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"Well, a button... um. That's a button, alright." She shrugs. "Well, let's return to our friends."
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"Well then, where should we go next? What did you find?"
"Apparently, it was a well known fact that Iomedae's inquisitor Ekira hated Pathfinders before this gruesome events happened, we were told se was elated to execute the condemned.
"We also overheard about another stranger, tall and quiet, he has been in town for about as long as the Pathfinders have. And he asks more questions about them than prudence should allow.
"And you found.. a button?"
After discussing findings with the team, Val is going to the Heath and Harvest, the other location they haven't visited, or that's what the ale is letting him remember.
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"Well, besides the button, we found a man hung and skinned off of a tree in Otto's farm. According to Azrael, someone brought the body there, probably before the Pathfinders three got here."
"Enjoy your time at the Heath and Harvest. Something tells me I'll need a drink after this... and maybe a cutie for the evening." She grins.
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"I may not be one to worry about the latest fashion or whatever nobles are wearing tomorrow, and Gorum would smite me where I stood if I remembered what those soft handed stiffs were wearing a week ago, am more of the shield an' armor type you see. But I can tell you, that is not a button from a local's clothes.
"'Nother traveler must 'ave been in that place, we need to check if our mates have all their buttons still attached to them clothes. Or that could be the first clue to find a new suspect.
"So.. I guess I'll be headin' to try and talk my way into talkin' with the other Pathfinder team, anyone coming? Idril, I think they might still recognize ya, you scribe."
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Azrael realizes a button of such quality is extremely out of context in a rural place as Dawnton.
Tobias Luin's House
Three militiamen guard the mayor's abode converted to impromptu prison even after sunset. You approach the and tehy order you to halt, asking what business you have with the mayor at this time of the day. It takes you a few minutes to convince them you have a matter of extreme importance to discuss with the mayor, but in the end they agree to excort you to Tobias Luin's office.
Once there the man, still looking busy despite the hour, aknowledges you and asks:"Yes? I'm told yuou have a matter to discuss that cannot wait until morning. I really hoe this is not another hoax..."
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"Greetings, mister Mayor." Sheela cracks her knuckles. "You must be busy with the happenings at Dawnton. The evidence doesn't add up."
She shows the button. "My friends visited Otto's farm. Nice guy. He showed us the gruesome body. We noticed the... er, blood trail didn't make sense. Someone or several people must have dragged the poor victim's body from another town, and it must have taken days. I doubt the Pathfinders were here when the murder occurred."
"We also found this button nearby, and it's bit too fancy for- er, for the citizens here. I doubt the Pathfinders are responsible. I think the real killers are still out there."
Sheela kicks the universe several times until it works her way.
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Thanks to her own sense of logic, appeasing approach besides Vrothum's and Valentynne's help, Sheela is able to change the mayor's attitude.
She explains the group's findings ad Otto's farm and Tobias Luin listens carefully instead of dismissing her evidence. Finally he nods:"It seems to me you might be into something here, lady. Your findings certainly put this unfortunate circumstances into a different light. Alas, it's not enough to stop the execution. The people of Dawnton has spoken and your evidence, while somewhat compelling, is not enough to call off the headsman's axe I'm afraid. That said I believe further digging may be required, and I see no harm coming rfrom you interrogating the priosoners. Follow me, please!" Luin states and leads you to the jail where the 3 pathfinders are kept, waiting for execution. They give you curious, unafraid glances, worthy of pathfinders who wish to have their names etched into the Grand Lodge's Wall of Names. Yet you think you also notice a bit exhaustion in their eyes.
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Luin considers Vrothum's request for a moment before nodding:"There are basically 4 pieces of evidence against these people.
First. The murders began the night the Pathfinders came to town and ceased as soon as the Pathfinders were arrested.
Second. At the scene of the second murder, I found a dagger belonging to Dakota Spire, one of the dwarven Pathfinders.
