borvius Monchello?" The man replied with surprise, "That seems...unlikely." As the female guard made her way upstairs, she added her two cents, "Does it though? He's always seemed a bit shady..." The other guard looked surprised once more. "Really? I never got that vibe?"

The one guard continued to explore the house, while the other began trying to coax the children from the room (not an easy task). After several minutes Feldane, more guards and one of the priests from the temple arrived at the house.

Just to be clear, Amara/Almara (the name seems to change?) is locked up, and she's the one who hired us to find out what's going on, and she's the one the bad guy named as being the one who told him to leave the children alive. BTW, I'm playing that Jenni didn't hear that comment, as she was raging at the time.

Confused, Jenni stared at the carnival mistress as the guards led her into the cell. "Why are you here?" she asked.

Docilely, she allowed herself to be locked up, trusting the guards to get to the mansion and sort everything out.

It's Almara. But I think I forgot that for a while and was dropping the L. I'm also sure I've messed up Jherizhana a few times. Damn Golarion names! Yes, she is the woman that hired you. That is who Borvius said ordered the children to be left alive, but it was while he was posing at Thrym.

Almara sighed, "When I figure that out I will let you know..." she replied with a clearly exasperated tone. "I can only imagine that these morons felt they needed to arrest someone after this morning's murder..."

The guard clearly took offense to the morons comment. "Don't play dumb! You're here because you are hiding a prime suspect! If you'd just turned over Jherizhana like the sheriff asked, you wouldn't be sitting here!"

"Oh! So a different innocent person would be here." Almara replied snarkily, before muttering under her breath. "You're competence astounds me..."

Once the guard grumpily walked away, Almara quickly leaned forward. "What is going on? Why are you here? Where are the others? Have you found anything?" She took a deep breath, "They are getting desperate and the town wants blood...I couldn't let I..." She paused as she remembered there was another person with them. "Jherizhana take the fall..."

As they were led to the cells to be locked up, Alenka began wondering why her and Jenni were staying in town. Everything was getting complicated and the guards were unwilling to listen to reason. They had found the guy responsible for everything that had been happening and yet Jenni and her were being locked up.

Alenka looked pointedly at Almara, "You're going to have to decide which is more important, proprietary knowledge or freedom."

"We are here because we aren't locals and the guards were unwilling to listen to reason. The others are hopefully gathering more evidence. Jenni and I were chasing the mouth-breather who is responsible for everything that has been happening." Alenka pointed at the man who was with them, "That waste of skin is responsible for the latest murders of the Braetons and if he's involved with that he's either responsible for the other murders as well or he knows who is. He has the ability to change his face - either by magic or science - to appear like someone else which explains a lot, like the clowns. We all saw him look like Thrym just to terrify the children and he also said that you told him to leave the children alive. He specifically implicated you in this mess."

Paging Team Manor? Jenni and Alenka are in a tight spot, because they are stuck in a game of he said/she said. The rest of you are in a much better position to get the sheriff on your side. The guards seem to mostly believe you and the priest from earlier is present.

"I know not this man's character before what I saw here. So I lean towards horrid person,' Luk Luk offered her third cents to the guards' banter. "But the priest, she points towards said clergy, "Can give the time when we visited the temple. We'd not enough time between then and coming here to commit the crime these villains wanted us blamed for. I am thinking now the card was planted as part of this trap."

As he saw the sheriff entering, Vard went to speak to her.

"Hello, Sheriff. We're meeting again under more bad circumstances. The man and lady of the house have been murdered, as are the servants. The children are alive and have locked themselves in a room upstairs.
We found a letter of recommendation from Mister Braeton on Mister Legg's body this morning. We stopped in at the temple as Mister Legg had been staying there - plus there was a burglary yesterday, then we came here and got jumped by these men." - he indicates the thugs - " While we were fighting them off, Mister Monchello appeared, magically disguised as Thrym here. Said something about keeping the children alive as witnesses, then dropped the disguise and ran into the children's room. Once we fought off his men and followed him in, he escaped out the window - Jenni and Alenka ran after him, towards the town. I figure they've run into the town guards by now.
It certainly looks like they were trying to frame us specifically - looks to me like the bodies upstairs've been staged to look like a fight, but as I told the other guards, there's not enough sweat or incidental damage.
The kids might know a bit more about how long they've been here, but they're still pretty shaken.
I'm not local, so I'm not sure why Mister Monchello would do this - all I know is that they're both traders, so maybe they're business rivals. The magic disguise matches up with what the skulks we caught at the pawnbroker were saying - that whoever was giving them orders always looked different."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Fain stood behind Vard looking big eyed and innocent, his hat off and at his chest. He was trying very hard to look like someone without a malicious bone in his body completely incapable of something as horrible as murder. "It just doesn't make sense, does it? Six strangers, never met before in their lives - myself a part of the town for two years, massacre a family? Doesn't it make more sense, looking at the big picture, that it has more to do with that there will there? That someone would use them children to get rid of the investigators tryin' to work it all out?"
diplomacy aid Vard: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Almara looked deep in thought for a moment, before replying to Alenka. "It's not just about proprietary information. The guards were going to arrest somebody today. They had to...the town's gone nut. I wasn't going to let someone else take the fall for it." She gave Alenka a pointed look, "Someone shy, who was about to step forward and would not well handle the accusations and interrogations that would follow."

