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Wex's apartment is much cleaner than his craft, and it's easy to find fresh linens and towels that can be used to wrap his body in. With his arms and legs bound, Issil lays out a sheet and the Geoffrey lowers the unconscious murderer in, wrapping him up like a mummy.
After looting the crawlspace of anything valuable, Balgorrah still remains in its display stand, a red hazy aura flickering from the blade.
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"Can't you just smash that thing into a pile of pieces? Or throw it into a hot forge and melt it into oblivion? Myself I'd say put that psycho down with it before you do." Nurla starts pointing out spots that still need to be cleaned.
"Get this stuff cleaned up so I can rent this place out again ok? Our little buddy here is about to check outta here and I wanna claim that deposit!" She wrings her hands together greedily.
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"Isn't this guy responsible for killing some members of the tiefling community? If so, maybe we turn him over to them for some justice?" Pádraig Henry asks.
He shrugs. "I'd like to take him some place, where we can conduct a thorough interrogation."
The handling looks at Balgorrah, still in its display stand, a red, hazy aura flickering from the blade.
"Let's avoid touching it. How about we hold open the handy haversack and tip over the display stand, letting it fall inside. Then we should get it to an expert, someone who can determine if it really holds the soul of Mangvhune, and what we can do about it."
The bard considers the available options. "Hetamon Haace or the Rose of Kintargo group of Milani followers might have some idea. Maybe we should speak to Rexus first."
"Taking Balgorrah to the new digs is fine by me. Rexus and the others should be settled in by now. We can throw it in that vault for safekeeping. As for this one," he motions to the unconscious murderer, "I think taking him to Hetamon is the best course here. Should we take him to the news digs then it would be a one way trip."
"Yes, Rexus might be able to provide us with further insight as to who might be an expert on such matters here within the city," Morvena nods.
"Tipping the blade into the haversack seems workable as well. As for Wex...yes, it seems most appropriate to allow those wronged to dispense justice in this case. Normally I would advise turning him over to the proper authorities but since that is something Kintargo sorely lacks at this time, returning him to Hetamon seems the next best course of action."
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"Yeah. Let Hetamon and the Tieflings take care of him. Thrune would probably hire him as an assassin." Issil is serious.
"Nobody touch that blade. Let Rexus and Hetamon advise us on how to get rid of it."
She starts casting create water to fill the tub. "Nurla, here's some water to scrub off these stains. After that, I'm out of here."
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Padraig and Issil open the haversack as wide as it will go, and topple the blade in, display case and all. It easily fits, and having not touched it, no one feels any murderous compulsions from the evil kukri.
With the tub filled, Nurla gets to work, likely pretending to clean the apartment as Geoffrey hefts Wex's body over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. The rest of follow, making your way downstairs to ground level and outside, where you already notice you're getting stares from passersby.
Victor soon rejoins the party, and you travel through Old Kintargo, back towards the 'Bones. Down a road not a hundred feet from the new hideout, you encounter a dottari patrol, two guards stepping on front of you.
"Oh?" The guard approaches. "And what do we have here? What's wrapped inside the sheet you've got there? It seems oddly... body shaped." He pauses. "And it reeks!" He holds his nose.
Issil reaches into her pouch and pulls out 10 gold pieces, putting the gold into their hands.
"Don't mind us, officer. Just taking out the trash."
Of course. NOW the guards show up.
"Yes, especially since we are certain that you have much more important business to be attending to," Morvena adds. "We will not keep you any longer."
Geoffrey scans the surrounding area (all the while trying not to gag on the man's stench), looking for other guards that may be out of sight...and an escape route, if the bribes fail here.
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The guard eye Issil and the bodybag suspiciously, his arm folded across his chest. "Hmph. Seems odd to carry trash in such a manner, but I suppose I've seen stranger things in Old Kintargo."
The other guard shoulder checks Geoffrey as he walks past, sneering as he walks ahead. "Come on, take the coin. I could use a drink."
"Stay out of trouble." The two guards walk off.
