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While friends were communicating standing nearby there were several announcements, that Carnival is closed for today, but will return soon. Mostly skeptical about second part of this statement, locals started moving forward to return to town. Several town guards loaded the victim's body into cart and drove it away, together with sister Esrelda.
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Two Waters Tavern was best local place. Serving as beloved point for most of villagers, it was providing drinks, food and lodging for good price. Even locals were attending the place, because of fine selection of ales and wines provided.
Early morning, tavern was almost empty for visitors. The owner, middle-aged woman named Noria, served baked eggs and fresh bread. Except breakfast, she offered cups of ale, and only when visitors refused everything: refills, add-ons, another round and tankard to go, she nodded to the boy, who was sitting at the barstool.
- Dear lady, - errand boy decided that Ayla is one, who is in charge, or she was one, who posed less thread, - Almara Delisen, misstress of Umbra Carnival, would like to invite you and your friends for private audience as soon as possible.
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Shasta was completely right. After some introduction, Almara, spoke about the problem:
- I couldn't miss, that you've recently helped us with our small dragon incident. Phaerdan said, that you are not like the locals, who used to live in tight group and blame foreigners for everything that happens. Yesterday, the man was killed here and people tend to point fingers at us. The circumstances, I am told, implicate people... creatures... of my circus - something I find very hard to accept. I'd like to contract you to represent the Umbra Carnival to determine who is really responsible and preserve our reputation.
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- I don't believe Sheriff Feldane is an unjust woman, but I think she's under greater pressure to keep the peace, than to find the guilty. After all, my people aren't her first concern, Almara responds, most say Jherizhana did it, but I am sure that she is innocent. You are free to walk around circus grounds and speak with people. Despite most of them are busy, preparing new shows or doing repairs, I ask them to be responsive as this is more in their interests, than yours. While you are here, I'll draft a letter to Sheriff and ask her to provide you all support necessary.
She took paper and ink out of small chest and returned to desk drawer.
- Initially, we thought of murder as a burglary - he missed personal stuff - golden ring, pouch belt, keys. Even his hat has been taken. But it was done by a ferocious beast, claw marks on his body point to that. We haven't found much around the murder scene: lots of foot prints and claw marks on the ground. Not much clues to follow, but I believe you may find something, while I try to keep the Carnival intact.
She hesitated a bit and then finished:
- Not sure, how much, but we will show our gratitude, if you are able to prove we are innocent. May be speak to the Sheriff, she might have know something about the victim, that will give you a hint
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"I think it's wise to speak to the Sheriff first," Ayla says as she turns to her allies, "to ensure we have to consent of both parties before we start out investigation. She may also have some more information about the man who was murdered."
Once everyone's outside again Ayla turns to her comrades again. "I think we could use a little more help... Give me a minute, to contact and summon my sister. She'll be able to help us."
Ayla touches her forehead with two fingers and closes her eyes. She focuses on connecting to the celestial plane, her original home plane. Though Ayla can no longer enter the plane herself, due to a powerful curse that's trapped her in a mortal body, she's recently learned to use summon magic to do the reverse; to bring someone from the celestial plane to her.
A halo of white light appears above Ayla's head, and meanwhile a diamond shaped rune appears where Ayla's placed her fingers on her forehead. Ayla takes her fingers from the rune and touches the ground in front of her with them. A magic circle made from the same white light as Ayla's halo forms on the ground, spreading out from her fingertips. When the circle's complete it flashes, the white light intensifying in brightness and making it hard to look at. The magic circle fades and in front of Ayla now stands a raven haired woman with, just like Ayla, a halo of white light and a diamond shaped rune on her forehead.
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"మంచి రోజు, సోదరి," the raven haired woman says. She moves forward and gives Ayla a hug.
The woman wears simple garments, a black sleeveless shirt, a beige skirt that reaches halfway her upper legs, and brown leather boots. When she lets go of Ayla she inspects her own clothes. "ఆహా ... మీరు నా కవచ తదుపరి సమయంలో నాకు పిలువు ప్రయత్నిస్తారా ...?"
"Aha... Could you try to summon me with my armor next time...?"
She looks up from her clothes and at the other Pathfinders. There's a look of surprise on her face when she sees them. "I beg my pardon. I didn't expect my sister to summon me in the presence of other mortals. My name's Layla, I'm the night angel."
