"I already said why we're around. We're headin to the bar for a drink after a hard day of work! It's no bloody wonder folks are hiding from you when you're wavin crossbows around like children! Why, I have half a mind to march to the barracks and speak to your superiors! Accosting good folks like this, it's a goddamn travesty!" Cyrus makes a scene...loudly.
The man looks surprised by Brother Cyrus' outrage.
"Don't act all angry!" he says, this time more abrasive than before. "You are the ones sneaking around a f&$!ing murder scene! We have confirmed sightings of the possible criminal in this area and you still refuse to identify yourselves!"
"We're outsiders, what good would it be to tell you our names so you can look in your books and say "Oh you're not from around here?"
Cyrus turns to Tai Leng. "I'm pretty disappointed by the lack of professionalism from the guard of Blue Shell. They should be able to tell outsiders just from their style of clothing!"
"How did we even stumble onto a murder scene? Shouldn't you have a perimeter up to keep common folks out so you can investigate?!"
"What do you think we're doing? We-" the man seems to suddenly realize something and continues "To hell with it! We don't have to explain ourselves to no freaking 'ginners! You two are coming with us to the guardpost!"
"You really think you should be wasting you and your boss' time when you should be finding a murderer? Tax payer's coin at fine work I see.
"The way I see, you two are the most suspicious guys I encountered all night! Now drop any weapons you have and come with us! The chief will know what to do with you!"
The 4 men aim their crossbows at Brother Cyrus.
Eitylen Try to Take advantage of the shadows to move away from the guards*
The elf also draw his old small whistle made of the bones of an owlbear...
I take 10 for a 20.
Eitylen can move undetected with no problems.
Eytilen turn aroun the corner, look around and if there is no guards (or any other people for the matter) he sounds the whistle as loud as he can
I found him! the murderer! oh Gods, I need reinforcements!
Eytilen then runs (using the run feat...) as fast a he can to reach the next corner, turn around it and hide.
"Back off." Leng growls. "If one of your hands gets too close to me you might not get it back. Fair warning."
The guards seem unimpressed by Tai Leng's threats
"Threatening a city watcher?" says the leader "You're not making thing any easier for you, 'ginner."
"Hey now, are you really going to bring in a holy man? Hell has a special place for those who doom the innocent."
Cyrus withdraws his holy text from his sleeve.
"And lo, Iomedae decreeth that her vassal go unharmed, so that he may spread the word of the goddess unmolested by earthly power. Those who defy her will beset by evils undefended against. -Olentil 7:16"
"What was that?" says one as they hear Eitylen's screams, but he's is quickly silenced by the others. "Nevermind! That wasn't any watcher I know, and there shouldn't be anyone there before us! Someone is trying to trick us!"
Brother Cyrus' threat seems to be more effective, though.
"Do you think we should take him in? What if he belongs to one of the temples?" says one.
"But he said he was an outsider. He can't belong to any temple so quickly." says another guard.
"What do you think, 'Ru?"
The leader of the guards thinks for a moment, visibly unsure of what course of action to follow.
"Very well, priest!" says the man. "Have it your way, but next time you get in the way of an official investigation, we're taking you all to see the chief!"
They walk away, lowering their weapons, although not completely. Their leader keeps his eyes on you for as long as he can.
Cyrus holds up a hand for the guardsman. "Hold sir, allow me to bless you with the favor of the gods. Tis the least I can do in respect of your decision to stay righteous.
And should he acquiesce, Brother Cyrus casts Guidance on him. Mayhaps he'll need it.
Eitylen waits and waits, seeing that nobody came he return to see what happend.
Asumming the guars already left
So, a murder, I wonder if the guard of the city accept the help of civilians...uhm
Take 10 in kn (local) for a 20.
"You know I'm beginning to think those were real guards."
"They looked so scared and worthless, I assumed they were fakes."
"Be forgiving Sir Leng, not all men can be as imposing as you. We all need someone to give us a gentle push in the right direction sometimes."
"But back to the task at hand shall we? I could very much use a drink after nearly losing my head back at the warehouse."
"So, did anyone else see that guy hopping around on the rooftop?"
Who?
The guards don't take the time to accept Brother Cyrus' blessing, as they visibly don't trust you.
Along your way you see more guards, always in groups of at least 4, but they seem far less jumpy than the ones who tried to question you.
As you approach the Mad Shark tavern, you see a city guard officer talking to the owner of the tavern and the girl who greets the incoming customers.
