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"I am going to check around town here, by the inn and general store. Someone good with tracking want to come with me? Check out the second murder scene in front of the general store for clues as I chat with people on the streets. Also, I might go back to the general store later - the owner seemed like he might have more to say when he's not being ushered away by his woman."
The two go down to the general store, and first look around outside. They quickly discover that there are no clues to be found in this well traveled street. As the do this, Orug notices the two, waving them in. "You needing some gear, or looking to trade?"
Dozens of tents of sundry sizes ring an open area where the visitors gather for games and talk. During the day, the place feels like a county fair, complete with food stalls, music, jugglers, and sports. At night, the residents huddle in their tents or in the central beer garden, watching the shadows closely.
The field near the tent city is abuzz with activity. An impromptu
marketplace sprung up during the early hours of the morning, locals set up festival games, and dozens of men and women of all ages participate in contests nd sports. The vast majority of the people visiting Dawnton for the execution grew up in the region and are familiar faces, but strangers may have a hard time fitting in and convincing others to talk. Soon after arriving, though, it becomes clear that those who excel at the local contests and sports tends to win friends quickly.
Otto’s farm covers 10 acres of land that are presently unplanted and a farmhouse at the center of the fields. A line of trees along the west side of the house forms a windbreak. The property is five miles down the main road from Dawnton, and you can recognize it by its distinctive yellow hexagonal sign.
Otto is a powerfully built, clean-shaven man in his late thirties. He calls out to Celeste and Kali, "Trespassers! Get off my farm! I don't want no trouble!" You can see that he has a sling in his hand, and appears to be ready to use it.
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"Why yes" Kirin says, looking at her nails. "The color of an autumn sunset you say? Sounds perfect." Kirin smiles, walking towards Orug.
"Oh, where are my manners. This is Idris." Kirin says waving towards the man standing next to her. "Protection during these dangerous times. You understand."
"How's the missus?" Kirin says genially as she approaches the store, thinking to their last conversations end.
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Rafael is excited by the prospect of enjoying a few games of chance and athleticism. He says to Ehr'lynd, "I think we're standing out a bit and I don't see either of our marks anywhere. It would be good to participate in a few of these to lighten the mood around us. I'm not sure what your preference is, there are some games of wit over there, but I'm going to try a few of the archery and knife throwing booths," deciding to start with a few of the athletic booths first and then rest with some ale and gambling after.
Rafael puts his name in and it is soon his turn. He finds that the throwing knives they supply are actually quite good, making him believe this is a reputable traveling group. There is a whistle and Rafael is off to the race!
Dive over a stack of hay bales and then roll under a log elevated 3ft off the ground.
Run up two slanted and inclined planks. looking like this \/ head on, going up to a platform about 6ft high like this /T.
Dive off the platform through a hoop hung vertically in the air and land on a pile of hay bales
First knife target, a wood cutout Troll propped up between two trees.
Run across a 15ft by 10ft array of fence posts, planted so they are all roughly 2 feet high.
Second knife target, a wood cutout of a dire bear sticking out of a tent.
Another dive over a stack of hay bales and then roll under a log elevated 3ft off the ground.
Immediately after there is the third knife target, a wood cutout of a Troll with a child cowering next to it.
Then a tent with sleeping chickens in it that Rafael must sneak through without causing one cluck.
After the tent, as he rounds the last corner, there is a dog that stands between Rafael and the finish, the last obstacle is to get by the mutt without being bit. Rafael yells at it to scare it away.
Rafael dives over the mutt.
"Good day, Idris!" says the very jovial half-orc. "Can I offer you a shave and a haircut?"
To Kirin, "Good lady, it is a pleasure to see you once again! The autumn sunset lacquer, excellent. I don't get much of a chance to use such luxuries very often up here. The wife is off collecting some things, so we'll have plenty of time to talk. Have you learned any tasty bits of information about the murders? I may heard a couple of new things myself!"
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Rafael jumps at the chance to prove himself in the games. First, he takes on a couple of archery contests, but doesn't really stand out. However, when he takes on the obstacle course, he astounds the locals with his agility. He is the first (and perhaps only) to make it through the complex obstacle course. The crowd cheers as he passes each obstacle, until he finally startles an innocent dog at the end, which causes the crowd to roar out in laughter.
