seeing as apparently his words did not gain much traction, Grond goes silent again, and listens only.
Soros
The young Suelish man's head is in a tizzy at the moment as he tries to put all the pieces into this elaborate puzzle.
He turns to look at D'ogryn but can see that his friend is deep in thought and not paying attention to everyone's voice at the moment. He then turns to Grond. "D'ogryn and I inspected the documents this morning. It appears they don't offer much in the way of our current predicament. Most of them are to the previous owner of the house as well as the title and deeds to the land and the home. The other documents, those in the sealed waxed parchment were actually holy scriptures, divine spells, written some time ago. They will not help us with our current problems I am afraid."
"Thank you for the explanation friend, but are we sure these crimes are in no way related to some sort of dispute over land ownership or other prosaic reasons?" - Grond nods - "The deeds are heinous, but such acts are many times committed for nothing more than money, property or power"
Naia chews her lip as the described events loom into something larger and more perilous than she had imagined. Also, much more complex than she cares for.
The guildmaster of stonemasons? Fleeing goblins from the Hoolmarsh? Evil sailors? What have I got myself mixed up in?...
The prior night’s drinking and the culmination of the past few days adventuring cloud her head, and she has little power to draw conclusions or make connections.
”This is very well. All very confusing. Something caused the goblin tribe to flee the marsh. Something wyrd is up at that house on the cliff - Narciso makes a good point - by rights the house should be demolished, not a focal point - so it is a perfect base...for something. Something links the murders, the murderer, the slain guard and escape, and apparently the guildmaster. Does he own the house? He trades in building material...” she muses...trailing off.
Ooh...my head...
|
we have a description of a man by a witness on the docks and we have the walking steps in the mud and a struggle. We also have tha guild symbol which I wager our fella lost and had ta replace. Also we have that locals were hired ta kill Zove and bought weapons made here which were then found by tha other group and horses bought as well also found by these others connecting both. This is more then mere coincidence fer sure! Finally there is a history of deaths here which I would bet goes with this fellas travels to and fro.
Ferona nods in agreement with Antas's explanation. "All of these statements are indeed factual, yet none of them are truly damning for his cause. The only concrete evidence we were able to recover was the Guild Pin, that Antas referred to." She takes out the piece of the pin they recovered earlier and holds it up for examination. "Unfortunately it is missing the head piece, which identifies the Guild of the wearer."
Turning to face Soros she offers, "I am notes as a fairly accomplished scribe. I can examine those documents you found earlier to see if they are indeed legitimate."
D'ogryn has remained quiet for most of the time as the newcomers and the higher-ups talk.
”D’og is right. The house. Something about that house those bastards don’t want us to know about.”
Of course I am right...
The house has it's secrets.
Do you have any other weapons hidden on your person?
He looks to Soros and then the assembled group.
Soros has the right of it. I trust his judgement and abilities. Those papers are what he says they are.
Council Member Hoskins
He looks to Soros and D'ogryn as well as the rest of the hunting party. I can vouch for Ferona's talents. Even the Lord Mayor's young nephew, who himself is a noted scribe is very impressed with her skills. A matter of fact did you say Ender was up all night working in your library Lord Mayor?"
Soros
Soros nods in appreciation at the offer. "We will need to have them verified with the town records so any help in that regard."
Lord Mayor Timertikos
He agrees with Hoskins. "He was up all night after spending hours at the town hall going through records and then back at my study going through my notes and records for the town. I believe he intends to go to churches and go through their records as well this morn." He looks to Ferona and smiles. "You seem to have sparked his desire to work."
His face goes back to a more serious look. "We cannot accuse this man without real evidence. The guild masters will have a revolt if we do. Until you have real evidence we will keep what we know in this room until that occurs."
Edan
Listening to all of this he looks to Rabalar and back to Soros. "This investigation into this guildsman. Are we implying he has something to do with the house as well?"
Geolin
He looks around the room and walks to the arrow slit window and looks out.
"Thout is seriously injured but from all accounts of the church council will heal in time. I need for him to return home safely and get out of this den of wolves we apparently have unleashed. I asked this as a favor and as much as I hate to break this group up right now I trust very few even those under my command. I know my officers are loyal as well as a few others but until I know for sure the rest of my men are indeed loyal o the town and the watch I need two of you to take Thout back to his home. Now as much as I would like to send a few of my officers to do this it is not possible and this is not their duty. So I am asking two of you to do this for me and for Thout. That will put my mind at ease and I can focus on these issue."
Rabalar
The wood olf looks around at his friends and at Naia, D'ogryn, and Soros and the back at Edan. Edan seems to be thinking the same thing.
