Vala calls down, bending over to better project her voice into the cellar, "If you bring that head up here, I can ask it two questions like I did yesterday!"
Constantin runs his fingers over the thin skin that is stretched like gauze over the skull beneath. He feels every ridge and bump across the crown and then down around the orbits, paying particular attention to the shape of the eyes and the depth of indent at the temples.
His expert hands reveal;
-This individual was human
-Male
-Aged around 45
-Neutral Good
-An Expert
Having completed his examination, Constantin concentrates his psychic force, and the skull slowly lifts from his hands and floats up to Vala above.
"I have a completely unfounded theory, that this man - a human, an expert in his craft, middle-aged - was in fact one of the chymists, and someone else killed him. Perhaps his partner. Or perhaps someone who discovered all of these other grisly trophies."
Vermundr wipes the gore from his blade while the others search for clues.
Vala guides the head to the ground nearby, touching it as little as possible in the process, then waits for the others to clamber back up out of the cellar before proceeding with her questions for the dead.
The group clambers out of the hole and soon find themselves standing in a rough circle around the grisly artifact found below.
"I'd suggest 'Did a Golem set fire to the sanctuary?', "
"I was thinking of asking 'who are you' and 'who started the fire'. Needling departed souls for answers can be tricky. Too specific a question and we won't get any particularly helpful information, I'm afraid."
Provided everyone agrees with her proposed approach, Vala begins the unpleasant spell once more. And, like last time, Pyth looses a loud cry before a ghostly form drifts from the now suddenly still bird down into the skull.
The eldritch mists float down from Pyth and into the skull, filing it's mouth and empty eye-sockets with swirling, green light.
The jaw cracks open at an odd angle.
There is a sudden hiss like steam escaping before a groan shudders between the ever-smiling teeth of the skull;
My name was Dr Gregory Brada.....
I don't know... I was afraid when Vorkstag threatened me and Grine changed... there was a struggle... I may have knocked the lantern over...
"Thank you, doctor. I'm sorry for what happened, but we'll see these Vorkstag and Grine people are held accountable. Go back to your rest."
Vala shakes her head ruefully as the magics fade, agreeing with Hazel's sentiment. "Well, as ugly as things are getting, at least we know more than we did."
"Will that be admissable? The court is... skeptical about magical testimony," says Constantin, thinking aloud.
Vala chuckles softly, "They accepted it this morning readily enough, Constantin." She smiles warmly, despite the leering skull on the ground between.
"Just thinking about how they don't allow the use of magic in the trial, but if they accept testimony from magic use outside the trial, that's a huge legal loophole... hrm."
"You don't have to tell them where the information came from. Just testify that it came from a first-hand witness."
Vala shakes her head, the humor in her grin now vanishing, "I didn't hold that back this morning and I'm not about to start obfuscating things tomorrow. We need to be better than that if we're to be any real help in this trial!"
Nothing they have found at the Sanctuary is conclusive for tomorrow's trial. But, following up on leads found at two of the crime scenes, the group heads back to town - to the chymic works of Volkstag and Grine.
The factory itself is in the southern most portion of the city, built near the river so the alchemical waste products can run directly into the water.
Vala frowns as the group approaches the chymic works, "I always thought this place smelled terribly." She shakes her head, trying to get Dr. Brada's voice to stop echoing in her mind.
HP: 27/27
Negative Energy Resist 5
AC: 14 (10 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 13
F/R/W: +4/+1/+8 (+2 vs death effects, energy drain, negative energy, & necromancy)
Monstrous Insight used: 0/7
Wand of CLW: 14/50 remaining
Healing Hex targets:
Current Wandering Spirit: Life
Channel Energy (3d6) used: 0/5
Prepared spells
Orisons (4) | DC 14: dancing lights, disrupt undead, identify, read magic
Level 1 spells (3+1+1*) | DC 15: inflict light wounds [ ], know the enemy* [ ], magic missile [ ] [ ], produce flame (CL7) [ ]
Level 2 spells (2+1+1*) | DC 16: glitterdust [ ], lesser restoration* [ ] [ ], spiritual weapon [X]
Level 3 spells (1+1+1*) | DC 17: lightning bolt [ ], locate object* [ ], speak with dead [X]
Ongoing Effects
"Not sure of our strategy. We don't have much that is conclusive; how do we get them to admit to their involvement, if any? I can... try to sense their thoughts, but it is detectable if something goes amiss."
