Thrym had decided to follow Alenka to the morgue, since he knew a thing or two about healing and the human body. Besides, the morgue was a place of the dead, and at such spots the spirits gathered - thus he wasn't surprised to find several of his ancestors manifesting themselves ion the cool stone building. Here, an ancient tattooed mystic sitting by a fire that produced neither heat nor smoke, humming a tone Thrym didn't recognize. There, a pair of desiccated warriors, staring at the living, decaying flesh mere strips like dry leather over their bones. Others, too, came and went as they often did, but some few lingered in this place of power.
But once the scientist as she seemed to have referred to herself as the past night began taking out her tools and painstakingly examining the body with all her tools, the shaman believed he should take note and see if he could learn something from her.
"The dead hold to fear to you, Alenka," Thrym said approvingly, finding himself uncomfortable for having to family name to address the woman by. Using just her given name was hardly appropriate.
Luk Luk paid attention as well, "Indeed, our thanks," she piped in after Alenka. Its seems Alenka had a lot more knowledge of corpses then Luk Luk did. Not surprising as Luk Luk hadn't studied that.
"Ah, a good choice of resin Alenka," and offers to help with the process as best she can. "I am at least familiar with this, I'll help you as I can," it would be better then doing her own thing.
The elf also observes what she can on her own and looks over Alenka's findings regarding the claw marks. She doesn't know anatomy of humans that well but magical creatures are another matter.
The mortician moved over to observe Alenka’s solution. She examined it for several minutes before sighing and saying, ”I suppose, I see know harm. It could reveal interesting results.” To Alenka’s second question, she shook her head with a slight look of annoyance. ”No. I have not gotten a chance to finish my autopsy yet. I had barely started when you all arrived…But the majority of Walder’s wounds are on his back, so it looks like he was either snuck up on or tried to flee...Fraydle may have fought, but based on the variety of angles of the blades, I suspect he had multiple attackers who took him down quickly.”
The guards waved you on through. ”You’d have to ask the wife how she found him…Though, the woman’s already traumatized, you better be respectful if you ask!” One of them warned, ”As for other circus goers? The wife found him real late. He must have been one of the last one’s home.”
Jenni moved carefully around the perimeter. Easy enough to see, there were definitely some beast tracks. Something big, with paws and claws. "Guys! Guys! Come look at this!" She waved the halflings over.
"See, look! Like they said, some kind of beast. But....sphynxes have liony paws, right? These don't look very liony to me. And they're not deep enough. Jebreeza's gotta weigh at least...umm....three of me. But these marks aren't deep enough for that. But they don't come or go...whatever this is, it couldna flown in."
She kept scanning around, and saw something else that was odd. "Guys! Look here. Human tracks! Or humanoid, anyway. But they were swept away. Well, mostly swept away. Here too! I think some folks were with this creature too!"
Luk Luk was putting a lot of scrutiny onto the claw marks. Even making a clawing gesture with her fingers. She flexed and positioned her fingers oddly a few times, mutter to herself in various languages and shaking her head.
Then the elven pyro clapped her hands, "Well, I am fairly certain that Jherizhana didn't kill Walder. They are claw marks that is true. But the pattern isn't right for a sphinx's paw," Luk Luk points to the wounds as she explains, "See the bunching? That is not anatomically right for feline claw patterns. It'd have to be a different creature then the likes of the sphinx." Luk Luk looks to her fellow detectives to see what their opinion is.
"Guys! Guys! Come look at this!" ..."See, look! Like they said, some kind of beast. But....
When Jenni called out Fain was meticulously searching near the bush. He didn't come over, he was too engrossed, "Yes, I noticed those."
"...sphynxes have liony paws, right? These don't look very liony to me. And they're not deep enough. Jebreeza's gotta weigh at least...umm....three of me. But these marks aren't deep enough for that. But they don't come or go...whatever this is, it couldna flown in."
At that Fain stood up. "Yes, probably a flying creature ... but I just read something with claws. I didn't get the shape or weight, ahem, good eye Jenni. Fain went back to searching the bush.
"Guys! Look here. Human tracks! Or humanoid, anyway. But they were swept away. Well, mostly swept away. Here too! I think some folks were with this creature too!"