When Borvius was pointed out to her, she gave the man a death glare. "Cantar de hrănire inferior. Sper că putrezi."

Borvius just scoffed and replied to her in her own language. "Nimic versona. Cineva trebuie să ia întotdeauna căderea ..."

---

The sheriff listened quietly to the party, while the manor began to flood with guards, investigating every room. When there story was done, she turned to the priest. "...and you can confirm this? They were at the temple?" The priest nodded, "Not yet twenty minutes ago...they had barely left."

"...and they had said they were coming to investigate Braeton?" She followed up. "I don't know that they told me where they were going...but they had asked about Braeton and they were discussing him openly..." The sheriff nodded, as the female guard came down from upstair.

"I had some luck getting the children to come out and talk...poor little things. They claim that one..." The guard pointed to Thrym, "Held them hostage for over an hour. I suspect the trauma is causing them to overestimate the time...but even so iit still sounds like we have someone in two places at once. There may be something to this disguise claim" She continued, "They said they only got glances of the other attackers, but they sound more like these men." She pointed at the bodies on the ground. "They also claim that Borvius Monchello can into the room and tried to protect them from him..." She pointed at Vard "...and another woman. Apparently Monchello showed up right after the Ulfen left. The kids didn't question it...but it does seem a bit strange that he was able to get to their room so fast. They don't remember hearing fighting outside there door. They said it sounded like people were fighting downstairs." She gets a somber look. "They don't know about their parents yet..."

Feldane shook her head, "What a mess..." However, before she could finish the thought, another guard came running in.

"We might have caught one or more of the murderers!" He caught his breath for a moment. "We found those two outsider women chasing Borvius Monchello. He says they killed the Braetons an' were tryin' to kill him. They say he's the killer. I just arrested the lot of 'em. I figure...at least one of the three of em' is a sure fire murderer!"

Sheriff Feldane turned to the party, "Come on, let's go." Then turned back to the guards, "Take me to them. Now!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 Aid another it is, then, since Vard got there first

"My people know of skinwalkers," Thrym rumbled, spitting on the floor as he once again recalled the man wearing his face making an appearance. "The War against Winter might have chilled, but Fey still remain in the Northern lands, and at times come into contact with my people. Some of their number are skilled at the arts of illusion and shape-shifting, and delight in causing mayhem by taking over the life of a mortal, after quietly deposing the original. Over time, the Ulfen have found means to deal with these creatures. If the women caught him and didn't kill him on the spot, give me a moment alone with him - I'll make him talk, after I first uncover his real face. There is a trick to that, you see," the shaman went on, an evil glint in his eyes. "You take a knife, and peel off the false face. And if we make this one watch," he added, nudging his unconscious prisoner none too gently with his boot, "I think he will find value in cooperation in a hurry."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 The roll just for street credibility building value here... Thrym sure does sounds like he means every word, which is just dandy considering he does ;^)

Alenka crossed her arms, "I understand you protecting your family. But if proprietary knowledge was made known, others would realize their suspect is innocent." Mainly because she doesn't exist, the alchemist thought.

As Almara and Borvius exchanged words, Alenka's eyes narrow. "You know Varisian. Which means you also know the best way to frame Varisians."

She gave Borvius an appraising look that made it known that he didn't measure up to whatever she was comparing him to. "I don't know why others were so afraid of you. Yes, you have the ability to make my skin crawl but that's because I find you repugnant, not because you scare me."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 Aid another as well, and now a good roll instead of preventing defeat by toddler.