"I don't wish to go and would like to see this through but I consider Thout my friend and with Zove's death I can understand why you are concerned. I will take him back to the Goodhills and his family there. When done I plan on returning to see this through."
Edan
Edan seems to shake his head and looks at Soros, Naia, and D'ogryn. " I will go as well. Rabalar is a dear friend and Thout deserves a guard to get him home. We know the roads and we can move out with the next merchant caravan that goes north. We know several of the caravan captains so this should not be a problem."
He looks to his friend again and to Geolin. "It is the least we can if not for Thout there is a good chance none of us would be standing here today."
Naia is about to say something when Geolin breaks her train of thought. The Temlow lass os torn, but seeing as Rab and Edan volunteer she keeps quiet.
As much as I feel for Thout, I’m not sure I’m ready to leave Saltmarsh, particularly while murderers and rapists skulk about. I need to warn my folks...
”Geolin, I need to warn my family at least. This... murderer you’ve let loose on the town, he knows my name, and he may strike at my people.”
Naia turns to go, and then remembers what she was thinking on.
”Ender - what is he looking into, and why?”
The young man quietly changes the subject...
Did anyone inspect the bodies? Those that where hired to kill you three that is?
Naia is about to say something when Geolin breaks her train of thought. The Temlow lass os torn, but seeing as Rab and Edan volunteer she keeps quiet.
As much as I feel for Thout, I’m not sure I’m ready to leave Saltmarsh, particularly while murderers and rapists skulk about. I need to warn my folks...
”Geolin, I need to warn my family at least. This... murderer you’ve let loose on the town, he knows my name, and he may strike at my people.”
Naia turns to go, and then remembers what she was thinking on.
”Ender - what is he looking into, and why?”
Walthas stands up and looks at Naia. "Lass sit down and relax. I have Olaf alerting your family, Soros' family, and the Mermaid."
The young man quietly changes the subject...
Did anyone inspect the bodies? Those that where hired to kill you three that is?
Iborian turns to D'ogyrn. "All three had their coin bags on them...a bunch of loose coins from all over...maybe eight or nine silver each in total and ten gold pieces, all new and shiny as if they were just counted, and everyone had the same Keoish minted gold coins. A bit odd for sea rats just off the ship. All three were on shore leave off a merchant ship and hanging out at the Black Dog prior to the attack. So it appears someone paid them and they also paid two other drunks to try and attack Peran there earlier that night on the north side of the docks."
He points over to Peran. "That didn't go so well from what I heard. Peran managed to fight both off. We also know that two of the five men that ambushed these three fled and ran off. My guess is they were part of the same crew but the first mate has not seen hide or hair of them and the captain is currently traveling and will not be back for few days...which means he probably didn't know about this or that some of his crew was involved."
D'ogryn nods at Iborian politely.
I apologize...I meant did anyone dare to look at the bodies. Sailors tent to have tattoos from ships they have worked on...or organizations. It might give us some information. What is the name of the merchant ship?
Ferona digests the information silently for a moment before responds in a quiet voice, barely concealing her anger here. "So far all of the circumstances point to Hikendor Bavilton here. He would be one of I suspect only a few who could procure such a large amount of gold quickly. Still..." Here she takes a deep breath to calm her emotions, "The fact he would resort to cold-blooded murder points to a desperate man. I believe he is the murderer...and yet, I know it would be a simple matter to change the evidence to use him as a scapegoat...despite what we were told. I only wish we were able to take a prisoner..."
Turning to the others, including D'Ogryn and Naia, she responds "I asked Ender to investigate the previous murders in town to see if a pattern exists. Do you believe this...haunted house is worth investigating?"
Naia sits immediately upon Walthas’ order, but it is evident she is unhappy about being scolded so, and is obviously concerned for her family’s wellbeing.
She seems unfocused, staring into the middle distance until Ferona mentions Ender.
”Huh. Oh right. A pattern. Good idea.” she says brightly, then looks to D’ogryn.
”I think so - something is fishy about that place.” she remarks.
After having his say Narciso goes silent with Grond. These others had been together longer and obviously knew more of the locals, even if they didn't appear to have a full grasp of the inner machinations of the politics of the town and perhaps trade guilds. This discussion included more twists and diverse plot lines than most of the novels he had taken the time to enjoy during his years of training as a bard.... Where was the actual linchpin? Or who?
When D'ogryn mutters about the house having secrets Narciso nods. "Any secrets in that house had better on the main floor though, or possibly a basement. The structure is too weak to hide anything much longer upstairs!"
