The night is mostly uneventful as everyone sleeps at the inn that's been provided, on pathfinder dime no less. But when they wake in the morning, the barkeep informs them that they have a message from a Mistress Delisen, the owner and ringmaster of the Umbra Carnival.
Pathfinders,
I have heard tale of your organization and heard of your deeds at my Carnival yesterday. I know that often your organization will take on unrelated jobs if a price is met and it does not offend your sensibilities. I hope that you will allow me to retain your services. If you are interested in my proposition, please hurry to the carnival and meet me outside my wagon with most haste. This is a delicate matter and must be addressed as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Mistress Delisen
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Birseko awakens as confused and uncertain as the previous day - it appears his amnesia is a continuing condition. Fortunately, the notes he has scribbled for himself help him to get - at least somewhat - reoriented. The description of the Harrowing leaves him brooding and sour, but as his comrades mobilize towards this new mission, he shakes himself into the new day, in the hopes that perhaps answers await. ”My friends, surely this Mistress Delisen will have the finest breakfast table in the entire carnival. We can eat her food, while we listen to her proposal.”
It's a quick travel to the circus, and it's easy to spot the woman they are looking for as the carnival has not opened for the day’s business yet. Almara waits beside a large private wagon with an adjoining canopy, and chairs are arranged around a nearby campfire. She greets them kindly but with a businesslike air.
Hello. I am Almara Delisen, known around here as Mistress Delisen. I'm the owner, and Ringmaster at this carnival.
She invites them to sit and another member of the crew sets out some food... basic, but hearty stuff, eggs, sausage, and potatoes. As they dig in, she folds her hands in front of her and says,
I appreciate your efforts yesterday in the regrettable incident with our dragon. I fear I could also use your help with another matter. You may have heard there was a murder in town last night. The circumstances, I am told, implicate people from my circus—something I find very hard to accept. I’d like to contract you to represent the Umbra Carnival to determine who is really responsible and preserve our reputation.
She leans forward and slides a contract forward for anyone who wants to examine it.
I'm willing to pay 600 gold for you to find and resolve the murder with conclusive proof... i trust that it will not be one of my carnival members, but if it is I will still pay for proof of which one it was so they can be expunged publically from my carnival. In truth, I believe this is a frame-up, and my hope is that you will clear our name.
Daedîn swallows a mouthful of eggs, wipes his mouth, saying, "Ma'am, is there any particular circumstance concerning this murder that makes you think it's a frame job?"
She sips her coffee and sets the tin cup down.
Well, this will sound a bit odd, but we carnival folks are a family. I know every one of the folks here... most of them are family, and the ones that ain't I can vouch for them personally. There isn't a person here who'd kill a man in cold blood like their saying happened.
She snorts and shakes her head.
Their trying to say that Jherizhana did it... but that's impossible. Not only wouldn't she, but i can personally guarantee that she didn't leave the carnival.
She holds up a hand to forestall any questions.
Trade secret as to how, but if it was her, I'd know, simple as that. Past that... i can't really say much about the exacts, you'd have to talk to the sheriff about that.
”Who is this Jherizhana and what’s the evidence against her? Does she have any enemies? And where can we find the sheriff?”
Oh, sorry, not sure how you missed her... Jherizhana is our Sphinx. The evidence is, supposedly, that the victim was mauled to death and that people saw a "Great winged beast" out and about last night, which again, couldn't be her. As for enemies... she's a sphinx, and lived a long time. I'm sure she has some, but she'd be too scatterbrained to remember. As for the sheriff, she'll be in town at the jail. I have a letter of introduction I'll give you if you agree to the contract.
Delisen nods to Volara's question.
Of course. You'll also have the cooperation of any member of the Carnival. I'll make it known through to everyone that if you say "Jump" their only answer should be "How high?".
She sighs and leans her elbows on the table.
This is important... I can't have people believing that my whole Carnival is somehow to blame, or that it is some sort of conspiracy. We rely on local villages to trade, to make money, to survive, and if we don't catch the real murderer soon, that dark cloud will follow us no matter where we go. I won't be able to feed my people, or look after them. I won't stand for that.
She pushes the contract forward and the letter of introduction.
I'm counting on you to save my people pathfinders. Don't fail me.
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Daedîn signs the contract and takes the letter of recommendation...
He rises and bows. "Best we visit the Sheriff first and show her this letter...wouldn't want it to look like we were going behind her back...in addition, hopefully she'll inform us of what she knows and give us access to the crime scene..."
Delisen smiles as the contract is signed.