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You then make your way down into the Lucky Bones, and descend down to the bottom floor. All traces of water have dried up or have been cleaned up, and you find Korva Fushi with a mop in her hand, her brothers arguing over who gets what bedroom and why one deserves it more than the other. Rexus hauls the box full of Silver Ravens documents over to the main chamber while Octavio and his armigers work on assembling beds purchased the local build-your-own-furniture shop. Octavio gasps as his hammer floats up and out of his hand as he drives a nail in, soon followed by the mischievous laugh of a faerie dragon and your old pal Vendalfek reappearing in thin air. Even Hetamon has come, and decorates the place with rose petals and candles.
Hetamon and Rexus stop their homemaking and approach you as you enter, with Hetamon especially eager in his disposition. "I see the Silver Ravens leaders have returned. And... they have come with a package." He shudders. "What have you found?"
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When Geoffrey drops his burden, none too gently, Pádraig Henry kicks it, unrolling the rug, and the unconscious man lies splayed upon the floor. "Rexus Victocora, Hetamon Haace. Meet Varl Wex, the man we think is responsible for a series of recent murders, possibly including some of our tiefling friends."
Then the bard opens his handy haversack, letting the pair view the evil blade still contained in its display case. "And this is Balgorrah, the knife of the Temple Hill Slasher, Professor Mangvhune. It may contain the killer's soul. We're hoping you can help us figure out what to do with it."
"Whatever you do, don't touch it." The halfling explains what he's learned about its evil nature and various enchantments.
"Will do, officer." Issil rolls her eyes and moves on.
She enters the Lucky Bones. "He put so many flowers in his apartment. Probably to hide the stench. Also, check out his notes. He thinks he's the killer reborn or something." She laughs. "What a nutcase. Maybe the tiefling community wants to exact justice? Revenge?"
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"Obviously we could not have turned him over to the dottari as they likely would have just set him free again," Morvena remarks. "Or hired him themselves, as I believe Issil stated earlier."
"At any rate, we have the likely murderer, murder weapon, and these notes. It seems fairly open-and-shut to me. That is, unless we entertain the theory of Professor Mangvhune's soul being in this blade and exerting influence over anyone that dares wield it."
She stares down at the unconscious Wex for a moment, silent.
"In which case it is possible that this man was not acting entirely of his own volition. But I admit that would be difficult to prove one way or the other."
"Possession from a ghost in a sword? It's like one of those scary stories you'd read in a book!"
Geoffrey grunts as he drops the suspected murderer like a sack of potatoes on the ground. "Whatever the case may be he will tell us, one way or another." He points to the area where the kids had been held prisoner, "We can rig that place up to hold him for now...but this guy is very slippery. Leaving him alive is too risky, especially now he knows of the Lucky Bones location. You think he would sell that to Barzilia for clemency," he asks rhetorically. "I say he doesn't leave here alive."
"Would he? I would think he would instead prefer to make Wex his dinner," Morvena remarks with a soft chuckle. "But we are likely getting ahead of ourselves. Let us see what Wex has to say for himself, if anything, once Rexus and Hetamon are ready to proceed."
Nurla gives Issil a side long stink eye as she suggests the woman does the cleaning up "Fine. Take the rubbish out with you." She grabs up a few of the grubbier towels and gets to work on dealing with any obvious blood smears and splatters before draining the tub and disposing of the rags.
Afterwards she looks around and gathers up all the nicest towels, sheets, and linens and packs them away in a laundry bag before turning into Wex. Time to leave this dump.. on to bigger and better things! He grabs up the sack of personal items and heads out into the hall and down to Nurla's office, putting on his happy face as he does.
"Excuse me Nurla, I'm sorry to say I've lost my job and I need to move out. I've left the place in good repair and I'm hoping to get my deposit back?" He smiles sweetly to the woman.
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After his business done with the real Nurla, one way or another, Victor returns as quickly as possible and travels along with the group silently. He holds his tongue when they meet the two guards, merely taking a close look at the two's faces and builds, just in case they're visage could prove useful down the line.
Back at the Bones he tosses an old doughnut at his favorite dragon when he makes an appearance "Look what the cat dragged in you sorry excuse for a dragon!" He chuckles as he pokes fun before dragging out the linens to help with the redesign of the place.
"Quite the crowd we've gathered here. Glad to see you've put some elbow grease into the place while we've been gone. The question is.. did you bring a chef with you? Or at least a baker?" He smacks his lips and looks around hopeful.
