Despite carefully looking and listening, none of you notice anything exceedingly suspicious or noteworthy as you dash towards the source of the cry. When you arrive, you see a large crowd gathered around the not-so-fresh corpses of two men, one of whom has a dagger sticking out of his chest. After a few moments of silence a voice cries out from the crowd:
"The dagger! It belongs to that one!"
And dozens of shocked eyes turn to look at Rotting Jack, who indeed now finds out that his dagger - the same one he was mocked for carrying a few evenings before - is now missing from his belt, instead serving to flag one of two gruesomely murdered folks. The crowd circle you, and within moments Sheriff Luin comes running, his eyes between furious and terrified.
"Damned strangers," call voices from the crowd. "Murderous Pathfinders, the whole lot!"
Luin's expression shifts to disappointment when he realizes who the crowd are circling.
"I hope you have a very good explanation for what's going on."
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"Who makes such baseless claims! Show yourself, my accuser!" Rotting Jack surveys the crowd trying to identify who made the claim. Turning to the mob... "Calm yourselves, we've only just come from meeting with the sheriff." Rotting Jack nods slightly towards Sheriff Luin. "I'm sure he would be happy to address your concerns and investigate the true perpetrator. Sheriff..."
The sheriff seems calmer, but not convinced. He tries to address you, opening his mouth and gesturing with his hands, but people from the crowd constantly interrupt him. Most yell degrading comments about Pathfinders, strangers, Elves, and whatever they decide Rotting Jack is.
"Those men were muh friends! Bes' friends in tha whole world! An' ya dare ask us why ya kill'd them?"
Sheriff Luin raises his hand, calling loudly. The villagers are nearly immediately silenced, and nervous, piercing gazes are shot both towards you and around the crowd. No one seems to step up when Rotting Jack asks for his accuser.
"Now tell me," starts Luin, with a clear authoritative voice, "can you prove to me you are in no way related to this incident? The evidence currently quite clearly points towards you."
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"Nor do we--or the Pathfinders you have in jail--match the description your letter gives of the killer," Ansha pipes in. "Did anyone see this man--" she gestures at the body--"die? Because if so, he would have had to have been slain by someone else. As my friend just said, we were talking with the sheriff at the time."
She pauses for effect, then raises one slender digit. "But, having looked at the scene at Otto's, we know that the body found at his farm had to have been dragged there. And this man here looks similarly to have been slain a while ago. When would we have had a chance to have moved the body so that you would just find out about it while we were talking with the sheriff? And if he was slain only recently, why does his body look the way it does?"
The crowd keep trying to throw accusations at you, but Conlaoch and Ansha's alibis are compelling, reducing the mob to muttered curses and embarrassed excuses. Finally, Luin bids them all to retire for the night. When the folk have dispersed, the sheriff approaches you.
"I trust you, but after this incident I cannot let you just wander around freely anymore, mostly for your safety. I'll ask some of the people I trust to keep an eye on you from now on, and that should keep both you and the villagers safe. I hope you succeed in your investigation, because I'm beginning to doubt the Pathfinders actually had anything to do with this."
You notice that one of the men walking away with the crowd is a tall man with a bald spot on the back of his head.
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"Normally, I would not care for a babysitter, but I think you make good sense. We are better off to be seen by and with someone who is trusted. And I will do all I can to make sure they are safe when with us. Thank you, Sheriff."
"Where is that bald man? Let's go speak with him!"
Conloach moves to chase the man, once Ansha points the way.
You chase down the man, and as you approach him he starts and steps back. The man has a prominent nose and a goatee, as well as a mane of black hair with a bald spot on the back of his head. He seems annoyed at your interference.
"What do you want, strangers? Luin may believe you didn't murder these two, but I'm not so gullible."
The man drops his false Mendevian accent, though he doesn't appear to be any more alarmed or anxious.
"I dunno what you want. I was just around when I heard they're gonna hang some people, and that crowds would be coming. Nice opportunity to meet some new friends and have a good drink."
He then shoves Conlaoch back, looking at his suit.
"Keep your hands to yourself, thug. I don't want another one of my buttons stolen."
"Excuse me? That's madness! You can't just go around and blame some person on the street of murder! And why d'you think I can help with that stupid investigation of yours? Bunch of madmen."
The man then turns back and starts hastily walking away.
Something about the man radiates a magical aura. You'll have to concentrate some more to determine what, exactly, is this aura.
Concentrating some more, Ansha deducts that several - at least two - of the items he wields are magic. The most powerful aura seems to come from beneath his clothes.
Seeing that you are following him and noticing Ansha's spellcasting, the man starts moving more quickly, shoving his way through the crowds, swiftly making his way through streets and around buildings.
"Creeps! Go away, or I will alert the guards!"
Following the man, you find yourselves in front of the Heath and Harvest. just before the front door, the man falls to the ground, tearing part of his shirt and revealing several cuts on his side and belly.
"M-murderers! Demon worshipers! Help!"
