Murder's Mark (Inactive)

Game Master Matthais777

Daedîn nods in agreement with Birseko. "I agree...let's make haste. Hopefully, we'll find nothing wrong and return to I interview the Sphinx..."

The Elf leaves the tent and runs towards the temple...

Ssssssome one who killssss an elder will have no problem ssstealing thingsss from a temple she says as she follows.

"This would certainly match the previous incident. I think it is better to be safe than sorry. Let's go!"

"I'd rather follow up these disguises and where the wearers went, but if you think the temple a better clue, I guess we can check that next."

The team rushes to the temple of Erastil, set back into the forest nearly on the opposite side of town, and is greeted by a unfortunate sight.

The temple is a modest affair, barley even a "Temple", more of a "Shrine" really, but it has been ransacked. The old woman walks up to the altar and chokes back a sob.

The... the symbol... the cups.... the candlesticks... they where a gift to the church... they where made out of silver... I didn't... we've never even needed to lock the doors before...

She checks a few more things and finds that a few other items of small value, and the poor box has been broken open and robbed.

Daedin has no trouble realizing a very important matter. Whoever did this was a professional. There are no tracks, and despite the ransacking nature it was clear it was for expediency. The only real thing he learns is that it probably wasn't the skulks, if only cause he doesn't spot their familiar long footprint in or outside the temple. They are also to far back from the town itself for anyone to have seen who did it.

Daedîn grimly nods his head. "That settles it...we're dealing with thieves...but thieves that are willing to murder...never known thieves guilds to target victims for murder though...that's the realm of the assassins...

We should probably get back to the carnival and talk to the Sphinx..."

"Thieves and cowards, you mean. They sneak around killing innocents and taking things that do not belong to them. They do this while setting false evidence to shift the blame to others and foster hostility between the town and carnival. I hope we can find the sphinx soon as she may have some information that can help us."

Birseko moves about the temple, looking to see if any trace or residue has been left by the thieves, any hint to their identities. We are not so different, I suppose, they are just as unknown to me as I am to myself.... Then, recalling that they have a mystery to solve, and a murderess to exonerate, he shakes himself back to the present situation.

"Milady, who knew that your sister would be attending the carnival today? Do you happen to recall the circumstances that led to her leaving? Did she perhaps receive a message, or a visitor? Anything you can tell us will be useful and please do not omit any detail, no matter how insignificant it may seem to you now..."

The old priestess slowly picks up some thrown around holy objects, and sighs deeply.

Most everyone knew she was traveling to the carnival today. Yesterday, the town was whipping itself up into a mob, and she stepped in, stood on a box and yelled at all of them to behave themselves, to remember that she had Varisian blood, and that made her no less than any of them.

She smiles as if remembering a fond memory.

That put them right in their place.... everybody loved the sister, so to hear her call them out like that... heh, you should have see their faces. Then she goes and says she'll go speak to the sphinx today and use the prayers of Erastil to make sure the truth was told.

She starts putting things back on the alter slowly.

She left this morning, quiet and without pomp. She didn't want to cause the circus any fuss if she didn't have to, or get the people riled up into a hunt.

"Hmmm, well, at the very least, it appears that we are dealing with a gang of thieves that are using murder to create distractions to enable them to engage in their thievery. And attempting to pin it all on the circus as a way of deflecting attention from themselves."

Birseko ponders the situation.

"Milady, did your temple have much of value? I know it's troubling to ask you to think of such things in your moment of grief, but we need to understand if the motives of these murderers could really be so base as mere profit. After all, it's a rough lot that commits murder just to have a chance to steal some silver candlesticks... Altogether, what do you estimate the value of what has been stolen might be?"

@GM, you mentioned that there are no signs of the skulks at this crime scene. Do we have any reason to believe that the criminals in this case were, or were not, the same as the ones who got away at the Lock Box?

No reason to believe they where the same skulks, no. Working together maybe, but all you have for proof on that is circumstantial evidence based on style.

The old woman wipes her eyes.

I mean, the silver is valuable, maybe a hundred gold all told, little bit more for the craftsmanship... not very much at all, especially in comparison to the life of a well respected sister.

Daedîn nods sympathetically to the Sister. "You are right, ma'am...sadly there are some that do not value life as highly as you...we'll find who did this..."

