When things have calmed down a bit and you ask the caravan guards around the Sphinx's tent for a meeting with her, they direct you to Almara. You're asked to wait a bit, before the circus owner arrives. "Greetings. I am sorry that we have to meet again under such dire circumstances." She sighs and calms herself. "I didn't even get the chance to thank you for dealing with the tensions at the Parade Grounds, earlier. I won't fault you for the... unconventional approach, even if we may get some flak for it, from the sheriff." She waves away the thought, resuming with more pressing matters. "I understood that you'd like to speak with Jherizana. That's understandable. She should be ready shortly. Please wait a moment."
Almara sticks her head through a break in the tent, and you hear some muffled words. When she returns, she nods. "She's ready. Follow me."
When Almara leads you back into the tent, Jherizana the sphinx is there. The body of Sister Esralda is nowhere to be seen. The sphinx wears her glossy black hair up in an intricate bun, held up by golden jewelry. Like earlier at the evening show, she wears not a stitch to cover herself. The women with the leonine body is not presently in her cage, she's sitting behind the velvet rope. She speaks in a husky voice, cordial and graceful but also somewhat aloof. "Greeting, travellers. Miss Delisen tells me you are investigating these murders. Horrid affair... I will gladly answer your questions, but really, I only have a few minutes to spare."
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Shera follows Almara into the tent. She's keeping a close eye out for anything odd or off about the sphinx or Almara. This seems overly complicated, and everyone seems very nervous. I wonder what they are trying to hide.
"Why do you only have a few moments to spare? I think with all the accusations of sphinx attacks going on it would be best if you stayed in view of the public at all times. That way no one can accuse you if everyone sees you in the circus at the same time as something happens."
As to my questions, "Do you have witnesses for where you were when the murders happened? Do you have any theories on why you were picked as the scape goat?"
Jherizana doesn't immediately answer Shera's questions. "A few minutes should be enough, shouldn't it? I really don't think I have much to add to your investigation. And in full view of the public view at all times? I'm quite fond of my privacy, thank you, and a woman needs some time alone now and then, doesn't she?" The sphinx gives a throaty and sensual laugh, then winks at Shera and Laurallei.
"I'm not sure why I would be framed as a killer and a thief. Truthfully. You humanoids seem to fear what you do not understand. Maybe you should ask a thief?"
The sphinx looks very surprised. "The clowns? Our clowns, you mean?" She shakes our head. "They wouldn't do that, and they would never try to blame it on me if they did." She suddenly clamps her mouth shut, as if she's said something she shouldn't have. She tosses a stray lock of hair back, rests her hand on her bare shoulder and gives Dindal a coy look. "I mean, why would my colleagues want me in trouble, as lovely and wonderful as I am?"
The sphinx looks to Almara for support, who nods and sighs before she takes the word. "Very well, I suppose this was going to come out sooner or later." She looks around, then drops her voice anyway even though no other people could be within earshot. "Jherizana is not like the other animals and monsters we hold here at the circus. She's actually a traveling bard, who's joined with us because she wants to see the world. The towns we visit would not understand, so we pretend she's locked in this cage, and we put her on display a few times each day. For the rest, she has a large wagon, just as the other people." Almara and
Jherizana both look at you in silence, seeing how you take this confession. "We hope you can hold our confidence in this matter..."
"Sure we can, big guy," she sphinx says with a pleasant smile to Azygg. "All it takes is a desire to see the world, and to write about it. And a proper ruse to make sure I'm not chased out of every village like some hideous monster, of course. Really..." She laughs again, then comes around to Shera's questions. "Of course that's all. What, you'd really expect some other dark secret hidden behind this one?" She laughs. "They really do grow you lot suspiciouse her in Varisia, don't they?"
She doesn't respond to Shera's other questions, but instead stretches and yawns. "Now, you really should be off. If there is nothing else I can help you with in your investigations, I'd kindly ask you to leave. My next 'performance' should be up in a bit, and I wouldn't want to look tired for all of these fine folks of Ilsurian, wouldn't I?"
Jherizana laughs at Shera's reply and Azygg's clever joke, then yawns again, more obvious this time. Alma steps in and starts an effort to usher you to the exit. "Well, if that is all, we really should leave Jherizana in peace. You can always come back if you have more questions course. Right?" She positions herself between you and the sphinx, and starts moving for the exit.
The group of Pathfinders is ushered out of the Sphinx's tent, with a vague sense of unease but nothing solid enough to follow up on. Two of the circus guards smoothly take up their watch at the entrance to the tent. As Almara is about to say her goodbye, with an plea to please find whoever is responsible for the killings, Sheriff Feldane arrives on the scene. "Good Lords, I was on my way here because I'd heard about pickpocketing and a near-riot, and then halfway I'm told there's been a second murder. And Sister Esrelda, of all people?! If there was anyway I had good hope could quell this situation, it would have been her." The Sheriff casts a quick glance up to the heavens, then sighs. She gives Almara a silent stare that makes it clear she's not to go anywhere, and then turns to the group of outsiders. "I assume you've already investigated. Would you give me a rundown of what you've found?"