Thank you pathfinders. I look forward to hearing good news... in the meantime, I have a Circus to run.
She stands and leaves the team to their devices...
Time skip music!
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The team has a easy enough finding the sheriff. The local jail is sturdy, but small. They are ushered into her office by the guards, and she takes a moment to read the letter of introduction. She's a beautiful woman in her late 30s, with short cropped hair and a no-nonsense attitude about her. As soon as she's finished reading she nods once.
Third party investigators... not a bad idea.
She passes the letter back.
I'll allow you access to the crime scenes , but remember, your representing the Umbra Carnival... step outa line, it will go back on them. But I'll let my deputies and the guardsmen know that you're working with us.
She leans back and half sits on her desk.
I'll do my best to get you up to speed. Last night, just a little bit before the midnight clock, Ms. Walder became worried about her husband not coming home after heading to the circus that morning. She left to go find him, and found him by the side of the road back from town. In a panic, she ran to their business, the Lockbox, and begged their bodyguards, who live on the premise, to come assist her. Three of the four went with her to retrieve the body.
She sighs and pulls out a report written in a neat had and reviews it.
One guard stayed behind to secure the office. Thieves, presumably in league with the creature that killed Walder, burst into the Locked Box, killed the remaining guard, and stole many easily carried valuables. The robbery was interrupted when the guards brought Walder’s body to the office instead of his home, and they glimpsed two humanoid figures fleeing in the night. Upon finding the guard dead and the building burglarized, the three remaining guards secured the building.
She sets down the file and looks to the team.
Honest truth? I don't think the circus is behind it. Problem is, the mood in town is sour. There are stories all over the place about a great four-legged beast flying over town last night after the circus closed down, silhouetted across the moon. Of course, I’ll be damned if I can find a single eyewitness who actually saw the sphinx. Now poor Walder is left dead in some bushes. It’d be one thing if these deaths were accidental, but the robbery angle has people thinkin’ of a Sczarni heist. I’m not proud to say it, but this stirs a lot of unworthy opinions about Varisians.
She sighs deeply and shakes her head.
I'll assign a deputy who can walk with you to the crime scene both by the side of the road and at the lock box. He'll also take you to the temple of Erastil where Walder's body is being kept if you need. I'll answer any questions I can of course, but remember, we're just beginning the investigation ourselves and frankly, my guardsmen are probably not as heavily trained as you are.
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"Sounds like a job for us Pathfinders, no doubt about it! Tell me, Sheriff, how was Walder killed? Could the injuries have been made by a sphinx? Also, what sort of a business is the Lockbox? Any particular reason why thieves would have targeted them particularly? And what about the Walders? What can you tell us about them?"
The Sheriff Nods.
Walder was killed by mauling by some large creature... his body was pretty devastated. Sure looked like something a sphinx could do, but it could also, theoretically, have been something else with big claws.... monsters are a thing after all.
She reaches behind her and pulls a cup of coffee forward, sipping at it.
The Lockbox is a pawn shop and loan office. Walder wasn't a bad man by any means, but you don't run that kinda business without upsetting some folks. Also meant that there was a lot of money and small, easily fenced goods there.
She frowns and stares into her cup.
Both the Walders are... well, I hate to speak I'll of the dead, so forgive me when I say that Mr. Walder was a lecherous old skirt chaser and Ms. Walder had her hands full trying to keep him in check. Someone reported that he insulted the sphinx at the carnival by making lewd comments at her, and that's why the sphinx killed him. While I think that's nonsense, I also think it sounds just like Mr. Walder.
The nervous chuckle and glance away almost hides the embarrassment of her next statement.
I... may have threatened to remove his manhood if he ever made another comment about my chest. More than one person said it'd get him in trouble one day, but he was just a old foolish man who didn't mean no harm by it.
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Willem considers. The lech from the sphinx meeting? I do recall it myself. "He did in fact make such comments, I can corroborate that report, but she was gracious enough to overlook the vulgarity. Jherizana gave him a good scare but allowed him to go, and if she had wished him ill she could have done so with far less effort."
He considers relations with the Sczarni, Varisians, and other nationalities. It certainly isn't easy being different, and he would know. "In addition, I have rather overwhelming evidence that it was not her, but I shall keep that until such time as I deem it necessary."
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Daedîn nods in agreement with Willem. "Aye, he did indeed misspeak to the Sphinx...she was rather gracious considering the affront and seemed nonplussed at the insult to say the least...
Thank you, ma'am. While we'll need to investigate all three places (Locked Box, Morgue, murder scene), which would you suggest we visit first?"
