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"Another escaped animal?" Teric rolls his eyes. "Your trainer needs to do a better job."
"But it's one thing for me to teach you a lesson. It's entirely different for you to be accused by these outsiders. No doubt many are simply jealous of your operation here." He nods to the mob of townsfolk. "We'll see what's going on. You need to secure the circus until we do. These people might decide to start trouble."
He takes Alamara's hand to secure the deal. "You have my help, cousin. We'll see this to the end."
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”A murder?!” Zinkyudo says in what sounds like an avian squawk, ”What kind of circus is this? I’m certainly willing to help, to try to get things under control here a bit.”
He gives Borax a stern look, as if to say, Don’t these people have enough trouble?
"The travelling kind. The kind that often gets ridiculed for being misunderstood. Vagabonds and gypsies... Pah! We are just making a living the best way we can."
Castiel knocks Borax on the shoulder
"What my less then subtle mate here means is that we will surely try to help. A king must care for his subjects after all. Can you tell us the whereabouts of all the circus folk last night?"
"Another escaped animal?" Teric rolls his eyes. "Your trainer needs to do a better job."
"But it's one thing for me to teach you a lesson. It's entirely different for you to be accused by these outsiders. No doubt many are simply jealous of your operation here." He nods to the mob of townsfolk. "We'll see what's going on. You need to secure the circus until we do. These people might decide to start trouble."
He takes Alamara's hand to secure the deal. "You have my help, cousin. We'll see this to the end."
"This is the thing. The authorities seem to think that the sphinx is the one responsible. I can personally assure you that the sphinx did not escape, nor did she leave the grounds at any point. As for the rest of the staff, everyone was either sleeping or practicing for today's performances, performances which I fear will go undone with this on the lips of every man, woman, and child."
"They can't even handle a dragon. I don't think they orchestrated a murder. We'll help, would be hard to enjoy our circus vacation with the circus in prison."
"Hence why I seek your assistance in this matter. That and I have been forbidden to look into it myself. Biased perspective and all. I know you do not hold much love for us, but I also know you can get to the bottom of this."
Borax is unable to resist and replies with obvious sarcasm,
"Hire us? Why with another 50gp split six ways, seven if we give the beast a portion, I could move out of the gutter and purchase my very own crate in an alley corner. How soon can we start?"
Borax, obviously amused with himself, folds his arm and gives Almara a dry look.
"Though it is best you remained unbiased, we can offer a reward of 600gp for your group if... when you find whoever is responsible."
She produces a scroll from her pouch. "I have already taken the liberty of penning this missive to the Sheriff. It explains that you are to be third-party investigators in this matter. You are free to look around as you see fit here, but once you get back to town I would recommend you seek out the Sheriff and get the details of this tragedy from her."
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Deciding to make a stop on the way into town proper, you make your way to the scene of the murder.
The bushes have been disturbed with dried blood still clinging to their limbs. No guards remain, but you can clearly see that this area has seen lots of activity since the murder and removal of the body. No doubt the sheriff and her men have already done their C.S.I.: Ilsurian practice.
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Zinkyudo has little formal training in tracking, but he's always had a sharp eye. He takes a close look at the scene of the murder, studying the bushes and underneath them, the ground all around, anything that might lead him to any clues the sheriff's men missed. As he looks, he comments, "We should talk to the sheriff, make sure she knows what we're up to and ask her if she's got any information about the murder, and why anyone might think the circus folk - or the sphinx - is behind it."
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Looking at the ground, Zinkyudo is able to locate clawed tracks of a big creature. Interestingly enough, there is no indication where the creature came from or where it went. The tracks just start out of nowhere as if the creature could have flown to the spot.
With Xan-Tie's assistance, you also spot some evidence showing where sections of the ground have been swept to remove tracks of other humanoids while leaving just the paw prints. Furthermore, the clawed tracks are not leonine, and not nearly deep enough to belong to Jherizhana, who should weigh approximately 6oo pounds.
Continuing back to town, you find that Sheriff Feldane is at her office in the jail as she tries to organize the investigation. Seeing you approach, she is not impolite, just rushed. She tries to wave you away, saying she is incredibly busy at the moment, but the letter given you by Almara gives her pause. She agrees to see you briefly and consents to giving you access to the crime scenes.
"Oh, you think this is just a murder? Hmmm, if only it were. This gets a little more complicated than that."
