As it's close to nighttime, most of the townsfolk are closing shop and heading home for the night. Curfew will no doubt happen soon.
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"Any other rules or customs we might need be aware of?" Thann inquires. His tone is polite and inquisitive.
Later, as the Molume turns to leave, Thannaen begs a private word. "Would I be permitted to access the sword I handed over to you each morning? I have a habit of cleaning it each morning. Helps me focus."
"Any other rules or customs we might need be aware of?" Thann inquires. His tone is polite and inquisitive.
"None that I know of, but you might want to ask around." He shrugs. "People don't write down their customs. They mostly tell you what their gut says."
Later, as the Molume turns to leave, Thannaen begs a private word. "Would I be permitted to access the sword I handed over to you each morning? I have a habit of cleaning it each morning. Helps me focus."
"You can visit the carriage house in the morning, right after curfew ends. I'll be there."
With that, the Sheriff turns to leave.
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Khāṇa thinks it would be a better idea not to break curfew - at least, not tonight. Experiencing what a night under curfew in Mercy looks like is a logical first step - a 'control subject,' if you will. Also, there's the matter of not risking the town's trust immediately like that - there's no telling what they (or Robori) consider a 'fitting punishment.'
Besides, Khāṇa has a few tricks of her own: She sniffs about the guesthouse until she locates a dead wolf spider on the floor. She picks it up, stares at it, and intones, "Venom, vermin, chitin, dust! Verify the walls we trust!" She then devours the spider. The barely-audible susurrus some may have noticed near Khāṇa grows louder, and her pupils suddenly appear to fragment into an octagon-formation of smaller pupils. She then proceeds to methodically case the entirety of the guesthouse....
Khāṇa takes a very careful look around the Guest House. It is a simple building, with individual bedrooms, a common room for eating and cooking, and a flag you can use to hail the people of Mercy. There are no secret entrances there.
Thannaen spends some time carefully listening to the people of Mercy- he hears talks about the crops, the pride of the carpenters, the local ball game and all the cashew recipes he's ever wanted to know about. Some plan to worship Robori during the nighttime, and others plan to at the break of dawn. He also hears whispers of the newcomers to town in the guest house, and the general distrust of them.
The party hears the triple bells and realizes curfew is in effect. They decide to sleep the night, a bit tired from their encounter with the Gnoll at the altar of madness. Resting in the Guest House is quite comfortable.
A new day breaks. About an hour after sunrise, the triple bell is heard and the party knows curfew has ended. The box outside the guest house is full of cashews, milk, breads and cheeses, along with a pitcher of fresh water to drink.
Thannaen goes to the carriage house, which is also Sheriff Molume's home. It has the largest garden in Mercy, and it houses several large wagons. There is also a small bell tower, presumably it rings to mark the start and end of the day.
The Sheriff greets Thannaen. "I hope you slept well." He nods. "Yesterday was really quiet. Let's hope it stays that way." He pulls out a set of keys and uses it to unlock a weapons locker. He pulls out Thannaen's blade, still in its sheath. "I can't let you leave with it, but you wanted to clean it." He takes a seat and waits for the elf to clean it before returning it to the locker.
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While munching on a piece of cheese, Rizzlefunk mutters to the party. "Does it bother anyone else that the curfew is announced with a loud bell? I mean think about it: if it's true that everyone here knows about the curfew, and the curfew starts at the dark of the night time, why the need to announce it? Maybe they want to ensure that no one is out at the night..."
He leans in for a whisper. "Well, I have a plan I'm going to put to use tonight."
"Until then, however, we need to be efficient during the daytime. Do we have any leads?"
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Smiley goes to talk to the artisans.
Y'know, my brother Durgo is a carpenter, an' his twin Drego is a blacksmith. Always quarrelin' about who's more important, y'know. Myself, I think they're both important. Just fer different things, if you catch my meaning.
He was doing pretty well until he felt the need to bring himself into it.
Did I mention I'm the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son? Why, you're probably extra lucky today because I'm here. Here, I'll stand a little closer to ya. Oops, ya moved away!
Smiley goes to the artisan's square to talk, but everyone seems to ignore him. You hear a heated argument between two major groups: the blacksmiths and the carpenters.
