Lialda looked at her companions, "Other than trying to find something to remove the grafitti, which Renliat and I can put off until later, what other leads, if any, do we have?"
"Urnsul the Apprentice, The Stranger, Melira the Love, poisoned wolves, and raucous half-orcs..." Sarada mumbles while thinking aloud.
"Garri's friends thank Garri for reminding them."
"I suggest we go to the Kurst. We can ask him or Jagrin about the diary, Melira and, Urnsul as they are leaders of the militia and would know what their men know or who to ask. We can inform him about the letter indicating that Rodrik's death was likely a murder, we can inform them about the half-orcs so they at least have a heads up about it and, we can ask Omast what he knows from patrolling with Rodrik as he will hopefully be sober by now. Really, the only things that Kurst definitely can't help us with are the wolves and the paint"
Kreagor looks to his companions for a second option or agreement.
"We could also split into two groups so the other group can investigate the wolves and go to the alchemist at the same time some of us talk to Kurst"
"If we are being attacked right here in town, I suggest we don't split up anymore. Let's go to the alchemist first and then go Kurst." If nobody objects, once everybody finishes resting up Renliat leads them to the alchemist. If at all possible he brings a sample of the graffiti with him.
Lialda and Renliat lead the way from the Ramblehouse to the local alchemist. The sun is nearly ready to set with dusk just around the corner.
Pushing into the shop they are first met by the sounds of a bell that announces their arrival. A moment later Phury's animal companion, a rather plump black cat, plops to the ground as you enter and makes it's way towards you looking for food. Someone calls out from the back, "Robern! Leave the customers be! Don't-". Phury Halle, a middle-aged male human with dusty brown hair, emerges from the back. "Oh, Lialda. I thought I had customers." He takes stock of the large group and asks, "Are you headed out somewhere?"
Hvita scampered up to the cat and nuzzled it before Lialda could say anything. "Actually we're headed in Phury, we're investigating a couple of things including the graffiti and needed to use the equipment to try and determine how it was made and how to remove it. Is it alright if we do so?"
Renliat was day-dreaming as he looked around the shop, but he snaps back to attention. "As well as if you have this kind of material, or if you know where somebody could have gotten it."
The alchemist steps back and motions for them to proceed forward with a grand gesture. "Go right ahead. I've heard of the graffiti but haven't done any looking into it. One the of patrol sergeants was supposed to come by this morning to talk to me about it, but he never showed up."
He shrugs and frowns with a sad remark of "I suppose he is too busy with Rodrik''s investigation."
"So you haven't been supplying it? Do you have any of it in stock?" He inquires.
Phury looks confused. He places his hands on his hips and shakes his head. "Goodness no! I'm sure I have some laying around somewhere. I can't recall ever selling any, it's not a commonly requested item and I think I would recall. It lasts for about two weeks before it starts to fade."
Lialda had an idea then that might make this much easier, "Since you know what this stuff is, do you know how to get rid of it quicker than that? Some kind of solvent maybe?"
The alchemist ponders her question, "Hmmm. I've never actually attempted to do so. I suppose it's possible, I'd have to try a few combinations to be sure. Are you trying to clean it up then?"
"Is that so. Any new customers been snooping around lately?" He stoops and peers at a collection of potions. "Do you keep records of your stock?" In case it was stolen. Or that you're lying.
The alchemist looks a little confused, "I. What? No I don't think so? I mean, yes I have records. But from what I recall that dye is white, correct? I only have yellow and black dye here in the shop. Where it came from, it wasn't here."
Brolga stands quietly next to Garri, also letting those who know more take the lead. Wow, Renliat is so comfortable with people. I wish words came as easily to me...
Lialda nodded and said, "It'd be nice if we could clean it up and it would certainly annoy whoever is behind this especially since they might be connected somehow to the murder." She then looked at Renliat and said, "Please quit being so accusatory Ren, I live here and I know he wouldn't be involved in painting the town with those markings."
"Hmm. Is it possible to change the color with alchemy?"
He nods to Lialda, "Sure, I can look into it tomorrow for you if you like. I don't have an especially long list of tasks queued right now.
The alchemist pretends he doesn't hear any accusation in Renliat's voice and answers his question instead.
"Hmm. Is it possible to change the color with alchemy?"
The alchemist nods. "Sure. You can adjust the emetic wax and milkweed seeds or scillia beans to adjust as necessary."
Why change the color I wonder?" Sarada mused aloud while crouched down to play with the tubby kitty.
Though kitty waddles more than walks over towards Sarada, it walks with an air of confidence as if it were the king of this domain. Reaching Sarada it begins to brush up against his leg and walk in short circles, purring loudly.
The alchemist shrugs, "Good question. Anything else I can help you with?
Sarada thinks for a moment, though it was actually a delaying tactic to let him pet the cat some more, before he simply shrugs his head.
"So, your records?" Renliat asks. He plans to check what they have recorded compared to their actual inventory.
The alchemist clears his throat, "Ehem. Right. Records. I'll go fetch them, please take a seat and make yourselves comfortable as this may take a moment."