The sheriff raises a eyebrow at Willem.
Overwhelming evidence? If that is true would greatly appreciate it if you revealed that evidence to me... I am handling a murder investigation after all.
She is suddenly very no nonsense and stares Willem down.
I am not above throwing you into a cell until you decide that your willing to reveal what you know, so let us save us both time and trouble shall we?
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Willem doesn't budge, not even a little. "I am not willing to divulge that information as it is personal in nature, and should you try to do so I will submit a missive to his eminence the Blood Lord Kemnebi that you are illegally holding me for failing to do your job for you. Should it become necessary in the course of our dealings to enlighten you, I will do so, but it will benefit no one and irreparably harm my reputation to speak that which I know before its proper time. After all, if I do divulge it now, you will no doubt go bandying it about and ruin the element of surprise. I can tell you that the lady Jherizana did not do this, and will have the capability to prove exactly that should the need arise."
He looks at the Sheriff, eyes hollow. "You can trust me, and also trust that while I both like and trust you, I have no intention of wavering. You can, as I have said, throw me in your quaint cell, but I will be of little if any help there. And I can last years. I will outlive your successor."
The sheriff snorts.
YOU can investigate the crime if you want. But until he tells me exactly what his proof is, he's not going anywhere. Period.
She nods to several deputies who stand up behind the party. The sheriff says to the team.
The rest of you are free to go. However, I just had someone confess, to my face, that they can prove the identity of the killer, or at the very least, hold information that will prove a suspect in this case innocent. He is hereby withholding evidence and obstructing justice, and will be held in a cell until such time as he is willing to talk. I don't really give a damn how long-lived you are buddy, elves are ancient too, but that doesn't make them, or anybody else above the law.
You can sense that she's growing tense, getting ready for a fight.
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They're trying to say that Jherizhana did it... but that's impossible. Not only wouldn't she, but I can personally guarantee that she didn't leave the carnival.
She holds up a hand to forestall any questions.
Trade secret as to how, but if it was her, I'd know, simple as that. Past that... i can't really say much about the exacts, you'd have to talk to the sheriff about that.
Sure, the ringmaster has some... hold on me... but I do not begrudge her that. She must, after all, assure the safety of those around us.
Willem sighs. He looks to his companions. "I don't want to fight the local constabulary, regardless of the fact I'm well within my rights to do so, but I also don't wish to alienate our contacts at the carnival." He sighs. "Very well. The sphinx is under compulsion. The ringmaster holds some sort of sway over the beast, she said literally as much during our conversations. Be it an enchanted collar, a geas or other compulsion, the fact remains that our dear comrade Jherizana could literally not have gone out on her own to assault the foolish lech Walder. I can prove it, as unlike you I am not clouded by emotion. I would have done so in the course of investigation, but you are forcing my hand. I see we won't be friends."
Willem waits for whatever statement comes from the sheriff, though he is sure it won't be nearly enough to erase the offense given.
[ooc]I see. Well, I apologize for how harsh this is gonna sound, but the sheriff is a lot meaner than I am.[/b]
The sheriff raises an eyebrow.
That's it. You don't actually know how she's under control. just she is. You just "Know" that the sphinx is held under control.
She massages her temples as if she's getting a headache.
Right! Investigation over! I can let the populace know that SOMEHOW the sphinx is held under control by the ringmaster! Who of course, is a angel sent by Iomedae herself and couldn't possibly be associated with this mess.
She glares at him.
I always liked Delisen, but she must be desperate if she hired fools like you. How, exactly, does your assertion prove ANYBODY's innocence? if anything, now the suspicion falls on Delisen using the sphinx as a tool! Before I could maybe explain it away as a wild animal attack, just something that happens when you keep intelligent creatures with claws in a cage, but if she's controlled directly by the ringmaster, then that directly implicates her as the murderer!
She shakes her head and returns to her desk.
Deputy, take our wise "Investigators" to the murder scene and the lock box. Let them see what they can find. I'm sure their revelations will be fascinating if nothing else.
She looks Willem dead in the eyes and says simply.
No, we are not friends. I am a sheriff, I am the representative of law and justice in this town. I am not anyone's "Friend", and you will learn well to remember that.
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Daedîn amiles...but not in a friendly way...
"Honored Sheriff...my companions and I will find who's behind the killings/robberies...and we'll do it much quicker than your office could do alone...if we are to do a joint investigation, I'd deem it wise if you would forebear calling fools those who wish to assist you...not to mention those to whom you've just met. The Pathfinders are an old society and have long memories...we forget neither kindness nor insult...