Rabalar
Nods in agreement with Narciso's assessment of the house and dangers. Narciso is right about that. We did a thorough search of the upper floor and the main floor but we know there is a staircase going down to a basement near the kitchen where we found that body. He thinks for a moment. "That man had a lantern, sword, armor...he appeared to be searching the house and if recall correctly he was struck from the back in the head...and his throat was slit open. That is where we first encountered the vermin...the large centipedes that took a liking to Soros. Someone did that to him and it wasn't goblins, they wouldn't leave his body or all that equipment lying about."
Geolin
He turns to Rabalar and the rest of the house party. "It sounds like you found a lot more in this house than just spooks and cobwebs."
He thinks on that for moment and looks at the Lord Mayor and the other two town councilors. "We need to walk through what happened at the house from the time you came outside to the time you left the next morning. I need to see this house as you did last night. I would like to hear what D'ogryn and Naia saw and don't leave anything out. Rabalar you and Edan fill in the blanks as they go."
Hoskins
He sits down and smiles. "Ahhhh a story. Just what we need to hear and this will be a good tale I think for the Rest and its guests. Nothing like a dark tale of local heros to get the ale and food going and the coin coming!"
Hoskins Lashti, a shirefolk bard and the owner of the "Traveller's Rest"a well known inn and tavern in Saltmarsh known for its lively entertainment, food, and comforts. Hoskins is a well known retired adventurer and bard. He is known for his stories and songs. He was an adventurer for a time with a dwarf as well and a few other but he doesn't recall their names. Hoskin's inn is well known in these parts by merchants and aristocrats a like.
Lord Mayor
He finds a chair and sits down. "I for one would like to hear this and from their mouths as well. I am sure our investigating party would as well as they might be able to put some additional pieces together or mayhaps tell if they are even related. It seems we have at least three if not more events happening from what I can see. One, the young merchant's rape and murder by strangulation. Zove's rape and murder...it appears different but as their were four involved. Now this house that was being used by goblins but we have a body...I am not sure did we hear who or what this man was? He was not killed by the goblins and everyone that was in the house think it is odd." He sits down. "Maybe we can put one of these to rest or see if one or more fit together."
D'ogryn keeps his words precise as he recounts all that he remembers.
The house is old as all of you know. It has been used by more than just the goblins. I know that there is more to it than what we found but we were forced to return. We were pushing ourselves too much to continue and would have been too risky. The house has some oddities that pop up as not normal. A magic trap that covers a specific area within a room. Which makes as much sense as putting a lock on the closet door but not the door to your own house. Anyways. That traps is protecting something but what that is I have not been able to determine. The upper floor has not been complete investigated nor has the attic. I am presuming that the attic is where the Goblins were holding up. The ground floor has not been completely investigated as well. Still a few room to look in on.
He pauses for a few moments and the continues.
The man who was killed in the kitchen was Keolandish from his clothing. His weapon was a well made Keoland blade as was his armor. He was struck from behind several times...this death was not like the ones in town. To me...this means two different people...two different styles. Not the same person. This attack was more...angry. Like trying to use a cleaver to clean a fish. All brawn and no precision. The body looked as if it has been there for about three weeks.
He looks around the room at those looking back at him. He continues to tell the story of the encounter with four men.
Naia settles in for the long haul, nodding here and there.
”We went in by the back porch on the cliff side. There’s a well in the yard but we didn’t explore it too well either. Umm. Yep, in through the back, a ghost appeared that scared everyone. I threw my harpoon right through it.” Naia smiles weakly.
”Dusty, cobwebby rooms. Mostly empty except for mouldy broken furniture. Ah...the body was out the back, in a kitchen or pantry or near there. Bugs attacked, we went up the back stairs, checked some more duaty rooms, got ambushed by goblins. Thout fought well, but dod get sliced up a bit.”
Naia passes a hand over her face.
”We rested up. Having taken the goblins out. We explored some more, but were interrupted by the arrival of Pissface and his gang. They tried to pull the wool over our eyes, but we were pretty spooked and just a bit suspicious...of...everything at that point.”
Naia looks at Rab.
”I think the spiders attacked then? Anyway, things went south quick with the thugs, but we managed to kill them all, all except Pissface.”
Naia wraps up.
”Seriously, that place is dilapidated and decrepit, and fell out from under us at least onfe. If there is a base of nefariousness, it aint upstairs...”