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"Well, we saw some tracks leading to the clowns, but after asking some questions to the sphinx Jherizana, we found out that the clowns themselves are just.. clowns.
So, I assume the wrongdoërs were disguised as clowns and were snooping around the tent.
After questioning her some more, we found out that the Sphinx is actually a travelling bard. I wonder if she can sing some nice songs about wizards and fireballs and such..."
And Dindal's thoughts drift away to the sphinx singing epic songs about mighty archmages wielding great magic.
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"Yagi has examined all the tracks at both murder sites. They were not made by a sphinx, but by people who think they know what sphinx tracks looks like. The clown costumes might have been used by the killers or the cut purses, we aren't sure. I examined the cleric, may her soul be judged well in the Boneyard, and found she was strangled. There were some alchemical items near the body, but not enough to tell me much. I wish we had more to go on, but it's cearnitly point away from the circus. We don't have much to go on as to who it is pointing toward though. Do you have any thoughts?"
Almara's eyes indeed shoot daggers at Dindal's mention of Jhezizhana being a bard, but she sighs and interjects to the Sheriff, after she has checked that no one else is close enough to hear "Yes, I suppose that was going to come up sooner or later. Please, let me explain in my wagon later." To the group of Pathfinders, she's stern again. "I do hope this stays just with you and the Sheriff..."
After hearing Dindal's and Shera's account, Sheriff Feldane looks pensive. "I'll grant that nothing not all may be as it seems. But that doesn't change my immediate problem, of two prominent citizens murdered, and a rash of pickpocketing at the circus. I'll be following Miss Delisen right now to hear about this special situation with the sphinx, and I'll speak with her myself."
As Almara objects, and says that she's need some time to track her down, the Sheriff snaps out. "You’ve brought a dangerous creature into this community—a creature you clearly cannot keep track of, let alone control. I can’t say I know for certain there’s wrongdoing here on the part of your people, but after a point it ceases to matter. For the safety of my town, I’m putting this circus under quarantine. I don’t want any of your people leaving these grounds unless it’s to leave town completely. I’m giving you two days to get packed up and go.” To the group of Pathfinders, she adds "You can still continue investigating, if you will. But I'm warning you: I want conclusive proof of you is responsible if the circus is to be exonerated. Reasonable doubt doesn't cut it, not anymore."
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Before the go Shera quickly asks a few questions, "I'm sorry Almara, but how can a sphinx be hard to track down? This just doesn't make sense. She's a large creature that no one sees move from place to place. No one can keep an eye on her so there are witnesses to her whereabouts when the attacks occurred. Something isn't right here, and it has nothing to do with the murders."
"Sheriff is there a group in the community that would have several pick pockets available at one time? The number of purses cut, and the clown costumes leads me to believe we are looking for several people. On top of that they may be drug dealers. Anyone come to mind?"
Sheriff Feldane looks very interested in the questions Shera poses, while Almara just seems miserable and helpless. After a while, it seems like a great weight is lifted from her shoulders. "All right," she sighs. "I suppose it was coming to come to this after all. Please follow me." She tries to sound casual, but it's clear that she's greatly disappointed. She quickly makes sure (again) that no one is close enough to hear, although apparantly she's not worried about the two circus guards standing in front of the sphinx's tent. "Please follow me," she says to the Pathfinders and to the Sheriff while she opens the tent flap and motions you to enter. "Ika, are you still here? It's okay, we'll have to tell them."
When called, a figure emerges from the shadows of the tent, cleverly hidden behind a double tent flap and wearing a dark robe over her clothing. She's a young Varisian woman with the same face as Jherizhana, although her hair isn't intricately done, but held up by a simple scarf. She steps forward timidly. "Hello," she greets the assembly in a soft voice that you recognize as Jherizhana's. She keeps her distance and looks to Almara for guidance.
The circus leader sighs once more before starting her explanation. "This is Ika, one of our circus performers. She's gifted in magic, illusions in particular. Through the use of illusion spells and ventriloquism, she has brought life to Jherizhana, a... a wonderful character and one of the stars of our show." She turns to Ika as she speaks, looking proud even as she explains the deceit. "We never meant for it to go on as long as it did, but the sphinx was such a mysterious and marvelous creature, people kept coming back to see her. So, we decided to keep up the act, allowing the people to see her for a few minutes at a time, just as long as Ika could keep up her spells. Everyone from the circus knows about it, and works hard to keep the secret."
Ika, who's been silent so far, chimes in. She speak in Jherizhana's voice but without any of the aloof attitude. "I am really sorry for not being more forthcoming and truthful. You must believe that we never intended anyone to be hurt. I feel really guilty for those deaths, even though I know that Jherizhana had nothing to do with them. Couldn't we just tell the people of Ilsurian that she's not real? Then they'll have to believe that the circus wasn't responsible.."
Almara immediately shakes her head. "That doesn't bring these killers to justice. It doesn't change people's opinion of us, or maintain Ilsurian as a venue we're welcome to visit again. All it proves is these bastards were too stupid to figure out they were framing an illusion. No one here is going to come to our shows anymore. We'll be forced to leave town and they'll get away with it! You must understand what it would do for my circus if this became known..." She looks to you for support of her arguments.