"We carpenters build and repair the walls! Everyone needs us more than you!"
"Oh yeah, and who provides the nails and tools to build these? Blacksmiths like
us are much more important than you!"
Egos clash as the craftspeople argue over who is more useful for the town, overall.
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The Sheriff greets Thannaen. "I hope you slept well." He nods. "Yesterday was really quiet. Let's hope it stays that way." He pulls out a set of keys and uses it to unlock a weapons locker. He pulls out Thannaen's blade, still in its sheath. "I can't let you leave with it, but you wanted to clean it." He takes a seat and waits for the elf to clean it before returning it to the locker.
"I did, my thanks," Thannaen returns, taking the sword. Already he feels better, stronger, though a nagging judgment clings to his psyche. He sits with the hope that it will clear his head. The blade is grime-covered as ever, the polished section near the hilt dimmer and dirtier than yesterday. A well-worn scrubbing brush already in his hand, the elf takes to this spot with a fury.
* * *
After about an hour, Thannaen decides he is satisfied and hands the sheathed sword back to Sheriff Molume. "For your safekeeping once again, Sheriff."
After the Sheriff has had a moment to secure the weapons locker, Thann stands in the entryway and points at the extensive garden. "A fine garden. An interest of yours? What do you grow?"
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[later]Once rejoining his companions, Thann makes a quiet remark about the Sheriff staying with him for the duration of his meditation. It may make a good opportunity in the future for the others to do something they'd rather the Sheriff not see. Additionally, he recommends that the group pay a visit to Amenira's house today.[/later]
After the Sheriff has had a moment to secure the weapons locker, Thann stands in the entryway and points at the extensive garden. "A fine garden. An interest of yours? What do you grow?"
"I'm trying to grow carrots, actually." He chuckles. "Everyone here grows cashews and onions, so I figured, why not try something different? I didn't think it would work out so well though. They are thriving."
How can we unlock it when the sheriff's right there?
Smiley and Nithrandyl's words are drowned out as the carpenters and blacksmiths yell even more.
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Having finished his considerable breakfast, Rizzlefunk arrives at the Artisan's Square.
"Well, well. Some things never change. Comparing apples to oranges and declaring that my fruit makes a better apple pie." He speaks mostly to himself and to whoever is around him, but purposely does so loud enough for the bickering craftsmen to hear.
He then steps forward to step the two. "Hey, hey. Isn't that enough of this shranz - that's 'extremely dull' in Draconic - debate? Both crafts are appreciated. What even started this argument?
Additionally, he recommends that the group pay a visit to Amenira's house today.
Rizzlefunk's words seem louder than they should be, and the workers calm down a bit.
The carpenters give you all a look over and smile, but the blacksmiths break the
silence. "Huh. Mr. Blue handkerchief over there makes some sense. I guess we got a bit too worked up over the new house we were planning to build." The groups step back a bit and take a moment to collect themselves.
orange garb. They seem to be covered in bandages across their arms, hands and faces.
Some adults notice your gaze and quickly shuffle to block it. You notice other
adults in the distance ushering the children out of sight.
Smiley notices something is off with the townspeople, but the party wisely decides to look for more information before they
This well-kept wooden building, painted in festive shades of orange,
is the only painted structure in Mercy. A pair of cashew trees flanks
its front entrance.
built in the last few years, and that it is newer than most other
buildings in Mercy.
Inside there is a mess of workbenches, tools, toys, and dolls in
varying stages of completion.
and other items before leaving in a hurry.
Looking through the bedroom, you see a spellbook and a journal. The
journal has Amenira's handwritting all over it.
through the journal, you discover a page that describes the dos and don'ts
while talking to people in Mercy.
The bed has several twigs on it and you can tell a small child must have slept on there.
She walks with an unusual lurching motion and her head hangs at an odd angle
as if under great weight.
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Khāṇa notes the singular newness of Amenira's house. Her guess would be that Amenira managed to ingratiate herself to the town rather well...
...but notices the scratches on a weapon stand, and a toppled and nearly-broken armor stand that all indicate that someone not only left this placed girded for battle, but did so in a hurry.
