Manny points out said possible bat-were-person.
Marduzi silently watches the group, listening and thinking the idea of a were-bat is just crazy but obviously not speaking that.
Said werebat person is likely Chelaxian, if his curly black locks and pallid complexion were to be your guide. If he is from Sargava, he certainly stayed out of the sun. His nose has a severe hook, and his hands seem a bit large and angular for his body... but you can't condemn a man for being unattractive.
There's something predatory about the way his eyes move through the room.
Hmm..Got the look of a hunter in his eyes. Manny whispers to ther others. Well let us head up. Manny does so.
Still with his hand on the child's shoulder for comfort, Zeltor continues - "When was he taken? You heard his screams? Did you see anything Ermes?"
Unable to process both questions at once, the little boy attends to the second one.
"No." Ermes admits. "I was in the privvy."
With that, his mother returns from the kitchen with a two mugs of steaming tea, which she sets down on the central table before looking at her son's teacher.
"Before you ask, we have tried going to the guards already. They sent three as a search party and turned up nothing."
Almost instinctively, she interjects. -and he has been a good boy! No enemies, and he almost always spent his time out here on the farm. Said he preferred the sheep to people most days... Likes to wander the foothills, though."
She stares at her teacup,as the liquid inside is too hot to ingest.
"He sleeps in the same room as Ermes... I know the two went down as normal two nights ago. I heard Worren telling him some tall tale about his walks in the wilds. However... I also know that he sometimes leaves the window wide open to let in moonlight. He could have run away, I know, but without even grabbing his boots... that's..."
Manny's footsteps are muffled by the creaking of the planks he has to use to get to the next floor. At this time, the area is pretty much deserted. The hallway goes on for forty feet or so and is ten feet wide. There are mismatched paintings of flowers between each door (the result of Lorra's scouring of estate sales, amongst other things). A majority of the doors are locked, though there are a few exceptions, and the door on top of the far stairway on the third floor has been deadlocked.
The wiid there betrays all sorts of unpleasant scents from above if sniffed, but that could be mold, rot, or simply proof that the drunks have been attempting target practice at night on the trapdoor when no one is looking.
The timbers do look like they've seen better days.
As if sensing he is being stared at, the suspect finds Ruul's eyes in the darkness. Something about him irks Ruul on a primal level, though it's hard to say what exactly it is.
The man moves to another table, where a gnome is pulling some dice out of a bag.
Manny waits for Lorranith to show up.
.
Zeltor enters around the same time as Ingrit. The latter dwarven woman lights up upon seeing Ruul in her prefered eating establishment. She tries to invite him to eat at her table with a group of fellow miners, and is more than happy to clear seats and let the others in the group below eat nearby.
Lorranith presents her stew without aplomb, sending Uzi to gather payment in a basket. It fills with coppers, silvers, and in Ingrit's case, 2 gold (enough to cover everyone in the group's meal), calling it a down payment.
After dinner is complete and the customers begin to clear out, Lorra heads upstairs with the deadlock key. It comes undone even as she screws up her nose at the stench.
The hallway opens into what appears to be the evil, dilapidated, and spooky twin of the one beneath it. The stench is even more notable, but there is nothing immediately visible.
Oy vey. Okay, I will head in. Sorval, you with me? Lorranith, if you are real nervous, just tell Rull to head up. I reckon this stench isn't normal.
Manny sneaks up with his darkvision picking things out..
Lorranith looks at Manny before he heads off.
"I'm not going in there, little man. I have to man my inn, gender bias aside."
With that, the woman heads downstairs and gestures to Ruul and then the stairs. Hopefully, he'd get the signal.
"Your compatriots, or at least the small, bagged one and the feline maiden, likely will require your assistance. I have opened the area early, you see." Lorranith replies curtly, hardly waiting for the words to sink in before heading further down into her bar area.
A couple of bats roost near said hole, and some of the sources of the smell become obvious. Where bats live, there is... bat poop.
Manny shrugs, bat poop was small stuff for goblins. he investigates the closed doors and opens them up.
[spoiler=Manny and co]
Upon entering the first closed door, a stringed apparatus is triggered and an arrow flies straight into the the goblin's neck.