Feldane provides the basic facts on the murder. The victim was Archivin Walder, the town moneylender and sometimes pawnbroker who owns a local business called the Locked Box. Walder was found mauled while walking to his home after the circus last night. Walder's wife, who went looking for her husband when he never came home, discovered the body. Agnes Walder begged her husband's four full-time guards who lived at the Locked Box for help. Three of them left their post to search, and one guard stayed behind to secure the office. Thieves, presumably in league with the creature that killed Walder, burst into the Locked Box, killed the remaining guard, and stole many easily carried valuables (such as gems and jewelry). The robbery was interrupted when the guards brought Walder's body to the office instead of his home, and they glimpsed two humanoid figures fleeing in the night. Upon finding the guard dead and the building burglarized, the three remaining guards secured the building until the sheriff could be notified.
Feldane confides she isn't entirely convinced a creature from the circus is responsible for the murders. Nevertheless, she explains the people of llsurian are fiercely independent and reactive.
"The mood in town is sour. There are stories all over the place about a great four-legged beast flying over town last night after the circus closed down, silhouetted across the moon. Of course, I'll be damned if I can find a single eyewitness who actually saw the sphinx. Now poor Walder is left dead in some bushes. It'd be one thing if these deaths were accidental , but the robbery angle has people thinkin' of a Sczarni heist... erm, no offense, sirrah. I'm not proud to say it, but this stirs a lot of unworthy opinions about Varisians."
You may ask her questions before you head out, though she has given much of what she knows already.
Where would you like to look next?
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Teric rolls his eyes and mumbles mostly to himself "Ah, yes, the prejudice begins. We haven't even seen the body as we're hearing of 'Sczarni heists'"
He looks up at the sheriff. "A moneylender is seldom without scorn in a town. Do you know if Walder has any enemies? Perhaps he was calling in his loans on someone who was unable to pay or he was using his money to get leverage over someone. It's possible he was killed over simple business dispute rather than anything to do with the circus."
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Zinkyudo considers what the sheriff says a moment. Walder was mauled, and I saw large claw-marks in the ground, that looked like it just appeared or landed on the spot. And there are rumors of some big flying thing spotted last night. I see why they'd think of the sphinx, but whatever killed the moneylender was a lot smaller than Jherizhana. I wonder if she notice anything flying around...we should ask her, after we check out the body.
"Sheriff," he says deferentially, "would it be possible for us to see Walder's body? I don't have any special expertise in this area, but maybe we could tell something about what kind of creature might have attacked him, if he was 'mauled' as you say. And it would be helpful to talk to Walder's guards, also, who saw the two figures running away."
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"Walder had no enemies in town. Despite his occupation, he was well liked. He helped everyone in town at some time or another in their needs, usually to resupply for their harvest or upgrading equipment. Hell, even I've taken a loan here and there to cover expenses."
"His body and guards are still at his establishment, the Locked Box. His wife is making arrangements as we speak, I'd assume. Just tell them that you are authorized to investigate the matter and you shouldn't have a hard time. Just be mindful of the widow. She had been through a lot today."
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"It was probably the dragon that slew Teric what did him in. Viscous beast. So, a flying creature killed Walder with no witnesses around, his wife conveniently finds the body first and summons away Walders' personal guard, and no one else, leaving his stored valuables unprotected. The remaining guard was slain, presumably the thieves expected him or her to still be there and brought necessary force. That is... a very well orchestrated crime. Didn't the circus just get here? I'd expect an operation with such a perfect level of execution would require at least a week of observation and planning, but I'm not the thieving type. Hmm... I doubt the traveling entertainers are our culprit."
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The sheriff shakes her head at Torg's questioning. "The circus has only been in town since day before yesterday when they started to set up. Yesterday was their first day of business. So are you already suspecting the wife? Hmmm, I find this hard to swallow. They have been happily married for some time. I do not see any point in killing both her husband AND her guard in one night."
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"I think it's a bit early to suspect anyone," Zinkyudo interjects, "but we should talk to everyone, that's certain."
He gets directions to the Locked Box and waves the party that direction, making sure to remind them along the way everything he noticed at the murder scene, including the fact that something seemed to have flown in and attacked. "Unless Walder's wife can fly, I don't see how she did him in."
