"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."
"Your city, your rules, Lawkeeper," Thrym said, shrugging his shoulders, not really surprised the woman had balked at his sensible suggestion.
"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."
"Share secrets, in that case. Something that only those among us will know, that we can use to identify one another in case a skinwalker decides to wear our face again," Thrym grunted, nodding his head at the halfling's suggestion.
"I'm sorry. I can't spare any guards." Feldane replied apologetically. "At this point, every guard I have is securing a crime scene, investigating elsewhere or is otherwise busy keeping the peace in town." Still she gave Alenka a nod, "But Borvius I can hold. There is enough evidence to make him the main suspect in the Braeton murders. Of course, I am sure that he will continue to protest his innocence...and he will almost certainly request his lawyer. I know it's a lot to ask, but if you can come back with conclusive evidence of his guilt this will be a lot easier. Right now the only evidence I have is your testimony and the holes in his own story..." She sighed, "That's good enough for now. Perhaps enough to put him on trial...but I'm not sure it will be enough to convince a jury, especially not will the town already so convinced that this is the work of outsiders..."
Jenni brightened up at the idea of a secret code. "How about a password! Then we'll know who we are. How about....ummm....goblin farts!"
The idea of sharing secrets gave Alenka the feeling of deja vu. There was a memory just on the periphery of her mind that didn't want to coalesce but it felt like she had had this conversation before.
Alenka gave a rare chuckle at Jenni's choice of password. "No one will guess that, that's for sure."
The elf chuckled dryly at the suggested password, "Such flatulence can actually be quite flammable Jenni," Luk Luk sounded like she was not joking, "Before another ambush happens I'd request healing to those of us wounded please. Some of the villains escaped and cornered rats always fight back."
If the priest that'd arrived to speak for them was able to provide it that'd be so much the better. Luk Luk thought that some priests could heal groups with divine light or something.
Jenni brightened up at the idea of a secret code. "How about a password! Then we'll know who we are. How about....ummm....goblin farts!"
Fain was glad the conversation had turned lighter. He was still haunted with occasional visuals after Thrym's suggested skinning a human live, "Well that's a fine thing! I promise a gold crown to the first person who, when the time comes to use the password, incorporates GOBLIN FARTS, naturally, into casual talk! And as Luk Luk is being truthful, two crowns if ya' also dare to do say it next to an open flame." He puts his thinking cap on, "Huh, here are the rules: rule one - you must not laugh or cause a person in our party to laugh! rule two - you must not draw the suspicion of anyone outside our group! rule three - at least two members of this team must agree your scentence is not pre ... prepost ... prepostimus ... OY, vas iz narish?... too unnatural!"
Vard chuckles "Let's hope goblin farts aren't an ingredient in her potions."
Thrym nodded, agreeing with the suggested password with a deep chuckle. "Let us make haste then - one master of those drug-addled wretches may be behind bars, but others still remain free to act. Who knows what they intend to do next?"
Borvius Monchello's shipping company could be found near the river, not all so far from Braeton's home. The huge warehouse has one regular set of double doors, with a sign indicating a reception area and two other sets of massive double door, presumably used for moving large shipments in and out of the building. To the left of the warehouse, Robella's Curiosity Shop could be found in a much smaller building.
As they approached the river, Vard looked at the two shops.
"So, we're looking for evidence of making shiver or evidence of them transporting shiver. And I s'pose if they've got two skulks working for them, finding them might be useful too.
If the wife makes potions, she could use the same equipment to make shiver, right? So we should maybe pop in there first before the warehouse."
"OW!" Jenni shouted, pulling away from Thrym's touch. "THAT HURT!" Her nerves were on fire, not just at the injury, but everywhere. As the pain slowly dwindled, Jenni inspected herself, as if expecting to find her skin black-bruised and bloody.
"I thought priests were s'posed to make you feel better, not worse. Your gods are man." She caught a glare from Goggles, so she added grudgingly, "and thanks."
As Jenni eyed the buildings she said, "So, no splitting up, right?"
"Oh no no no no Jenni," Luk Luk was against splitting up, "after what happened last time? I am expecting an ambush at the least. Possibly poison gas or various alchemical hazards too," Luk Luk proceeds to pull filter scarf up over her face and readies her light crossbow on basic principle. She'd have a plan to source for a plan, "Who wants the frot and who wants rear guard?" before turning to her fellow alchemist to ask a question.
"Alenka? Do you recall two thinks about Shiver's components. How to identify them. Aaaand more importantly are they inflammable?" She chuckle with a evil smile then shakes her head,"Rhal Luk Luk rhal. Dhuulon," she straightens her face,"Just to prevent evidence destruction. Safety and aught like that, ah ha ha ha."
Alenka moved towards the Curiosity Shop, "Fine we start at the shop. I may be able to get us past the lock but what's the plan if I can't? Do we care about being quiet?"
