"Good Evening, Madam. Please forgive us for disturbing you at this hour. Forgive us, also, for asking you to recall past horrors, for we have come to ask you about the events in Hergstag, about which you will testify tomorrow.
We have been appointed by the court as investigators, and, as such, though I am sure that you have already gone over this testimony, I humbly beg you to talk to us again for a few minutes. "
So, here are a couple of new things KAz picked up:
Empathy (Ex, Su): When attempting a Sense Motive check, the investigator makes two d20 rolls and takes the higher result. If an investigator uses inspiration on a Sense Motive check, he rolls his inspiration die twice and takes the higher result. Once per day, the investigator can expend one use of inspiration to target a single creature that he can see and hear within 30 feet. Upon doing so, the investigator detects the surface thoughts of the target's mind, as if he concentrated for 3 rounds while using the detect thoughts spell, unless the creature succeeds at a Will saving throw. The DC of this save is 10 + 1/2 the investigator's level + his Intelligence modifier. If the target fails, the investigator can continue to detect the surface thoughts of the target creature for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 his investigator level. An investigator must be at least 5th level to select this talent.
and
Expanded Inspiration (Ex): An investigator can use inspiration on any Diplomacy, Heal, Perception, Profession, or Sense Motive checks without expending a use of inspiration, provided he's trained in the skill.
So the dice rolls on the Sense Motive he is about to make will look pretty funky. He's not going to use the mind reading trick...yet.
Sense motive for general impression:
Vala knocks on the door frame, leaning in first so as to not startle the man. "Hello, Monty. Goodness, this is a dreadful mess. Would you mind some company and some extra hands?"
Oh come in, come in. Let me get you some tea.
One of the other sisters rushes off to put a kettle on the stove.
Terrible business, the worst time of my life. It happened over a period of time. The kids vanished, one by one, only to return as ghosts. Then one day the culprit was found — the Beast of Lepidstadt. It walked right into the village with one of the dead children, a girl named Maisie. The monster was laughing as it held her! As soon as we saw it we set on it with pitchforks, but we couldn't catch it. It got away into the swamp. The children's ghosts continued to haunt the village, and before long it was too much for us, so we all left. Flicht tells her story easily, as if she's told it many times before and it no longer causes her distress. She does however touch her hair and bites her lip as if she is quite nervous in responding to Kaz - not that she is hiding anything, but that she wasn't expecting a dashing investigator to come calling!
Ah Ms Cross, I saw a couple of your friends not so long ago. he says, looking briefly from a particularly delicate piece of glassware that fortunately survived more or less intact.
Yes please. I tried to explain to the cleaning crew that even if I could get the university to pay for someone to Make Whole on these pieces, they still had to be relatively intact. I don't know who did more damage, the Beast or them.
How is your sabbatical my dear? I appreciate you took it to look after Petros' affairs but have you found any time to focus on your own studies?
Vala chuckles. "Oh come now, you can drop the 'Ms. Cross' formal fiddle-faddle, Monty." She tenderly begins to clean up some of the mess near a bookcase, wiping bits of glass and dust from the covers. "You know even on this sabbatical I've still found myself teaching?" She laughs and shakes her head. "Back in Ravengro, they had the most charming and quaint little one-room classroom for the children of the town. I helped while we there until everything with Petros and Kendra and the others you've met became more demanding. But no, no archaeological finds or historical manuscripts have revealed themselves yet, I'm afraid. Just a lot of trouble and heartache, and now this circus with the Beast on top of it all." She sighs, shaking her head ruefully.
Vermundr backs Hazel up as the duo tracks down the short list of names.
Constantin doffs his hat politely and stays a few steps behind Kaz, his eyes flickering over the tiny domicile of the three women.
Oh I'm sorry Vala. says Dr Crowl. 'Good manners are never a habit worth breaking' my mother used to say.
And speaking of sayings, 'teaching is a calling, not a profession' isn't that how it goes? It doesn't surprise me at all that you were imparting wisdom in Ravengro, you have a knack for it. sounding accidentally patronising.
But now you're caught up in this Beast buiness. he says, frowning. How the devil did that happen?
Hazel and Vermunder chase up several dead ends before they arrive at a shop in Anatomists Alley.