It takes the alchemist three trips of searching for the records before he finally brings all of the appropriate records out for inspection. This in itself takes him over 45 minutes as he makes numerous trips back and forth to fetch the appropriate materials. Halfway through he needs to stop to make some coffee, feed the cat, get a snack, serve some customers, offer the party refreshments and on and on.
Eventually all of the records are brought out, inspected and returned. The stock is then inspected against what was found in all of the books. All appears to be in order and there is no signs of missing inventory or cooked books.
Wherever that alchemical creation came from, it wasn't here in town.
By the time the party is finished with all of it's work they note two hours have passed and darkness has now fallen. Phury indicates, "If you don't mind, I'd like to close up now."
Lialda helped with the refreshments and customers as everyone looked through the books, she did have to earn her keep after all. When Phury said he wanted to close up she said, "Yes, that'd be wise I think. Why don't you guys go and I'll see you in the morning."
"We appreciate you willing to work with us on this. Next time we meet let me buy you lunch." With a nod Renlit departs.
"Goodnight little Robern, you play nice with Hvita now, okay?" he says to the cat as he finally stands. Bowing to both Lialda and Phury he then returns with the others to the Ramblehouse.
Kreagor returns to the Ramblehouse as well, and enjoys talking to Garri and the others as he walks.
The party departs the alchemist shop and starts to head out down the street. Lialda waves goodbye and heads back inside when she notices that Kreagor had accidently left his backpack sitting on the floor. Scooping it up she opens the front door and is prepares to call out to him when she gets a chill down her back that something is wrong.
The party is just turning the corner and heading off when Kreagor catches sight of something in the shadows that is off. A shape moves where no shape should move in the darkness.
Suddenly six shapes leap from the darkness in the shadows, surrounding the party from all sides. Four women with long dread-locked red hair in leather armor step out from the darkness. Each is wielding strange jagged light blue crystalline blade. They don't speak but instead stare at the party with a professional murders intent.
Seeing shapes coming at the group out of the shadows, Kreagor cries out to the group,
"Prepare yourselves, they are upon us!
He will then begin his battle song to increase his allies abilities.
Lialda realized what was happening and knew she only had a few seconds to act. Focusing, she began to chant and gesture in a way that mimed gathering a ball of snow and, low and behold, one appeared in her hand. She quickly threw it at the nearest thug
Lialda's snowball lands fall short of her intended target as the blue weapon ladies move quickly from the shadows and collapse on Renliat, Kreagor and Lialda.
While getting jumped was bad they at least also had numbers, except for Lialda who had been cornered. Seeing her magical abilities and alchemical aptitude Sarada assumed that she might not have been the best at combating foes in melee. Did she even have a weapon?
"Fall in!" he hypocritically shouts as he charges the woman harassing the witch.
Renliat balks at the sudden appearance of the assailants, steeping back away from the ones upon him. "Who are these people?" As they turn their murderous eyes upon him, his father's voice creeps into his head. Strike first, and strike ruthlessly. His brows furrow in anger and he raises a gloved hand, eyes flashing as his hand looks like it starts to freeze. "Vilzriquathir drevab!" A burst of freezing magic blasts out from between the two women!
Sarada charges the woman who had snuck up behind Lialda and cuts her down in a single stroke. As she collapses to the ground, her blue slams against the ground and shatters in dozens of pieces.
Renliat's freezing blast is too quick for the two women to his south and both slow considerably from the cold blast to their bodies.
Round 1
Lialda nodded at Sarda and said, "Thanks" She then began to move over to try and help her compatriots. She found a place where she got a good view on one of the thugs and began to chant conjuring a ball of sticky stuff in her hand which she sent sailing at one of the thugs.
The blue-blade wielding attacker easily steps to the side of Lialda's web bolt.
Round 2
Lialda said something she shouldn't as she realized that her only other useful spell had just failed on her. She did the only thing left of use since her crossbow was left inside and called upon winter's power again, her words and gesture ended in a pointed finger as a beam of frigid power came from her finger and flew at the ass who dodge her webbing.
"Anytime, Lady Lialda." the Gnoll calmly responded.
Round 1
Keeping his cool and continuing his battle song, Kreagor moves to get out of the middle of his assailants, draws his sword and swings at the person nearest him.
As he is flailing about with his sword, Kreagor notices the blades are coated in something. Kreagor shouts out,
"Be wary of their blades, they are coated in something
Brolga takes a 5' step NW to flank the woman between he and Kreagor. Once in position he swings his mighty axe towards her but slips on an icy stone and loses his footing and misses
The assassins fall in and gang up on Kreagor. Despite appearing to be well trained for this type of attack, the snowy weather seems to wreak havoc on their positioning and the first two slashes at the hobgoblin miss. The third however catches him by surprise as she buries the blue blade into his side, shattering the blade into him
As the Hobgoblin falls to the ground the other two assasins gang up on Renliat. One buries it's alchemical blue blade into his belly while the other jams hers into his kidney , both shattering into pieces as well.
Both Kreagor and Renliat crumple to the ground, their blood staining the previously beautiful white pathway. The assasins turn their eyes towards Garri and Brolga next.