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"I guess they wanted something and hoped Walder had it. If they couldn't find it, they went to his home. I guess they were rushed and took a lot of jewelry in they hopes they found the right item, but were chased away by the guards. Maybe the second crime scene has more clues and we can determine what killed Walder, or even get a scents of the burglars. If not we can ask the widow about anything Walder has that could be important to others. Well that is my best guess, why else kill Walder and loot his house of jewelry." Castiel says.
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Before departing, the Sheriff pens a quick note vetting you with her authority to investigate until the word spreads through the ranks that you are able to do so.
Arriving at the Locked Box, you see it is a sturdy one story building with no windows and very sturdy looking wooden doors. Three guards are just outside loading the bodies of Walder and the unfortunate sentry into a cart to be transported to the temple of Erastil.
The widow, Agnes Walder, stands in the doorway, her eyes red and puffy, no doubt from the tears shed over last night's events.
You are stopped by one of the guards briefly as you approach, though it is quickly established that you have legal right to be there. Though distraught, Agnes is willing to cooperate.
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"Ill go check outside for tracks and scents. Be right back." Castiel says as he walks around the building with Betsy to find tracks.
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Torg is informed that the coroner has already come and gone.
Looking around the outside, nothing is seen out of the ordinary. And as this is a fairly well-traveled street, the scents of just about every citizen of Ilsurian is upon it.
On the body itself, Zinkyudo sees clearly that the cause of death was indeed massive claw marks from some sort of large beast.
Upon asking the widow about stolen property, she unlocks the door and leads you all inside. In this lamp-illuminated showroom, glass cases are shattered everywhere with tidy little piles of it swept in neat little piles. "These were many items we had for sale, as well as items held from defaulted loans. Thank the gods most of the more valuable items are down in the safe."
She goes on to explain again what had happened.
"It was late last night when Archivin hadn't returned from that dastardly circus. I knew why he went. It just bothered me to think of him ogling that winged she-lion whatsit - all that prancin' about without a top on. But none a' that would matter if only Archie was still here with me!" She loses herself in grief momentarily before recomposing herself. "I went out to look for him and say a few things to that four-legged b~!*& when I found my Archie's bloodied body on the road. I hurried back here at once to get our guards, leaving one behind to watch the shoppe. When we returned, the guard was dead and... well, look at the state of it..." Again, she loses her battle against her tragic emotions. "At first we thought the guard had betrayed us, but then we couldn't find Archie's key. Not in his pockets, not on the road, nowhere to be found. Whoever broke in here may still have it."
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"What does the key unlock? Do you have a spare?" Castiel asks after returning from a fruitless search.
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"Well, no. When we saw them leaving, we knew they didn't get into the vault. They were not carrying anything of the size we keep down there."
The guards all nods solemnly at Zinkyudo's question. "We all came back wit' the Mrs., see. We saw these two people, real scrawny folk, dartin' off into the shadows to the west. When we tried to pursue, they'd gone done vanished. So we 'oled up 'ere and waited for the she-cop. Ain't no one come round since till you lot showed up."
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"Would you allow us to check the contents of the vault miss? It might be something that they will come back for and apparently they don't mind killing people to get it. We could guard or relocate said object to keep you safe." Castiel suggests.
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"A very good idea. As I've already lost one guard today, you'll understand if I try to keep the rest out of harm's way. You seem to be capable of handling yourselves if anything arises. Just know, I will be noting if you take anything from below. I may be a widow, but I still have a business to run!"
With that, she loans you the key and points to the stairwell in the back. You may explore at your leisure.
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"Whoa, gang!" Zinkyudo says, holding up a warning hand, "dear widow Agnes didn't tell us about the pit trap in the hallway. I wonder what other surprises are waiting for us here. It looks like there's a switch over there, probably disarms the trap. I'll go take a look."
He takes a few steps back, then runs toward the area where the floor looks weak, leaping just as he reaches it. His wings spread slightly, though they seem to serve to keep him balanced rather than actually lifting him across the obstacle.
Once he's across, he flips the concealed switch.
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"Sneaky sneaky. Trap's not sprung, perhaps the robbers knew about it and didn't want to bother with it. Will have to ask them which guard had the key last night, don't want them forgetting about it in their grief."
He crosses the trap and unlocks and opens the door. "Uhh, we might have asked if there's anything dangerous kept down here..."
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The massive door to the safe swings open but doesn't reveal much. The lone lantern in the hall is not enough to illuminate much of the vault, which remains shrouded in shadows.
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