Kimgald makes his way over to Kimberly and removes his lenses, bending low to peer at the impressions the girl is indicating. The dwarf looks to the girl and smiles, offering her a shrug. "Good eyes and a good find, child; I imagine they have meaning, but what that meaning may be remains unclear."
Kimgald frowns as he turns away from the crowd, unwilling to share Kimberly's discovery with the onlookers. He continues to examine the area, but when his wanderings bring him near the sheriff the dwaf makes a point to pull the man aside and tell him about the prints.
Anna gives an exasperated sigh. Well, apparently they didn't bother with carving all the names on the monument. So, we need to get that list as well as the list of the prisoners, she mutters to Andjela outside the crowd's earshot.
Tolvan, unless you've got some magical way of figuring out this mystery, I guess we're in for a long night tonight watching this monument.
The sheriff follows Kimgalds explanation with his eyes, able to pick up the tracks as they're being described. He quietly thanks Kimgald and appears quite relieved, "Well at least we know it's human-like." He moves around the area slowly as he follows the tracks, trying to make sense of it.
Kimberly seeming satisfied with her find she takes notice that Kimgald is trying to keep the onlookers from interfering. so she decides to keep an eye on the townsfolk in the area trying to see if anyone looks different than from what she remembers in the past.
looking for any unusal behavior.
Kimberly's scan of the crowd yields interesting results, but not what she might have been expecting. Their are several who regard her and the others in her group with suspicion and fear, others with respect and admiration. She doesn't get any feeling of outright hostility, and strangely, every face seems to regard the bloody carnage at the monument with fear and surprise.
Kimberly quietly makes her symbol over her heart muttering a few short words of engouagement to herself. she tries to approach a townsfolk that seems to fearful of the group.
Are you afraid? Pharamsa is always here to protect us. Father Grimface....I mean burrow, has taught me to have faith and I want to share that with you now. He will protect us. she is soone addressin a small group of maybe 3 or 4 townsfolk.
Pharama has brought these people to us from far away they will help stop the bad people. They promised.
Some of the townspeople laugh and titter behind their hands, others look away in discomfort, and some just look at her blankly.
Iomedae shall light the way, as well. There is nothing to fear from us... But if there is anything you know, please share.
If there is anything we can do to help, please... just ask.
The chuckles, and odd looks go away as Andjela speaks, and though no one in the crowd is bold enough to speak up, the softening of their eyes speak volumes.
Anna watches the sheriff inspect the tracks found by Kimberly and Kimgald. She crosses her arms and mutters under her breath about a child and half-blind dwarf finding clues better than her.
When Kimberly and Andjela address the crowd, Anna decides to keep her mouth shut, since they seem to be winning the crowd over, and her tendency for pithy remarks may do more harm than good. Instead, she moves over to the tracks, being very careful where she steps, to see if she can figure out where they lead.
Having caught the crowd's attention, Andjela goes a step further. The paladin addresses them again.
Do you know who we are or why we're here? We were... called for when the professor passed. To pay our respects.
My name is Andjela, I do not often speak of it... But perhaps it would help you to know. I am a Paladin of Iomedae, a Divine Hunter... and a Warrior of the Holy Light. We are trained to sense... Evil. Hunt it down, and destroy it.
Andjela shrugs innocently, A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. The paladin wonders what they think of her arsenal including crossbow, mace, curved blade... among other implements.
Many in the crowd looks at the Paladin with looks edging towards impressed, others towards uncertainty and possibly some fear, but they are listening.
Despite the crowd's obscuring of the tracks, they seem to be showing a clear direction. So while the paladin distracts the crowd, Anna begins to head in the same direction as the tracks started. Eyes peeled for any sign of them picking up, or spots of blood, or anything else noteworthy, she moves in as straight a line as possible. Does it send her into town, or somewhere else, like toward the Restlands or the prison?
Kimberly quietly strt to sing a short tune in celestial and raches up to hold Andjela's hand while she is speaking to the crowd.
Andjela soon feels a warmth and a small burst of divine confidence in her speaking.
Tell them we only want to help she whispers to Andjela.
Andjela seems surprised by the little hand slipping into hers, but she does not reject it.
We only want to help. Is there anything we can help you with while we try to figure this mystery out?
Give us a chance, we'll show you we're on your side.
While the girls address the crowd and look for tracks Tolvan speaks quietly to the sheriff. We really are here to help, but it seems we have a long way to go to win over your town, Even your local priest does not trust us yet. Earlier Kimgald there tried to do some research about the history of the prison at the church and was told the records the professor had used could not be made available to us. Maybe you could talk to the good father on our behalf. We need to see those records if we are to help get to the bottom of this.
