Brie tags along with the paladin, with an innocent smile on her face and malicious intent in her heart.
The two brawlers seem to be deaf to your attempts at mediating the conflict. The dwarf appears to be getting the upper hand, using his weight to pin down the human's leg to the ground and flailing at him with his arms.
The paladin clearly looks annoyed. "Those administrators in the Capital District are trying to take over our investigation again? No, not this time. Get out."
That sounds good Karson.
They seem to have legitimate grievances, and it's obvious that their fighting is real...but you feel like they aren't intoxicated enough, based on their speech, to have terribly impaired judgement. You have a small, nagging desire to jump into the brawl and beating them for wasting your time.
Is there even still a team or is it just me?
"Ugh, I am wasting my time here." Eran says, annoyed as he takes his leave of the immediate area and allows them to beat each other.
Aye. Let them beat each other senseless if it pleases them. Maybe we should move on to a different place?
After checking with the outer market camps, Karson heads to the docks to see what he can find out down there.
You begin to canvas a couple of bars, and it seems like trouble is brewing at all of the bars. Eran is quite certain that there has to be something in common between these places for things to go wrong at once. Based on his extensive experience in barhopping, Ethan is definitely certain that regular alcohol can't get people this worked up, without any obvious side-effects. It's starting to get a bit dark. (Late Afternoon)
Karson heads down to the docks, near the murder site of the paladin. It's starting to get dark and he can notice a distinct shift in the type of people in the area. At the murder scene, he notices the a few markings indicating the location of the murder, but strangely, no members of lawful authority seem to be around.
The ships where other murders took place are located further down the dock, and there are a few tavern where you recall Eran and Ethan said they would canvass.
Aye. I've seen my share of ale filled rows, but this seems strange. Should we go see what the others have come up with? Maybe they have a piece of this puzzle that we are missing.
After his searching towards the end of the day, Karson heads back to the safe house in wait for the rest of everyone to return.
On the way home, you see some other suspicious looking people investigating the crime scenes.
One by one, the party slowly returns to the safehouse, to a small dinner of clear carrot soup, some bread, and a leg of turkey. By nine o'clock, everyone is back except for Brie and Mr. Samuels, and even the hostess decides to start eating without them.
Breaking the silence, Eran asks "So... what did everyone find out? I fear i found out little other than bar patrons are universally rowdy."
Karson takes a seat at the table. "Nothing of real pressing importance. There's no real information in the outer markets and docks I found. One thing for though is that we're definitely not the only ones looking into these crimes."
Ethan dunks his bread into the soup and asks What makes you say that?
Jerex shakes his head in failure, "Bathus and I were unsuccessful gaining access into the courthouse. They have it locked down because of both the murder and they want the investigation to remain internal. We have three choices, let it go, have someone who has better diplomatic skills attempt to gain access, or one of our more clandestine type members gain access in less than legal ways to ascertain what we seek?" Jerex clasps his hands on the table.
Karson looks back at Ethan. "On my way back, I saw others investigating the crime scenes by the docks. I'd figure that means we're not alone in this, which means we may not have the edge at all in this entire deal."
Or maybe we could share notes if they are seeking to solve these crimes as well. Ethan chews his food a bit before finishing his thoughts. Or mayhaps turn them to our employ. Wouldn't be the first time a there was a change of alliance on the street.
Jerex nods in agreement, "Employing some may work but for the Courthouse Paladins, I do not see it possible."
Aye. I meant the other folks looking into the murders.
who else might be interested in this case?
For the paladins, maybe a bribe? Not all are lawful and just. Or maybe forgery? I doubt their chapter has the highest of standards of written orders.
I think the term is 'tithe' when it comes to those paladins.
Well, aside from the law enforcement, you would also know of the Order of Tears, other nobility, and possibly all manner of bounty hunters.
"Hmm, I'm thinking it could either be the Order of Tears, likely since we ran into them once already. Failing that, it could be the hirelings of other noble houses or bounty hunters."
Well let's hope our House has deeper pockets then if we wish to make a deal.
"I wouldn't put it past me to believe any one of those. Paladins would be a far stretch in my opinion. Would you mind delving more into the Order of Tears however? I can't say I'm familiar with this group..."
As far as the courthouse goes, I'm not proud of it, but I have a knack for getting around unseen. I'd be remiss of being too far from help, though. Anyway, this Order of Tears is worrisome. If we are racing against another group, I'd rather have some information of our own before we went and did any bargaining. House Caedemon is rich indeed, but our patron is a bit of an outcast hoping to boost his own reputation with us- we're the hired help. Goodness! I'm just a bookseller! With this, Bathus plops himself down in his chair and swathes his sweater around him, glowering forlornly away, thinking clunkily.
Jerex looks to Bathus and the group, "My past dealings with Paladins is that they do not take bribes or tithes unless they are falling or fallen Paladins. I am guessing the only way into the courthouse is through cloak and dagger unless someone here can influence one of the judges or politician admittance into the courthouse?"
I think that the forum was rolled back?
The Order of Tears are a secret organization that works closely with law enforcement. They wear signature masks to hide their identities and despite their large clout and scores of positive deeds, little is known about them.
You recall that Mr. Samuels had some sort of relationship with the Tears, but you don't know what (you saw before that Mr. Samuels had a frightened reaction to their arrival).
"The Order of Tears helps law enforcement, but oddly enough Mr Samuel was bothered by their arrival. They are the ones with the masks. There is probably something about this case he doesnt want them to find out"
"So is our new question not what are they doing, but what don't we know that should be knowing?"
"Perhaps. But where is Mr Samuel to ask?" he asks, the question loaded.
The conversation continues later into the night, first shifting from business to little bits of chatter, until even that tapers off entirely. Once your hosts put out the fire and head to bed, it's pretty clear that Mr. Samuels would not be returning that night.
In the morning, Mr. Samuels has yet to return, and there's isn't time to lose. After all, mysterious forces are racing to unlock the mystery first, the paladins are progressing with their own independent investigation, and Mr. Samuels seems to have disappeared...
Any word from our host? I expected him last night at the latest. I think we should split up again and look for him. Ethan says while breaking his morning fast.
Karson rests his chin in his hand, thinking. "Where would we begin to start looking for him? It's not like we know a lot about him to begin with, the man does seem to be leaving out some important information."
"Honestly, I wouldn't be shocked to find him strung up somewhere, with all of this murder-mystery going on. He was rather anxious when he saw the Tears."
The hostess prepares a small breakfast for everyone and sets a small bowl of porridge for people as they sit at the table. "Y'know, I wouldn't be too worried. Politics can be intense. Maybe he's just on the floor of the chambers filibustering a bill or schmoozing a new ally. He comes back late so often that I don't even cook a portion of dinner for him most nights unless he says that he'll be back."
Jerex nods at the hostess and then to everyone else, "We should probably look for him if we do not hear from him today? He may have ran into trouble and is hiding out. This mission he has challenged us with will be in jeopardy if he is taken out of the equation too early and I believe he knows this so he is taking extra precautions, and making allies."
Well let's hope that's all it is eh?
"yes, perhaps it is best we continue the case and worry about him if he doesnt show up today. Or only one group split off to find him. "
I am thinking more that we should press on again in the case. We may be able to find some things of use, and he is paying us, after all. We might have more success if we all go together, not the least in case we run into trouble.
"I concur. Anyone have any ideas which way to go? So far, the threads I have found do not make a cloth."