When Jenni spoke again he rushed over, "It's very important Jenni, do any of the creature's tracks appear over the area brushed away?" I was concentrating as hard as I could and I missed all of this ... am I bad at this? "Where did you learn to track?"
Real doubt, self doubt, crossed Fain's face.
Vard was lost in thought, gazing at a purple butterfly while the others searched. When Jenni called him over, he approached carefully to listen to the pair's analysis.
"So, a flying creature with paws, but smaller than a sphinx." He bounced on his heels for a moment in thought. "Don't know of any creature like that, but it might be something you'd find in the zoo. We'll have to check if they have anything like that. How big roughly do you think it was?"
...
"Swept away? Vard peered intently where Jenni was indicating. "So trying to hide their own tracks? Don't see the point if you're going to rob the poor man straight after. Maybe they were expecting no guards at the robbery. Or maybe they thought they could be recognised by their own tracks?" He frowned as he tried to make sense of it. Why these complications? This feels like.. a hustle of some kind.
"See the bunching? That is not anatomically right for feline claw patterns. It'd have to be a different creature then the likes of the sphinx."
"Agreed - from the angles of the wounds, something tall on two legs seems likelier than a four-legged beast," Thrym grunted his agreement. In fact, he was slightly surprised the wounds truly seemed to be the cause of the man's death. He had been more than expecting them being inflicted after death, to mask the true weapon used. Among the clans, for example, poisoning was a most foul and cowardly method of killing someone, yet every now and then that was the weapon of choice for some craven. But often the killer would then take an axe to the corpse, in the hopes that with a wealth of very visible wounds to choose from, no-one would bother to look for proof of a different weapon. "But then again, we have yet to see this sphinx up close for a proper comparison."
"The guard, on the other hand, looks like to have fallen to a group of killers. Many wounds, all over his body... there were a number of attackers who jumped at him as one. Three or four, I'd say from the look of things."
She looked up from the body for the first time since beginning her examination and announced, ”I don't think a sphinx would cause such a clawing pattern. But I'm not even certain that any animal did this. It really is fascinating and requires more research.”
Alenka made a bunch of notations in her book before moving to the guard’s body. ”This body is more straight forward. Definitely killed by a slashing weapon.” When the mortician didn’t object to her inquiry, the vivisectionist used her alchemical concoction and poured it into the deepest of the four wounds. She waited until it cooled and then pulled it out. ”Longer than a dagger, shorter than a longsword, and not curved. Most likely a shortsword or something similar.”
”Both the attacks must have been quick or quiet or both because neither body show any signs of defending themselves or fighting back.”
Since the mortician hadn't finished their examination yet, Alenka made her request. [b]"May I stay and assist for the rest of your examination?"
Before they left, Vard stopped briefly to talk to the guards watching the site.
"Thanks, I think we're finished here. Say, I don't suppose you've noticed anyone unusual going along the road this morning?"
"I think only a couple of us should go to question Mrs Walder. Poor woman's just lost her husband, so we'll need to be delicate about it. I'd suggest just myself and Fain - you didn't happen to know her, did you? - and maybe Thrym as well." Vard said, glancing up at the barbarian, who was the tallest of the tallfolk, but who did seem to be the most careful with his words. "Does anyone have any questions we should make sure we ask her?"
"I think only a couple of us should go to question Mrs Walder. Poor woman's just lost her husband, so we'll need to be delicate about it. I'd suggest just myself and Fain - you didn't happen to know her, did you? - and maybe Thrym as well." Vard said, glancing up at the barbarian, who was the tallest of the tallfolk, but who did seem to be the most careful with his words. "Does anyone have any questions we should make sure we ask her?"
"Before we get to asking anyone anything ... can we get a spot of breakfast? I would like to know what you found and you three need to hear what we've been talking about. It is not good for people to be watching us gathered about in the street. Perhaps the quiet corner of the public house? Tomato, potato, sausage, and ham?", as if on cue Fain's stomach gurgled.
In an conspiratorial hush but a little enthusiastic,"Wow, you should have seen Queen Jenni! She sussed out every little detail. But, Jenni you should describe what you saw, oh and, if Luk Luk hasn't already? Vard, you should tell them what you said last night about Mistress Denisen's old adventuring days. Oh, and Berthold, but somehow I think Berthold's less important. Clearly, without a doubt, the fireworks were my favourite. Brilliant work!"