"A-ha, *thank you,*" Khāṇa says through gritted teeth as she reads her would-be host's guide to not upsetting the local hornet's nest.
Amenira was taking care of a child while here. *Interesting*. Noted. That should make tracking her much easier....
Khāṇa flips through Amenira's journal and notices one page is more worn than the others. It doesn't take her too much guesswork to decipher Amenira's code.
The people of Mercy are rather secretive, even about their social norms.
I have deduced the following unspoken rules.
1) No meat. Everyone in Mercy is strictly vegetarian, but the opposition to
the presence of meat goes beyond dietary choices and seems to have a religious
significance.
2) No cursing. They have a broad sense of what constitutes a curse word, and
even polite words said in a rude tone are taboo.
3) No blue clothing.
4) No unleashed dogs.
5) No gambling. This includes benign references such as, "I bet" as an
affirmative.
6) No spreading of false gospel. The townsfolk refuse to even acknowledge
the existence of deities other than their own.
She seems to have underlined rule 6, with a "no Nethys!" scribbled hastily.
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"No blue clothes? Those fashion senseless dull bulbs, sky blue is the hottest in right now... Rizzlefunk laments, half jokingly. He tries to hide his blue articles of clothing, which he has unfortunately many of, to little avail.
"Aha, a classic hiding spot! But, young lady, classics are not advantageous as hiding spots go," the gnome says, amused, as he bends over near the bed. He turns to his co-workers: "Amenira's room mate has been found. Let's hear what she has to say."
Khāṇa is surprised she didn't smell the child, but as the girl crawls out, it becomes clear why. She is a moving wooden doll, just like the dolls they saw in the Gnoll cave. There is a crack near the base of her neck, and her head rolls to the side.
"I am Nira." The girl starts. She hands Rizzlefunk a scroll that was scrunched up in her hand.
"I do not know you. You are not from Mercy. You find Mercy. You find murder."
She glances at Thannaen as he offers food, and she refuses. "I do not...eat."
Khāṇa carefully observes a lost mind, determined but clearly lacking information. Nira knows she is supposed to remember something important, but she can't put her finger on it.
Nira tries to recall details of her life, and holds her head in pain. "I don't remember but... Dolls see why children hide. Those from Mercy do not understand me, so I hide. But you are not from Mercy."
She looks around. "May I follow you? Or go to the guest house?"
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Rizzlefunk accepts the scroll with noticeable surprise and wonderment. "...Thank you." He uses his spell-like ability read magic on it.
His confusion quickly turns to fright as the creepy doll begins to speak of murder and amnesia. Rizzlefunk, usually a sociable and polite gentleman, loses those virtues when he speaks to the automaton.
"Hm, I think it's best for you to go under that bed again," he says deadpan.
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Khāṇa shrugs. "If she wants to return to the guest house with us, I don't see why not."
"Does anyone know anything about repairing constructs? She could almost certainly help us if she were fixed." She turns to the others conspiratorially. "There's a missing piece in that wooden head - an important one. She wants to know what she's forgotten. I want to know too."
"Did we find anything of use left in the cottage? And Nira before we leave here do you want to take anything with you?"
Nithrandyl takes one more look around the building but doesn't find anything out of the ordinary.
Nira peers back at Jann before returning to her senses. "I must solve this murder. Then I can rest. I am ready to follow when you are."
Nira shakes her head as she looks at the dolls from the cave. "I am...unique. Thank you for taking me, I don't want to scare the people of Mercy."
An enormous, twisted tree takes up the north side of the tallest building in Mercy, the Temple of Robori. Inside wooden pews line the east and west side of the building, with a garden on the south. A pleasant walkway snakes around the tree up to the temple opening, which has no door. Animals made of twisted twigs adorn the branches, and vanilla orchids flourish in the shade.
You've never heard of Robori before. This diety must be local to the town of Mercy. A woman named Zuri is the high priestess, and she is talking to some villagers.
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Khāṇa manages to deduce the nature of the tree's discolored roots by observing the tendency for the more recent branches and leaves to be, while technically healthy, far smaller and frailer than the older branches/
"See those roots?" She quietly asks her comrades. "Blight. Don't let the rest of it fool you; these are its final years."