Several of the contestants offer to buy him drinks, which he shares with the more serious looking Ehr'lynd. While there, they learn several things. On of the toughs tells Rafael, "Did you know that my boss, Otto, a farmer who lives outside Dawnton, found the body of the first victim the morning the accused Pathfinders arrived. He's still going about his business as if nothing had happened."
A drunkard tells Ehr'lynd, "I heard that Sheriff Luin found a dagger that fit a sheath belonging to one of the Pathfinders, who were hiding nearby."
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Ehr'lynd smiles at the opportunity to get out and stretch his legs a bit. Intrigued by what he can get by simply listening, the temptation to know more by getting involved is too much. "I agree Rafael, perhaps getting involved is the right choice. Interesting you think I should focus on the games of wit. Most...interesting."
Ehr'lynd watches Rafael try to the obstacle course, a quiet chuckle emanating from under his breath. He pats Rafael on his back and then says quietly to him, "Not bad for a youngster." He then lines up at the starting line himself, carefully eyeing the rules and where he might be able to shave some time off his run.
Not one to be stood up, Ehr'lynd tries to "one up" the human youngster. Incredibly, he matches the rogue's performance, but even with his elven agility, he is unable to match it. The two are judged to have tied in the competition, but together have one the day!
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When Ehr'lynd and Rafael have a moment to speak privately amongst the jovial atmosphere, Rafael comments "Did you hear that? The first murder victim was found the morning the Pathfinders arrived. Too much is pointing to framing, let's go find Ekria or see what she's is hiding in her room back in town. After that display in the Gauntlet I know we both could get in and out of there easily."
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"Hello! You must be Otto! My name is Celste and this is my friend, Kali. We're not looking for trouble either! Nope! Look! We are neither armed nor armored. In fact, we just want to have us a look see where they found those bodies if an you don't mind. We are members of a traveling merchant train and pulled into Dawnton just the other day and heard all about a hanging. Never one to miss an opportunity, we thought it would be great to look over the location of the crime to see if there is anything we can find, give to the sheriff, and then fabricate for the rubes back home! Nothing sells like murder! People go crazy over anything that has to do with demons and devils, and the general macabre. People down in Ustalav just love that stuff. Darker the better is what really sells. Now you wouldn't happen to be able to put us in the right direction now, would you? We won't be but more than a minute or three. I thank you kindly.
Celeste smiles at Otto the whole time and begins to walk towards his fields. She hopes the thick layer of hogwash she spread will stun Otto into letting her and Kali walk out into the fields.
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"I'm quite enjoying these luxuries of yours. Not too often I can indulge myself in this kind of treatment." Kirin says with a smile.
"How'd you end up settin' up shop this far north anyway? Business good up here? Might extend my caravan's reach if there's enough business in it."
Once he responds to that and they're all settled down and into the nail painting she'll continue with 'tasty bits', pausing appropriately between each bit for conversation.
"So, I heard the Pathfinders were arrested in bed. At the Inn. But someone else said that the accused halfling had blood all over his hands and clothes when he was arrested. Now. That's just strange to me. Who goes to sleep with blood all over themselves. Gross." Leaving time for a response before next tidbit.
"Ohhh. And. I heard that someone sent an anonymous letter tipping off the authorities to the Pathfinders after the first murder. Wonder who sent that.."
"I'm still worried about those poor kids. They must have seen the first murder then - since you saw the second and didn't see them. I heard the first one was over by Otto's farm."
"What other bits have you discovered?"
The man relaxes a bit, and says, "Yes, it is true that foul deeds happened here." He waves you over, and then continues. "I had come out before dawn to feed the chickens when I saw a young naked man hanged and swinging from a tree. That isn't something I am used to seeing, so I went over and investigated a little. But, I do know a thing or two about not disturbing a crime scene, so I sent a boy to town to get the sheriff, and was careful about the scene."
He continues walking a little before shaking his head, saying, "No, that ain't quite right. He wasn't just naked. He was skinned alive. Horrible sight. Hope I never see it again.
"Now, one of my farm hands told me that two of the murderers were seen dancing in a devil's circle in the woods between my farm and the town. I ain't had the time to check it out, nor the inclination. I mind my own business out here."