"If there's alchemy or brewing involved in making Shiver, then chances are there are flammable intermediates. Or maybe not flammable but unstable enough to be explosive." Alenka tried to remember what she'd read about the drug, "But that's just a general rule of thumb to keep yourself from blowing up. Individual properties of ingredients don't always matter. What matters is when you start combining them."
"I thought priests were s'posed to make you feel better, not worse. Your gods are mean." She caught a glare from Goggles, so she added grudgingly, "and thanks."
”The spirits,” Thrym corrected, ”do not suffer fools who let themselves be hurt. Nor are they inclined to make us mortals depend on their powers to recover when we do fail to protect ourselves. Their lessons are harsh,” Thrym said, grinning fiercely, ” but we’d do well to heed them.”
"Fine we start at the shop. I may be able to get us past the lock but what's the plan if I can't? Do we care about being quiet?"
”I’m not built for skulking around,” Thrym grunted. ”But if there are people inside, they may try to flee as well as fight. We should see if we can spot any back doors from a distance, then be ready to strike them from two directions at once, to catch those who run or flank those who stand their ground.”
"I'm ready to go first. Sheriff authorised us to investigate. We give them a chance to surrender, but after the morning's affair, doubt they will. Only problem with not being quiet is that it might alert anyone in the other building, but if they knew Borvius's plan they're probably expecting trouble."
Vard prepared to enter the building once everyone was ready.
A quick check of the perimeter revealed that there are side doors on the right, to both the curiosity shop and the warehouse. Both are locked. The front door to the curiosity shop and the door to the reception area both indicate that they are open for business.
[As Jenni eyed the buildings she said, "So, no splitting up, right?"
..."Who wants the front and who wants rear guard?"
"...Do we care about being quiet?"
"I'm ready to go first."
Fain cleared his throat a bit with a tiny "ahem" to try to get people's attention, "I can be quiet when I need to be. I could sneak ahead? or support the lead from whatever cover there might be?"
"Locked? Good, it takes a little time to unlock a door." was the elf's assessment of the door's status. "Do we want to try to silently jam the doors? If anyone has aught that can that is." Luk Luk had not brought along a plethora of fast acting glue.
"Right right. Oh idea." Luk Luk dug out a scroll from her pockets,"I have a color spray scroll. It could disable without killing. As an option."
Fain was able to quietly push one of the big warehouse doors to sneak inside. The interior of this large building appeared unfinished, with a wooden frame that could have housed two separate floors but instead opened to the roof like a barn. A serviceable wagon was parked to the south near the service door he entered through. Across the center of the warehouse, a catwalk hungs fifteen feet off the ground. Heavy items were being be pulled up to the catwalk with ropes and a block and tackle, by three strong looking men who were entirely oblivious to their new guest. In the northeast and southwest corners, rooms had been framed in and walls erected with a door leading to each. Otherwise the room was filled with shelving, tables and crates.
Fain tucked himself up against the wagon and looked back at the tiny opening between the warehouse doors. He held up three fingers and pointed at the catwalk that cut through the centre of the warehouse attics and tucked himself against the wagon. When he thought that the teamsters were well enough occupied he tried to head east.
As Fain indicated enemies above, Vard sheathed his hammer and drew out his sling-staff.
The worker's remained oblivious to Fain as he snuck around the warehouse. As he approached the south west door he could clearly hear the sound of someone shuffling about, but probably no more than one person. He snuck up to the north east door and pressed his ear against it, but could not make out any telling noises.
Once he was done, Fain was easily able to sneak back to the group and tell them everything he had found.
Luk Luk opts for trying to be stealthy for the coming fight, even if she isn't good at it. She does say one thing to Fain, "Okay, so next time remind me that I can cast Message to communicate over distance with you." Luk Luk pockets the scroll and hefts the crossbow back up. Then she sighs, "I really should have learned to make magic missiles instead of fire." Luk Luk assumed they were just charging in as nobody claimed to be able to jam the doors.
"None of that sounds particularly sinister," Thrym grunted after the halfling sneak had returned with his report. "Perhaps the business is legitimate as far as the hired hands know, despite what the master and mistress are up to? But that should not stop us - just stay your blade, the people inside may take up arms to protect their employers' goods from what they see as a raid, and we need answers more than spilled blood and dead bodies," the shaman went on, readying his axe and shield.
"We have the authority to search the place. We should enter the office and announce our intentions, and tell them where their boss is. If they submit, all the better. If they resist or try to escape, then we can subdue them. "
"I didn't think to take a good look but I didn't notice a bell and rope or sheet metal and mallet that the people on the catwalk could use as an alarm. There could be in the office ... maybe we head directly there?"
Luk Luk sighs as she proceeds to sling the crossbow back on her shoulder. Then dig the Color Spray scroll back out,
"So much for trying my lacking stealth skills for this. If I have to use it I advise against tasting the rainbow magic. Do we throw accusations upon entry or try to arrest the owner for questioning or aught?" Luk Luk was confident that she could handle such lies.