We will leave you now and go with your deputy. Should we find anything worth noting, we'll inform you, should you wish to hear evidence from those whom you consider fools..."
Daedîn turns and leaves...
The Sheriff nods to Maanyatha. I agree. Again, I do not think the circus did this, but i have a town full of scared people and a easy target that I've got to convince them they had nothing to do with it. Only solid evidence is going to do that. My goal is to keep everyone safe, but my city most of all.
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One of the deputies leads out on the road for a distance towards the carnival, and then stops and points to a section.
Here's where it happened.
Not that you need him to point it out. Even the dirt road is stained red with the blood that has soaked in... and a lot of it. Obvious drag marks show the red blood going off the road into the ditch, and huge claw marks score the ground around the attack spot.
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Daedîn ponders over the tracks he finds...
"While it appears the attacker was a flying creature that came from the sky, the Sphinx could not have done this. These claw tracks are not leonine and would be much deeper if a creature the size of lady Jherizhana were to have made them. In addition, the ground has been swept clean, obviously to remove humanoid tracks. Even the victim's tracks are gone...
Someone is trying to frame the Sphinx...we must find out who...and why..."
Daedin's keen eye finds every trace. After a few minutes of tracking to make sure he's found everything, the deputy takes them to the Lock Box.
The building itself is sturdy and solid, with 12-foot-high ceilings, heavy wooden doors, and no windows. The team enters the door, where lamps illuminate this large showroom. Glass display cases, broken in a few places, line the walls, while two additional cases sit like islands in the center of the room. The cases contain an eclectic mix of valuables such as unusual tools, masterwork weapons, jewelry, fine china, antiques, and artwork. A set of merchant’s scales rests on top of one of the display cases.
Standing in the middle of the room are two men attempting to comfort an older woman who sobs in the corner of the room sitting on a small chair. The men are clearly guards, and it's likely that the woman is Ms. Walder.
Oh... archy.... archy.... whhhhhhhy....
She sobs loudly into her hands as the men look uncomfortable trying to console her.
Volara is able to tell that the place is quite the mess, an obvious smash and grab job. It seems like whoever ransacked the place did just that, ransacked it.
The old woman looks up to Daedin sniffling.
Are you with the sheriff? Are you trying to find who killed my poor Archie? Thank you so much... I'm sorry I'm such a mess, I just miss him so much!
She sobs again and blows her nose into a kerchief.
I should have gone with him, I shouldn't have let him go alone. It just bothered me to think of him ogling that winged she-lion whatsit—all that prancin’ about without a top on. But none a’ that would matter if only Archie was still here with me!
The widow sniffs.
He left... mid morning... I expected him to be gone until about supper time... when he didn't come home, and night started to fall, I got worried, so I went to find him. I thought... I thought i'd find him with some young tart....
Her lips quiver as she forces herself to continue.
But i found him on the road.... there was so much blood... i could barely recognize him. So I ran home, got Percy and John here...
She nods towards the two guards.
And luke... he's watching over Archie's...Archie and Mark's body at the temple. Mark stayed behind to watch the shop.
She sobs again choking on her voice.
Then some... some brigands killed mark! They took what they could and killed him in cold blood!
Birseko believes she's being entirely truthful, if on the verge of a breakdown.
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Willem ponders the sorts of questions you don't ask a grieving widow, but which would have immeasurable importance to the task at hand. "You say brigands, and I understand the indelicate nature of this inquiry, but were there any parties who have previously expressed discontentedness with your husband, or your business? To seek out all avenues only, of course."
She sniffs and dabbs at her tears with her kerchief.
Oh... lots of people get frustrated when they pawn something and can't pay it back. But Archie was a good man, and he always did his best to work with people so they didn't lose things if they didn't have to. Nobody had made open threats or anything like that... we don't even have anyone defaulting currently.
She shakes her head.
There is a lot of money in the jewelry and trinkets stored here... though, i haven't been able to look into the vault yet.
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"Have you noticed anything in particular that was taken? Is there any reason to think that they were looking for something in particular? Or does it seem like they looted at random?"
Birseko pauses, and rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Widow Walder, who knew that your husband would be attending the carnival this night?"
The widow sniffs.
Mark was one of the guards we hired to live here and keep the place safe. He stayed behind when we went to get Walder's body...
To Birseko she shakes her head.
Everything seems to be grabbed at random. Like I said, I haven't checked the vault yet though. As for who knew he was attending the carnival, well, most folks would have seen him there, but it's not like we planned it in advance much. Most everybody goes to the carnival when it's in town.