"Well there you are for timing issues on the attempt to frame us. Also Thrym's argument doesn't lack merit. I studied at Almas University and there are a wide variety shape shifters that kill and replace for nefarious reasons. Or devil worshipers too," Luk Luk offered, "We don't know if it is a human using disguise magic or if he and his," she looks to Fain, "wife? Partner? I don't know that detail, were the first victims. Though disguise magic using Shiver peddlers, you could probalby search their home for evidence. The kind though, well I believe Alenka is a little more familiar with the chemical aspect of alchemy as I prefer fireworks."

Should Luk Luk make another Alchemy roll for how to identiy Shiver ingredients?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 Aid another as well, and now a good roll instead of preventing defeat by toddler.

"Well there you are for timing issues on the attempt to frame us. Also Thrym's argument doesn't lack merit. I studied at Almas University and there are a wide variety shape shifters that kill and replace for nefarious reasons. Or devil worshipers too," Luk Luk offered, "We don't know if it is a human using disguise magic or if he and his," she looks to Fain, "wife? Partner? I don't know that detail, were the first victims. Though disguise magic using Shiver peddlers, you could probalby search their home for evidence. The kind though, well I believe Alenka is a little more familiar with the chemical aspect of alchemy as I prefer fireworks."

Should Luk Luk make another Alchemy roll for how to identify Shiver ingredients?

Sheriff Feldane turned to the party, "Come on, let's go." Then turned back to the guards, "Take me to them. Now!"

"Onward," Thrym agreed, taking hold of his prisoners legs to drag him after him - after what the man had been part of, Thrym saw no need to care for his comfort or avoid further bruises. Only his survival was required.

Sheriff Feldane gave Thrym a stern look. "You will not be peeling the skin off of anyone in my town! With all do respect, you are no longer in the Northern lands. Illsurian is a land of law. I will interrogate the man. It would not stand to jury for man's confession to have been tortured out of him by those he will undoubtable claim are the true guilty."

Not willing to hear another word of such things, she began to lead them toward the jail. To Luk Luk, she responded as they walked. "It does seem a stretch that Borvius Monchello would be able to shift his form. From what I remember, he's a decent fighter, but certainly no mage. But for him to be involved in the Shiver trade...Perhaps less of a stretch?" She sighed, "He runs a shipping company and there have been occasional flutters of accusations that he doesn't always run a clean business. Nothing provable though." She thought for a moment. "Robella, though...she runs a curiosity shop and I think she makes the potions that she sells. If they were working together..."

---

Borvius gave Alenka a sickening smirk. He opened his mouth to reply, but fell quiet at the doors to the jail opened and the sheriff and the rest of the party entered. Feldane took out her keys and walked to Jenni and Alenka's cell. "You two are coming with me." Borvius stood up and demanded, "What about me! I am being kept here for no reason! These are the murderers!" Feldane simply ignored, him. "Follow me." she said to everyone.

She lead them to her office. "We will continue to build a case against Borvius regarding the Braeton murders. The problem is that we still have no evidence how or if he is involved with the other murders...and even if he is, I doubt he's doing it alone. Here's what I recommend. Go to his shipping business. Robella's store is there too...and that's where they live. If there's evidence to be had...that's where it is..."

Fain trotted behind Feldane excited Now things seem to be finally coming together he couldn't wait to get to the jail, but something continued to bother him. It was his nosey voice - the gossip inside him - it wasn't talking, it was perhaps whispering on two accounts. At the Walder crime scene, and the one for the Sister Esrelda, there were three sets of footprints. Also, what was it that priest said about Legg?:

"There was something else too. While he was getting clean he would occasionally make remarks implying bitterness towards someone for his addiction...but he clammed up any time we probed him on it. We never did find out who it was, but I think it was someone in town. Someone who scared him enough that he wouldn't name them."

Did Legg feel so bitter because he had trusted the person that got him hooked. Ether there are two sets of murderers or Borvius and Robella have another accomplice.

So much for being able to goad him into saying or doing something stupid.

Alenka willingly exited the cell to follow the sheriff. Once in her office she said, "Please tell me that you're going to keep Borvius locked up while we sort this out. If you let him go, he'll destroy all evidence before we can find it."

She then added, "When I told Almara about Borvius trying to frame her specifically by having the children overhear her name as ordering they be left alive as witnesses, he didn't deny it. In fact, he answered in Varisian saying that someone had to take the fall. His actions and attitude are not that of an innocent man."

Alenka took a step towards the door, "We'll leave immediately. Can you spare any of your men to accompany us so that these kind of misunderstandings don't happen when we investigate Robella's store and the shipping business?"

"If its husband and wife working together, she'll no doubt be on the alert, 'specially when Borvius doesn't come back. And if she's doing potions or the like for the disguise, we'd best be on the lookout for more tricks like that."