Leng walks up toward them and tries to listen in on what they're talking about.
Cyrus plops down tiredly into an empty chair at a table.
The officer and the tavern owner seem to be having a somewhat heated argument.
"Be reasonable, Joel! We have a job to do!" says the guard.
"2 people are dead! You already failed at your job! Again!" replies the tavern owner.
"Look... It could be the key to catching the murderer!"
"You and I both know that ain't happening tonight!"
"This a criminal matter! It's my duty to do all I can to catch the culprit!"
"Doesn't matter! I'll not allow your incompetence to cause even more pain!"
"Careful now, Joel!" says the guard, who seems to be slowly but surely losing his patience. "You know I can apprehend anything and anyone who stands in the way of my investigation! I could arrest you and force the girl to come with us!"
"YOU COULD TRY!" roars the burly man, causing the two guards who are accompanying their officer to instinctively take their hands to their sword handles.
Before the guard can react to Joel's outburst, the girl intercedes.
"Look!" she says as she moves to stand between the two men "The girl can't even talk! She seems barely aware of her surroundings! She will be of no use to you. Let her rest for now... When she's able to talk, we'll take her to the watch guard headquarters, okay?"
The officers thinks for a moment and speaks again.
"Fine! But I better see her at my office as soon as she can speak! This is not a joke!"
The three city watchers leave with a very unfriendly expression on their faces. The girl sighs in relief and pushes Joel back into the tavern.
"I couldn't help but overhear the tail end of that exchange." Leng says as he approaches Joel and the girl.
"What do the guards want with you?"
"This is not your problem, stranger..." says the man, but the light brown-haired girl once again interrupts him, this time with a commanding shout.
"JOEL!" she says, obviously angry. "This man is our esteemed customer and guest! Don't be rude!"
The man sighs, says a half-hearted "sorry." and walks away, towards the kitchen.
"My most sincere apologies, sir." says the girl. "It's been a hard night for us all..."
The tavern is pretty full, but unlike the last couple nights, there isn't music and loud chatter, only a few groups sitting on their tables and whispering among themselves.
"I take it you and your friends weren't around for the last few hours?" she says "There has been an... Incident. A couple was brutally killed a few blocks from here."
uhm,..., I see, that surely explain the guards behavior. But what do they want with a girl?
the girl lets escape yet another heavy sigh.
"We believe one of the girls saw the culprit, and they wanted to bring her in for questioning..." her voice suddenly takes a very worried tone "But eh poor thing is in shock. She can't speak, she barely reacts when we try to talk to her, and she's still shaking. We can't let her go through hours of armed men questioning her and making her relive whatever horror she saw!"
She takes an instant to collect her thoughts.
"If you had seen... The condition that couple was found... I just took a quick glance and it made me sick! It's not the first time something like this has happened either, but it had never been so close, and it had never been in such a crowded area."
Poor Girl - Say Eitylen with a genuinely expresion of sorrow. -What can be done about it?, if this have been happening uninterrupted that means the City guard is unable to stop the murderer
At the mention of a girl in terror Cyrus stands tiredly again. "Perhaps I could calm her down. A priest learns quickly how to soften the pains of those he serves."
"There were other cases like this... But there usually was a bigger interval between them, and they were mostly restricted to the darker eges of the city, where mostly lawful citizens don't go... But now... No one knows what to expect "
The girl turns to Brother Cyrus.
"You can try, priest. She is in the upper floor, on the last door to your right... But I don't think the girl's sister will let anyone near her... The poor thing is still jumpy and seems too scared to interact with anyone but her sister and two other waitresses."
Meanwhile you can hear whispers coming from each and every table around you. Some of them sound scared, while others sound angrier. They all sound confused.
"We'll see. I can't stand to see people worrying like this."
On his way to go up the stairs Cyrus stops by the bar and puts 10 gold coins down on the counter. "Mind giving these folks something to get their minds off their troubles Joel?"
Cyrus heads upstairs.
Cyrus moves upstairs and down the corridor. The last door to the right is shut, but he can hear two girls talking softly. One of the voices sounds familiar.
Meanwhile, downstairs, the girl at the door is still talking to Eitylen and Tai Leng.
"I'm sorry there is no music today... Our bard is not feeling well. Please, sit down... I'll ask a girl to bring you something to drink."
Talks about the murders still fill the air.
"I'm telling you! That's the black beast's doing!"
"What? No way!"
"Did you see how mauled those poor people were? No human would do that! It has to be the beast!"