He bows and leaves to head back to the carnival...

"What do you suggest we do to continue our investigation, Daedin? Is there another lead we have? or are we at a dead end til something else happens?"

"Hopefully Kwai, we can talk to the Sphinx...Mistress Delisen said she would arrange it, so I'm hoping we can talk with Jherizhana when we get back..."

"Perhaps she can help us focus our attentions on the right clues and suspects."

"We should also attempt to follow the trail of those who discarded the clown costumes, no?"

"All we have is small pieces of evidence and a strong theory of what is happening but no real idea why. I think talking to the sphinx would be the best course of action right now. Maybe she can help guide us in the right direction?"

Daedîn shakes his head in response to Birseko. "I tracked the trail from the tent to the clown costumes...shortly thereafter, the trail led to the parade grounds and was indistinguishable from the tracks of all the hundreds of other carnival visitors. Right now, talking to the Sphinx is the only thing I can think of..."

The team hears some cheering as they head back to the circus. As they grow closer, they see that a crowd of 6 men is surrounding a tree, though their bodies hide what their doing. As you draw closer, it becomes obvious.

A young man, pretty obviously a teenager, is tied to a tree, a burlap sack over his head. The six men are beating him, kicking him in the stomach, in the legs, punching him in the head, and laughing as they do so. One of the men, the big fellow from earlier in the sheriff's office, lands a heavy blow in the kid's stomach. He retches in response, but otherwise doesn't move as the men laugh.

We'll teach you little thieves what it means to rob us!

Combat engaged? Pathfinders may act
This does not necessarily end in combat, but time is important for reasons, so everyone needs to act on initiative order. Talking is still a "Free action" but try to keep anything you say to around 30 words to represent the 6 seconds it'd take for you to say it. If you need more than that to say your piece, that's fine, but each additional 30 words I'll clock another 6 seconds, if your taking other actions your words won't "Happen" until the next round or, if your not and nobody else acts, it'll just take up time. This is a tricky, intense roleplay situation, so do your best!

Birseko
Wilhem
Volara
-------------
Townsfolk
------------
Maanyatha
Daedin
---------------
Kid
---------------
Kwai

"Uh oh... that doesn't look good." Jamiroquai says from a distance. (not his action yet... just an offhand remark)

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Daedîn yells. "STOP! Can't you see? You're killing him!"

Willem almost charges forward before realizing that rushing into danger like that is a good way to get yourself real dead. He takes a few moments to prepare himself, drawing his sword, weaving arcane energies around him in a protective pattern, and suffusing the sword with latent power. He makes only a slight movement towards the enemies. He doesn't bother with ineffective threats. "I will be upon you soon." It is a statement, not a threat.

Volara draws her bow but keeps it pointed to the ground and doesn't go to draw an arrow.

"You've already made a huge mistake, but it doesn't have to get any worse. Stop right now and let the boy live."

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Birseko speaks softly but firmly, directing his words at the burly fellow who appears to be their leader. "My friend, I'm sure you know better than this. I have every confidence in you. You can show your companions that you agree by taking a moment to simply contemplate. They will understand by your silence that they should also repent. Forget not: Lord Ranginori's return is near and all shall be judged by their actions!"

If Birseko is further than 25 feet away, he calmly walks forward while saying this until he is within 25 feet. Then he casts Daze (Will DC 15) at the big fellow. As a psychic spell, the casting is not accompanied by any somatic or verbal gestures, so none of them should have any idea that a spell has been cast.

True. But you are the first to step forward and are drawing attention to yourself... though, a combat spell is probably the conclusion these keyed up townsfolk aren't going to come to.

The townsfolk turn on the group, making a wall of fairly burly flesh in front of the youth.
Know better? Bah, little bastard deserves everything he has coming, him and the rest of those circus scum!
will: 1d20 ⇒ 9
He suddenly blinks and holds a hand to his head, sputtering a little as his eyes grow unfocused.

Jorgen? Says one of the other towns folk.

They did something to him! That freak that looks like he belongs with those damn varisians don't he?

There is a agreement from the other as they shout at him.

What did you do to Jorgen you freak?!

They don't move to fight him... after all, the investigators are known around town, but the men are very angry, and very tough looking guys who probably have been in plenty of fights themselves, and they don't back down.

