The Redrock men are cowed enough by Miya's warnings - to say nothing of their fear of magical, mental probing by the witchy halfling - that they confess what they had been hired to do.
There is little surprise in what they confirm. They were hired by Kabran Bloodeye, currently in exile in Isger, to recover some of the valuable booty secretly stored in the dwarf tunnels beneath the inn at the falls. They presume he wanted them to sell off and either fund a new network in Isger, or else simply to retire and disappear.
After crossing the border, they shadowed the Drumish caravan traveling towards Falcon's Hollow. In the night, they murdered the caravan guards and replaced them.
"Them stuck up Drumish folks had their foppish heads so far up their arses that they never even noticed," one of the Redrockers laughs.
"Well I suppose jokes on them then." Layla says, her tone icy. "I suppose you took everything they had as well?"
They thugs sheepishly admit that, yes, they also helped themselves to the belongings of the caravan guards - as well as the Drumish merchants up top in the inn.
Is that all you know?
He tilted his head and showed a small amount of teeth.
"And where is everything you took stashed?" Layla adds.
Rrruh's gesture keeps the men talking.
Most of the stolen goods are stored in their saddle bags up at the inn's stable. They have each kept a few items and coins on their person, just in case they had to make a quick getaway, so they would not come away with nothing.
They have also planted a decent amount of stolen wealth among the belongings of the Berekland family, trying to point the finger their way for the murder of the Drumish merchants in their beds.
you are going to tell is where you planted that evidence right now.
He began his ears going flat and his tail lashing. They were nice innocent folk. This wasn't right at all.
"First to talk doesn't get shot." Layla says, calmly reloading her weapon.
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Randu snorts, afraid he speaks , he'll lose his temper. For some reason, the framing of those innocent folks ires him almost as much as the murder!
"We hid the goods in the stable! In the hayloft!" one of the men blurts out, his voice cracking with fear.
Randu says coldly, "Are there any traps on the goods? If one of us loses a finger, you'll pay for that somehow, trust you me."
"No, no! We didn't have time to do anything like that! We just wanted the innkeeper and his weird family to take the heat once we were gone!"
"Well, you spoke up first, and I keep my word." Layla says. "For the crimes of theft, the murder of the caravan guards, moving of illicit goods, and attempting to frame innocents, you on the other hand...need to meet justice."
She says, drawing back the hammer on her pistol.
Miya who had not moved or said anything until this point spoke as the sound of the gun.
"Layla, If you kill in cold blood, thats murder. That is something that would not sit well with your soul. I however make my living form death, it is as much a part of me as breathing. And my soul knows its wight, for I am an laws Executor. And those who are marked for death must be respected."
She stands and looks up into the night sky.
"If you do not intend to take them back to face justice, then I will strip them naked and send them into the night. You need not know what comes after that."
She looks back down at the criminals.
Randu ponders over this. Being all law abiding was never his forte because so often the law was used against good folk. "Seems to me, that turning a blind eye to execution ain't really going to keep anyone's hands clean, Miya." Frankly, Miya's talk of death has him raising a brow. Iomedae knows everyone of us has talents, but we're quite the grab bag "Not saying Layla and you wouldn't be right, given what these folks have done. But... let's at least make it somewhat official and united.." He glances to Rrrruh "What do you think, Old friend?"
"its not murder. We have be authorized by the legal govenrment to put a stop to this lawlessness. This is justice probably swifter and purer than going to the courts. Also i might add it would hurt the enemy of peace as well. The bureaucracy is corrupt at times, they woudl know we have them arrested. But not knowing what happened means there will be caution that needs to be exercised. Karma will not atain our soouls for this.. well not mine at least. I vote death..."
He knelt in front of the prisoner as he made his verdict so he could look him in the eyes.
"I wasnt going tobe give you any warning though.. i was merely going to throw you down the cliff so you had no real time to think of your deeds. Do you have any kin you need notified of your demise?"
Layla looks on, her expression clearly satisfied with the majority opinion on the course of action, giving Miya a glance of appreciation for her moral concerns.
At Rrruh's words, Randu nods and waits for the prisoner's answer, "And would you like a blindfold? "
Only one of the men identifies next of kin to be notified, located in Oregent. The others either remain stone silent or blubber helplessly as the weight of their sins and fate finally crashes down upon them.
They uniformly ask for blindfolds, with vigorous nods if they can't manage words.
Some spare socks and hoseriey maybe used. But Randu will make sure each gets a make shift blindfold.
"By the authority vested in us, you have been tried by agents of the Andoran government for your crimes. You have been weighed, and found wanting. May the Boneyard be your final court, and Pharasma send you to your earned fate."
He nods to the others "Try to make it quick and painless"
"I will make this quick, you will feel little pain."