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"What! And so soon? Your lease isn't up for another six months!" Nurla grumbles. "You won't be getting any deposit back, and in fact, I think you should pay a penalty."
But then her demeanor changes, and she flashes Victor a bright, toothy smile. "Oh. Okay, my dear. I am so sad to see you go. Take care of yourself." She opens a lockbox and counts out 15 gold pieces before handing them to Victor.
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Hetamon stops and stares down at the unconscious Wex with disdain, while Rexus takes a few steps back to add some distance between the bloodied murderer and himself. Octavio and several of his armigers as well as Korva and Jay Fushi approach to see what's going on.
"Even if he was possessed by that blade, it does not make his actions excusable," the tiefling coldly says. "I'm not sure I even want to hear what he has to say at this point."
Rexus takes the notes and flips through them, his eyes widening. "Disturbing... Not the sort of thing I'd read as a bedtime story. If it's true this blade was one of the Skinsaw's, we need to keep it out of their hands. I would imagine the Church of Shelyn or Abadar may provide a bounty for such an evil weapon."
"I say kill 'em!" Vendalfek squeeks. "Smelly guy's just gonna cause more trouble!"
Octavio Sabinus folds his arms across his chest. "Think about this logically. Opportunistically, if you will. You have done Kintargo a great service by bringing this murderer to justice. And what better way to even further bolster your support than to parade your success... in public?"
"You mean to take a filthy unconscious body and dance around with it? After what he's done to our faithful servants of Milani?" Hetamon scoffs. "Throw him in a cell without food or water. Let him rot."
"I am only suggesting a public announcement, but think of how much more effective it will be with the proof dragged with you. The dottari will have no choice but to imprison him at Castle Kintargo after that." Octavio pleads, impatience in his voice. "Silver Ravens, what say you?"
Issil grins. "Public humiliation? Adoration of the tiefling community? A chance to glamer a resplendent costume?" Issil begins glamering one ostentatious dress after the next. "I'm with Octavio. Let's make a joke of this murderer AND remind people of the real town protectors."
"And sell that blade to the Church of Shelyn."
"Mmm...I admit that I find myself in agreement with Issil," Morvena remarks as a sly smile creeps across her face. "It would take some planning to accomplish but I do agree that it would send a message to the people of Kintargo that the Silver Ravens are not just...how do they say it...'all talk and no action'."
"Kill him now and string him up for all to see. I don't want him ending up in the hands of Thrune." Says Victor through a mouthful of candy thanks to Vandel.
"I don't have a problem selling the blade to someone who'll destroy it or keep it safe... cash is tight in this economy..." As he says that he pulls out the scavenged cash from Nurla and what Wex had on him when he went down.
"Oh yes, no matter what we do with Wex, I agree we should see the blade destroyed by Shelyn or Abadar's faithful," Morvena nods.
Geoffrey glances down at the unconscious man, "Well keeping him alive is a risky move...as is parading him in front of Thrune. We will be, essentially, announcing that we are a threat to him. We had best be ready for that. While Victor's advice is safer, it is true we won't win this cities freedom by playing it safe all the time. We will need more support if we are to throw off Thrune's yoke once and for all!"
Concerning the blade's disposition he simply nods in agreement.
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"I'm okay with turning the blade over to the clergy of Shelyn and put the bounty to good use. Never had a lot of faith in Abadar's servants."
Pádraig Henry points down at the unconscious man.
"Maybe it would be good for the people of Kintargo to see justice done. And to know that the Silver Ravens found a serial killer that Lord-Mayor Thrune couldn't or wouldn't find."
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"Then it's settled." Hetamon sternly says. "This man does not deserve to live... But I'm afraid I have no desire to be his executioner. Besides, how would it look, even to all of you standing here with me, if a tiefling killed a helpless man right here?"
The room is silent for an awkwardly long moment, and then there's a CHOMP.
"What a wimp!" Vendalfek taunts, his jaws holding Wex's neck. "Couldn't do it, could ya? Good thing you got your pal Vendal to do the dirty work! Fweeeee!" Blood gurgles from the severed artery and covers the faerie dragon's little head, pooling around the area.
Octavio throws his palm at his face. "Why would we recruit a faerie dragon to our cause..."
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"By the way, Silver Ravens, I never did thank you. But for bringing this murderer in, you have done the tiefling community a great service, and I will gladly serve as one of your own. I have big plans for this hideout, as you'll soon see," Hetamon winks, shaking your hands.