Combat engaged? The Bold may act

Birseko
Wilhem
Volara
-------------
Townsfolk
------------
Maanyatha
Daedin
---------------
Kid
---------------
Kwai

Daedîn fires a blunt arrow at the next biggest fellow, aiming to incapacitate...

Longbow: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 8 - 4 = 23

Non-lethal Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

He yells with disdain, "Grown men ganging up on a mere boy...brave enough to try us instead? Who wants the next one?"

Intimidate: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (17) - 2 = 15

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 Intimidate

SSSTEP away from the boy and return to your homesss she says as her hisses and her nostrils flare.

One of them tumbles to the ground as Daiden's arrow slams into his skull. Unfortunately, Daiden is a little TO good, and you hear is skull crack as he falls. By the sound of it, he needs some emergency medical attention now. The third one sees his friend go down and Maanyatha hiss at him, and turns and runs for it.

The big one, Jorgen, is still staring blanked eyed in a daze, though he seems to be coming round from it. He takes a few steps back, clearly looking like he's gonna run for it... one mindblast seems to have convinced the big guy this may not be a fight he can win.

Combat engaged? The Bold may act

Birseko
Wilhem
Volara
-------------
Townsfolk
------------
Maanyatha
Daedin
---------------
Kid
---------------
Kwai

Willem will move up to the fallen one, checking that he is not actually going to die from a blunted arrow strike.

Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 18

If it looks like this may be a life threatening situation, he will draw out a scroll and prepare to use it. Infernal Healing.

Willem checks the man and sees that, yes, he's currently in danger of bleeding out if he doesn't receive healing. Willem casts the spell, and while it's probably uncomfortable, his life will be spared.

Good thing Daiden didn't crit, or he would have out right con killed him with that non-lethal arrow! That's how I found out that you can kill someone from non-lethal at least.

Willem is out 25gp saving a non-essential. Ugh.

Willem ties the man up while the healing takes effect, so they have someone to take to the authorities for the assault on whoever it was. This sort of thing was not going to be tolerated.

Volara moves up to the fallen man and looks over him.

heal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Volara offers pulls out her wand and gets ready to use it.

"He doesn't look so good."

I can use a wand charge if you prefer Willem.

Jamiroquai walks over to the boy to check on him... help him to his feet if he's ambulatory... comfort him if he's not. "We have healers among us... you will be fine... what those men did was horrible... I'm so sorry we didn't get here faster."

When Kawi goes to the boy, he sees that his wrists are tied to the tree, and he is fully unconscious. His comforting words fall on unhearing ears as he takes the sack off his head and cuts him loose. The boy is a young, pretty, Varisian boy, his blue tattoos making a pattern of stars on one side of his face.

I'll assume Volara uses her wand for you Willem
Jorgen runs for it properly, but the man who you have tied up groans awake and pulls at his bonds for a bit.

Let me go! Siding with thieves and murderers... some investigators you are!

Volara unties the boy, but slowly to make sure he hears her words.

"We side with no-one. We're trying to keep the peace and want to keep everyone safe. We stopped those men from killing you and we didn't hurt them any more than we needed to. We simply can't be everywhere at once."

Daedîn will try to stabilize the boy...

Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Volara unties the boy, but slowly to make sure he hears her words.

"We side with no-one. We're trying to keep the peace and want to keep everyone safe. We stopped those men from killing you and we didn't hurt them any more than we needed to. We simply can't be everywhere at once."

Seems to be some confusion, sorry, the boy is unconscious and hasn't said a thing. The man who was beating up said boy is the one accusing the investigators of siding with the "Murderers and thieves".

Daedin is able to stabilize the boy and stop the bleeding... much longer and his lungs might have given out, he was only a few spare seconds from death it seems. But for now he's out of immediate danger, even if he isn't responsive yet.

Daedîn breathes a sigh of relief as he sees the boy breathing a little bit easier...

He turns to the tied up man with a snarl. "NO! We side with a dying boy over cowardly grown men assigning the supposed sins of the carnival upon him. Have you no honor in Ilsurian? I'm a rogue and I have far more honor than you!

Now sit still and be SILENT...or perhaps I'll test my dagger's sharpness by cutting out your tongue..."

Disgusted, Daedîn spits at the ground near the man's feet...and turns to his companions...

"We need to contact the Sheriff...this boy still needs medical help and that miscreant needs to answer for what he did..."

