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Morvius casts detect magic during the show and searches the sphinx for magical auras.
Later he exit the tent with the others. Noticing Holmen's clue Morvius nods. Even if it were it was entertaining. I had a good time! But its late, lets head back to the Inn. This was a good break from our fool's errant.
During the show, Morvius casts as spell. Within ten seconds, a pair of guards notice and rush to your seats. "Hey you! No drawn weapons or spell casting in here. We cannot be responsible if the sphinx attacks you. Please take it out side."
After the show, anyone not heading back to town?
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You make it back to your hotel room that night, with the pleasant walk to discuss the thrills of the day.
August and Nguyen An carefully store their paper crowns, Kath his lucky scarf and have a wonderful evening dreaming of circus acts and what tomorrow will bring.
In the morning, shortly after breakfast, one of the carnival
guards enters the inn and hands the party a note.
Sincerely,
Mistress Delisen, Circus Master
Assuming you decide to check on this opportunity...
on the short trip out to the circus, you see townspeople huddled and speaking in hushed voices.
Some stare at your group as you traverse the way, but you notice very few are heading in your same direction.
When you arrive at the circus, the carnival has not
opened for the day’s business yet.
The owner of the circus, Almara Delisen, a Varisian woman,
waits beside a large private wagon with an adjoining canopy, and
chairs are arranged around a nearby campfire.
She greets you kindly but with a businesslike air, and after a brief
introduction gets to the reason for her invitation.
“Good morning Pathfinders.
I appreciate your efforts yesterday in the regrettable incident
with our dragon. I fear I could also use your help with another
matter. You may have heard there was a murder in town last
night. The circumstances, I am told, implicate people from 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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Holman looks around at the rest of the group, confused by this turn of events. "Sooo...well, that changes things." He does some mental readjusting, realizing that he was not going to be changing professions quite yet, then continues. "Of course we will assist in any way we can."
"Can you tell us the particulars of the circumstances that implicate your folk?"
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Bo'alo looks as if he is going to pass out drunk, only to pull of a front flip of his own.
Bo'alo still at the bottle looks at Holman, and says, Looks like you'll have to find something else that comes out of the rear end of the sphinx.
Addressing Ms. Delisen, Don't ye worry. We will find the culprit to dispense justice to. He pats his pistol and heads off. Only to stop short and turn, Uh, any idea where we should start?
The woman looks at each of you with a serious expression.
“Your performance yesterday showed
me that you’re capable people. And honestly, we don’t have
many friends to choose from here.”
She continues when pressed about the murder and investigation.
“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. My belief is a third party
investigation stands a better chance of clearing our
good name than the local constabulary.”
Almara Delisen waits for more questions or your reply to her request.
The woman replies.
"I am not from these parts, so I do not know the person. But we were told by the sheriff, Kyra Feldane, the victim was one Archivin Walder—a local proprietor in town.
"So I know the locals are unlikely to assist
or trust our predominantly Varisian crew. That is why I decided
to find your group, as a third party the town may trust, to represent the circus and clear our name."
"The sheriff would be a good start. She did not share much information with me as she was still investigating. So do we have a deal? ."
"Thank you all. This isn’t just about lost revenue or
personal reputation, or even protecting who they accused.
This outfit relies on being able to buy provisions in the
towns we visit. I can’t let allow our ability to perform and
obtain supplies to become compromised.”
Almara grants you access to most areas of the circus. She also draws up
a signed, sealed letter to Sheriff Feldane, identifying the
PCs as her chosen third-party investigators.
"I recommend you make visiting the sheriff one
of your first stops upon returning to town. Thank you again."
She stands and shakes each of your hands and wishes you well.
Kyra Feldane can be found at the town jail. Feldane has
been the sheriff for the last 15 years, and has a no-nonsense
personality.
As you enter the jailhouse, the woman looks up.
"Yes, can I help you?" as you hand her the note from Almara.
She reads it and after reviewing the note, speaks.
"Ok, you can investigate, but do not
interfere, with the crime scenes.
Remember, you’re representing the circus, and thus
any misconduct on your part reflects
on the carnival. Understood?"
Sheriff Feldane continues.
"Here is what I know so far.
The victim was Archivin Walder, the
town moneylender and sometimes pawnbroker who
owns a local business called the Locked Box. Walder was
found mauled while walking to his home after the circus
last night. Walder’s wife, who went looking
for her husband when he never came home,
discovered the body. Agnes Walder begged her
husband’s four full-time guards who
lived at the Locked Box for help. Three of them left their
post to search, and 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
(such as gems and jewelry). The robbery was interrupted
when the guards brought Walder’s body to the office
instead of his home, 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 my office could be notified."
She watches you closely, looking for any reaction.
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Holman smiles broadly. "Well, it seems to me that we can put this to rest fairly quickly. Would the widow Walder be able to identify the jewelry that was stolen? Why not merely search the circus tents for it? Failing that, are there any other groups that might be interested in something like this? A local thieves' guild, perhaps?"
She considers Holman's comment...and nods.
“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. Now poor Walder is left dead in some bushes. 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.”
You head back to the circus, and notice very few people are attending...a sharp contrast to yesterday.
At the tent of the sphinx, the cage is empty. Approaching one of the guards, he offers to go to the sphinxes wagon and see if she will come out for an interview.
Her returns after a few minutes and says she will.
Jherizhana does not truly reside in a cage, but rather a large, comfortable, and private wagon of her own. She willingly enters a cage while the guards keep watch.
"Good morning. Welcome back to our little show. I hope you are enjoying the attractions. " she stretches and yawns, with a smile.
"How can I help you?"
She looks puzzled then smiles at the Halfling.
"Well that would be a pretty good trick, especially since I was here in my wagon the entire night. I do not travel outside of the circus area. You can ask any of the guards."
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Holman shrugs. "Well, sure you would say that it wasn't you, but that doesn't prove your innocence. These rumors were started, somehow, and you're a magical being - who's to say whether you could have just turned yourself invisible and slipped past the guards? Perhaps you magicked them into falling asleep? I think we'll need a little more than your word."
"If magic is involved, then what can be trusted? I am afraid if my word and the word of these guards is not sufficient, then there is naught I can offer that would be. "
Nodding to Holman, Jherizhana responds...
"I do not know of any potential enemies, nor have I offended anyone. People fear what they do not understand and in this they do not understand me thus fearing me is expected. I do not know who could profit from this except maybe turn against the circus. I do not take note of all who come to gawk at me for they are but insignificant to my eyes. So I can assure you, I had nothing to do with this murder."
"As far as other flyers in the circus, maybe you have seen Phardaen the Panott? No, well his ears allow him to fly. Truly amazing. Other than that, I am afraid I cannot offer much help. I need to rest before my show, but let me know if you have other questions. she bows to you each as she turns to head back to her wagon.
"Good luck, my friends. I am certain you will get to the bottom of this mystery. "