The next morning, with Hetamon Haace accompanying you, you wrap up Wex's corpse and haul it over to the market square, where locals mill about merchants tents and shops. A dottari patrol unit of five guards walk about the area, keeping an eye on things, while another dozen or so Chelish Citizens Guard militia are dotted through the square. It's loud and busy, and might make for a good opportunity for a public display...
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"I made this placard we can leave with the body, railing against Thrune's failure to pursue justice for the killer's victims, and reminding the people of Kintargo of the city's former and future glory free of the tyrants."
"Do we want to sign it as the Silver Ravens, or do we want to continue to maintain our low profile?"
"A more cautious approach would be to use our network to spread news of our involvement... What do you think?"
Geoffrey considers the situation, "I think caution is warranted here, but I will defer to the brains of the outfit."
Issil steps back from the Vendaflek's blood spray, careful none of it splashes onto her armor dress. "Pfft, I was gonna do that."
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The next day, Issil dresses as drably as she can (despite her bling and jewelry- she can't help it.) "When they find out the Silver Ravens are still around... ooo it's gonna be good."
She pauses and listens to Pádraig. "Wait, that's even better! Leave a coded message or something on it. So we can spread stories of our exploits discreetly."
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"Oh my gosh!" Pava chirps as Vendalfek casually executes the unconscious Wex. "That was hardcore! Is that the right way to use that word - hardcore? I hope so! That was hardcore! Wow!"
Morvena raises an eyebrow at Vendalfek's lack of hesitation on the matter but otherwise doesn't seem as excited by the display as the little bird on her shoulder is.
"Well, that is certainly one way to settle the matter! Thank you for your assistance, Vendalfek. A pity, though, that he never regained consciousness - twisted mind or not, I would have been curious to hear his justifications for his actions."
"Purely as an academic matter," she quickly adds. "His guilt was without question."
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"Mmm...since the best opportunity for a brazen display has passed I would agree with a more subtle approach," Morvena remarks, glancing around. "Another time will come for public theatrics."
Victor smirks as Vendel makes quick work of their prisoner "Geez, sure would have been easier to do that back at the apartment!" He points at Geoff in particular and giggles at the punishment the man took.
"How's that taste? Like slurk grease? HA!" He pops another stolen candy treat into his mouth.
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"Can anyone make me invisible? I can plant the body in a public spot with whatever message we want to leave on it. I'd vote to keep our public involvement hidden and just spread the word. Things get hard when more eyes start looking."
He tries to heft the body and shakes his head "Maybe Geoff would be a better choice, this guy ain't light!"
Geoffrey nods in agreement, "Yeah I had better carry him Victor...too bad he is really starting to reek!"
"We should have thought this through before we came out here," Morvena sighs. "I do not currently have the means to cast Invisibility myself but I will set to work on it once we find ourselves with an excess of time on our hands."
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"Ooh! Take him up on one of those buildings, pin a note to his shirt, then dump him down into the square and run away really fast," Pava chirps. "Morv, you could even grease him up so he'd slide down the roof faster!"
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The party agrees dumping a body here would draw far too much attention. So first, Padraig scouts the area, and finds the Temple of Shelyn's exterior artwork of beautiful nature frescoes still has some scaffolding left over from when the artist worked on the walls. You all climb up to the top of the temple overlooking the square. With a good vantage point looking below, Victor scrawls the note: Another murdering Thrune lackey brought to Justice by your helpful neighborhood watch.
Birds of a feather flock together.
After removing Wex from the sheet, the note is tied around his head. Morvena conjures up a swath of slick grease to coat the steepled end of the roof. Padraig counts down from five, and Geoffrey hefts the body ontot he steeple. It slides off and drops below with a THUD.
But you all duck down, and out of sight, just as the following happens.
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A scream pierces the air from below. "Mommy, mommy, I'm scared!" A blue-eyed toddler runs behinds her parents, who look at the bloodied corpse with their jaws dropped. "By Iomedae, he's dead! Did he jump?! Wait, what does this say?"
A crowd gathers around the corpse as the mother reads the note aloud. "A murdering Thrune lackey? Birds of a feather?"
