::"Really Ezebelle, come on we have a real life murder mystery on our hands. Bards go on forever about this stuff, we can have out names sung in all the inns of the lands. That and the fact that woman over there was the mother to the 2 kids outside with there grandma. Who at the very moment is trying to tell them mummy has gone away. I what this **** of a **** just for that alone.. on the big mans taking.."::
::"Did he even hear what I said, really sometimes I give up, always two steps ahead, thats me"::
Zen just look at the big man as he talks with his mouth open, he blinks a few times as if trying to believe what his ears are hearing. Then still looking at the big man with her delivering look a voice from around his neck come.
"Wow, just got there in the end then, thought just landed 'let's get him, lets team up' why what A great idea. Just like the one I had when we came in the door and I ask every one there name and if they would like to team up and find who did this. But my all means take the long way there big man."
Zen then looks to the others
"So the rest of you, anyone good talking to locals, alcomayic testing of beer mugs or good at tracking?"
"It's a good thing this large man with the oversized arm will stick out in a crowd. I will go ask locals if they've seen him and where he has been coming and going. I will try to be discreet, it would be best if he didn't know we were coming after him."
Maria leaves the inn, and after turning into an alley, uses her hat of disguise to take the appearance of a rough-looking man, possibly a gang enforcer. She goes around the local beggars and urchins first, asking them about this man and his movements, and also checks in at local inns to see if he's been around.
"Wow, just got there in the end then, thought just landed 'let's get him, lets team up' why what A great idea. Just like the one I had when we came in the door and I ask every one there name and if they would like to team up and find who did this. But my all means take the long way there big man."
Erik turns a unimpressed look on the tiny creature. "You're not a people person, huh?" he states, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "Like my father used to say," he begins, distaste clear in the half-giant's voice at the memory, "if ya ain't got nothin' nice t' say, shut yer hole."
:: Okay I concede, this could make one heck of a story.::
A tear flows down Ezebelle's face as she communicates with Zen. "Okay! lets catch this horrible person. I'll help with trying to find out where this guy went." Ezebelle states, her size and stature changing to be more like that of the local populace.
Ezebelle follows Maria's lead out of the inn, and looks around for locals, shifitng slightly to be more personable to each person she asked.
Erik turns a unimpressed look on the tiny creature. "You're not a people person, huh?" he states, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "Like my father used to say," he begins, distaste clear in the half-giant's voice at the memory, "if ya ain't got nothin' nice t' say, shut yer hole."
The Little Dragon smiles and puts his small head on a beer mug, looking at the giant of a man as he talks. When he's done it says to that all can hear.
Chuckling he says, all sarcasm gone in an instant.
::"I like you Mr Ironfist, your OK, was worried there for a moment you might be and grim stuck in the mud type, but you can give as good as you get and I always like that in a person. Me and Ezebelle are with you, this blighter has to be caught as soon as possible. See Ezebelle has gone out to track him as we speak, What of you Mr wild-man, did we get your name? and are you up for an adventure with Mr Ironfist and the rest of us"::
He jumps off the bar and go's over to the wild and odd looking man.
The crease in Erik's brow relaxes, and he seems to shrink a little as the tension leaves him. ::"That's just fine then,":: he replies to the pseudodragon. ::"Glad to have the two of you."::
My name is Goran Baldaril. I will join you on this little adventure. It could get hairy....I like hairy.
My name is Goran Baldaril. I will join you on this little adventure. It could get hairy....I like hairy.
::"Nice to meet you Goran, and an Adventure we shall have, myself I like scaly but there you are, so lets go see what the others have found out, if we are lucky the locals will have seen something"::
Maria returns after her fruitless questioning. She dramatically pulls off her hat to return to her previous appearance as she enters the inn.
"We checked with the locals, nobody mentioned seeing our rather distinctive killer moving around this locality. Let us indulge in wild conjecture and come up with some possibilities for how he does this. Perhaps he changes his appearance. Perhaps he has a glamer so folks look away or forget seeing him, a most bizarre effect. Or perhaps he does not go through every point between points A and B, and teleports about. Have we picked up his trail? That seems to be our next option."
I haven't been able to pick up any trail or scent. That means he is likely using some sort of cloaking magic....not good.
::"Well Botheration, that is bad news, Look we had best finish with the dead, here, I don't know about you be the sight of the just killed makes me a little qusey. Let have the Watch take them away... hold on I just had an idea. I was assuming this is a random act or a targeted kill. What of if was nether, what if it was a butchering, long arm and strange blade. Lets have a look at the body's and see of ALL the bits are there, this may have been a harvesting over a killing."::
::A reasonable hypothesis. I will try to make a tally of the pieces.::
Maria starts meandering around the tavern, taking stock of the abattoir. She is delicate with the assorted pieces, sometimes murmuring a slightly disgusted, "Yeesh," as maneuvers pieces around as necessary.
Ezebelle returns with an defeated sigh. "Well I've got nothing. Apparently this person doesn't exist. Outside the obvious evidence in this room."
Ezebelle watches as Maria sorts pieces of the bodies.