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She shakes her head as she thinks. "Not really. Ilsurian is just a small community. You won't find any... thieving guilds or what-have-you, like you might in Korvosa. We catch some drugs occasionaly, but I think they just get brought her by merchants stopping over. Besides that we've got the occasional petty theft, some good-for-nothings and some drunks. Filton was about the worst of them, and even he seems to be cleaning himself up lately."
"If that's your only lead, I'm sorry to say it won't get you far. The two in my jail would turn on their mothers if they thought it would help themselves, but unfortunately they don't know anything useful. We know there are bands of skulks in the area, but they're roaming. And as you've noticed, you don't find them unless they want to, especially out in the woods." With a somewhat worried look, she adds "Please be careful around town. If there's still two of them on the loose, they could be upon you before you know it."
She gives the others a quizzical look with a nudge of her head a Yagi. Do all of his people talk like that?
You leave the carnival grounds, which looks strange and empty now that all of the Ilsurian townsfolk have left. Back in town, you stop at the Locked Box to check up on Agnes Walder. Unfortunately, she does not have any additional information to give you. Her husband had an occasional unsatisfied customer of course, but no real enemies. Agnus also asks whether the Sheriff gave you her message, about the reward she had wanted to give you.
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You spent the rest of the day, or what's left of it, trying to follow up on what leads you have, but don't dig up anything solid. Not until the following morning at least, when you are roused early by a knock on the door from one of the Sheriff's men, bringing word that another murder has been committed. The constable is to escort you to the murder site, where you find Sheriff Feldane waiting for you at a grizzle scene:
Hanging from a tree in town is the body of a middle-aged man, stodgy and with many creases in his skin. By the looks of him, he must be another local victim. The man is suspended by the neck from a dirty and torn Varisian scarf. His eyes have been gouged out, his mouth has been stuffed with rags, and his left hand has been severed at the wrist and is missing. A sheet of paper has been pinned to the body’s shirt and is stained with blood, emblazoned with the Varisian words "We take care of our own."
Feldane looks shocked, not used to this kind of violence. "Bastards! Poor Filton was just getting his life back on track, from what I saw..." She looks at the scene, then at you. "You've proven capable of this line of work so far, so I wanted you here for the examination. What do you make of all this?"
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More than once, my faithful companion has warned me of hidden danger. We will be on guard.
Yagi examines the body.
Interesting, ing. The Desert, indicating loss of direction or thirst for knowledge, if I am not wrong, ong.
And a note, ote.
Yagi unfolds the note and reads it.
Sheriff, where might we find Arhaneem Braeton, on?
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Shera glances at Azygg, "This is little heavy handed in trying to point us back to the circus don't you think. We Varisian's can be a subtle people in our vengeance. Not so much in our clothes or personalities, but our vengeance yes. People make that mistake sometimems. Why would the performers want to kill him? He was a town drunk and good for nothing. He wouldn't be a threat to them." She looks at the sheriff. "Isn't the circus still under quarantine or did you lift it when you found out about our mutual acquaintance?"
"Braeton is a successful business man," the sheriff answers Yagi. "He has a small fleet ferrying goods, all the way down to Magnimar and up to Janderhoff. He has a manor on the east side of town." She gives you the directions.
Sheriff Feldane nods at Shera's words, but her mood is grave when she looks at the body. "Oh, the quarantine is still in effect. I haven't decided yet whether to let it be known about Jherizhana. Honestly, I don't think it would make a difference. The people are getting increasingly worried, and angry. Please try to see if from their point: There's been three of their own murdered, and I don't have any suspects to show for it. With all the evidence - real or not - I'm going to have to do something, if only to stop riots from breaking out, which could put the entire circus in danger." She looks off into the distance, at the direction of the Umbra Carnival. "I'm going over there to take Almara into custody. I don't like it, but I have to think about the peace in town here. If we don't catch who's behind this... Well, let's not think on that too long, yet."
The sheriff then orders her men to take Filton off of the tree and to the temple, while she takes two other men with her to the circus to bring in Almara.
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As Yagi checks the note, something may be noticeable.
the ink is actually only 1 or 2 hours old.
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Shera takes the note from Yagi an studies it closely. "This document if forged. It's been made to look other than it really is. It's only an hour or two old."
Tucking the note away she says, "Let's go to the manor. We have a distinct lack of clues and I don't want to wait too long to talk to this Braeton. We're only an hour or so behind the culprits."
The Braeton Manor is indeed worthy of the name. In the middle of a modest but well-maintained garden rests a modern styled brick house of two stories, with windows all around. The curtains are still drawn, although light can be seen on the second floor. The front door is ajar...
Yagi does not see anything on the doorstep, and carefully peers in. The large, spacious foyer has high ceilings and is richly appointed. North of the door sits a large planter where an indoor tree is bathed in light from the skylight above. A massive staircase gradually ascends to a second floor above. Two sets of double doors on the east and west wall lead farther into the house. Another set of double doors stands behind the stairway. Leather padded chairs are interspaced throughout the room. Yiel-Dan gets restless. If there aren't any people here, at least there have been very recently.