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Bom listens to what the guard has to say.
When they are out of earshot of the guard....
"I couldn't tell if he was covering his tracks, but it doesn't take a wizard to know something is up with these onion-trees."
Bom invokes his wayfinder as he tries to recall if he has ever heard of trees that make onion-like fruit.
"Mercy likes its privacy." He shrugs. "Besides, every few months some adventures show up and they talk the big talk. Ready to spread an unwanted religion, or start some fights. One time this group tried to buy the carpenter's guild and build a palace in their name, like they owned the place. I couldn't throw them out fast enough." Sheriff Molume grins, clearly proud of that accomplishment.
"My apologies. I know you aren't like them," he glances at Pierre. "But do understand- the people of Mercy like their privacy, and they don't like outsiders telling them what to do. Be nice and respectful and you should get along fine here. "
The sheriff mentions a few locations you may be interested in visiting in the morning:
Bom invokes his wayfinder as he tries to recall if he has ever heard of trees that make onion-like fruit.
Despite the harsh climate of the Mana Wastes, they are exceptionally healthy. It's not even the right season for cashews, yet the townsfolk were clearly in harvest season. This will require further inspection...
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Pierre nods to Bom and Rackle with a grin and acknowledges what they share.
"Friends, I'm very glad for this discussion. That is also why I joined the society. Not to spread my god's word but to seek out the good in my teammates and teach them that faith has mysterious ways, not always the ones we could expect. Thus, faith takes form differently for each one of us. I joined Iomedae's cult through my family's devotion to Aroden. If I'm a devoted cleric of Iomedae, my roots and ways to access her also passes through her mentor's teachings: Aroden."
Pierre is glad Iomedae helped him go through this conversation peacefully and is very proud to be acknowledged as a respectful traveler.
The Sheriff gives a pretty accurate description of Amenira: An Osirani woman, held many symbols of the "God of Magic" as she called it but hid or discarded those symbols as she settled into town.
Nivik inspects some of the orange dye and figures that it did come from a plant of some kind. He doesn't have one of the plants on hand, but at least that part checks out.
The few villagers Nivik sees keep their distance from the guest house. He overhears the villagers talking about cashew recipes, the local harvest, bat infestations and the local ball game. Some people talk about worshipping Robori that night, and others plan to visit him in the morning.
The party sleeps comfortably in the guest house, as the triple bells mark the start of curfew.
The party wakes up by sunrise. As promised, the box outside is full of breads, cheeses, cashews, and purified water. After an hour or so, triple bells mark the end of curfew.
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During the evening in the guest house, in a low voice, Rackle asks to discuss something with the other Pathfinders. "We're doing-doing well at being diplomatic." he says. "But if it becomes apparent that we need-need to break the rules, we should determine who of us might be able to sneak-sneak out at night to find out more. I am a good sneak-sneak." he says. "Anyone else? Or any objections to planning for such a possibility?"
In the morning, Rackle nods his assent to the Elves' plan of visiting Amenira's house.
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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The house is new, newer than most at least. The house’s occupant packed up weapons, armor, and other items before leaving in a hurry, that's obvious. Nivik picks up the spellbook. This could have some value. Quickly flipping through the journal, Nivik gives a few 'hmm's and 'ahh's. Here's a page that describes the dos and don'ts
while talking to people in Mercy. How interesting.
Captivated by the spellbook, Nivik seems to stop noticing things around him.
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Rackle enters the house and focuses on different things than the others, missing some details, but his feathers puff out when he looks towards the bed. He grabs Bom by the arm and hisses, "We're not alone."
He points to the bed, and draws one of his blades from its scabbard. "Some... thing is hiding under the bed."
Nivik is so absorbed in Amenira's journal he's not paying attention to the party's investigation of the bed. The journal's written in a simple code, so he's able to break it. One note in particular sticks out. It seems to detail the dos and don'ts of Mercy.
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.
Rackle notices the girl, trying to remain motionless. No wonder the other members are having trouble noticing it. She's identical to one of the dolls they saw in the Gnoll cave. There is a crack at her neck and a plant is growing out of it.
When she realizes Rackle knows she is active, she gives up and holds her hands in surrender. "Wait. I am Nira. I do not know you. You are not from Mercy. You find Mercy. You find Murder." She offers a scroll scrunched up in her hands.
"Um..." Nira seems genuinely confused by Nivik's questions and eventually shakes her head. "I do not... know. Hurts."
Nivik also notices a few other items near Amenira's spellbook.
Jar of Defoliant Polish
"Oh, I can just make you as new with this scroll right here. Do you wish that I do it?"
"Y-yes, that will help me." Pierre and Bom carefully set her head into place and Pierre uses the scroll to mend the crack.
Bom hasn't seen the plant from her neck before- it seems to be local to this region.
"Amen..ira?" She groans when Bom mentions the name. "I think so? Maybe that is me. It is hard to remember."
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Nivik seems to have been trying to piece the puzzle together and then abruptly speaks. I deduce this is a soulbound doll that contains a fragment of a dead person's soul. Some fragments of the individual personality remain, but most of their memories are gone. If this is indeed the soul of Amenira, she is dead.
Nivik then asks, How long have you been here? What is it that you do remember?
"I have been here...um... I don't remember. But something bad happened in Mercy- I must help solve the Murder. People from Mercy don't understand me, so I hid under the bed."
She looks around. "But you do. May I follow you? Or stay in the guest house?"
This murder, what do you know of it?
Nira shakes her head. "I know it has happened. But to whom and why I do not. Maybe if I see it, I can confirm."
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Rackle moves to the door, makes sure it is closed, and keeps watch while the others question the doll. "Maybe those small footprints we saw at the cave-cave belong to this creature?" he says.
Bom nods to Rackle, "Yes, I believe so. Which explains why the tracks never returned.""
Bom turns to the two wizards, "Perhaps we need to jog her memory. Do we have anything from the cave?"
Nira shakes her head. "Everything is hazy...all I remember is a bite." Nira says this, but takes a long hard look at the staff with the symbol of Nethys on it. "Who...who did this belong to? It seems familiar, but I do not know..."