Eventually questions about the raven marking lead the pair to the shop of Zbraslav Hora and Sons.
The titular owner is a bookish, taciturn man who greets you curtly.
Good afternoon. Are you looking for anything in particular?
The shop itself is lined with glass cases, each locked, and holding all manner of implements, tools and pieces of silverware that you cannnot even begin to identify.
"Gracious, that's a question I'll be asking for the rest of my life, I think. And I'm afraid I'm not much cut out for lawyering." She shakes her head ruefully once more, then stops as she recovers a bit of finely twisted metal from the floor. "Monty? Have you noticed this? These carvings and little figures here are all undisturbed. With everything else being in such a state, you'd think things this fragile would have suffered similar treatment, no?"
Hora examines the tools and after barely a glance says;
Ah yes, that's my sigil. I sold these quite some time ago, they are some of my best work. he adds proudly. Ah, but I don't buy back old stock if that's your concern. he adds quickly looking at you over the top of his glasses.
"Can you tell us about the man or woman that bought them? I'm certain they'll be wanting them back."
Ah, the Beast! Well yes, that was certainly an exciting affair. I was home asleep when it happened. The night staff came and woke me, insisting that I come down to the department immediately. Once I got here things were more or less in the state you see now. The Beast was just sitting here in the center of the workshop amongst the wreckage dazed and confused. I was amazed to discover that it was some manner of flesh golem, but one that apparently possessed at least some measure of independent intelligence. The guards arrived shortly thereafter, and took the Beast into custody. It didn't even resist arrest. All quite queer really.
I already mentioned there was only one item missing didn't I? And yes, I suppose it is quite curious that it plucked just what it was after from among these items. Crowl adds with a shrug. By all means have a look if you'd like Vala, we won't be open for some time anyway but do be careful around the exhibits won't you? he says anxiously.
"Can you tell us about the man or woman that bought them? I'm certain they'll be wanting them back."
Hmmmm.... the shopkeeper considers but then looks down at the excellent set. It does seem a terrible shame that they go missing and I'm sure any reward for their discovery would be greater than anything those miserly silversmiths would give you. Besides, it would break my heart to hear they were melted down.
He consults a massive sales ledger on his desk.
Ah here it is. They were sold to Vladka Kostel. If I remember rightly she was a Varisian woman, quite striking with her red hair. I think she worked for an auction house but I couldn't tell you which one I'm afraid.
Vermundr shares a glance with Hazel and then collects the tools once again. "Thank you for the help. I'm sure Miss Kostel will appreciate getting her tools back."
"Yes, you did mention it - that seasage effigy I think it was called? So, it stole this 'seasage effigy' from this pedastal, right? Smashed every blessed thing it could in the process save for the delicate things around where the effigy was on display, then allowed itself to be caught and taken into custody, but didn't have the effigy in its possession?" Vala looks askance at her colleague, "Monty, that more than just queer, wouldn't you say?"
Oh come in, come in. Let me get you some tea.
One of the other sisters rushes off to put a kettle on the stove.
Terrible business, the worst time of my life. It happened over a period of time. The kids vanished, one by one, only to return as ghosts. Then one day the culprit was found — the Beast of Lepidstadt. It walked right into the village with one of the dead children, a girl named Maisie. The monster was laughing as it held her! As soon as we saw it we set on it with pitchforks, but we couldn't catch it. It got away into the swamp. The children's ghosts continued to haunt the village, and before long it was too much for us, so we all left. Flicht tells her story easily, as if she's told it many times before and it no longer causes her distress. She does however touch her hair and bites her lip as if she is quite nervous in responding to Kaz - not that she is hiding anything, but that she wasn't expecting a dashing investigator to come calling!
Kazamir nods gratefully to Flicht.
"Thank you, Madam. Now, I must beg your indulgance again. You know the ways of barristers and lawyers..." he says conspiratorially, laying on the flattery perhaps just a trifle thick, "..and you know that they will have questions. May I ask a few of those questions, just so that you cna be prepared for what will come? Thank you, miss." - assuming she agrees.
"The children that were so tragically taken from your neighbors - were any of the bodies found?
If so, what marks were on them to show the Beast's violence?
You say they came to haunt as ghosts? Did they speak to their families, or to others? How did they act in their sad hauntings?
