"We know who did the searching, but I have no doubt that they were only following orders," Silas replies. "The question is 'Whose orders?'" The warrior looks over Cilas carefully before continuing. "The halfling servant, Belik, was the one we believe searched our rooms during the ... distraction. Evidence indicates that he was following orders from Estovion, but that could be misleading. I have no idea why the man would go to such lengths to have our rooms searched."
Niculaie nods in agreement. "We do not know whether he was looking for something that has gone missing or seeking information about us from our belongings. If he had also searched the possession of other guests, it would point to the former; if we were the only targets, the latter."
"Ah, you all are clearly adventurers! So refreshing to see some innocence still alive in the world. You suspicions are probably correct, and I suspect Belik only takes orders from Estovion, but you have wandered into the depths of politics and information trading. I can not even guess what they are looking for, but perhaps it is you that is a mystery to them?"
Duristan looks you over, and says "OK, ladies. What can I do for you? I am not taking out any hunts today."
Niculaie nods in apparent agreement. "That makes sense. Perhaps we have inspired a measure of curiosity. And as we said, nothing was taken, so perhaps there is no harm done. Still, I feel better for having warned you to be vigilant. Silas, unless you have other questions for the Margrave, perhaps we should rejoin our colleagues?"
"We're here to do something for you--did that spider hurt you? We are skilled in the healing arts." she says
Vivian was visibly thinking, and pondering, her next few words.
You seem to be quite a perceptive woman. And you know people, and by people I mean mostly men, no offense meant. You're an astute and practised student of character, I would say. We have been here for a few days only, but I would bet that, as far as you can remember, the place hasn't been attacked by a giant spider. Is it a coincidence? Is it linked to our arrival? I think the later, but I have no proof. May I as you how long have you been here, Madam Ivanja?
The Margrave appears to have no hidden or ulterior motives. He seems amused to watch someone else's political maneuverings, perhaps, but nothing more.
--------------
Madam Ivanja responds to Vivian in a cautious, but carefree way. "I am here off and on quite a bit, and no, I have never heard of such a thing. I know those boys keep some monsters in the pen for "special hunts", meaning those with enough coin and not enough patients or skill can kill something nearby and then drink and brag about it. If it is linked to you specifically, I would think either you have made an enemy of Delgros, or the kind-hearted oaf that left the pen open."
-------------
To Sohpie:
"I am not hurt, well not badly anyway. That was quite the excitement though, was it not? An you all handled yourselves with such skill! We must go out on another werewolf hunt soon. Perhaps a few days more rest, though." The fight does seem to have taken a lot our of him, but he'll certainly heal.
"No, I don't have any more questions," the large man grumbles. He seems quite displeased to have fallen into the middle of seeming political maneuvering. "These types of games leave a bad taste in my mouth. I prefer that if someone wishes to test me, they would just draw a blade and be open about it."
Picking at her sleeves, Tara eyes his exhaustion with suspicion. "Ah, well thank you," she mutters, "but you were not too shabby with a sword yourself." Tucking a piece of wayward hair behind her ear Tara blushes slightly, "Um Mr. Ariesir, did you happen to notice, I mean that is to say, when we came back to our room, I noticed that someone went through my effects and I was curious to see if you had a similar experience."
Madam Ivanja.. Would it be possible for us to benefit from your knowledge of the place and people, your expertise in discerning the moods of those around, and your discretion, for an adequate price? Nothing dangerous, just an extra pair of eyes watching our backs for a few days, someone able to notice things we can't...
"No, I don't have any more questions," the large man grumbles. He seems quite displeased to have fallen into the middle of seeming political maneuvering. "These types of games leave a bad taste in my mouth. I prefer that if someone wishes to test me, they would just draw a blade and be open about it."
Niculaie claps Silas on the shoulder as they take their leave of the Margrave. "Remind me, you have lived in Ustalav how long?", he asks the older man with a smile. "At this level of society, my friend, if you see an open hand before you, check for a knife before you clasp it. Then look over your shoulder to see the true threat at your back." The dhampir sounds as though he is repeating advice given to him many times over the years.