Within moments, the inn empties as its patrons go to see what the commotion is about, murmuring worried remarks. Among those people is Ekira the inquisitor, her eyes aflame and her smile victorious.
"I saw them consulting a demon for advice, so they tried to kill me! Arrest them, they are the murderers!"
Ekira sends a little boy to fetch Tobias Luin, who arrives nearly immediately. This time he seems more determined than before, and far from surprised to see you involved. Before he can comment, Ekira speaks up.
"You can't clear them up this time, Pathfinder-lover! Arrest them", the Iomedean demands.
The man you've been chasing adds to the accusations, looking horrified.
"These ones arrived just after we arrested the Pathfinders, and the murders continued! They've been sniffing around too much, and they murdered Daniel and Edward, and they tried to kill me too; and it's because the demon lords they worship told them to!"
"Anything to say in your defense?", the sheriff asks you.
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"Yes," Ansha says, taking a step forward and raising a hand in a rhetorical flourish. "Our friend here is a Chelish man, his people themselves known quite well for consorting with devils. He is also the bald man whom others have noticed hanging around the murder scenes himself. Tessa and Orug can both vouch that he has been asking an unseemly number of questions about the murders--as can many of you."
Pausing for effect, she continues, "Not only that, you will find that he has a number of magical items on him, including ones that allow him to disguise himself and fake injuries. Strip him of his magic, and you will see that his coat is missing an obsidian button. This same type of button is favored by the devil-worshipers of Cheliax--and the match of a button we found at the murder scene on Otto's farm. If you are looking for your murderer, look no further than the Chelish devil-worshiper who lies before you!"
Sheriff Luin nods gravely at your accusations, motioning his aide to type everything down. "Just like in court", he mumbles. He then extends his hand towards you, pointing with the palm of his hand.
"Inquisitor Corum, these travelers have made their point clear, and supplied firm evidence for their case. Can you still support your verdict?"
The inquisitor clenches her fists, trembling. While her eyes are still filled with ire, her face is red with embarrassment.
"But it's impossible... Iomedae told me they are the killers..."
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"Inquisitor, please, we do not blame you for your actions. It has become clear that some foul plot is afoot and we are all victims, every one of us."
Rotting Jack turns to the assembled crowd.
"Do not forget, dear Ansha, that the body found at poor Otto's farm was in fact murdered elsewhere and dragged back, no doubt to frame the Pathfinders. The mutilation of which could not have possibly occurred after the Pathfinders arrived."
"You will also find that the accused Pathfinders are all of diminutive stature, yet Orug's eye witness account describes a lone, tall, attacker."
"And in a most peculiar coincidence you will find that the letter sent to our own Venture-Captain, and in doing so drawing us here, matches that of an 'anonymous' letter provided to the good sheriff from a purported witness. It would seem a person or persons unknown did so with the intent of framing the Society for crimes they did not commit". With a flourish Jack finishes standing before his accuser, his eyes burning brightly from deep within his cowl.
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"There is wisdom in breath," says Li Shuo. "For in pausing to breathe we can hear the voice of the All that is One. We are not the killers, and the Inheritor does not lie. Therefore, to the wise all is revealed. When two farmers fight over milk, the bandit may take both their cows."
"Someone is working to bring us to blows, Honored Inquisitor. We must find that person."
Whispers and murmurs spread through the crowd at Rotting Jack's statements. While most of them seem generally confused, you spot some angered and victorious ones. I knew it! They are Pathfinders! However, a loud cry soon stops the townsfolk.
"I have heard enough", says Ekira. "I may now know you truly are Pathfinders, but this does not matter. I have reached a verdict; you are innocent of these crimes."
The crowd's panic begins anew, but not because of the verdict. As soon as Ekira finishes speaking, the man on the ground jumps to his feet, revealing a dagger in his hand.
"I'm having way too much fun for you to just end it like that!"
Rotting Jack
Man + ?
Conlaoch
Ansha
Li Shuo
The map swiftly dodges under Rotting Jack's slash, aided by the crowd's shoving hands. He grins maniacally as he swings his dagger at you.
"You may have had a trick up your sleeve, but soon you're gonna have a dagger up your throat!"
,
,
The dagger slices through Rotting Jack's armour, making a painful cut on the dhampir's shoulder.
Rotting Jack (31/36)
Man + ?
Conlaoch
Ansha
Li Shuo
Ansha mutters some elven incantations, and the man falls to the ground, though his wicked smile is not wiped off his face. Conlaoch seizes the opportunity to deliver a powerful blow with his nodachi.
Rotting Jack (31/36)
Man (-15, stunned) + ?
Conlaoch
Ansha
Li Shuo
"S-stay away, you ugly monster!"
The enchantment spell seems to have no effect as the man grabs his dagger and slashes at Rotting Jack's hand, shedding some dark blood. The demented grin slowly fades from his face as he looks up at the dhampir.
Rotting Jack (29/36)
Man (-15, prone) + ?
Conlaoch
Ansha
Li Shuo