"I have bundles of questions going through my head, but the one that's really itching is: Did the first murder happen first? Great end to a great evening.
I vote to follow Vard's plan and have two people talk to the widow Agnes. Ask her as many questions about what happened as they can. The more she says the more we can double-check. The other should watch her and see if she ... I'm sorry, it sounds cruel ... see if there is a trace of nervousness about her. I'm not suggesting she did anything wrong, only that she may not be telling the entire truth. Like, why didn't she go directly to the city guard? There could be many good reasons for this but I would like to know. Oh, cornbread! Do you know that little nip I got from the dragon is quite cleared up!
What happened at the morgue? Were the wounds on the two bodies clearly different? You know, I heard tales of people who changed by the light of a full moon - I had a crazy idea when the rumours of 'a creature silhouetted by moonlight' ... but it wasn't full last night."
"What happened at the morgue? Were the wounds on the two bodies clearly different? You know, I heard tales of people who changed by the light of a full moon - I had a crazy idea when the rumours of 'a creature silhouetted by moonlight' ... but it wasn't full last night."
"The keeper of coin was caught by behind by something with claws, something that stood tall on two legs," Thrym said, spraying bits of food from his mouth as he kept shoveling food in while talking. "The guard at the vault was cut to pieces by several people with blades in their hands, three or four of them if not more." Clearly death held no fear for him, judging by his healthy appetite despite the topic of conversation.
After a couple hours of investigating and a late breakfast, it was close to midday by the time the group arrived at the Locked Box. This sturdy looking building was also roped off with two guards ensuring that any entry was blocked. However, one of the guards was notably distracted by trying to comfort a weeping middle aged woman. "It just bothered me to think of him ogling that winged she-lion. All that prancin' about without a top on! But none a' that would matter if only Archie was still here with me!" She wailed loudly, "I should have walked with him! I should have gone with him!" The guards shook his head, "No Mrs. Walder! You can't blame yourself for what them thieving Varisian scum did! They would'a just killed you too!" This just earned an even louder wail from Agnes Walder, "At least we'd be together!"
"Locked Box is closed. This area's off limits." The remaining guard firmly explained to the approaching party. Upon being shown the letter, he scowled, "Really? Feldane's letting the circus 'investigate'? Well, isn't that rich." He sighed, "I guess you got the proper permission...Just try not to get in the way. I've got my eye on you if you try anything shady!"
"I guess you got the proper permission...Just try not to get in the way. I've got my eye on you if you try anything shady!"
Thrym crossed his arms and stared down at the loudmouthed guard, clearly not impressed by the man's attitude. "A watchman is never as eager to prove his worth as after a crime has been committed and he wasn't there to stop it," the Ulfen shaman rumbled, showing his teeth in what might have been a grin or a grimace. "Although it seems we are not needed here - you have it all figured out already, little man. Go on, shine the light of your wisdom on us an astound us with the depth of your reasoning. And while you are at it, explain why the craven scum of Varisians are still here, with their ill-gotten gains, instead of riding the fastest horses the Carnival had for the next town to spend their loot in peace."
The man scoffed, "Because they know we can't prove nothing, that's why! They killed our boss and our friend for sure, but they covered their tracks well enough that they can just stay here and laugh at us. Probably want to get in one more heist before they leave." The other guard nodded in agreement, "You're right about that...We all got to be vigilant and waiting for their next move! I guess you outsider's don't care a lick about that, but whattabout you Fain? You ain't worried your house isn't next on their list? Or is that why your cozying up to them?" He said with a glare.
"Oh my poor Archie!", Agnes Walder sobbed quietly to herself.
"Because they know we can't prove nothing, that's why! They killed our boss and our friend for sure, but they covered their tracks well enough that they can just stay here and laugh at us. Probably want to get in one more heist before they leave."
"If that is the case, why do justicars not follow on the Carnival's heels like sharks after a fleet, if they go around storming every house of coin they come across?" Thrym grunted, shaking his head, finding his instant dislike of the guard fortified by every new word that came out of his mouth. "No, this crime seems well planned, as the thieves got out with their loot without ever being seen. Planning takes time, which the Carnival people did not have, having just arrived. Unless," he added, a gleam in his eye, "unless this vault is so ill guarded any lame horse-thief could have walked in and out with sacks full of coin, and everyone across the land knew about it."
