Isme determines that Ibor is holding something back.
Wyam glanced askance at Ibor for a moment from the warning he'd received.
"Ibor... " Wyam said with an edge to his voice. "We can't help you if you keep things from us."
Ibor hesitates a moment, then it all spills out.
"I... ugh. I was raised not to speak ill of the dead. Harker got greedy; he'd been cooking the books for some time, sending more money his way than to the bosses. Over the years, he might have gotten quite a lot; I don't know how much. I wouldn't put it above the Scarnettis, who own the mill, to kill Harker if they found out."
"I wasn't aware that the Scarnetti's dealt with their business utilizing monsters. I'm not completely discrediting what you say, but I had heard they dealt with matters more... in house."
He thought for a moment.
"Though if he was skimming off the top, we might have to look into that and return what he stole and give it to those harmed by their actions."
"T-they don't have any monsters. Mister Scarnetti is all religious; won't touch anything unholy. Maybe they had someone fake it... I dunno."
Wyam lifted an eyebrow at the mention of Scarnetti being religious, but immediately realized that religion catered to all sorts, so he didn't bother to refute the point.
Deciding that there was little more to gain by talking with Ibor and that it was probably best not to upset the man too much more by making him think on what had occurred, he put a hand on a nearby wall to lean against and spoke.
"Well Ibor, thank you for your time. You have been helpful in this affair. If you can think of anything else later, just let the Sheriff know and he'll find us."
He nods, and returns his gaze to the wall.
On your way out of his cell two ptions remain; leaving and looking elsewhere, or talking to Ven.
After leaving the cell area, Wyam turns to Isme. "Well with the new information we've gained by talking to Ibor, I do feel like speaking with Ven Vinder may be worthwhile now. It won't necessarily help us with the immediate problem but it might give us some more insight as to what may have caused this. Unless you'd rather we went to speak to that bodyguard who survived the attack on the merchants from before?"
Wyam turned to look at Spectrum.
"Spectrum, I think Isme and I can deal with things on this end. You mentioned some supplies you thought might be useful earlier in our investigation, right? Why don't you go collect them and maybe while your at it you can talk to that Brodert Quink fellow.
Then whoever finishes first will come find the others and we can all investigate the crime acenes further with the aid of your magics."
Isme nods to Wyam. [b]"No, we might as well talk to Ven while we're here. Hopefully we can finish so I can participate in talking to Quink too. In any case, this plan is agreeable to me."[b]
The group turn and head into Ven Vinder's cell. The man is pacing, his brow furrowed in anger, the thickset build of a shopkeeper diminishing his aggressive profile. Looking up at you, his face calms a little. "Sirs Wyam and Spectrum... lady Isme." He shoots a suspicious little glance at the raven. "When may I get out of this cell, go home and find who slaughtered my daughter like meat?"
Wyam walked up to the cell door and looked contemplatively at the man for a short time before speaking. "We are currently in the midst of doing so, Ven... I am sorry to say this to you, but it is clear that your time in this cell has only served to make your mood a calm veneer on the surface. Your anger is deserved, but we can't have you making false judgement's and lashing out at someone prematurely.
Instead, we would like to ask you some questions about what you may know of your daughter and Harker. If you think you can bring yourself to do so."
"...so what, you are going to keep me locked up here? Without trial, without charge? I have done nothing, it is my DAUGHTER WHO WAS... who was..." he turns away for a moment and works to compose himself. He does not turn around to face you when he responds, "Ask your questions that I might get out of here."
"First off, were you aware that your daughter was in fact meeting with Harker? Also, were you aware of what Harker's profession was?"
"I suspected; I was paranoid, and rightly so. I watched her leave, asked people to check on her, did everything I could to confirm my suspicions... I should have been more forceful with her. I knew of Harker; a mere logsplitter, another Scarnetti lackey, a greedy boy even as a child who never accepted any work he would not be paid more for than others with the same burden. But I never knew for certain until... until I heard this news."
"Well he was certainly greedy and that may have gotten him killed. We've gotten a lead that says he may have been editing pay documents and keeping more than his fair share from the Scarnetti's. It's possible there may have been links to his murder because of that and your daughter may have just been caught with him at the wrong place at the wrong time. But either way there is a monster loose and it needs to be dealt with.
We will try to right and wrong we find during our investigation. Can you tell us where he lived, that we might find these ill gotten gains?"
He gives a horrible little laugh. "I am far from surprised."
He names an inn where Harker kept a room. He does not seem to have anything else for you.
"May I leave now?"
Wyam looked again at the man. Although Ven had been mildly helpful, he was still hesitant to let the man go.
After a moment of further consideration, Wyam let out a small sigh.
It will do no good if I remain suspicious and paranoid of everyone's potential actions, I have to trust them to do what is right.
"I'll let the Sheriff know that you've regained your composure and that you've been helpful, you can be let out. Just make sure to not go looking for trouble."