Despite the impact, the goblin remains totally conscious, reticent, and in vicious pain. However, looking in this room proves he's not the only one. There are three bodies in this otherwise empty room whose stench is dedicated to things other than guano. There is one woman, a man, and what looks to be a boy verging on adulthood. They lay in various positions on the floor, and there are dragmarks and blood stains on the floor.
Ruul notices his charge getting a bit testy, as if he heard the innkeeper's words... and doesn't care for them overmuch.
--NOW--
Pretty sure the I might be sick..Sorval whimpers; and she instantly regrets opening her mouth- she begins to dry heave.
Manny curses.
This sure proves something alright.
Manny very carefully checks the other doors.
[
Ug.. I'm in no shape for anything. Manny holds his cloak around himself to hide any blood. Let us get down to Rull, this might be more than we can handle and we'll need back-up Manny carefully shuts the doors behind him and heads down.
He is incredibly uneasy. You suspect he will bolt if given the chance.
Sorval follows manny down- sheathing her rapier as she does so. Once out of the attic- she closes the door and secures it taking gulps of fresh air at the same time.
Phew- I hope I don't have to go back up there...
Manny and Sorval are able to get downstairs without any real interference.
Manny shuffles over to Ruul Julia and whispers to him. Dead bodies up stairs, man, woman , boy. Either the innkeep is the one or the fellow in the bar is the one. I doubt it is her. I'm gunna go tell her.
Manny shuffles over to the kitchen so he can talk to Lorranith. Lorranith, there are bodies on the third floor, three of them. You got big trouble here and it looks like your new tenant is the culprit.
Lorranith drops a bowl onto her bar's counter at this revelation, spilling stew onto Manny by proxy.
"What?!" she has to work to make that less than a shout. A bat colony, maybe, or the quarters of a winged squatter of a batman, she expected, but bodies... bodies are another matter entirely.
"If you've the proof it's him, then get him out of here! Get him out of here and show him the lovely stones of the mountains!"
Manny recognizes the last part as an informal execution notice. "Kill him away from prying eyes".
She hushes her voice. "Or call the guards. Either way, do it quickly!"
Eyes flashing, the suspect makes for the door once someone gets out of his way. He runs for it with surprising alacrity.
[/dice]
He attempts to push Ruul out of his way so he can break through the exit.
Manny gets out his sling, spitting up some blood as he begins twirling it over his head.
Manny plonks the man. Beat him down and drag him out!
But his hands slip on all the blood spurting out of him.
The alleged villain falls down.
If there was a time to talk, it would be now.
Sorval makes a few gestures and mutters some nonsensical- and then moves toward the suspect with a high amount of speed.
Why the hurry? she says with a genuine smile.
Manny drops his sling. Okay you listen right here. Manny draws his short sword. We got three dead upstairs and the fingers are pointing to you. We have every right to just drag you into the alley and finish you off, so you better start talking.
"Every right, hm? You don't really have a lick of evidence. The guard don't exactly believe the words of the people who frequent this place, now do they?"
The man quirks his brow at the goblin, sniffing."Besides, I have some collateral I could expose, hm? Well, I'd love to talk."
He smiles toothily at Ruul.
"Outside, as you say."
The adventurers have garnered something of an audience, but Lorranith rolls her eyes and says something she knows she is going to regret to grant the party smokescreen.
"Everyone, have a round on the house!"
Manny hops down onto the floor. Whatchu talking about? Nobody knows you from chopped liver, but I'm a dutiful member of this little community.
Well now, we can just search your room for this evidance if ya want. I'm sure the good barkeep would allow it. Manny will follow Ruul.
And if he has no evidence?
Sorval follows Ruul and Manny. Drawing her rapier when they are alone in the alley.
This is too easy- no plan at all? How did he survive at all like that...there's an angle here somewhere: think; Sorval; think!
--NOW--
Upon hearing Ruul speaking to who Manny believes is the culprit and the barkeep saying "Round on the house". Horfil will speak to Lorranith about Manny's last whereabouts.
"So when you have a chance after serving all of these drinks I'd like to ask you a question."