Before leaving the site Tolvan will recommend that the group move in the direction the tracks lead for about 100 feet and then search in an arc across where we think the tracks were headed to see if we can pick up the train again.
While Andjela doesn't feel her words sway anyone closer to helping them, neither do they seem to like her or the group any less, overall however, the crowd does seem more comfortable with them now than when they first arrived this morning. One older man does step forward, "If you're here to help, what are you going to do? All those weapons, going to skewer the teenaged hoodlums when you catch em?" His words are a bit harsh, but it seems to be more nervousness with addressing you rather than his true attitude. Another much older woman cackles loudly, "Bah, you know they'll never catch the hooligans behind this mischief, we all know the spirits'o'Harrowstone be behind this, and you can't stab them ghosties!" She cackles wetly once more, and a few in the crowd join her in laughter. The Sheriff, who was watching and listening to the exchange nearby, steps over, "Now, now, Belmy, don't you start spreading more tales!" He turns his voice to the crowd, "We will catch the person behind this, don't you worry. I mean, me and this fine group of folks behind me have already found out some interesting information about the culprit, and I can assure you, we are closing in. Now go on, clear on out of here so we can do our jobs." Smiles and relieved looks pass among those gathered as the crowd absorbs that information.
After, the Sheriff nods to Tolvans suggestion, "I'll put in a good word for you all, but I should say also that the Father is the ultimate authority behind those walls. And some toes don't warrant stepping on, but I'll certainly try."
Tolvans suggestion to follow the direction of the tracks show them leading towards some fields before becoming indistinguishable, in the opposite direction of Harrowstone, and away from the bulk of the town. There are about a dozen dwellings in between the monument and the fields beyond the town.
As the crowd disperses, Anna hangs back. She tries to find a good vantage point to observe the dwellings, and watches as the townsfolk return to them. What she's more interested in is the dwellings that no one returns to, believing that any that are either empty or had residents that couldn't be bothered to join the crowd might be worth checking out.
Since this might take several minutes, she'll sit quietly on a knoll and look innocuous. She'll amuse Kimberly by pulling a coin out of her ear.
Kimberly luaghs with excitement at the trick.
Do you think that old lady was right? are there ghosts? she asks Anna much the way a daughter asks her mother for advice.
Anna observes that all but two of the homes she's watching had residents which were a part of the crowd. Those two dwellings don't seem to have any activity going on right now.
What hoodlums?
The man looks confused at the Paladins question for a moment, apparently not understanding, and then silently points at the monument, the look on his face saying, 'Perhaps you haven't seen this mess yet?'.
Responding to Kimberly: Yes, there are ghosts, Anna says blithely while watching the community. Ghosts, spooks, haunts, spectres, wraiths, creeps, and kooks. All kinds of trouble is stirred when the dead don't rest quietly.
When I was your age, I was told lots of things to do to keep the evil spirits at bay. Put cat whiskers under your pillow. Hang a pepper from the window sill. You know what? Those were all lies to make me feel safer. I'm not going to lie to you. Ghosts exist.
When Anna identifies the two quiet residences, she stands up in a smooth motion and loads her crossbow. But most of the time, she says softly, trouble is caused by the living. She starts walking.
With all due respect, the town isn't all that large and hoodlums would be known by name and reputation.
Understanding dawns in the mans eyes, "Oh, you want their names. Well I certainly don't know them. They mostly work for the... heavy man at the tavern, or they're harmless boys. Either way I don't have any names for you. Try the man at the tavern." With that the man turns and follows the others back towards his home.
Kimberly watches a few moments as Anna starts walking. she symbols her mark over her heart again and starts to follow Anna watching her but trying to keep enough of a distance to not get in her way.
every so often she looks back to the others to see if they are alright.
Tucking her crossbow away, Anna nonchalantly strolls past the two dwellings. She looks for signs of occupancy -- livestock, cookfires, children, and the like at first, then certainly listen for people inside. If she sees people outside who weren't in the crowd, she'll try to get a read on them.
Considering the blood used in the graffiti, if she sees any indication of violence, she'll stop and investigate further, sending Kimberly to gather the rest of the group.
Andjela follows Anna.