Third. All three Pathfinders were seen at Otto’s farm just hours before someone found the first victim there.
And fourth. Ekira received an anonymous letter from a concerned but frightened citizen identifying the Pathfinders as the murderers. If you wish to check it out I've it in my office".
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"Why thank you, mister mayor. We'll do all that we can to resolve this execution nonsense."
Sheela heads downstairs to speak to the prisoners. "Hello, everyone. I'm Sheela Kolphan. My friends and I were sent by a mister Jorsal, I'm sure you know him well."
Sheela tries to imply that she is a Pathfinder, as the mayor may turn suspicious if she's too blatant about it.
"The town is ready to hang you- or was it beheading? At any rate, I don't think you did it. What have you been doing in town for the last few days, before you were arrested?"
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While Vrothum and the mayor leave for the office, a guard stays near the jail entrance to check that you don't try to free the prisoners but the man doesn't show much interest in your interactions.
"It's beheading I think" a stout dwarven woman answers Sheela trying to sound nonchalant:"I'm glad to hear mr Josal has not forgotten about us, I must admit the situation is beginning to appear quite worrisome. Unfortunately we know very little about these murders. Just that we were framed for them. We arrived on a mission to investigate the Sarkorian ruin and were arrested in our beds on our second night in town. We didn’t fight and haven’t tried to escape because we don’t want to risk harming Luin or any other innocents. At the moment we've been well-fed and haven’t been mistreated, though all this talk about impending executions is making us a little nervous as I mentioned before..."
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The dwarven Pathfinder nods:"Aye. To this day I don't understand how I could have lost it. It was with me before we went to bed, I swear. And we were all in our rooms sleeping when the second murder happened!"
A tall and lean human pathfinder chimes in as well:"Corwin Burke here. I can confirm Dakota's words, but alas I fear this doesn't mean much to our jailers. I've heard them talk and I believe we first became suspects after master Luin received a letter identifying us as the culprits... Someone has framed us, that's quite obvious. Now the question is, how do we prove our innocence before they kill us?"
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Vrothum turns to Sheela and whispers to her that the letter Master Luiin recieved and the letter they themselves have recieved, came from the same person.
You seem to be the most skilled socially, I think we should inform the mayor we are here as hired investigators, we have specific orders to uphold the law as the town sees fit, and ask for more time to reasonably conclude who the criminals are. Again don't need to say we are pathfinders ourselves, just requested to aid in the investigation. Just with all the grace and flare that you have...
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Sheela is ready to drink the night away!.. only to realize the village has already gone to sleep. Another quiet night..
"So. The anonymous citizen who warned Ekira of the murders also told us about the executions? How strange. Why would you arrest some Pathfinders, only to bait more here? Unless this is a political ruse, meant to watch us fail to save our own."
Sheela kicks back, letter her Mage Hand tilt the glass so she can drink more of her favorite wine. "I feel like we need more clues, or we need to speak to Ekira directly."
Locations of interest in Dawnton are: the Fairgrounds (a marketplace of sorts standing near the Tent City), the General Store, the Beer Garden (the local pub), the Heath and Harvest (local inn), Tobias Luinn's house (the Sheriff and mayor's home). You may also want top do something different, like speaking with the prisoners or investigating some of the rumors you overheard.
"Where haven't we been to yet? The Fairgrounds, I think? Let's go there if we haven't already."
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"It is indeed strange. Humankind is one I could never understand." Remarks Azrael, and much like Sheela is unable to piece any part of the mystery yet. He considers an option, "However, it is fair to assume to evidence don't add up and it is almost certain the Pathfinders are not guilty. Perhaps, a breakout should be considered if all else fails."
Azrael will again choose to side with Sheela in her quest for truth.
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Next moring Sheela and Azrael decide the local marketplace could be an excellent source of gossip and hopefully information capable to exonerate their colleagues from the accusations quite literally pending over their heads.
