Grenz stays put if he can watch the interaction from where he is - "We are just too many" - he speaks into the spell for the first time - "We are being too conspicuous"
... He heads west on Hook street, past Hannah's and right towards The Pixie's Kitten. ...
Zarque follows the dwarf if he leaves but asks quick enough he might stay to answer, yet speaks in a polite tone, "Tell me about Agaba and Draven, and anyone else with the tattoo. What do you know of them?"
Khamul spends some time petting his riding dog as he unhitches the animal. It's another distraction as he watches what the man is up to. Then he rides past the two men (the Taldane and the man from the Pixies Kitten), heading up Hook street. He will try to overhear their conversation as he passes them.
Milah climbs up the side of a building, using the trusses and her trusty claws. She watches as Grenz and Drek'Tar hold back, keeping an eye on the Taldane man and the one he is speaking with. Khamul rises through the small amount of people on Hook Street, making his way as unassuming as possible so that he can get close enough to hear what they might be saying:
"...I don't know if they've made us or not, but we can't let that other guy know we're here just yet. We haven't even been able to setup a place to operate from yet."
"The warehouse seemed fine, but they're combing it now. We need to get them off the trail. I'll take this to the others, be ready, we need to find out where they are staying and convince them to back off."
The Taldane man hands him the message, looks around and then goes back into the growing crowd of passersby. The other man heads back to the women he left, putting the message in a pocket on his chemise.
In the warehouse, the dwarf answers Zarque. "Agaba talks with a lot of people and likes to gamble. Draven tends to smoke a lot of Pesh, but otherwise he only seems to hang around Agaba, that I've seen. I don't exactly follow these people home, you know."
Agaba looks at Idun as they pass and only smirks at her remark, adding, "Play the cards you've been dealt, and don't ask for more."
Grenz sits tight on his spot, and waits.
Whispering through message "I think these guys are some sort of criminals - they're talking about have been made, which suggests either they think you guys are investigating them, or I've been spotted. They also say they haven't even setup a place to operate from yet. The Taldane handed the message off. I'm going to follow the other guy, and see what I can see. A couple of you guys keep track of the Taldane, but make sure I have some backup in message distance."
With that, Khamul turns to the Pixie's Kitten, to see if they have some company of appropriate size for a handsome halfling... He will observe the second man as he approaches the establishment; in particular, does he have the blood drop tattoo on his hand...
Milah messages the others, "Okay, I think I'm in a position where I can follow without being seen. Grenz, Drek'thar - go ahead and make your way to some streets nearby, but stay close enough to Khamul to communicate. Khamul, make your way down the road and keep ahead of our friend. It's hard to feel like you're being followed by someone that's in front of you."
Drek nods before realising no one is on front of him to observe it. "Copied" he answers, them walks to a different street which he knows runs also near the Pixie's Kitchen
Grenz stays put to back up Khamul in case things go south, watching the action from afar.
"Is that some ancient wisdom of the south, or are you inviting me to a night of cards?" Idun continues bantering with the Mwangi man, leaving Zarque to keep an eye on the Dwarf Boss, while the others perform their chase.
Milah leaps over the heads of several Sandpoint citizens, most of whom don't seem to notice the cat woman landing softly on the other side of the street, except for those near her, who assume she must have fallen or something and move on, saying things to the effect of "Pardon me." and such. Grenz and Drek'Thar watch as the Taldane man pass through the crowd and starts heading back to the curio shop, as predicted.
Milah thinks through everything that's going on and messages, "Drek'thar, Grenz - please keep an eye on the curio shop, out of sight, and make note of anyone coming and going with the tattoos. Khamul, I've got an eye on our Kitten-interested friend; please go gather up Caprice and Zarque and have one of them tell Ameiko that someone without our best interests at heart will likely be asking after us within the next few days; she should be made aware. The other, go find the sheriff and fill him in on what we've found thus far. If he wants to pick up anyone, he can, but it might be better if we figure out who "that other guy", or "the others", are before tipping our hand."
Khamul turns his head aside and messages a one word response to Milah, "Busy".
Hopping down off his riding dog and gathering the reins, he approaches the human woman. Looking up at her , he says, "Well, I'm window shopping for now; it's a little early for sporting company. I was wondering if the establishment has a lady or two who I wouldn't have to bring climbing gear for?"
He's not really interested, but he is faking it:
Although he's bantering with the woman in the blue frilly dress, what Khamul's really trying to do is overhear what the guy who currently has the message is talking about with the other two ladies:
Grenz tries to find a comfortable spot in view of the curio shop, preferably under a tree.
His volatile personality cries out a bit against so many orders from someone he barely knows, but Sabyl's words of wisdom, and the importance of their current 'mission' speak louder.
With his legs crossed, and sitting in the shade, he and Scourge share a meal - apples for Grenz, and bugs for the hedgehog.