When you get to the site, the body has obviously been removed. Celeste notices some humanoid tracks on the ground, but can't really figure much more about the, . However, the two are able determine that there was not nearly enough blood at presetn for the victim to have been killed here. It appears that he was killed elsewhere and then carried here, which would have taken considerable time and possibly occurred before the trio of Pathfinders had even come to Dawnton.
Celeste then notices an obsidian button on the ground. The two confer, and agree that the button is quite atypical for the region, which suggests that whoever lost it was not from Dawnton originally.
"Oh, I am glad to be of service, my dear! I don't get the chance to play like this very often! It is a pleasure!"
He gets to working on her manicure, with hands quite a bit more deft than would be expected by the burly looking half-orc.
"Your friend over there, the tough guy, he doesn't talk much, does he? Almost like he isn't really paying attention to what's going on!"
He works on Kirin's nails, very carefully painting them with a lovely lacquer that matches perfectly with his description. "So, I hear that some aren’t sure the prisoners are guilty, but it’s hard to get anybody to speak his mind with that inquisitor throwing accusations and the whole crowd screaming to see some necks get stretched."
As he finishes up her nails, Orug says, "About Ekira. She says that Iomedae began speaking to her directly after she arrived in Dawnton. She’s thinking about setting down roots here, establishing a church, maybe even challenging Sheriff Tobias Luin for the title of mayor.
"I am not sure about how I feel about that. Mostly, she's ok. Comes in once a week to get her hair trimmed, but don't talk much. Very intense woman, she is. Always on about justice, but I don't know if what she's been doing really counts."
He turns to Idris, "Hey! Tall, dark, and gruesome. You want a haircut?"
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"Hmmmm..... this button is not particular to anything I've seen the locals wearing. I think I have seen this before somewhere.... hm. And that whole skinning of the body? Yuck. Just. Yuck. Who would do such a thing? And that whole lack of blood? That takes time, time the Pathfinders accused of the crime did not have.
"Well, Kali, let's head back to town and check in with the others. Besides, I'm famished!
"Thanks, Otto! Bye bye!"
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Idris' eyes come to life as he's addressed. "I'm much better at listening than I am at talking, usually, especially with Miss Kirin around."
Idris brings his hand up to his thick, shaggy hair, knotted from travel and neglect.
"If you are to keep talking while you do it, I'll happily pay you for your services."
"Why, that's fine, Mr. Idris. I think I can do something with that mess."
The three Pathfinder teams make their way back to the Heath and Harvest, and are able to tell each other their stories about what they have learned. Rafael notices that Ekira is in the common room as well, enjoying her dinner, much like they are. She is, apparently, keeping an eye on the team much as they are keeping an eye on her.
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With everyone sitting together around the table, Rafael attempts to layer on the subterfuge and nonchalantly tip off his cohorts with his plans.
"So I was saying, when the ol'maid was finally moored in the harbor, with her colors stripped in the storm and her sails a collage of men's shirts and pants; none of us had any idea where she'd come from. Even her damn name was scoured off her hull. We spent that whole night watching her activities, all the candle lights and shadows bobbing below her decks. Was this the ghost ship that sank the 'Fleet of Young Cutters'? That had fired upon the 'General's Bessie'? Or were we framing a, relatively speaking, innocent merchant because of our fears from days in that dense fog?" Rafael eyes around the table, trying to read if everyone is staying with him. He takes a short sip of his mead before finishing his plea.
"All I know is that when nature is warning ya, you need to do your due diligence. Like Kirin is always saying, 'Four goats for a horse is like an owlbear in the moonlight'. If we hadn't found out about that ship's going-ons were we'd have all been sitting on the sea bottom with the Cutter's crews."
The team is sitting around, discussing, looking somewhat suspicious. Celeste casts detect thoughts and looks right at Ekira.
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Celeste give's Rafael an idea and a devilish smile crawls across his face. Standing up he moves so he is facing the entire group with Ekira to his back.
Rafael winks to them, then speaks so Ekira will definately hear him. "It's impossible to work if all of you, if I have to do this myself then I will!" After which he abruptly storms out, noticeably putting his hand on his rapier's handle as an attempt to further play with Ekira's imagination.
'Boy I hope this works... it was quite comfortable in there...'