"I went inside with D'Ogryn, Rabalar and Soros" - Grond explains - "The house was decrepit with mildew and fungus everywhere - the intent was to recover a chest which had been left behind in the initial scuffles. It was completely covered in some sort of toxic fungus thing..." - the half-orc adds - "But... After some disagreements, debate, and crashing through rotten floors the chest was eventually recovered - it possessed the aforementioned documents"
Ferona's eyes widen in surprise when she hears of the existence of a magical trap in the supposedly abandoned house. "A magically protected area in this house? This is an ill omen. Most dweomers fade over time...the existence of such an aura means either it is being sustained, or renewed by something. or someone...else it be the lingerings of a powerful dweomer." She paces around the room briefly as she processes the implications. "Only one schooled in the arcane arts would be capable of such...I can think of many reasons why one would decide to inhabit an abandoned abode, none of them are good ones." She addresses D'Ogryn, "How were you able to determine it is indeed of a magical nature?"
Soros
Soros seems to perk up as Ferona speaks of the arcane arts. "It is an ill omen and from what I could tell it was a well-crafted trap indeed. I was able to sense the magic and examine it for a bit of time. From what I could discern from it was some sort of illusion spell but it was a mix of a glamor and a figment of a ghost flying around. It was very realistic and gave a few of us a good fright. I am not sure if it is still there but as D'ogryn stated it was in a odd place...The room was an entry room albeit to the garden but it was oddly located and consider that the front door itself was not trapped made it very odd. The spell was crafted by someone with far greater powers than I. I could not tell if it was an old trap but Rabalar and D'ogryn could tell that the goblins were avoiding the center of the room which tells me that the actual portion that sets it off is somewhere in the interior of the room and not at the doorway or any of the interior doors in the room...two I believe if memory serves me right. But that bit of news tells me the spell is reset by some means. So it very well might be an old lingering spell used to scare off busybodies. The house was rumored to belong to a wizard and an alchemist of ill reput."
He thinks for a minute and the young man follows that up with one more quick comment. "I am not sure this spell trap proves that someone is actually in the house or not in the house. But as D'ogryn has stated that and the four men that attacked us is enough to give one pause to consider the house in our current set of circumstances. I honestly don't have any desire to go back to that house but if that is the will of our group I will, of course, go along."
Iborian
"You say the man's body was about three weeks you say? If that is the case there was a man asking the watch about the old house. A stranger to the town but a northern Keolander...some explorer that was interested in old haunted homes...I don't recall the man's name but he had a nice set of studded leather armor and a long sword and both were well made... Suel blood as well had blonde hair like Soros and sort of tall. Did he look like him by chance?"
”Sounds like your man. D’og took his armor...” Naia pipes up.
Looking at Ferona.
There were goblin tracks that skirted the area and went nowhere near the center of the room. They avoided it. If a real ghost was there...those Goblins would not have been left alive. We entered that area and the ghost came out at us...Scared us. Which was its purpose. To warn us away. Again not one of us would be here today if that was real.
A very soft word escapes the lips of the wiry man.
...dalt...
Praise to you master of secrets.
D'ogryn looks to Naia and then looks around at the others. The young cook stands up and paces the room for a moment.
Naia come here please...stand in the doorway.
D'ogryn looks at her from behind as she stands in the doorway.
He crouches down a bit look up at her and the door way.
Thank you.
He turns and looks back at the others.
I am running on just thoughts here...so please bare with me.
He starts to pace the room as he thinks and talks.
The man that we found in the kitchen by the basement stairs was attacked from behind and above. Meaning to me that the assailant was either tall or used a weapon that could reach above his target. The would mean that the attacker did not strike from the basement. They would not be able to hit the location from the stairwell. The ceiling and door frame would have stop any such attack from connecting. It could mean that the attacker was hiding somewhere waiting for that person to come by but I nor anyone else found signs of such activity. Which would mean that there is another way down to the basement. A secret way...one which would be protected by traps to keep it safe. Like a ghost. I am wondering if that area by the fireplace in the back hides a way to get in the basement? It is all theories but I feel it warrants another visit.
he pauses for a moment to look back at the higher ups...
It could also be where our escaped prisoner will flee to. He took much interest in getting inside that place.
Peran sits deep in thought...mulling over the various stories that have been told...ghosts, goblins, murderers...the whole things seem to be unbelievable, but here they were.
"That house seems to hold some of the answers we might be looking for. Discovering what, if anything "haunts" the place as well as searching for our escaped prisioner...well I think we should check it out!"
"Agreed"
Ferona looks at Soros considering his words carefully before nodding in reply, "Your words raise more questions than they answer, I fear. One question I would like to know if indeed this is related to the brutal murders and the assault upon ourselves." Smiling at Antas she adds, "I do believe a visit to this...house is in order." Her eyes gleam in excitement on considering what secrets may lay therein.