Then he waits, and watches.
The Taldane man enters the curio shop while Grenz watches, it seems his business with the other man is concluded for the time being, as he does not return outside for some time.
The woman talking to Khamul only smiles down at him, "Sweetie, you misunderstand. I like you. I find your kind to be more.. enthusiastic." She puts a hand on Khamul's shoulder. "Trust me, you won't need climbing gear, unless you're really into that." She winks and starts walking back to the entrance, she turns back once and says, "Coming? I can show you around."
While Khamul is distracted, it is difficult for him to hear exactly what is being said between the man with the message and the two women, but it sounds more like his banter with the woman than any other business. He seems to be regaling them with his latest exploits. Something about.. "so there I was, face to face with some halfbreed street rat, his eyes locked on me. I balled up my fists..."
Zarque replies to the dwarf boss, "Well, thank you for the info. Every little bit helps. I'll get out of your way now. Have a good day." Zarque speaks politely then finds Idun and decides to wait on her and watch the general work until Idun is ready to leave.
Milah grins at Khamul. "Okay, then - enjoy yourself." To Grenz and Drek'thar, she messages, "If the Taldane is staying put, then could the two of you pick up Caprice and Zarque and make sure that Ameiko and the sheriff know what's going on? I'll stick around here and keep an eye on our friend with the message, see what I can see. Be on the lookout for anyone with those tattoos."
Drek is standing in a random place near the shop, far away from Grenz. When Milah asks them to retreat, he murmurs an affirmative response and directly goes to see Sheriff Hemlock. He makes a discreet sign to Grenz, indicating he should go to Ameiko's. Before falling out of range of the spell, he asks "Do you want me to bring the Sheriff here now?"
"We don't have a killer and don't know who's involved, much less who's responsible. I don't think there's anything he can do yet." That said, she settles in and keeps an eye on the bloviating criminal...
Khamul will follow the woman ... After unspecified activities occur, he will tip enthusiastically, and ask the woman what she knows about the man who currently has the message, and the significance of the blood drop tattoos on his hands.
He will use Sense motive to assess her answers (is she telling the truth, is she hiding something, is she afraid, etc.)
Finally, before he departs, he suggests that he expects his tip to buy some discretion about what was discussed...
"I am not in perfect standing with Ameiko at the moment... I will keep watch for a while longer, but is best someone else go to the Rusty Dragon" - Grenz whispers via the spell, which brings a curious look from Scourge.
"Nope, wasn't talking to you" - the half-orc chuckles.
"Then you go to Hemlock and I go to Ameiko. Deal?"
"Deal"
"Sounds like fun. I just might take you up on that." Idun smiles leaning back.
After a few more moments, Grenz stands up, placing Scourge in his backpack, and heads out to look for Hemlock.
Milah watches as the man continues to chat with the two women. He eyes Khamul as he goes in with his escort, but doesn't make any other movements, other than an unconscious patting of his left waist. Milah knows this is usually a sign that someone is carrying a weapon or something else of import.
Khamul goes inside with his companion and at some point, the message spell wears off, probably for the better.
"Hello!" Drek greets. He immediately asks for a place to talk with less ears. Not because of Bethana, she seems a trusty maiden, but who knows if someone else is paying too much attention and might give word to the tattooed-knuckles gang.
Once in a safer place, Drek tells Ameiko all they've found that he's aware of. "We're also informing Sheriff Hemlock about all of these, though we don't have much proof. Please, if you notice someone with those tattoos on their knuckles, be very wary."
He's about to leave when he turns back again. "One more thing. We hope to get all the intel we can while they're still not aware of us having an eye on them. Would be wise to bid spread around anything, else they'll be warned and made more careful moves."
Once done, Drek goes to their usual meeting place and waits, having an ale meanwhile.
Zarque will go back to the Rusty Dragon, unless Idun wants to know wjere something is, like the Hagfish for example, in which case Zarque will happily show her around.
Khamul gets back to the Rusty Dragon an hour and half later, with a grin on his face ... And joins Drek and whoever else is around for that ale. He shares some of Ellie's gossip; "Hey Drek'Thar, found some stuff out - the guy who took the note is the leader of a gang called the Bloody Knuckles - he calls himself "Red Fist". The gang just got to town themselves and don't have any rackets set up yet. They like fighting and drinking, and they have those stupid tattoos on their knuckles."
Idun indeed takes advantage of Zarque showing her around, feeling confident that she could perhaps figure something important out there.
"The Heroes of Sandpoint" - Grenz replies to the sheriff - "I'll tell you one thing - they are a busy bunch, that's for sure" - he chuckles.