The field near the tent city is abuzz with activity. An impromptu marketplace springs up during the early hours of the morning, locals set up festival games, and dozens of men and women of all ages participate in contests and sports. This is the fairgrounds, in all of its bucolic glory.
As you already surmised, the vast majority of the people visiting Dawnton for the incoming execution grew up in the region and are familiar faces. Strangers like you may have a hard time fitting in and convincing others to talk. Fortunately enough it seems pretty clear that those who excel at the local contests and sports tend to win friends quickly here...
Among the contests for the day there is horse racing, bare handed pole climbing, obstacle course, wrestling in the mud, singing and playing the lute and storytelling.
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Sheela casts Message on Azrael and anyone else following her to the fairgrounds. "Just point and whisper and I'll hear it. One of us must be good at that physical stuff."
"Wow." Sheela puts a hand on her hip. "Is that a singing contest I spy with my eye? Good!"
Sheela proceeds to make herself comfortable. A tall glass of water, a stool to sit and stand from, and a good idea.
"Ladies! Gentlemen! Friendly animals! All ages! I am Sheela Kolphan, a traveling singer. And today, I'd love to introduce a new song: Johnny Tricks the Imp!"
Sheela sings about a boy named Johnny, who is under attack by an angry mob for destroying their water tower. He runs and hides for several days, only to see an imp making the town's lives miserable. With a sack of flour, a pitchfork, and three goats he manages to expose the culprit and the town hails him as their new hero.
Grandmama always encouraged Sheela to sing.
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Idril accompanies Sheela nd Azrael to the fairgrounds. He cannot help but smirk and the games and festivities being offered to the locals. Wishing he could ingratiate himself to the fair attendees, he grows increasingly frustrated until he comes across a group sharing stores. Having undergone significant schooling, he reaches back for some interesting knowledge that may also captivate the crowd.
"Has anyone ever told you about the tragic tale of Tabris, the doomed angel..."
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Sheela's voice proves captivating for the audience and she earns many cheers from the public. She might not end up winning the contest but she surely made an impression nontheless.
Idril on the other hand doesn't fare too well in the storytelling contest, possibly because the subject of his story may not resonate too well with the gods fearing people of Dawnton...
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Val doesn't slit the party this time around, he heads with Sheela and the others and after seeing Idril's tale about an angel not liked at all, he begins to recite from memory some stories of Iomeade, pandering to the northern love for the ascended Chelaxian. As one studious of Gorum, the Inheritor has a few war stories to pull from.
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Whether they like it or not, the people of Mendev know war better than most, and Valentynne's tales of heroism in the face of certain doom resonate well with their spirit.
The sheriff himself wants to hang the murderers. He has a written testimony from a witness that says they’re guilty.
A tall and quiet stranger with a patch of hair missing from the back of his head, has been asking questions about the newcomers who visited Tobias Luin and the prisoners just a day ago.
Titus notices stork perched on one of the tents circling the Fairgrounds. The bird seems extremely inquisitive and keeps studying his friends' various activities with uncommon interest... for a bird at least!
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"Thank you, thank you!" Sheela loves the fame and soaks it all in. "Remember to always believe in yourself and your fellow men. Evil cannot invade, it must burrow itself into the evils of man." She waves before stepping down from the stage and talking to the crowd.
When the crowd clears, she talks to the other Pathfinders. "How amazing. Some bald man knows we're looking into this. Also, we clearly need to deal with this inquisitor. But for now, MORE SINGING!"
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The Pathfinder regroup at noon and decide to head for the Beer Garden where they plan to grab something to eat.
The relaxed atmopsphere of the pub makes for a sharp contrast with the harsh realities you uncovered while investigating the murders that happened in town not long ago.
Suddenly Vrothum feels something trying to snatch his dagger out of its scabbard. Startled, he raises to his feet startling everyone in his vicinity, but no one seems to be near him...