"Much as I might like to speak to this Brodert fellow, I think it might be more prudent that we head to the inn we've learned of first. If we hurry we might be able to get to the room before the innkeeper rents it out again... or happens." From the tone in Wyam's voice, it was obvious he was more concerned of the second occurrence.
"I'll need your keen eyesight and investigative mind when we go there, Isme. Spectrum, once we've talked to the Sheriff about Mr. Vinder's release, you go collect those magical implements you need and meet us at the Inn. We'll wait for you there if we happen to finish early."
Vinder nods in relief, and returns to sitting, ready to leave.
Spectrum took his leave of the others as they went to meet with Mister Vinder. He went to the museum and retrieved the rest of his gear, roused Array from his nest and made his way to the market to do a little shopping for scrolls that might be useful.
Glimmer stayed outside on the roof, telepathically listening in on the conversation inside the jail.
Isme perches on Wyam's shoulder and tips her head to Vinder, seemingly offering her condolences. She had been scrutinizing his reactions the entire time.
Isme fails to detect anything other than sincere anger and sadness from the man.
On the way out, Sheriff Hemlock looks up. "Any results?"
Wyam slowly nods his head in response to Hemlock's question.
"Some things have been answered, yes. But it was not as helpful as I might like. We have several leads to follow: an inn we learned of from Vinder that Harker was staying at, we believe there may be some sort of evidence of him altering payment documents that he was taking from Scarnetti. Brodert Quink, whom you pointed us toward. Our own investigation of the crime scenes will be helped by magics we'll have obtained access too soon. And then there is the survivor of the first attack. We may also have to speak with Scarnetti himself." the last line Wyam spoke came out with an obvious distaste.
"As a point of interest, Ven Vinder was remarkably forthcoming and seems to have calmed himself quite a bit. I do not believe he need be incarcerated here any longer. The information that Harker was quite probably withholding funds came from Ibor, once we got him to talk. I don't think he need be held here any longer either. Although maybe one more night might do him some good anyway."
Hemlock scowls. "Scarnetti... some people call him a necessary evil; I say he's a pimple barely not worth the trouble of popping. I'm not surprised if he was behind some cooked books." He pauses for a moment, then continues "But I wouldn't think him behind... that. Too flashy. Too monstrous."
He nods. "Aye. I'll let Vinder out now, assign a deputy to keep an eye on him; I think Ibor would like another night here. I'll move him to the barracks though, give him a decent room for the night."
Isme nods to the sheriff. "We'll continue investigating. Ah, point of note. The townspeople have been informed that there's killer loose and that it uses the river. No more details were given, but the townspeople being cautious may be a good thing."
Hemlock gains a pained expression, but eventually nods. "...if you think it best."
"That's what I thought too, it doesn't line up at all with how I've heard the Scarnetti's operate." Wyam said as he and the others prepared to leave. "Thank you for your understanding, Sheriff. We'll keep you up to date as we learn more."
Isme nods to Hemlock when they leave, sympathizing at least with the pained grimace of someone doing something you didn't want them to do.
.
The inn is dealt with quickly; you are let in Harker's room and you're able to discover hidden diary entries that tell of Harker's embezzlement. You find a hidden box as described and a small fortune (for a day-labourer) inside.
From their time in town, Isme and Wyam recall that the Saintly Haven of Respite is better known as Habe's Sanatorium, run by a well-travelled expert on mental derangement by Erin Habe. The three-story converted house is small, but well set up for an equally small number of patients.
Collecting the diary and the embezzled funds, Wyam puts them away for a different day. He then suggests heading to Habe's Sanatorium.
After crossing town, he walks up to the front door and enters.
Isme rests on Wyam's shoulder, peering around. "I don't know how well I'll be received here. You'll take point again, I suppose."
The door is locked; some persistent knocking turns up Habe, a thin mousey man with brown hair and spectacles. He speaks, a stacatto burst of words filling the air. "Yes? What is it? Please go away. Cannot be disturbed. Important work."
Wyam was momentarily perplexed by the abruptness of the man.
He held out a hand. "Hold a moment, Erin. I'm sure you are a busy man, but we need to speak with you for a moment. Well, more precisely, we need to try to speak with one of your patients. This matter is of the utmost importance and may save lives."
Glimmer flies the perimeter of the building and starts peeking in windows.
Glimmer most finds most windows closed or the blind drawn. One is open, and she spots a face behind it- an ancient old man with a huge grin on his face as he spots Glimmer, waves, then starts sketching the pseudodragon.
Erin looks at you distrustingly and shakes his head. "I am the doctor of this sanatorium, I will be the judge of what lives can be saved and how, thank you. And I believe myself and my patients are best served by your leaving. Good day."
Isme glances at Wyam, a silent question if he can salvage the situation or if she should take over.
Glimmer waved back.
Hi! she said telepathically. Whatcha doin'?
"That's not good enough!" Wyam shot back at the man.
"We aren't talking about just the patients you have in there! I mean to protect lives out here, and to do that I need to speak with the man that was brought to you from Galduria a few days ago! Let me through!"