"Oh my poor Archie!", Agnes Walder sobbed quietly to herself.
Luk Luk held up a hand to block Thrym's generous offer of flying table scraps. "Yes, unless we are dealing with a tall multilimbed killer, but I think people would remember that," Luk Luk agreed with Thrym's summary. She gave Fain a look of surprise, "The first murerd happened first. The wife found him and brought the guards remember?"
She wasn't sure about the lycanthrope angle. It seemed to simple.
Luk Luk was less then amused by the guards antics. Though Thrym, well she turned to him with a deadpan tone to say, "Very diplomatic."
Then turned to the guard, "Yes we outsiders. We are neither on the defensive nor seeking vengeance. That makes us impartial in this. We have already begun our investigation and we do seek justice." She would've come to the sphinx's defense but the woman was cleary distraught enough as is. "While it is true travelling entertainers have harbored criminals before they have also often been used as scapegoats. Sometimes by local hoodlums or even those trailing behind for just that reason. There is always proof to be found. And when that proof is found so to will the guilty, and gone shall be all doubt that they are deserving of punishment."
A excellent speech. And unoriginal. She'd lifted it from a story she had read in Almas. Luk Luk turned to the widow. Her tone became much softer now, "I am truly sorry for your loss and for the hardship you are going through. But if you are able, we would like to ask some questions," she looks at the guard, "And you too sir guard. If you know aught was taken that will let us know what to search for as evidence. Please?"
Both guards scowled at Thrym, but fear of the large Ulfen seemed to keep things from escalating. Luk Luk's words did little to repair the tension. Still one grumbled in response, "Feldane said to give you access, so we can't exactly refuse. As for what was taken, they smashed up the main area and stole just about anything not nailed down. You can take a look for yourselves if you don't believe me. The main vault is still sealed though, so it don't look like they got in there." He shot Thrym a dirty look, "So much for their great planning. Walder's master key is still missing though."
Agnes looked at Luk Luk with teary eyes. "You are trying to help find Archie's killer?" She asked, "I...I can try to answer your questions..." She also added, "I...I have a spare key to the vault too...*sniff* I forgot to tell the Sheriff...Oh...Dear...Do you think she'll be mad?" She let out another fit of sobs.
When Jenni spoke again he rushed over, "It's very important Jenni, do any of the creature's tracks appear over the area brushed away?" I was concentrating as hard as I could and I missed all of this ... am I bad at this? "Where did you learn to track?"
Jenni squinted at the brushed off area. "No, I don't think so."
"Oh, here and there," she said in response to the halfling's question. "Where I grew up, my friends and I used to play a lot of hide and seek. I usually won!"
"Feldane said to give you access, so we can't exactly refuse. As for what was taken, they smashed up the main area and stole just about anything not nailed down. You can take a look for yourselves if you don't believe me. The main vault is still sealed though, so it don't look like they got in there." He shot Thrym a dirty look, "So much for their great planning. Walder's master key is still missing though."
"Finally, words worth the breath it took you to force them out," Thrym said, nodding, feeling well satisfied. So... the people who assaulted the keeper of coin's abode were interrupted before they could use the key... but if they were driven away by some sound outside, how come they had time to raid the front of the store, that surely held items of less value than the vault? Surely they would have started with the vault itself... unless the claw-wielder who killed the keeper of coin was not with the people who raided his business, or was prevented from meeting with the people who had come here and killed the sole guard remaining?
Thrym found himself grinning out of sheer pleasure. Midnight murder, theft, armed raid, a mob likely driving itself to a frenzy required to pick up torches and pitchforks to deliver vigilante justice... This was truly a mystery worth solving!
"The first murerd happened first. The wife found him and brought the guards remember?"
"That's what Agnes Walder said to the Sheriff's people, or was told to say. I'm sorry, I don't have any reason to believe she lied or embellished or anything. Something's just odd about the chain of events."
----------Well that got angry fast. Can we hate the gaurdi 'after' we get our information out of them? I suppose boundries must be set. Thrym is being reasonable with Agnes anyway.