"You believe the assassin may flee to the house? If that is the case I will gladly accompany you. I also feel we should all travel together. Whomever plotted our slaying will undoubtedly strike again...they may pause should they see us in a large group."
Glancing over to Soros she gives him an encouraging nod. "I believe your presence would help me...help us immensely. While I am indeed schooled in the arcane arts, I also know two minds are indeed better than one, in this case."
Soros
He laughs..."I am finding that is an issue when I speak Ferona. The house is a conundrum in itself and I am sure if the local folk tales are true then there are probably more mysteries to unravel in that house."
Edan
He looks about the room for a moment and then back to the Mayor and Geolin.
"I am just an old caravan guard who has somehow by Berna's grace been put in a position to help this town unravel this mystery. I am concerned with all of our experiences wrapped around murder. It is apparent that the group that murdered Zove was the same group that attempted to ambush us at the house. I am not sure why but D'ogryn's points about the house and the man that escaped from the gaol seem to make sense. The attacks on Zove and us seem to have been well planned but from the sounds of the young girl's murder...that doesn't sound as methodical or...what is the word I am looking for...purpose intended. The murder of the girl seems needful and bent to fill a desire. The additional attacks on your group." He points to Peran and the others. "That seems a bit reactionary as well as if to frighten you off but both were ill-conceived. At least the first one was and the other one was a bit more planned out. But from the time of the two both seem to have been put together at the same time. I would assume this guildsman would have had to recruit these two groups at nearly the same time and would have had to do this knowing you in the harbor or heading to the harbor." He seems to ponder this aloud as these lines of thought run through his mind. "We seem to have two separate but horrible events occurring or one set of events tied together in some manner."
Naia frowns.
”Don’t get me wrong, I get that you are trying to sleuth this all out. But mebbe we meed to find more answers. If we could get more to go on we might not be scratching in the ...dark?” she says, inadvertently casting aspersions.
The Temlow lass stands.
”Now as interesting as this all is, I have a mind to get a few supplies together if we’re to return to the house. I feel the past few days have taught me an enormous bright amount, and I aim to profit from it.”
Narciso enjoys listening as the others discuss the details, knitting things into a pattern. Some of it is sketchy, but without all of the facts he knows that is the best that you get. He cringes when Dogryn mentions the upstairs and attic of the house. "The floor of the second floor hallway collapsed during the short time I was in there. I think anything heavier than a goblin likely risks additional collapse attempting a search above the main floor."
"But if there is a gang of rogues or spies operating around here.... They'd need a base of operations. A place to hide whenever they need to rest, and a place to stockpile supplies. A basement in an abandoned house, especially if it has a reputation for being haunted, and even better if a few goblins happen to hole up in the upper floors! Definitely worth additional exploration, and a strong strike force if they are found."
Rab shakes his head. "Don't forget that the poisoner and his crew weren't sailors, and Naia was very clear they weren't locals. All of them that we know about were accounted for before somebody hired the actual sailors. That somebody, or somebodies, seems to have access to some goodly amount of coin, but also some sort of loyalty to the poisoner."
He starts wandering about as he talks. "A hidden cabal of assassins, hiding on the edge of, well, no where, really." He looks to the locals "No offense meant, of course, but, what possible reason could they have for being here?"
"A cabal of assassins would certainly pick a place that is well out the traveled path methinks. Less chance of being discovered or tracked down," Ferona adds after she returns from bidding Peran farewell for now. "All indications point to the presence of a mage working with them too, a mage of no small accomplishment...judging by the presence of this magical trap. While the trap may indeed be a legacy of the former owner of the residence, to assume so would be unwise. I find it more believable it is indeed being used to guard a secret passage...it is much easier to conceal such from those who have no arcane acumen." She nods in reply to Narciso's observations, "Your words indeed ring true."
She turns to address Geolin along with the Lord Mayor and the other council members. "Forgive me but I fear we must move quickly to deal with this situation. Our attackers are still at large, and fleeing to the house makes the most sense for them I believe. The longer we wait gives them more time to prepare."
agreed, the sooner the better.
He looks to the higher ups...
I would need to check in and get my shifts covered. It is the right thing to do after all.
Narciso grins at Ferona's words, "Let's be off, back to the house then! I'd like to see that magical trap. Detecting Magic is a simple cantrip, and I'd like to see what auras are visible there."
Grond nods at Narciso, really having nothing else to say.
”Well, before I go I need to make or buy a net...” Naia says...