Once outside, Rafael walks a few buildings down and then dips into the cover of a shadow between two buildings. He hides so he is still able to see if anyone leaves the Inn and waits. If the street is busy, he attempts to do this subtlety as to not arouse suspicion.
Rafael storms out of the Heath and Harvest in his mock attempt to separate himself from the rest of the group. He walks a few buildings down, when he notices two groups of locals coming out from alleyways, surrounding him. One speaks , moving up towards Rafael. "Dawnton doesn’t need any more 'help' from the likes of you. You should just move along before somebody gets hurt."
None of the locals are armed, but the man speaking has pushed up his sleeves, and his hands are balled into fists.
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"I believe your time here..." Rafael begins as he turns around after seeing the group appearing in front of him. Then he notices Ekria hasn't followed him like he had planned. @*#&!$
"Uh...me?" he says as he turns back around to face who seems to be the leader. "Why? What do you have against fair trade? Don't you know how much Dawnton is missing out by being secluded from the world economy?" His face is painted in surprise though it's a bit of a lie.
He looks at some of the shadowy faces, a few of whom had enjoyed beers with him and Ehr'lynd hours earlier after the Gauntlet.
"If you don't mind sir, what is your trade?"
As the toughs move in, Rafael tries to defuse the situation by fast talking, but apparently they are having nothing to do with it.
"My trade is gettin' you troublemakers out of town. We know you've been askin' question, so now ima gonna give you an answer!"
He steps up and swings his fist at Rafael. The adventurer is caught by surprise by this suddent attack, and the farm-hand's massive fist gets him right in the chin. Rafael sees stars as the lucky sucker punch lands.
- => Rafael
- Other toughs
- Torben Sacha
Conditions:
Celeste: 12/12:
Ehr'Lynd : 18/18
Idris: 24/24
Kali : 12/12
Kirin : 14/14
Rafael: 10/10 -5 NL
Consumable usage:
Expenses:
1GP/night/person
10GP - round from Rafael
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Ehr'lynd shakes his head and says very quietly, "That...", an exceptionally long pause follows, as if Ehr'lynd is desperately trying to find a more diplomatic term, "...fool is going to draw more attention to us than is necessary."
He takes a long sip on his drink, watching the room to see if anybody else has started to watch them. While watching he speaks, "We have quite a bit of information at hand, does anybody have any theories yet of what we're dealing with? Foul play seems more than likely, and Ekira is probably behind it all, but I feel like the puzzle isn't put together yet. Ideas?"
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Rafael grumbles as he swallows the blood in his mouth.
"Alright, you can have that one for free. Our caravan is moving on after the hangings anyways so you'll get what you want soon, consider this message received." he says while rubbing his jaw. 'Dirty fighting bastard, no way I can take all of these folks on though. My colleagues would kill me if I got thrown in jail for street fighting too... if this mob didn't see to it first.'
"Who put you up to this anyway? Ekria? She's been accosting us since the moment she saw us." Rafael asks while stepping backwards a step with his hands held out in front of him.
The tough that took the swing shouts in Rafael's face, not letting down his guard. "No one put us up to this, punk! You've been askin' questions, and we don't like that 'round here. Now get out of town!"
Kirin watches Erika's reaction when Rafael leaves.
Ekira sees the brash pirate stand up and leave, but the only reaction you notice is a tiny shake of her head.
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After several failed attempts to reason with the bloodthirsty mob Rafael does his best to get back to the Inn.
"You got it boss, what's you name again? I'll go round up my comrades and we'll take care of this..."
With an acrobatic tumble to get out of the circle of vigilante justice. He then double times it back to the Inn, slowing his gait to enter normally, not wanting it to look like he just ran back.
'Someday I'll cave in that punk's smug face...'
Once in the Inn, he calmly walks over to his old chair and sits back down, ordering a Hot Toddy when a waitress passes by.
A look of surprise comes over several of the villagers as Rafael deftly tumbles past, reminding them of the acts that he performed at The Gauntlet earlier. Even the tough that took the swing looks a little pale, eyeing the rapier and dagger at his waist. They quickly disappear into the darkness, not wanting to tangle with the toughened adventurer.
It is at this very moment that everyone hears a cry from the other end of the alley! A woman is screaming!
Ekira looked up, and appears to be observing the room. She is starting to get up.
Most of the locals are running outside.