"We can claim to be investigating the fire - which is true - and say we have evidence of some strange source of the flame - some thing an alchemist or the like might make...appeal to them for help in identifying it? Enough to get them talking. When things start to go sour, we can spring the surgical tools on them..."
"Vala, could I trouble you?" Kaz says, extending his bitten arm.
The sun is just setting over the horizon as you approach although a tall, iron chimney continues to belch yellow smoke into the sky from this small brick factory. Large leaded windows arch in a dozen places on it’s outer walls but they are so begrimed as to be opaque. The building has two floors and a tower, topped by a tall lightning rod.
As you approach you assaulted by an acrid, chemical stench.
The smell is identifiable as the production of acid and chemical bleach
A twenty foot high stone wall, topped with broken glass, surrounds a small courtyard before the workshop. A heavy oak gate bars entry into the inner courtyard beneath a sign proudly proclaiming “Vorkstag and Grine – Chymic Works.” A bell hangs beside the gate.
Constantin wrinkles his nose. "Hm. Reminds me of when some of the scholars at the university got it into their heads that they could distill a substance that would bounce."
Vermundr reacts strongly to the smell - much more so than the stoic northerner has in the past. "F+!!! This place stinks worse than a tannery."
While covering his nose with one paw, he approaches close enough to ring the bell and rap on the gate.
Vala let's a soothing bloom of healing light slowly spread outward from her hands, though she's careful to allow Zed to step beyond its reach and avoid the sting. When she's done, she looks at Hazel's and Kazamir's wounds and frowns, "If that festers at all or bothers you in the slightest tomorrow, you let me know right away. Ghoul fever isn't something to be trifled with!"
As Vermundr complains of the smell, Vala shoots him a look, "See?! I told you this place stank!"
HP: 27/27
Negative Energy Resist 5
AC: 14 (10 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 13
F/R/W: +4/+1/+8 (+2 vs death effects, energy drain, negative energy, & necromancy)
Monstrous Insight used: 0/7
Wand of CLW: 14/50 remaining
Healing Hex targets:
Current Wandering Spirit: Life
Channel Energy (3d6) used: 1/5
Prepared spells
Orisons (4) | DC 14: dancing lights, disrupt undead, identify, read magic
Level 1 spells (3+1+1*) | DC 15: inflict light wounds [ ], know the enemy* [ ], magic missile [ ] [ ], produce flame (CL7) [ ]
Level 2 spells (2+1+1*) | DC 16: glitterdust [ ], lesser restoration* [ ] [ ], spiritual weapon [X]
Level 3 spells (1+1+1*) | DC 17: lightning bolt [ ], locate object* [ ], speak with dead [X]
Ongoing Effects
Vermundr tugs on the bell rope and it emits a surprisingly low clang. After waiting patiently for a few moments, a face appears in the window above the workshop.
The window swings open and you see an odd gnome with pale skin, fiery red hair and angry looking scars lacing his face. He is dressed in what appear to be a leather work apron and filthy rags.
He looks at the group behind the gate with a deep frown and calls out;
What?
"Visitors" Vermundr barks at the figure in the window. "Looking for a tour."
"We might be interested in purchasing or investing in some interesting alchemicals," says Constantin in his most conciliatory tone. "We've heard that you have a unique operation and, well, one can't be too careful these days, with all the stories of Beasts and monsters and the like. Alchemical remedies are just the sort of thing that may be helpful in these difficult times."
"We apologize for the hour, but the need is quite urgent, and potentially quite lucrative..."
I don't know who any of you are but if you're here to talk about business, well we have quite enough clients thank you so I cannot help you. Good day. Rather rudely, he begins to shut the window.
As he reaches to pull the window shut, a necklace tumbles free from his shirt. A pendant hangs at the end of it in the shape of a black mask.
The pendant is a holy symbol of Norgorber - god of poison and murder
Vala gasps briefly, then her eyes narrow at the figure as he vanishes behind the window once more. She hisses quietly, "Norgorber! That can't be good. Can't be good at all!"
"Truly, brother? You would turn us aside so quickly? Blackfingers will be displeased, I'm sure."