"Now, where should we wait for our friends? Perhaps the lounge? We might find a glass or two of good wine available while we wait."
Niculaie claps Silas on the shoulder as they take their leave of the Margrave. "Remind me, you have lived in Ustalav how long?", he asks the older man with a smile. "At this level of society, my friend, if you see an open hand before you, check for a knife before you clasp it. Then look over your shoulder to see the true threat at your back." The dhampir sounds as though he is repeating advice given to him many times over the years.
"I've actually spent most of my southern years in Lastwall fighting orcs," Silas replies with a grumble. "I'd heard ... things ... about Ustalav, but I dismissed them." He sighs. "That was premature, it seems."
To Tara:
Ariesir shakes his head indicating he noticed nothing. As far as you can tell, he is completely truthful.
To Vivian:
Madame Ivanja nods, "Yes, I think that can be arranged. I will let you know what I come across."
Sophie puts her hands on her hips, every inch the disapproving, concerned grandmother. "You look hurt. Let me heal your wounds. "
She attempts to cast her highest level cure spell on him
So you regroup and share notes...
Once the party has reconvened in the common room, settled down with their afternoon beverages of choice, and filled each other in on their investigations:
"I think it is clear that whoever the mysterious visitor to our rooms may be, we are his or her only targets, at least for the moment." The dhampir takes a sip of wine before continuing. "I believe at this point, our options are: one, to attempt to gain additional information from the groundskeeper, Pauncy, who our host has blamed for spider's release; two, to pull Belik aside and convince him to tell us what he was up to while the spider attack was underway; and three, to confront Estovian directly and demand that he tell us the truth about what is happening here."
After another sip of wine, he says, "I believe the simplest course would be to undertake all three tasks, in the order I have listed them. Have I missed anything?"
After leaving Madame Ivanja's chambers, Pontia is silent until she and Vivian are almost to the dining room. Then she pauses and glances hurriedly around before looking over at the other woman. "I haven't felt much like smiling since getting the letter from the Professor's executor. I'm still a little in shock that he wanted me to re--to come to Ustalav, and frankly I've been terrified all the time I've been here. Traveling with you and the others helps, though. I feel I can trust all of you, and I wouldn't stay here without you. Thank you."
Silas crosses his arms over his chest. "I say we back Estovian into a corner and get him to come clean about what kind of game he's playing," he grumbles. "I am not one for these subtle games. We express to him our displeasure at his behavior and convince him to explain his actions."
"Direct and to the point, Silas. It is a very ... " -- the dhampir pauses a moment to find the right phrase -- "unUstalavlic way to go about it, but it could work for that very reason. We might throw the Lodge Warden off-balance with an abrupt confrontation. While I believe there is likely to be additional information to be gained from Belik and Pauncy, I am not averse to starting by putting Estovian to the question if that is the consensus. Sophie, Pontia, Tara, Vivian, what say you?"
"Estovian is already keeping something from us. Before we proceed, though, consider: what is the worst that can happen if he takes offense? If he evicts us, what do we do then?"
"Wouldn't be the first or last time I've slept on the ground," Silas says with a shrug. "Considering the wheels turning here, I might consider it an improvement." He nods at Pontia and Niculaie. "I'll follow what everyone decides, though."
As you discuss your plans through the night, it seems all quiet in your rooms.
The next morning, you hear the news. The Margrave of Sturnidae, Cilas Graydon, is dead.
A housekeeper Ruessa Webbe finds Graydon’s corpse in his room, ripped to shreds as if by some great beast, his blood splattered all over the room. No one has any explanation for the death, and the surviving guests begin to panic, with the notable exception of Duristan. Quite to the contrary, Duristan is found at breakfast, weirdly jabbing everyone with a silver fork, starting with himself.
As word reaches them of the violent passing of the Margrave, Tara wrings her hands together. "This place seems cursed worse than Harrowstone. First the arachnid, and now a gruesome murder? Something is working against everyone here. Should we offer our services?" As Durstain walks by them and jabs her, Tara offers the man an bone-chilling glare, before returning to her meager meal.
Niculaie glares at the young aristocrat and rubs his arm where the fork struck him, but softens his expression and nods when he realizes what the youth must be up to.