As rumors begin to quickly bleed through the crowd, the dottari patrol rushes over. "Stand back! Move it! Give me that!" They shove their way through, weapons drawn, and one guard tears the note out of the woman's hand, stepping back to whisper to the other guards.
Three guards form a 'wall' around the body while two of them tear a sheet of canvas from a poor merchant's tent and wrap the body. "Nothing to see here, folks! Clearly, some drug-addled murderer killed this man, and is trying to pin his antics on Thrune. But rest assured, we will find them and take them down!"
"Wait." An elven woman wearing a cloak approaches. "I know that man! And his smell.. I wouldn't forget that anywhere. That's the same smell my sister had after I found her... I found her all slashed up. And the note says.. Wait. Does this mean.. he's.. he was the new Slasher?!"
The guard forces a laugh. "There is no new Slasher, or Thrune would have him imprisoned long ago. As I said, this is all some vigilante's trick. Now GO. Move along." The guard spits.
Unintelligible chatter fills the area for a while as the crowd watches the guards haul the body off. They argue for a while over what to make of it, certainly spreading new rumors and altering already well-known ones.
Not long after, the crowd disperses, and the family leaves the square to head home. On their way there, the blue-eyed girl pulls on her mom's finger, looking up at her, wide-eyed. "Birds of a feather? Mommy, do you think... Do you think it was the Silver Ravens helping the town?"
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The next morning, Laria Longroad enters the Lucky Bones with the current issue of Thrune's Kintargo. She slaps it down on the breakfast table.
"Hey, get a load of this! It was just published this morning."
An Invitation
For promoting safety in the streets of Kintargo, and bringing a murderer to justice, I, Lord-Mayor Barzillai Thrune, would like to humbly invite those who brought Varl Wex in to join me at Aria Park, outside the Kintargo Opera House at noon today.
To all other Kintargans, please join me in honoring this mysterious dogooder!
Barzillai Thrune
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Issil grins as she reads the paper. "A celebration? For me? How courteous!" It's not clear if she's being sarcastic or she's genuine. "I'll have to wear a fancier dress!"
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"Why do I have the feeling this party will end badly?" Pádraig Henry muses.
"We'll need to have a solid plan, with plenty of contingencies, and be ready to make a quick getaway."
Mind racing, he adds, "Maybe one or more of us should avoid being the center of attention, ready to cause a distraction if--when--things get ugly."
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"I want to visit Newt and see if he has a Hat of Disguise. I need to look my best for this."
"Hey Pava, we should find a birdkeeper who can groom you. You need to look your finest, too!"
"Hrm, not the kind of party Victor would enjoy going to, but maybe Nurla would make an appearance, if at least for the free snacks and a chance to get in good with someone with some fat pockets." Victor day dreams.
"I'm sure she'll get the memo, she keeps up on all the local rags."
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"We need a solid plan, that's for sure. Right now, Thrune doesn't know what we look like or even how many of us there are."
"I think it's a bad idea to tip our hand or to reveal our identities."
"The luncheon's public, right? Why not 'attend' as common citizens of Kintargo, interested in the spectacle? Maybe we could learn something and then bug out before we're caught."
"Another option? We could just disrupt the event, and spoil the Lord-Mayor's party."
"You guys got any ideas for how we do this without revealing ourselves and ending up in Thrune's dungeons?"
"This is risky as Nox knows who we look like," Geoffrey points out, "Unless we can disguise ourselves like Nurla here," he smirks at Victor, "then we will be in trouble even if we go incognito like Padraig suggests."
"Well, we should really encourage the whole damn city to attend. The more the merrier. Maybe we could just use the occasion as a distraction to check out a location that usually would be too well guarded? Some of those jails or prisons maybe?" He raises an eyebrow to the group.
"I don't think its a good idea to just have a bunch of Silver Raven supporters show up so they can be singled out and doghoused. Spoiling the event could maybe make us look like just a band of hoodlums." He shrugs his shoulders, too many options.
"Of course Newt doesn't have a hat of disguise. Great." She shrugs. "Do you think people will notice my jewelry if I run around with it?" She rubs her family brooch subconsciously.
"Invite everyone to show up. We'll have a big crowd we can blend into. I did buy a disguise kit a while ago. I have a lot of makeup we can apply, maybe Nox won't notice us."