---
"Do you think it has something to do with that witch?"
"I dunno... But I wouldn't be surprised. These reclusive types are never up to no good!"
---
"What if it was the curse? They were found in the docks, after all!"
"Bah... Bullshit! I bet they owed money to someone! Someone really f$&#ing nasty!"
---
"I hear the girl was one of the viper girls... Do you think Madame Le Fey knows anything about it?"
"I bet she knows everything about it... Or at least as much as oen can know by now."
"Maybe she did it..."
"Don't be silly! Why would she do that to one of her girls?"
"I don't know... Rich people are crazy!"
To Tai-Leng:I think we could help hte cty by investigating the Killings, obviusly the guard have no clue and if you hel them surely there will goin to be a good reward
Cyrus raps softly on the door. "...May I come in? I'd like to speak to her."
Brother Cyrus can hear the girls talking with a confused tone for a few seconds, then footsteps are heard.
The door opens slowly, revealing a red-haired woman in her late 20s.
"Who are you?" she says, not trying to hide her suspicion.
---
Downstairs, Eitylen and Tai Leng sit in a table for a couple minutes, before a woman who must be in her late 30 or early 40s comes around, pulling Joel by the arm. She places a couple mugs of Dragon's Breath Ale on the table.
"Hello, travelers" says the woman. "Sorry to interrupt your conversation. But my husband really wanted to apologize for his rudeness earlier. Ain't that right, Joel?"
The man rolls his eyes, but speaks once the woman stabs him with her elbow.
"Yeah... I apologize." he says with a begrudging tone.
"Here are a couple complimentary ales. Please, enjoy them and forgive my husband's behavior." she adds. "Apologize to him, dear."
"I alr-" he cuts his sentence short as the woman once again elbows his ribs "My apologies, stranger."
The woman than makes a short lady-like reverence and pulls the man back into the kitchen.
Leng happily takes a swig of his ale, draining a good portion of the tankard in a single pull.
Setting it down, he turns back to Eitylen.
"Yes, I think you're right. Though we may want to make sure to negotiate a contract first."
I..suppose, but I don't think they give us such contract unless we can offer some good things first, they probably wants to deal with the problem by themselves, we have to show them they need us!
"Just someone trying to help. If she can talk to me then she won't need to go to the guards later."
"Look, priest...?" says the girl, unsure of how to refer to Brother Cyrus. "My sister is still shaking. She has panic attacks at the mere sight of strangers. I appreciate your concern, but the only ones talking to her tonight are Karina an me. And no offense, but I somehow doubt the guard will take your word... Or anyone else's, actually." her voice lowers, you can see she's trying not to come off as rude or intimidating "You seem like a good man, if you truly care about what happens to my sister, then come back tomorrow morning, after the breakfast. Right now, what she needs is a good night of sleep."
---
Downstairs, another waitress comes to Eitylen and Tai Leng's table.
"Would you like something else? Will you be spending the night with us again?" she then adds with a whisper "I don't think walking around the docks is a good idea... Unless you want to deal with the city watch"
"I think tonight, rest would be ideal. We've had a long day, and one of your rooms would be welcome."
"Ok." she says with a kind smile "You know... If you plan to stay the whole week, you can stay 7 days and only pay 5. We also have deals for longer stays." she then discreetly adds "...And if any of you is a bard or minstrel, you can probably talk Joel into giving you a discount in exchange for services performed."
I will pay the entire weak- And...nothing more for that night. I the morning Eitylen will try to lear more things aobut the killings.
Leng laughs.
"Your ale is good and strong, but I think you'd need to up the alcohol content quite a bit to keep customers in the building after being subjected to my singing."
"But, I like this place. I may seek permanent lodging nearer the temple of Irori at a later time, but for now I'll take you up on your offer for the week. Thank you."
"It'd be a shame to lose such handsome customer. I hope you reconsider when the time comes." says the girl with practiced allure "Will you be keeping your old rooms?"
"Yes, thank you." he blushes a little bit. The last person who called him "handsome" was his mother.
Brother Cyrus sighs heavily. "Very well madam, I'll come by in the morning. I wish your sister a good night."
With that, Cyrus heads downstairs to get something to drink.
"Good night, priest. May Abadar guard you." says the red-haired woman, before she slowly closes the door.
---
Downstairs, a few moments later, the young waitress greets Brother Cyrus as he joins Eitylen and Tai Leng. When he sits, she repeats her questions and offers.