"Right-oh, I'll cover the little inner door and wait to hear you enter." Fain snuck through the door again and crawled immediately under the wagon where he crept on fingers and toes to the other end. From there he scuttled to a bench with a few boxes piled on which he thought might provide cover to the door to the south offices and he waited until he could hear the team enter from the outside.
Jenni shifted from one foot to the other as she waited to be told what to do. "So, are we fighting? Or talking?" It was clear from her tone of voice which one she was hoping for.
"Talk first - we can always fight later, if words fail us," Thrym rumbled.
The party made their way into the reception area. A desk and chair sat against the east wall with additional chairs situated nearby. Wall lamps lit the room and a single door sat to the north.
At the desk sat a man, likely in his early thirties. Upon seeing company he immediately put on a classic customer service smile. "Welcome to Illsurian Storage and Hauling! My name is Ferdis. How can I assist you today!"
Goggles glanced at Jenni and the look she gave made it obvious she was in agreement with her friend but she said nothing. Then she grudgingly agreed with Thrym, "It is possible the employees are unaware of what their bosses are doing." Although I doubt it.
When they entered Illsurian Storage and Hauling she let the others, who liked to talk, speak with the young man. She made note of all possible exits from the room. She then studied the man's demeanor and minute actions as they explained why they were there.
Fain waited by the inner door.
Luk Luk decided to cast Message before they went in with Fain as a target. She didn't know if they had the range but if they did it would help.
"Salutations, how are you doing today good sir?" Luk Luk decided to try using charm for this. "We have been entrusted with investing the recent troubles. We have followed a lead to this establishment I am afraid. You haven't seen any large animal tracks around your warehouse have you? Or had any strange droppings appear on your grounds? If you would prefer, can we speak to your employer instead if she is available?"
Luk Luk was partly hoping to make the employees panick and flee the building. But asking them questions was probably a solution that could work too.
Vard chimed in. May as well get straight to the point - if this guy's in on it, he'll most likely panic when he hears his boss has been caught.
"And we don't mean Mister Borvius - he's currently being detained on suspicion of murdering the Braetons this morning, and it looks like he might be involved in some other shady dealings, including the attacks earlier in the week. As well as questioning, we're going to need to search the warehouse."
Unwilling to force his way into the confines of the reception chamber, Thrym kept station by the door, alternating between glances into the room and towards the Curio shop, to see if someone out there appeared to pay heed to their presence.
"No, you know I haven't seen any animal tracks around our warehouse." He replied to Luk Luk. Not dropping his overly pleasant tone for a moment, he then turned to Vard. "I'm terribly sorry to hear that you all had a bad experience with a member of our senior management staff. Let me go fetch my supervisor and see what we can do for you today." He gestured to the chairs in the office. "Please have a seat and I'll be right back."
With one last smile, he rose from his chair and walked into the back room door.
Vard was angered by the man's cavalier attitude. "No, we won't be taking a seat. This isn't some mislaid cargo, There's at least 8 people dead by my count and I'll thank you to take this seriously! Your boss wasn't acting alone either - frankly everyone who works here is under suspicion! And what you mean "you all had a bad experience" - we just said he was detained! I think what's going to happen is that you'll take a seat, tell us where your "supervisor" is and we'll go talk to them and search this place from top to bottom!"
The man looked unphased by Vard's outburst, as if angry people coming to his desk was nothing new. "Sir. I am trying to help you, but I cannot do so if you raise your voice at me. Now, if you'd kindly take a seat, I will fetch my supervisor as I said." He continued to head to the back door.
Vard swung his warhammet into the man's stomach.
"You can help by doing what a representative of the law is telling you to do."
Alenka raises an eyebrow at Vard's escalation of the situation. She then gives Jenni a wry smile, "It looks like talking isn't working so fighting it is." She moves towards the door that the young man had been headed for.
"Whoa," Luk Luk is surprised by how quickly Vard resorted to violence. "To be fair you are resisting a paladin after one of your employers murdered several people and was chased away from cowering children while wielding an ax stained with the blood of their parents." Luk Luk's face turns into a hate filled glare, "So I suggest you sit down in the corner quietly before we decide you are aiding and need to be stopped. Now." She has her had raised and points her index finger at the troublesome human. The tip of the finger is glowing thanks to Prestidigitation.
Luk Luk is betting the human doesn't know what she could cast.
Jenni was trying to figure out where Fain was, and if he was trying to communicate with them, however, she couldn't hear anything due to Vard's sudden violence.
Excited by the prospect of fighting, Jenni moved up behind Luk Luk. Watching her threaten the man made the bloodrager smile. After all, these were the people who were murdering folk.
Leaning against the door, Jenni drew her sword slowly, the rasp of metal against the sheath loud in the sudden silence. Pointing it at the man, she said, her voice low and menacing, "Listen to the nice lady."
"What the....urf..." The man exclaimed as the halfling assaulted him. Turning heel, he ran into the next room, shouting, "Help! I'm being attacked"
Fain could hear the commotion through the door in the warehouse, as could the men on the catwalks who looked up in surprise.