Miya stands, She shifted form into her true Kitsune from. She took out a white head band and stied it behind her forhead. Then she took out some water from her pack and washed her hands. When ready she put her hands together and pulled them apart, a shadow forms into a Naginata. A staff with a long blade at the end. Now ready she moved to the 1st man, and formally bows to him and the moved to his side.
"I send you to the beyond, with this act you have paid for you sins."
With one swing she cuts off his head.
She moves to the next man and respected the act.
And the next.
When done she closed her hands the shadow weapon faded away. With more water she washed her hands. To each she again bowed and carefully lay's them at rest and places each head on their chests. All with respect formal respect. Last off all she took off the white head band and set fire to it, letting it blow away on the wind. Once done again she washed her hands.
She turned and looked at the others.
"You should know this is my true form, I took my true from so their souls know who sent them to the beyond and So their souls do not see revenge on you from the beyond."
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Randu shrugs, "Not to diminish your efforts, but if they want revenge on me, they'll have to get in line."
She nods,
"So it is with me, but I act out of honour for my craft"
She says, checking her clothing so that it fits right for her true form.
The deaths, as promised, are quick and painless for the Redrock thugs - although the third and final one is surprisingly resilient, and Miya fears that a second strike may be needed, but the life quickly slips from him, too.
Death has visited the Gold Falls many times this night, since the Redrockers' victims still lie in their beds up in the inn, not far from the unsuspecting, hapless Berekland family who run the historic business.
Alerting the Bereklands to what has happened beneath their roof - and beneath their inn - without causing them too much panic will require a fair amount of tact.
Randu contemplates his own gifts in the department of 'tact' "Times like this, I wish I weren't a surly curmudgeon and borderline misanthrope. We'll try to tell the Becklands, gently, somehow, of the bloody events." He ponders, "And I suppose we best check that hayloft in the stable."
"I believe i have.... the skill involved to talk with them if need too.
He began his tail lashing a small amount. they should have thrown them over the cliff.. deniability... heads severed would lead to questions... It was dont though.
If we have nothing left to do.. shall we return?
"Thank you, Rrruh," Randu says at the offer, "And yes, I suppose we best head back. Folgrit willing, the worst of this mess is over."
The somber and serous Kisune stands a moment then shifts back into the playfull Miya. Then she skips after the others, that child like grin on her face once more, Its as if there are two personalities in her. The Grim and deadly Kisune and the child like Miya.
Layla gives a slight nod, with a hint of a smile, already quite familiar with Miya's true form.
"Nothing left but to break the news. At least the horror of knowing they had ruthless murderers under their roof will be offset by the fact that they're no longer a danger." Layla says, rolling her shoulders to ease some of the tension of the moment.
"Let's mosey on down then." He motions the others to follow if they would. Assuming they do, he figures whether they go to the stable first to check the hayloft, or talk to the Bereklands, depends on if they meet the latter on the way to former.
Cresting the cliffside and returning topside, you find the scene at the Gold Falls Inn to be deceptively serene. The horses snort and shift in their stables and the other animals doze in their paddock, utterly unperturbed by the deadly deeds carried out by the Redrock Guild infiltrators this night.
The horses perk up curiously when you enter the stable to investigate the claims made by the executed criminals. You find the jewelry and curios taken from the murdered Kalistocrat merchants hidden in the stable's hayloft, so at least one of the men did not die a liar.
One of the Bereklands' nightwatchmen accosts you, demanding to know what business has you poking around so late at night.
Randu has had a horrid bloody night and as the Watchman makes demands, he says "Glad you're up. We need to talk to the Becklands. Make sure they're safe, and we've matters to talk to them about."
Miya plays like a child on one of the walls, walking along it for fun.
She keeps out of the way of the Watchman. He looks no fun at all.
"You'll want to get your Watch Commander out of bed as well. They'll definitely want to know what's been happening here...unnoticed." Layla adds.
Somehow, without ever raising her voice, she manages to convey that not immediately complying with their requests would result in the guardsman being to held to blame for something he definitely wanted no part of.
The watchman complies, convinced by Layla's demeanor. He first retrieves his commander and the rest of the inn's household guards, many quickly being roused from their beds.
They then retrieve Mierson Berekland, head of the family and owner of the Gold Falls Inn, who is quite curious to learn what sort of disturbance has caused the commotion around his home and livelihood.
"Apologies, Mister Berekland, commander you as well. I'm afraid there's much skullduggery afoot near your home. And we've had to put a stop to it. The merchants from Druma were slain by the men posing as their guards" He looks over at his companions to see if one of them wants to lay on what is known as 'charm'
For the moment the cat folk playwright watched as Randu again showed the role of an excellent lead... taking charge and explaining they circumstance for the interuption of the innfolks sleep. but... more was probably needed.
