GM_Foxy's 2nd Carrion Crown

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

What about that strange group..The Whispering Way?

"He told me he uses this book to look up allies in his fight. But if you want to know for sure you would have to ask the Professor himself."

"I'm willing to pay each of you another 100pp if you take on defending the beast and investigate what's behind it. But publicly I would know nothing of this and even deny it. You would have to be discreet about that and would be on your own."

She stops as the maid comes back in and serves the tea. Once she left again the Judge asks. "What do you say?"

Spugnoir nods. I know what it is like to be discriminated against so I am more than willing to help.

Grergof looks at the rest of the group with a smile and then looks back at the judge and says:
Of course we will. And do not worry, your name will never be associated with us becoming involved.
In the spirit of the openness you showed us about the book, I will tell you that we actually already discussed doing exactly that independently of this offer.
To help us in this task, do you have any specific information that leads you to believe there is a perversion of justice going on here, or is this just a general feeling? Since your name can not be involved, we would of course independently confirm anything you might tell us, but any hint you might have to help us determine where to look to find the truth, would be most helpful.

"For many years the people of Lepidstadt have laid all their ills at the door of a creature known as the Beast of Lepidstadt - murders, thefts, and terror have all been attributed to the Beast, but I know that many stories are exaggerations or simply untrue."

"I also know that some people have different stories to tell about the creature — about its kindness and humanity, of how it has rescued loved ones or helped those in distress. Now that the time has arrived for such kindness to be repaid, however, no one dares to step forward and challenge the Beast’s reputation." Judge Daramid explains. "But I have no one first person witness' of any of either one or the other."

sense motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Stam rubs the back of his neck, adjusting his back on his belt as well.

"I am in agreement with you Judge Daramid, the beast seems to be a scape goat and I intent to find out why. If we help out is there a way you can advocate for me to get into the University?"

"I won't lie to you. I can't do anything for you in public that would give away our connection. And if you step up for the beast you might as well get chased away by a mob with torches and pitch forks." the Judge replies.

"it doesn't have to be a public advocacy just to their Dean really."

Stam gets up and stretches a bit, "Guess we best be off to rent some horses and get to Morast, do you have any contacts there Judge Daramid that we can use to see what they may know?"

The wold time everyone is discussing this, Darius is entranced by this regal vision of beauty in front of him. He might as well be a drooling teenager. "..."

"Let us see how it all works out and maybe I can help you in an informal way behind the scenes. But I make no promises."

"As for contacts. If I had someone who could shed a light on that I would already know what is going on. And you need to hurry indeed. The evidence has to be registered until 10 o'clock in the morning."

Thank you your Honor. Then we will take our leave to begin our investigation.

OK now on the the horses and a night of investigating. Grergof is going to be one tired puppy after the trial.

Stam will be as well, I should make some more scrolls soon.

All drink their tea and then tell their good bye. Judge Daramid hands them a sketch copied from a map telling them where the crime scenes are. And she also tells them the names of the witnesses to write down.

Morast is out of town and to the north, across the river to the east and along the way for several more miles. Hergstag is to the north too but then to the west instead. And the Sanctuary is on the way north along the river.

Sketch

At the stable besides the city gate horses can be bought at normal prices.

The first crime the Beast is charged with is the killing of 10 people in Morast, a small hamlet in the Dippelmere Swamp about 8 miles east of Lepidstadt. A narrow trail leads from Lepidstadt to the village. Morast is a miserable collection of 20 or so wattle-and-daub hovels built on stilts above the swamp and connected by soggy wooden boardwalks.

A few kids play on the boardwalks as the group arrives but they all run into the hovels as they see the men on horses. Some are looking out of the window to see who arrived. All these people have a strange appearance.

Damn. Haven't done much posting cos it's been a busy week. And Darius didn't even get to lay the groundwork with the judge. Let's hope he survives to get another chance ;)

"Do these people look a little odd to you?" Darius says to Spugnoir and he slows the trot of his horse.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Jeal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Hmmm.. Well

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

There is not much to see. Two men sit a bit away on the boardwalks repairing some nets. Besides them are some boats tied to the boardwalk.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 To see what Darius saw.

"It is going to be a long night and we will be soaked I imagine by the end of this. Ned has all my other socks, damn Bison always has my stuff when I need it."

Stam will get off the horse as gracefully as he can.

Dismount: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Why is it that I crit something that makes no difference?"

Gregof Ties his horse where it can munch on a bit of grass but makes sure it can not eat any of the villagers gardens or cultivated plants. If that means he has to go a ways down the boardwalk that's fine.
Then he approaches the two men.
Excuse me Good sirs. We understand that there was some unpleasantness here a few weeks ago. We are making sure that the perpetrator of the crime is properly punished. I hate to stir up all this pain, but could you direct us to those who witnessed or the locations of the murders? We want to make sure all the evidence is correctly collected before the trial tomorrow.

Darius dismounts and walls with everyone down the path. While Grergof speaks Darius just keeps an eye out on the locals. "These locals give me more of the creeps than the beast did." he whispers to Spugnoir and Stam.