"So yes, there are developments - perhaps it is not yet time to take action, but we wanted to keep you up to date" - the half-orc adds, then recounts what they have uncovered, including the bloody knuckles, the tattoos, the messages going around between the warehouse, curio shop and the Pixie's Kitten. And the fact they may receive some sort of 'discouragement visit'
Toilday, 15 Lamashan 4707, 1:15pm. 46 degrees, Breezy. Rusty Dragon, Sandpoint.
After gathering as much information as you could by directly observing part of the Bloody Knuckles Gang, you find yourself at your table in the bottom floor of the Rusty Dragon Inn. Ameiko has set it aside for you so that you can have some privacy to discuss what you've found. Not that you'll need it much, as the lunch rush is loud enough that you can barely hear the person next to you, let alone anyone else. Still you do your best to correlate what you know. Now for what to do with the information...
"Well, there's a new gang setting up in town, these 'Bloody Knuckleheads', but they haven't done much yet, and we've got no real evidence tying them to the murder...
Grenz and Drek'thar had a chat with Mistress Sabyl at the House of Blue Stones, while I listened, and she suggested that we should look at a "Vhiski and his cronies" - I don't know who these people are, but she says they run the underground fighting ring. I guess we could talk to them this afternoon?
Finally, if that doesn't get us anything, tomorrow I could delve into more esoteric methods...Also, did we ever identify what that stain on the floor in the warehouse is? Blood usually dries a dark brown color, not crimson... Also, if we got/get a sample, could we tell (magically) if the blood is from our dead guy?"
"I still think we should observe the body of the deceased" - Grenz adds - "If possible"
Drek seems interested in Grenz's words. "That would certainly be interesting and revealing" he says with enthusiasm. "We should also keep the shop under vigilance."
"I feel like we need to keep an eye on this "Red Fist" character; it sounded like he reports to someone, and I think we need to know who that is. As far as seeing the body, we already did - there wasn't really much to observe. Also, if we get to 'last resort' territory, we could ask the local priests to cast speak with dead - though I doubt they'd do it for free - or we could go talk to Vance's wife and kids, see if they know anything."
"I understand that Milah - but did you manage to confirm if he was indeed beaten to death with fists, and not maces or clubs?" - Grenz adds - "I am sure it is not easy to differentiate, but it may be perhaps possible?" - he continues - "Though I do agree those guys are up to no good, with all the skulking around..."
"I feel I've got a lead I'd like to look in to tonight, a little more with that gang. I'm not much of a doctor to look after bodies." Idun contributes. "But if we want to keep everybody together in case of an ambush, my lead's probably not that impressive."
"Shall we start by going to check on the body?" - Grenz asks his companions - "There should be ample time to return in time for you to follow the lead?" - he adds to Idun - "Just keep in mind we may receive a visit at any point, from someone wanting to convince us to 'back off'
"Well, let's get to looking at the body while it's 'fresh'; not that this is going to be fun anyways... after that, brace Vhiski? Those two chores should probably take us until dinner. Then we can decide if we want to follow up Idun's lead tonight, and if I should get esoteric tomorrow. "
"I agree - let's start with the body. Past that, though, I'm torn - I feel like we need to keep an eye on the lead Knucklehead, but we should also chase down other leads: Vhiski, Vance's family...anything else?"
drek enthusiastically prepares his kit for an incoming autopsy. "I am ready!"he says with a big grin. Finally, he feels useful.
"Alright! Good to know somebody's got it covered!" Idun seems to catch Drek's enthusiasm.
Toilday, 15 Lamashan 4707, 3:45pm. 45 degrees, Breezy. Cathedral, Sandpoint.
Father Abstalar Zantus looks incredulous as you ask him to look at the body. "All this business with goblins and now people are coming up dead from someone here in town?" He shakes his head. "The Late Unpleasantness is supposed to be just that, the Late. Not Current." He pauses, taking a breath and composing himself. "I'll take you to it. The acolytes are already preparing him for burial in the Graveyard."
When you arrive in the room, you see two Acolytes dressed in bright yellow and orange robes. Most of you recognize this as Sarenrae's colors. They are in the process of wrapping his body in linens of similar colors. Father Zantus asks them to leave and they bow their heads and do so. "Please," he says, "Try not to mar the body. I haven't spoken to his family yet, and I don't want them to be any worse off than they already will be."
Khamul watches with interest as Drek'thar examines the corpse. He will have a bit of a chat with Father Zantus as the examination is ongoing.
"Hi, I believe it's Father Zanthus? I'm Khamul Froghoth, and I'm not from around here. The Sherriff didn't really have any idea of a motive for this. he mentioned that Aldrus had some gambling debt, but that the local criminals are 'usually not into murder". He also mentioned that he found it strange that 'Vance has family in town and so far, they haven't asked after his whereabouts'. That stuck out to me too. Clearly, you know the family and sometimes people tell priests things that they don't talk about to other people... Can you tell us anything that might be relevant?"