..."You're right about that...We all got to be vigilant and waiting for their next move! I guess you outsider's don't care a lick about that, but whattabout you Fain? You ain't worried your house isn't next on their list? Or is that why your cozying up to them?" He said with a glare.
Fain went to answer the guard but Luk Luk was already there with a compassionate word.
Agnes looked at Luk Luk with teary eyes. "You are trying to help find Archie's killer?"... I forgot to tell the Sheriff...Oh...Dear...Do you think she'll be mad?" She let out another fit of sobs.
"Missus Agnes? You must think us mad. Please let me properly introduce everyone. This here is Thrym son of Thyr. He his-self saved me from the baby dragon incident yesterday, perhaps you've heard? This is Jenni, she beat the carnival out of not one but two of their toughest games. This is Vard, servant of Kurgess, who is tasked by his order to bring down dishonest competitions all over the country. This is Alenka and this is Miss Eaglfin, both learned and dedicated. All were there helping me when I was attacked and so I help these 'from-aways' now. Isn't that what we do?
I wanted to say, Archivin, I was impressed by him. He was an honest man of business, and a friend's mom used to say, 'Better one solid stone than twenty flimsy rafts.'
Can you tell us, as best you can, what happened that night? Let's get some tea and sit for a bit. I'd love to hear anything you can tell us, right from before you left for the carnival. Any little thing could help.", he glanced at Vard with a quick help me out here
He took her by the hand and started in to the Locked box. As he did he looked the guards up and down.
"Oh. Thank you Fain. Those are kind worlds. Archie was such a kind man. He didn't deserve this!" Agnes sniffed, as she allowed Fain to lead her into the Locked Box. Lamps illuminated a large showroom. Shattered glass from broken display cases lay scattered on the ground along with small trinkets and gems that may have been dropped by the burglars.
Agnes began to tell her story, "I...Well you see I never went to the carnival. I didn't much like the idea of Archie going either...You always here the rumors of those type being.." She lowered her voice, "...a bit loose..." She shook her head. "We had a little bit of an argument about it...which all seems so silly now...I shouldn't have been so uptight...I should have just gone with him!" Her voice started to quiver, "So when I was getting ready for bed and he wasn't home, I just thought maybe he was still mad, you know?" She began to give into the tears, "But then I woke up...It must have been like one in the morning....and...and he still wasn't home...So I started panicking...I threw clothes on and started searching down the back path that Archie likes to take out of town...and that's when I saw it...His shoe in the bushes..." She broke down sobbing again. It took a few minutes for her to regain her composure. "It was so awful! I just didn't know what to do! I didn't see any constables around...and the Locked Box was closer than the jail...So I ran there and begged the guards to come help me and they did...except for poor Tom. He stayed behind to keep an eye on things...After that two of the guards took the body...and we and another one went to find the Sheriff...I only found out later that the place had been robbed..."
Can you tell us, as best you can, what happened that night? Let's get some tea and sit for a bit. I'd love to hear anything you can tell us, right from before you left for the carnival. Any little thing could help.", he glanced at Vard with a quick help me out here
Vard murmured some vague condolences as he followed Fain and Mrs Walder in, distracted slightly by the terse conversations with the guards.
While Fain was calming her down, Vard looked around the room at the shattered displays. Once she was composed, Vard spoke. "Mrs Walder. We will find out who has killed Archivin and Tom and bring them to justice, you have my word."
"Now, you were saying that you had a spare key to the vault? Have you been inside to see if anything was taken? If they did have your husband's key, they may have locked it again after themselves."
Alenka left the consoling and questioning of the widow to the others. She was far too hysterical for Alenka's liking and really unnecessary as far as she was concerned.
As they talked, Alenka looked around the Locked Box for any pattern to the chaos. The more she heard, the more she believed that this whole murder and robbery was to get something specific and conveniently blame the Carnival.
"What does Mr. Walder's master key open? Is it possible for it to have opened the main vault and closed it up again without anyone being the wiser?"
Alenka looked around at the scattered items that were left. "Would it be possible to get an inventory of what was contained within the Locked Box so that we can help compile a list of everything that was taken?"