Keeping his voice low, he asks, "So, have you found any yet?"
The Chelaxian shakes her head at Duristan's test. "You do know that lycanthropes resist damage from other sources, an ability not shared by normal humanoids? Better to use a normal fork and look for the one who takes no harm from it."
Once with the other party members, she murmurs, "Shall we offer our services to the Lodge Warden? It will give us an excuse to investigate...many things here."
"No one else finds this suspicious?" Silas asks the others when they're all alone for a moment. "The only one staying here that was willing to talk to us is now dead. Someone doesn't want us finding something out and is using a werewolf to do their dirty work. Or they're a werewolf themselves."
He glowers for a moment.
"In any case, modesty and propriety be damned. We're all sleeping in the same room and someone keeps watch."
Duristan just rolls his eyes at the comments - apparently he feels his knowledge of werewolves exceed anything you might know.
Otherwise, you don't reall "know" anything more than the group is already deducing. It seems clear someone is wither a werewolf or has access to one which has killed the Margrave. The fact that he was the most forthcoming with information certain seems to indicate that Silas is on the right track, and offering to investigate does give you some more excuse to approach the Warden.
A little digging reveals that last evening, Estovion retired to the South Tower with a pair of guards posted outside. When questioned, they confirm that they had strict orders to allow no one to disturb him, and he never left the tower.
"No one else finds this suspicious?" Silas asks the others when they're all alone for a moment.
Of course, at Silas words, Vivian raises her hand up, grinning.
Then, more seriously, she turns to Tara and Sophie
Could we interrogate Cilas soul to have some informations about what happened? Would Pharasma approve? I mean, we did it once, as I recall, at the Beast trial, back in Lepidstadt..
"Our rooms and belongings are searched during a distracting attack under what can at best be described as ridiculous circumstances, then the only person we have come to trust is violently murdered in the middle of the night with no outcry? Yes, I agree it's suspicious."
Niculaie strums his lyre for a moment, thinking. "Perhaps I am too pessimistic, but I will be very surprised if Graydon's killer has left his jaw intact enough to answer our questions. That said," he smiles ruefully before continuing, "I would be interested in anything the Margrave's spirit has to say, so I agree we should at least attempt to gain access to his corpse. I believe we are more likely to get a truthful answer from a dead man than we are from the Lodge Warden."
"I have little trust for dead men either," Silas grumbles. "But it seems that we have little choice."
He won't get better now that he's dead, unfortunatly. Or, knowing that we are in Ustalav, maybe I should say "fortunatly"...
Sophie nods. "Yes; let's find his body and speak with him."
Finding the body is not a problem, because it is still in his room where he was killed.
Niculaie knocks on the door to Graydon's suite, hoping it will be answered by the servant who saw him and Silas the previous day.
Tara shuffles into Graydon's suite and sighs at the gore. "Well this does count as one of the more gruesome sights I've seen." Walking over to the body, Tara rolls her sleeves up and begins to prepare the body for questioning. Setting out a few candles and placing her holy symbol on the corpses chest Tara turns to look at the others, "It's going to take me a while to be able to speak with him. I suggest you decide on eight questions while I work on this."
Pontia looks around and frowns. "Vivian, Nic--are there any hidden doors in here? Are there any tracks here?"
Good question..lets check carefully. It's not as if the victim was in a hurry
The redhead takes all the time she can to check the room
The body was clearly subject to a gruesome attack, with bite marks and slashes all over the poor man's body. The spell does work, however, and the man's mouth moves slightly. Ask your 4 questions
No secret doors are found.
"Who killed you? Do you know why they killed you?"
"That drunk Corvin attacked me, but I know not why."
"That's the rake, as I recall. Ask how he was killed--he may have been mutilated after his death.
Niculaie nods his agreement. "Yes, and after that I suggest asking why."
"The kid was a beast! He ripped me to shreds. I don't know why."
Niculaie tosses out a couple more suggestions. “Perhaps we should ask whether anyone else was present when Corvin attacked? Or we could whether Corvin broke in or if the Margrave invited his killer into his room, and if the latter, why?”