"a moment of your time master Berekland.."
He began putting a comforting hand on his shoulder and gently guiding him away from teh group and the guards he kept his words low so only the inn keeper could hear.
" We are agents from the government sent to root our problems in this area. We were following the trail of stolen goods and stumbled upon these vagabonds. I fell as if they are a loose end solved... but when we return to our posts I will ensure a few.... skilled hands are sent this way to watch you and yours in case of further problems.... they will hidden, your only clue will be when they rent rooms one of them will ask if you have a room that is "black cat free" cause of their allergies. We would very much appreciate... one would say almost demand your secrecy in what has happened here. if you have any other needs now is the time..."
Randu watches Rrruh go off with the innkeeper, and... is satisfied with that. The good catfolk had more sense than many. He'd explain things just fine. Now if he would only marry that nice lady he was so smitten with.
Berekland first requires some proof that you are government agents, as you claim to be, since learning of this night's bloody events have left him quite wary, especially for the sake of his family. He is soon convinced, however, and he agrees to the arrangements laid out by Rrruh.
He asks if you could quietly remove the bodies before his family wakes up and discovers the macabre scene.
"That would be best, and we'll be happy to minimize the impact of all this on your family." Layla replies, agreeing to the task of disposing of the bodies of the slain.
Randu nods and helps out"Of course... sorry good man. I am no father but you've my sympathy for the troubles. Like Layla says, we're happy to help. Figured it was better you learn from us than just find all this."
We should give them some share of the wealth I'm thinking, I'll see what the others think.
Between what the Redrockers kept with them, stowed in the saddlebags of their getaway horses, and hid in the stable loft to incriminate the Bereklands, you have recovered a remarkable amount of wealth that was carried by the slain Kalistrocrats.
Most of it takes the form of letters of trade and credit issued by the oligarchs of Druma, meant to be used as currency in the coming property auction at Falcon's Hollow. It's unclear if the Redrock Guild would have managed to profit from these somehow, but as agents of the Andoren government, you would certainly have to return them to the rulers of Druma.
Of course, with the auction less than a fortnight away, it would be impossible for the Drumish merchants to learn of their delegation's fate, receive the letters, and dispatch a new delegation in time. Thus, it seems that these wealthy competitors will be absent from the auction, ensuring that the residents of Falcon's Hollow will be able to fairly purchase their own businesses and homes, rather than becoming tenants of foreign investors.
The remainder of the wealth takes the form of the myriad pieces of jewelry that the Kalistocrats wore, as well as purses of gold and silver. Although you were given firm instructions not to pocket any of the wealth from Bloodeye's stash, you were not given any such commands about these items. It seems like it would be easy to claim that other members of the Redrock Guild made off with them, and they could not be recovered...at least not officially...
Pockets as much as she can in her havsack
"some of these things... well will have to be returned. the letters or renumeration for instance. the more portable wealth... we might be able to use. I suggest we turn in all the letters etc to our government to return to the Kalistocricy."
Of the jewelry acquired as loot from the thieves he pulled out one or two choice peices the not the most expensive or fancy and held them up to the others.
"I propose these peices go to the innkeepe rand his family. they will be easy enough to sell.... as for the others... i'll accept whatever you folk decide for them.
"That's an excellent notion, Rrruh. Hard working folk like them deserve a bit for their trouble."
Randu admires the view again. Between this and a dwarven goddess of home, he can certainly see the pull of property ownership
"Seems reasonable enough. Returning the letters might even buy us stronger standing with the Kalistocracy, should actual trade with them ever be necessary... it's not like they can openly challenge where it came from either."
She puts the stuff back grumbling
The slain Kalistocrats had a flair of ostentation. Much of their jewelry is bedecked with bright gems: garnets, opals, pearls, and even some emeralds and sapphires.
Sages hoots a couple times, and this prompts Randu to remember to investigate whether the Drumish merchants had any of their items enchanted for protection - or just as a status symbol. Indeed, a handful glow with potent magical auras.
You bequeath some of the non-magical baubles to the Bereklands, especially pieces that might be easier for ordinary folks to sell off without questions being asked. This is still enough to ensure that they could close down the inn and live comfortably or travel freely for a couple years if they were so inclined.
Of course, are also left potentially quite wealthy from the pieces you keep.
Cloak of Resistance +2
Ring of Protection +1
Amulet of Natural Armor +1
Amulet of Natural Armor +2
Headband of Alluring Charisma +2
Ring of Mind Shielding
6,000gp in various non-magical jewelry, accessories, and coins.
Randu goes through the loot, and one ring catches his attention, reminding him of a conversation not so long ago.
"Layla, I recall you didn't like the notion of thoughts being read willy nilly, and who can blame you? Care for this ring? Shields minds."