"He kept his documents in his office. It's the door to the left." Agnes replied to Alenka with a sniff. The office was dominated by a large polished desk. Hooks for hanging lamps were permanently affixed to the walls and a large framed portrait of Archivin and Agness hung behind the desk. Running along the east wall were several display cases filled with plaques, stuffed animals, framed documents and other trinkets and trophies. This room did not seem like it had been disrupted or looted. On the desk, lay a thick pile of papers. With the papers in hand, Alenka and Vard were able to begin an inventory of the remaining items in the storeroom. The remaining objects seemed to fit into one of three categories, items that would be burdensome to carry, small items that would easily be missed and items of low value. The ledger also made it clear that any significantly expensive baubles were kept stored in the vault. But no particular item, either accounted for or unaccounted for, jumped out as being more rare or valuable than the rest.
When asked about the vault, Agnes got worried look, "You're right! They could have opened the vault and closed it! And the guards never checked because they didn't have the key! They didn't know I had one! Oh dear!" She hastily offered them the key and pointed straight ahead. "The vault is through those double doors and down the stairs. Please! We should check straight away!"
"Of course, ma'am. Would you like to call your guards to accompany us?"
Best for our reputation to make sure there's plenty of eyes watching us in the vault - that guard was already suspicious of outsiders - don't want him imagining things that didn't happen if something *is* missing - ugh, I hope the others are not antagonising the man too much
Luk Luk holds up both hands in a placatory gesture, "Do not worry Ma'am, I'm sure the Sheriff wont' be mad with you. It is completely understandable that you would forget." Luk Luk listened attentively as Agnes spoke. Fain was a local, a friendly face for the woman. It was best to let him take the lead. The elf was starting to wish she'd taken some debate classes instead of faking her way through philosophy.
"Agreed Mrs Walder, but I think one of your guards must accompany us in searching the vault," Luk Luk looks at the guard who'd been rude earlier, "both for propriety and safety. If the vault has any extra security it is best you gentlemen disable it. Plus I'm certain you know the vault. Always trust a expert in their field. An inventory of the vault will be faster under your guidance then our acting alone. Please, let us take a look."
Luk Luk felt the guards would be happier if they felt they were in charge in some way. Memories of professors butting heads with guest lecturers came to mind as an example of how not to do things.
As they go over, Luk Luk will turn to Vard and Alenka, "You two okay with checking the ledger against what we find in the vault? It'll help Mrs Walder and our investigation at the same time."
Which was entirely true. The widow would better know her finances if they conducted an inventory.
Thrym chuckled aloud as the doubt whether the vault had been raided after all was voiced. On one hand, if the place had been hit and the guards hadn't even noticed, it would serve that one loudmouth of a guard right. On the other, if the vault hadn't been hit, it might be in nights to come, giving them an opportunity to accost the criminals. Either way, a victory.
As the spare key was produced Thrym kept his eyes on the guards, eager to look for signs one of them was more worried than the others about the state of the vault being discovered sooner than he had expected.
Fain halted as he watched Thrym watching the guards, Thrym seems focused on the guardi - and more so when they aren't looking back ... I think I might be able to provide some crossfire
Fain stayed toward the back of the group and tried to get the attention of one of the guards, "First of all, my apologies. We've been talking about my friend Archivin and I haven't given my condolences about your 'friend'. 'Tom Fraydle' was it? Did you know Tom well? He must have been 'trusted' if he was 'chosen' to stay behind. Losing a colleague in your business must be like 'loosing a brother', I can't pretend to know. And I won't insult you by trying to pretend I'm as worried about the Varisian's as you. But I will promise that the 'people' who killed Tom will receive punishment. And someone of my height, with knowledge of how to skin an animal, can punish quite thoroughly.", The creature who killed Archivin certainly does deserve some harsh justice - could I really punish someone? Might I be forced to?
Thrym glanced at Fain in passing, hiding the movement by rolling his shoulders, his scale shirt clattering softly as the interlocked bits of shaped metal scraped against each other. The little one seemed to caught on quickly. 'Never judge a saga by its length, but by its lesson,' the shaman mused, then went back to lounging with insolent calm against a now-empty display cabinet.