How did the Beast kill Maisie? Where was he bringing her when he arrived in your village?
Was Maisie's shade seen before the Beast arrived?
Had anyone seen the Beast before that tragic day?
The Court thanks you, and we thank you, for your help and your willingness to see Justice done. "
17+2=19
The children that were so tragically taken from your neighbors - were any of the bodies found?
No. she says sadly. Only poor Maisie. I shudder to think what that Beast had done to them. But even then it must have got bored because then it brought the poor girl in to town to taunt her father.
Starle looks a little uncomfortable as her sister finishes. That aint all, Flicht. Remember Karin? She died in her own bed two days before the Beast wandered into town. Her daddy heard her screaming, but there weren't a mark on her. The Beast must've put some curse on her or something.
Flicht nods.
Aye that's true.
If so, what marks were on them to show the Beast's violence?
No obvious signs like broken bones, 'least not on Maisie. It breaks my heart to think that thing must have smothered her or just plain scared her to death!
You say they came to haunt as ghosts? Did they speak to their families, or to others? How did they act in their sad hauntings?
They came back as horrid, black shadows, nothing like they were in life. She says sadly. They just wandered the village by all accounts, scared and angry. They lashed out at anyone who tried to approach or help them but truth be told we had moved on by then. Never saw them myself but but just the thought of a haunted village was enough for us to move on.
did the Beast kill Maisie? Where was he bringing her when he arrived in your village?
We don't know how the Beast was killing the girls exactly, they never looked harmed. Cept a awful look on their faces like they was scared to death - on Maisie and Karin. He probably had all kind of sick fun with them. Flicht makes a protective sign over her chest.
But when it came in holding that girl, laughing like a loon, that about broke my heart. Garrow adds. Burning is too good for that monster.
Was Maisie's shade seen before the Beast arrived?
Had anyone seen the Beast before that tragic day?
No, I think the shades only appeared after their deaths and no one saw that brute before the day it came in to show off it's handiwork!
"Yes, you did mention it - that seasage effigy I think it was called? So, it stole this 'seasage effigy' from this pedastal, right? Smashed every blessed thing it could in the process save for the delicate things around where the effigy was on display, then allowed itself to be caught and taken into custody, but didn't have the effigy in its possession?" Vala looks askance at her colleague, "Monty, that more than just queer, wouldn't you say?"
Well I suppose queer isn't the right word for it. But then an intelligent, free-thinking Flesh Golem? I leave anatomy and arcanism to my peers but even I know that should not be possible. The fact it didn't knock over a few of the exhibits pales in comparison to that.
What are you getting at Vala, you think it had help? Monty asks.
She looks at her companion. "I hate to keep doing this piecemeal but it doesn't seem like a good idea to let the others go on without us. Zed is the only other one that's much good in a straight-up fight, really. What do you think?"
"If that's the case we should rejoin the others. We wouldn't want the others traveling far undefended."
Vala moves into the workshop.
She notes the smell of beeswax in the air and several cracked tiles near a railing that runs around the sunken part of the floor in the middle of the room. It seems that something large and heavy landed in this portion of the room.
There is a series of scratches that runs along the rail
Finally, she notices that although the workshop's windows have clearly not been opened in many years as evidenced by the build-up of grime around them, there is one window in the centre that bears no such grime.
The group reforms close to 18:00 in the evening, the last of the sun's rays weakly washing over the brown stone of Lepistadt.
After retrieving their horses, they set off for the abandoned village of Hergstag.
..............
The group top a small hill and set eyes on their destination.
Now abandoned and overgrown, the village of Hergstag lies some 10 miles northwest of Lepidstadt. The farmland has fallen to ruin, and now even the well-trodden pathways around the area are difficult to follow. Fortunately Zed and Vermundr are skilled enough to spot them with little difficulty. The crops have gone to seed and high corn grows everywhere. The village’s farmhouses have all been abandoned, and while some furniture such as tables and washboards remain, the homes have been given over to cockroaches and other scurrying animals. The northern portion of the village appears to have become a bog.
It soon becomes apparent that riding the horses on the narrow, overgrown pathways will be difficult and you resolve to lead them into the village itself.
The stillness of the air and the ruined houses, a shadow of their former industrious selves, is more than a little unnerving.