"I agree, in breeding?"

Now enough of that talk.

"What do you mean? The trial of the beast? These murders were a year ago. And the prosecutor - Haiger was his name - was here already. Lazne told him everything he needs to know." one of the men replies.

Stam looks dumb founded at the man, rubbing his neck with Ernest.

"Did you say a year ago? Can you point us to this Lazne? Was something stolen from this area when the beast attacked?"

Stam will produce a note book and writer in Haiger-Prosecutor

"Yes. People. Lazne lives there." he tells pointing at a house."Are you working for this Kaple guy?" the man asks.

"People were stolen or killed? There is a difference, but thank you for helping."

"Who's Kaple and where is he?" Darius asks

They already told us. Spugnoir reminds Darius. Thank you for your time. Spugnoir says to the man and heads to the house.

If I were accused of a crime and you were my defence team I'd be really, really worried by now.

As you approach the hut and knock an elderly man opens. He looks at you with suspicion. "What?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Good evening sir, we are just double checking all the information for the trial of the beast tomorrow. Can you tell us again all the details of what happened here so that we are ready for anything tomorrow?

Lazne looks annoyed. "The Beast abducted people of the village at night. First they simply disappeared when out alone at the night. Later the beast even broke into the houses to kill people and take them with it. Ten people died that way before we realized what is really happening and laid in wait one night. We drove the beast away with torches and pitchforks. We chased the Beast into the swamp, where we saw it attacked by a blood caiman and assumed it was killed. That was over there on our old boneyard. It even desecrated our boneyard so we had to create a new one. We only realized the beast wasn't dead as Haiger turned up telling the beast was cught and will be on trial. Is that all?"

Kaple is the defense lawyer

"Were the places destroyed that the beast entered? Also did anything odd get stolen or go missing?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

After this Stam will go inspect the bone yard, "How did the beast desecrate the bone yard?"

Blood Caiman?

Thank you, just a couple minor details to clear up:
The blood Caiman you saw the beast fighting; was this a particularly large member of the species? Was there anything special about this particular one? I am thinking the defense may focus on that creature and I want to get all the details.

Also can you direct us to the new and old boneyards? We need to verify some facts there as well.

"The beast got in and out fast. If not, we would have been able to save one or the other of our neighbours. A door kicked in or a window broken. But nothing else." Lazne tells.

"It was a large one indeed. Grabbed the beast at the chest with it's large moth and pulled it down. How it got out of there I wonder. And by fleeing to and dying on our boneyard it desecrated it. No one is allowed there. And don't you dare set a foot on our new boneyard." he tells with a stern glare. "The old one is just down the river. Over there." he tells pointing to it.

Grergof says almost to himself but loud enough others can hear.

Hmm, the new boneyard was supposed to be checked, but We would not want to violate local restrictions, so maybe we skip that.

Looking back at Lanze he says:
Thank you Sir. That was the last question on my list. I appreciate your help in this matter.

Then he turns to his companions.
Did any of you have any more details or questions for this good man that we need to be prepared to address in court or do we move on to the old boneyard?

List of collected statements

Doh, forgot to ask about if anyone actually saw the beast do any crimes or if they just saw it on the night they drove it away. Also if they saw the beast commit a crime on the day they drove it away. Does one of you want to catch that before we leave?

Stam you are missing all the clues to support the defense.
University: evidence someone opened a window.
Boot prints (smaller then beast) in dirt outside window.
Area of statue not disturbed like the rest of the room

A Chelaxian Truthfinder is not used to finding defense stuff ;)

Ahem, pardon me Kaple, we have with us a devout priest of Iomedae Spugnoir gestures to Darius. Along with a paladin of Iomedae. Iomedae is the goddess of truth and honor and I believe they have the skills needed to reconsecrate the old boneyard. Would it be permissible to allow them to go there and bless the grounds so that the dead may rest easy?

You guys can edit it as well, I figured it would be easier to use that to keep the facts straight then going through the tread a thousand times.

"I'm Lazne. And you can go to the old boneyard all you want. Just not to the new one." Lazne replies.

Ahem. Paladin of Sarenrae ;). And someone else want to ask the questions I outlined above? Or do I need to do it?

"Did anyone actually see the beast do these things? We would like to question some of the actual witnesses. Just to be sure. I mean before driving the creature off."

"Who actually saw the beast? Could you describe to me what it looked like? We just want to make sure it gets what it deserves."

Stam will smile innocently

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

"The beast is large, strong and looks as if made from parts of different creatures. And yes we have seen it fleeing before that day we drove it off." Lazne replies getting impatient now.

Off to the old Boneyard?

Ayup, someone wanna prep a consecrate?

"Can someone please help us get to the old boneyard? IT would be much appreciated by myself and my friends here."

Stam will give puppy dog eyes,

diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Lazne grins. "These two men will surely help you for a fee."

"Sure. For a gold per boat you can have it for the rest of the day." One of the two replies chuckling. They might be strange, but they are not stupid and realize if they're given an opportunity.