"I'm worried we won't find him before he strikes again. Does anyone know of anywhere else that may be a similar setting in the area? Perhaps we could set up an ambush where he plans to strike next?"
"If Body parts are what he was after you could consider paying a visit to Varos Steelbiter, a Kellid Necromancer who did 2 years for Graverobbing 4 years ago, he has contacts in the corpse trade."
"From these remains, I'm not sure if the madman took any souvenirs or not. We could talk to this Varos, we do not have many other leads, and it's better than waiting around for another attack. Also, we could try seeing if anyone's heard of a screaming sword that eats silver disks. I have friends at the Lodge, we could try researching there."
sounds good to me...I'll follow your lead, Maria.
::"Sounds like our best shot,
Inspector where may we find this Varos Steelbiter"::
Erik concurs with the others. "Can't say I approve of that kind of dabbling," the half-giant says in a displeased tone, "but if it's our only lead, then it's all we got right now."
"He's about a mile Northwest out of town, he understandably doesn't like the watch so you may want to fabricate a reason for going to him."
::"Lizy you think you can pull of a mad alchemist come necromancer mage, I'll get in my Familiar role. Body guards and assistant for the fine lady, what ya think"::
He jumps over to Lizzy and raps himself around a stool close to her.
::"I can do that"::
Ezebelle thinks for a moment, her skin paling, eye's taking on a reddish bloodshot look. Her lean muscles taking on a more desiccated look.
::How's this::
"Okay lets go meet this man." The sickly looking gnome states in a gravely voice, dead cackles accentuating her words.
The Inspector cocks an eyebrow but says nothing.
Well, this sure smells like the place....
"Well, goodness, at least if the law knows about it this place can't be too, um, bad," and her voice goes flat, "Let us proceed, this is our current objective" and she heads straight towards it.
Erik nods, clomping along as his strange armor makes surprisingly little noise for its bulk. "Let's hope he's more welcoming than your average necromancer."
::Eww, this place is gross. Oh please say we're not staying here long::
"Muwhaha, let us go visit this other necromancer." Ezebelle proclaims, taking on her perceived role.
This is odd....we should not be able to just walk up...something is off. Be on your guard.
::"Story for us all, Ezebelle is a mage looking for body party to buy, im her familiar, Goran and Ironfist body guards, Maria her assistant and apprentice. If all gos well this is just a shopping trip and we can have a look see if he has fresh meat. Ill take a look in his mind and see what he has been up to. However If Goran's in-stinks are right then something if off and we may be in for a fight. If everyone is happy with this simple plan we can start, if you have suggestions for the group of us now's the time"::
I'm ready....best thing, I don't have to have my weapons drawn....hehe.
Goran then flexes his hands and claws shoot from between his knuckles. His muscles twitch again and they reced back into his hand.
Let's do this.
::"My research indicates an apprentice needs to lurch and have a humped back to properly play the role, but I will improvise."::
"I ams at yours command, master," she lisps with an unusual degree of spittle.
"Well let's get this started..." Ezebelle whispers under her breath.
She tries to stand a little taller, boosting her "in-charge" attitude.
"Minion, I don't have all day. Get that door open." Ezebelle states rather loudly.
"I'm so sorry Maria" She whispers quickly afterwords.
"I don't like walking into traps. Go check." She adds loudly and with a slight wave of her hand to Goran and Ironfist after Maria has open the door.
Erik makes a displeased face, but sticks to the script. He moves to look inside, eyes peeled for anything of note. "Usually people don't trap their homes," the half-giant grumbles under his breath.
Don't question the boss. Goran says with a slight grin.
"You've clearly never been in the home of a wizard before then. You would have a difficult time even locating my real house, let alone trying to get inside it." Ezebelle adds with a scolding tone.
Goran moves up behind Erik, ready to jump into combat.
Maria stands up straight and examines the doorway.
"Perhaps we should knock," she drones in a monotone.
"Open that door before we undo your efforts," she calls to whoever was working inside the tower. "My master desires audience with the lord here."
The little dragon gets close to the door and then sends its mind out to who's ever is on the other side of the door.
::"lets see who is behind and and what they are thinking humm"::
Erik sighs, not particularly interested in literally busting down the fellow's door to meet him. Beyond being rude, it's generally a good way to get people very, very displeased with you, something the half-giant had learned the hard way when he first began integrating into the societies outside of his tribe. "Would much rather be welcomed in than the alternative," he says, hoping that the people inside can hear through the door.
If you bust through the door, I'm right behind you. Just give me a heads-up when you wanna break through. Goran says as he extends his claws.
I already don't like this guy...reminds me of someone.... his voice trails off.
You here a voice from behind the door, say:"Sorry, still fixing the door, I had a visitor last night who said they were on 'business', dumps a bunch of bodies on the ground and tries to take my head off. I'll open a Passwall for you."
Goran mutters under hus breath [b] I guess it's the easy way in.....[b] as he retracts his claws.
Erik checks the tunnel before cautiously entering, his eyes darting to and fro as he tries to make sure that the passway is safe. "Thanks," he says to whoever is waiting at the other end, but some nervousness manages to sneak into his voice.