Layla turns back to Ayla. "My guess is you summoned me for a special reason this time, instead of a family reunion?"
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Kyra Feldane was in her office at the town jail. Human woman after 40, she was straight-forward.
- I don't want to have a murderer walking around. It doesn't matter, was it human or sphinx, assassination is not the thing that will be tolerated. I spoke with Almara earlier about independent investigation. What can I say - if you want to do it, fine. But don't expect anyone would jump on the chance to speak with you because of that. Everything you do is on behalf of Carnival, so any misconduct on your part will be reflected on the circus.
After basic things were discussed, Sheriff shared details about murder she already had.
The victim was Archivin Walder, the town moneylender and sometimes pawnbroker who owns a local business called the Locked Box. Walder’s wife, who went looking for her husband at Carnival, couldn't find him. She suspected something happened so Agness returned home and took several of their guards to search for him. One guard stayed behind to secure the office. Thieves, presumably in league with the creature that killed Walder, burst into the Locked Box, killed the remaining guard, and stole many easily carried valuables. The robbery was interrupted when Agness and other guards decided to check, if Archivin have returned to office and they glimpsed two humanoid figures fleeing in the night. Upon finding the guard dead and the building burglarized, the three remaining guards secured the building until the sheriff could be notified.
-The mood in town is sour. There are stories all over the place about a great four-legged beast flying over town last night after the circus closed down, silhouetted across the moon. Of course, I’ll be damned if I can find a single eyewitness who actually saw the sphinx. It’d be one thing if these deaths were accidental, but the robbery angle has people thinkin’ of a Sczarni heist. I’m not proud to say it, but this stirs a lot of unworthy opinions about Varisians., - she looked at Madame Irridestine, and added, - Noone had much love for Walder, but he was a local businessman. With his death. many will recover old grudge against Varisians and other foreigners.
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- Feel free to visit Locked Box. Agnes, hurt by her husband death, but is willing to cooperate to find his murderer, - Kyra answered.
- Sczarni are common name for Varisian family businesses, that actually support an organized crime approach. Many of them follow their own agendas and support beating and killing people. Most of Varisian have nothing common with them, but it's hard to find out Varisians those who do not sympathize them.
When you come to Locked Box, it is actually closed. There is a note, how to find Walder's in case you need anything, related to business. Based on this, you find Agnes in her garden, trying to fight the stress, while tending some flowers.
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So fickle is fate, like the turn of the seasons. A harsh winter has befallen you, yet you tend your garden preparing for spring. A brave stance, weathering the seasons and minding the flow of time. I sense wisdom, a wisdom that we urgently need. Would you stand by those who would help you in this time of cold?
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- I remember you. You haven't been friends with Archi, but I feel you are sincere in your condolences as well as in your desire to help. I'll let you in, just give me a moment to take my key. If you can figure out details and find who is behind... I'll sleep much better, knowing slutty-looking cat-beast is not hunting some other Ilsurian
She left you for a moment to take her keys and cloak.
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Agnes took her keys and lead you to the Locked box. You found this place not like the day before, but it is a same showroom. After some work with flint and steel, lamps illuminate this large showroom. Glass display cases, broken in a few places, line the walls, while two additional cases sit like islands in the center of the room. The cases contain an eclectic mix of valuables such as unusual tools, masterwork weapons, jewelry, fine china, antiques, and artwork. A set of merchant’s scales rests on top of one of the display cases.
Some of the display cases, has been smashed open by the burglars. Agnes said:
- I have swept broken glass up into piles, but understood that it is hard for me to be here and left this place closed.
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Agnes moved her hand:
- We have a ledger, with most records there, but as far as I see, they took mostly jewelry and other non-personal stuff. Mostly gold, but some gems are missing.
- Do you have any other storage areas that may have been pilfered? - Camaenor asks Agnes gently.
- There are two doors, leading to Archi's office and guards room. I haven't been in office, but I checked the door is locked. In guard room, I found Jake.. one of our guards. He was off-duty, sleeping, when I asked two others to escort me. Probably, they left him to sleep, thinking nothing will happen.
She pointed her finger, - Double doors lead into the vault, but I haven't been there lately. Archivin was dealing with that himself, usually having guard help him. I was mostly here, meeting guests and answering their questions.