"I have a wand for curing, but I am not good at making it work... anyone want to try it?" Jamiroquai holds out his wand of cure light.

If there are any of the townsfolk who are not yet subdued, Birseko will again Daze one of them (Will DC 15) (can't be used on the same target again).

Birseko glares at the townsfolk wordlessly...

Too many tied up people got me confused. Thank you for clearing it up for me.

Volara is still carrying her wand so goes over to the boy to try to heal the worst of his wounds.

"I'm not exactly a medical expert, but this healing wand should help the boy."

CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Only townsfolk left is the one you tied up.

The man seems appropriately cowed by Daedin's threats and doesn't speak again.

The boy has the healing energies flow into his body... he still looks in pretty bad shape, but his eyes open slowly and he whimpers a little, curling into a ball.

Please... don't... stop...

When he doesn't feel more blows come and he realizes the sack isn't over his head anymore he looks around, seeing the man tied up and doing the math.

You.... you saved me?

"Ye're all right now, lad. Ye've nothing to fear from those ruffians anymore. But tell us, how did it come to pass that those miscreants fell upon ye?"

The boy blinks a few times.

I... I was going home... *Cough* I just went out to ah... pick up some food from in town... and then one of them pushed me... and then they put the bag over my head... *cough* and they started hitting me...

Tears well up in his eyes.

I didn't do anything to them... but they just kept hitting me... calling me a dirty varisian theif...

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Birseko stares piercingly at the lad. "Come, come, my boy - we'll have no dishonesty from you. By the power of Lord Ranginori - he whose impending return will surely bring doom upon all liars! - I command you, why were you going to town?" He pauses momentarily, and stares oddly into space. "Or would you... perhaps... prefer that we turn you in to the sheriff as well?"

The kid looks in fear at Birseko and looks away... blushing bright red?

I... I was meeting this other guy in town... we sometimes hang out... talk about which is better, being in the circus or in the city... I almost got him convinced but... um... yeah, that's all.

You don't need a sense motive check to guess what he means by "Hanging out" with the other boy.

Daedîn shrugs. "Well, let's get you back to the circus and this big fellow over to the Sheriff..."

The boy, Milandru, happily let's the team lead him back home after they stop by the sheriff's to drop of their prisoner.

They are nearly back to the circus by the time they stop hearing the shouting of the sheriff explaining to the towns-person exactly how many laws he's broken, his ancestors, and just exactly what she would do to him if the law where to permit it, and just what exactly the law DOES permit.

Deputies wait outside the carnival, chatting conversationally with the carnival guards. There is also a couple waiting for them, who tackle Milandru, the mother weeping as the father berates him for slipping off without letting him know where he was. The mother takes the team aside while the father drags the boy off by his ear and speaks softly.

The ring master, she waits for you and asked us to let you know to go to the Sphinx's cart when you return.

She points over to a fine cart over to the side a little away from the others.

But before you go... I must give you this.

She pulls one of the many long scarves from around her, orange and red and shimmering softly as it moves, shiny disks covering it and jangling softly.

You saved my son's life, and I will be forever in your debt... I insist on giving you something so that the scales may be balanced. Please, take this scarf, may any Varisian you know welcome you by their campfire.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

"My word, m'lady, this is a gracious gift indeed. Why, I once knew a beautiful woman who wore a scarf of the suggestive dance such as this one, and her dancing was incomparable. At least, I think I knew such a woman, who danced the dance of the... umm... I mean... though now that I think about it, I cannot recall when and where that might have been..." Birseko looks away, momentarily confused, before continuing, "Yet I fear that none of my companions nor I can dance as well as that, but I'm sure that one of us will try to be worthy of your gift. Thank you!"

Unless any of us have the fascinate or suggestion bardic performances (I assume not), or have Perform (dance), I suggest that this item be taken by whomever is most diplomatically inclined among us.

Jamiroquai smiles as the scarf is offered, just because of its beauty, rather than it's magical properties. When he hears it has a name, he lofts a furry brow. it would be wasted on Jamiroquai, so he makes no move to take it, so someone else can do so "A lovely gift, but unnecessary... we were happy to come your son's assistance." He gives her a little bow, and leaves the question of who should take the scarf to others... He turns and heads to the sphinx's cage.