It wasn't like he was merely trying to insult the guards - he most certainly was doing just that since he found himself disliking the bigot of a man - but also by provoking the guards we might push one into saying something he would not consider in a more rational state of thought. It was an effective tactic against his own clansmen who by nature refused to back down before a challenge or show weakness, but he saw no reason to expect it would not work here as well.
Although he did find himself hoping the fool of a man would throw another stereotypic slight against the Varisians since he had come up with a good counter that should get things heated up nicely.
Luk Luk's comments about having the guards disable any extra security seemed to remind Agnes of something, "The guards don't normally enter the vault, only me and my husband have keys...But oh dear! I almost forgot something else! That could have been bad! There is a trap on the vault! Not when you enter it...but when you leave. If you don't hit a button on the way out there is a hidden panel that will trigger a pit trap!" She cried a bit more, "I'm sorry! You could have been hurt! I'm a mess today!
One of the guards was fetched, while the other one remained behind in order to continue guarding the entrance. He didn't seem to be too in the mood to be conversational, but he did respond to Fain, "Yeah. Tom was a friend. A good friend." He gave Fain an almost offended look, picking up on the way the halfling was over emphasizing certain words, "...And I don't like what you're implying. That we somehow 'chose' him to stay behind. The wife's boss ran in crying saying that boss was dead, we weren't exactly having long talks about who went where, okay! It's not like we knew this would happen!"
While he is clearly agitated by the questions, you don't pick up on any tells that he is lying or that he anything to hide. His rough edges can probably be attributed to a a combination of sleep deprivation, still being in shock from the previous nights events, Thrym winding him up and the fact that you guys are working for the people that he suspects are responsible for killing his friend.
The group made their way down the stair to the vault, Agnes pointing out where the trap door would open if the button inside the vault was not pressed. As Vard open the door, the party saw two things. First, they saw that half of the vault had been cleared out it's valuables. Second, they saw a dagger came flying out of the vault, that barely missed Vard's head. At first the dagger appeared to come out of nowhere, but at a closer glance they saw a wide eyed and heavily breathing creature, it's skin camouflaged against the wall like a chameleon.
\"...And I don't like what you're implying. That we somehow 'chose' him to stay behind. The wife's boss ran in crying saying that boss was dead, we weren't exactly having long talks about who went where, okay! It's not like we knew this would happen!"
"Yes, I'm sorry. I believe you. Please take care of yourselves. Stay safe ... so you can take care of Agnes."
----------"Ah, we're not too late for the opening of the v-", a dagger flew over Fain's head and his heart jumped up into his throat. Without thinking he stepped to one side of the vault door, unshouldered his bow and loosed an arrow ... at the wall?
"Sluta!" the shaman growled, throwing one arm out to stop the halfling from releasing another arrow even as he readied his shield... while very obviously leaving his axe to his belt. "Kvinna. There is no way out. Överge dig själv. Drop your weapons. And you might yet live. Utmana oss and die," he growled, fighting back the voices of his ancestors for a chance to capture the thief... as this possibility had not occured to him previously. Why had one thief been left behind, and only one? Had there been a falling out, or dispute for division of loot? Or were all the thiefs and killers still here, just as well as this one? But then, where was all the loot that half the vault had held?
The elf sighed at the diplomatic attempts failing elsewhere. Luk Luk tried to console the widow as she guided them, "Well it best to think on this Mrs Walder, you did remember before now. That is the important thin-" and then a dagger barely missed Fain.
His return seemed to be better. "Surrender! Yield, wound be healed. Defy, you die!" was the rhyme she shouted at the figure in Common. Luk Luk wasn't sure what Thrym said, but the tone was easy enough to guess. Even if Thrym's language was a poor choice though. Fain's response probably helped too.
If not, Luk Luk unslung her light crossbow and aimed it at the figure. If they didn't give in she'd take a shot at them. Them being alive would be best for the investigation.
Fain's arrow struck true, as the creature let out a shriek. Her fear only grew as Thrym began shouting at her in a language she could not understand. However, before she could react again, the guard let out cry of "Murderer!" and ran at her with his longsword brandished and stabbed her through the shoulder.
"Darrel, no!" Agnes shouted a second too late as a clicking sound was heard under his feet. Suddenly the floor gave way under Fain and Thrym. The halfling was quick on his feet and leapt to the side, but Thrym was not as fast, falling into the darkness.