Anna's walk takes her past quite a few homes, and she pays closer attention to a couple of them, while trying to maintain an air of nonchalance. She does spot a few people coming in and out of those homes, none of giving her a reason to suspect they're anything but regular citizens. Less evident are signs of violence, or suspicious activity. She is just peering into an opening doorway as she walks by, when a harsh voice speaks up behind her. "Whaddya think you're doing? I seen you snooping around here, this is the second time you've walked by!" Turning you see Gibs, the wiry man at the head of the group who confronted you and the other pallbearers. He seems to have approached from another direction, probably from his own nearby home. His face is screwed up in distaste and suspicion, and a bit red from anger, "Well!? Out with it!"
Tolvan looks at the retreating Anna and then grabs Kimgald by the shoulder so that he will be looking at the elf when he speaks. They are leaving us. I suggest we catch up as there might be trouble. I really am against splitting up. I wish I had been with you when you went to the church as I am still not sure what you learned there. With that the wizard loosens his bow upon his back, checking it, and strides off after Andjela and Anna.
Seeing the rest of the group catch up Gibs expression turns even more sour, if that's possible. "All of ya are still here eh? I thought for sure you'd have left after defacing our property and scaring half the town to death! Where's the big green one? No doubt off causing more trouble while you all pretend to help! That fool of a sheriff might be taken by you all, but I'm not so easily tricked. Now why're ya snooping around after these folks?!"
A wide smile appears on Anna's face and she steps close to Gibs, taunting him with her proximity.
Just a little stroll, Gibs. You clearly have a problem with that. You want to do something about it?
Andjela steps in close stretching all her height and offering a gloved hand in "greeting".
We haven't met. Andjela... just got here last night. Apparently, I'm not leaving until my new friends and get get to the bottom of this mystery.
You're in good hands. 'Cause when I catch the scum who are responsible for killing and slandering the good professor's name they will pay, and pay dearly.
Andjela's eyes are heated and smoldering. She then steps back behind Anna, arms crossed and scowling.
Seeing the confrontation starting KImbery begins to cry and runs up to Anna.
Aunt Anna I'm sorry, I won't wander off any more I was so scared I only wanted te pet the doggy I saw come this way I didn't mean to wander so far.
Kimberly looks to Gibs Thank you for show Aunt Anna where I was
Gibs, who's hands had balled into fists before Anna started speaking, blanched at her proximity and the threat in her voice. "Uh no, No! I just was concerned, but clearly I was mistaken. No harm done eh?" He looks at Andjela's hand and is not going to take it but then his eyes flick towards Anna and he quickly reaches out and grasps the Paladins hand and releases it just as fast.
Gibs looks askance at Kimberly as she comes up to Andjela, not believing her words for a moment, then glances accusingly at Andjela and the others, being careful to avoid Anna's eyes. "Yeah, good luck with 'finding your doggy'" and starts to move away, back towards his home.
Seeing what is going on, the elf hangs back well out of any melee range, but well within bow shot. He pulls a blunt arrow from his quiver and holds it in the same hand as his bow, so that it runs the length of the bow and is easy to hide from this distance. He watches, ready to shoot if he needs to.
after Gibs goes back to his home Kimberly looks to Anna
I'm sorry if I got in your way, He may not be a very nice man, but I don't want the other people here hurting Kendra because of us.
Anna pinches her brow in a show of mild frustration.
After Gibs slinks away, she says, I had everything under control. He wasn't going to throw a punch. And if he did, so what? He blackens my eye, I go down, and his true colors show. But he backs down because he's outnumbered, well, that's good sense. I don't know if Gibs is smart enough to leave it alone after this. We may have to deal with him again.
Tolvan visibly relaxes and watches Gibs walk away. He will observe the man at a good distance but wants to know where this trouble maker lives.
You watch Gibs move off, and enter a home among those Anna had already walked past and inspected. He was actually part of the earlier crowd, but didn't come to your notice until he saw Anna moving among the homes and confronted her.
"I'm afraid we had little luck at the Temple, my friend. We were denied access to the detailed records; from what you shared, I'd say everything we discovered you found within Petros' library."
The dwarf watches Tolvan curiously, occasionally glancing in the general direction the elf had pointed his arrow. "What's going on? Are we under attack?"
Tolvan smiles at Kimberly's story and as he watches Gibs move away. No Kimgald, no one is attacking us. I think we have been spared a fight by a very clever little girl. In truth I would not mind teaching that Gibs character a lesson, but it would cost us in the eyes of the other townsfolk, I am sure of it.
Kimgald's expression turns sour. "That Gibs character could do with a little education. His ignorance is truly astounding." The dwarf looks around blankly. "So, shall we continue to the others? I'm afraid I'm not really sure where we are any more; I lost track while we were running."
How'd you make so many fans so quickly? Usually my... specialty.