In the pit he saw yet another one of these creatures, this one male and injured from his own fall. However, this creature did not attack, instead it gave Thrym a panicked look as it shouted out to anyone who could hear. "Bradak ara kalmak! Don't let close! Ach da stackvist on mortraz!"
The creature in the vault looked heavily injured by the combination of Fain's arrow and the guard's vengeful strike. Looking terrified, she withdrew from the angry guard to hide behind the central display cases.
Alenka didn’t even flinch as the dagger came flying out of the vault. As she peered in with the others, her eyes lit up as she caught sight of the creature and its ability to camouflage itself. ”Fascinating. What a marvelous ability.”
As the guard burst forward she yelled, ”No! Stop! Don’t kill her. We need to question her.” Then Thrym was falling into the pit and Alenka heard a language she actually understood. ”Curiouser and curiouser,” she mumbled to herself. She quickly scanned the room for something large enough to block the pit from closing again. Seeing a broken table leg she jammed it in the opening. "Hold on Thrym and secure the captive."
In Undercommon she commanded, <”Surrender and you will not be harmed. We have questions and you have answers. You will be fairly treated regardless of whether you are guilty or not.”> As she spoke, she moved herself in between the over-reacting guard and the creature.
To the guard she stated, ”Exit the vault and protect Mrs. Walder. We will secure the vault.”
Vard shook off the shock from the flying dagger, then raced forward, drawing his warhammer.
Rounding the corner, he barked "Drop your weapons, put your hands up and surrender!"
With the pit trap opened, and her lack of atheltism, Luk Luk's only real option is to hold position. Or armor up. She casts a spell and then shouts, "Anybody have a rope?"
"Flat of the blade if she doesn't surrender! We still need answers!"
"Hold on Thrym and secure the captive."
Thrym groaned in pain, feeling the iron taste of blood in his mouth. Everything had happened too quickly, him urging for peace, Fain and the guard attacking the intruder at sight. Then… a moment of vertigo and pain, and he came back to his senses somewhere else, in pain, with another of those strange creatures around, speaking some unknown language, but clearly alarmed and desperate rather than hostile.
’Thought the pit was supposed to open when leaving the vault, not entering it,’ the shaman thought, struggling to his knees. Perhaps there was something else the woman had forgotten to share with them. Or perhaps the bloodthirsty guard had triggered it as he charged the intruder… he was in too much pain to figure out the fine details, or truly care.
”Vad säger du?” Thrym shouted back at Alenka, who was doing something up above, perhaps waving at him. In addition to speaking some mysterious language, that is. Or perhaps she was directing her words at the creature trapped in the pit with Thrym. Yes, that did make sense.
Fain took control of his pounding heart and lowered his bow just in time to feel a seismic shift. He leapt forward, scrambled to his feet and turned - Thrym was gone! No, he's hurt. Another creature? What's Alenka doing? "Ah, bleyt aun foyln! <blight and rot> Somebody run upstairs and get some furniture, chairs or something that Thrym can stack!, at that Fain ran past the guard Darrel and tried to block his path to the creature. "Tom was killed by three or more attackers with something like short swords! We need this one to lead us to the others! If you kill it they get away!"
Did they have short swords? They may not even be the killers!
Now shakily on his knees, Thrym touched the back of his head, blinking as he struggled to focus his eyes. He winced in pain, seeing his fingers bright red with his own blood as he brought his hand back – he had hit his head on the way down, and scalp wound always bled like crazy.
”Förfäder! Delta i! Din son behov läkning! the shaman called out, spitting more blood. Perhaps he had bit his cheek, for the taste of iron was only getting stronger.
From the mists, a woman shaman strode forth, her bare skin showing an impressive number of tattoos that told the tale of the power and influence she had wielded in life. Exchanging nods with her living descendant, the shaman laid a hand on Thrym’s head. A flash of purple light with a heart of pure white. A brief moment of searing pain quickly followed by a wave of numbing cold, as if Thrym’s head had been first poked with fiery embers, then immersed in a bucket of icy water. A hiss of pain escaped his clenched lips, but he could feel his head clearing, the headache he had been in too much pain to even notice abating.