Vertielle shrugged, checking the graves for the telltale sharp edge of shovel marks. Perhaps the presumption the bodies had been stolen by humanoid thieves was indeed premature, but she intended to find out.
Gkirkhan picks his nose.
The locals arrive back at the island and escort all of you back to their village.
Do you intend to stay the night? Any evidence gathered here must be presented to the court before 10 am tomorrow.
Wood looks around at the group:
"An intelligent life is at stake, how about we pull an all-nighter and look around? We need to find this necromancer; and they tend to like the night."
"Hyu mean dot vasn't hem?"
Gkirkhan points to the dwarf corpse.
"I have to agree, Wood.
In that more evidence needs to be gathered."
Evangline
Gkirkhan
Rova
Vertielle
Wood
Zhiden
The events in Morast occured a year ago. There have been no incidents since and no one has used this cemetary in a year.
Also:
"The dwarf's been dead for a few weeks, from a manticore spike piecing him threw the troat."
After carefully examining the plant growth, Wood points out:"This stuff was here a long time. All this is not relevant to the trial of the aware construct. Let's go back and make sure we are ready to go with the headman to testify at the trail. I think the father figure the construct is protecting is in town somewhere, let us go back to town to pursue this theory. I even suspect this headman as he is the most obvious authority figure around."
The wizard looks around for other ideas, he is obviously feeling the pressure of the looming deadline.
Evangline
Gkirkhan
Rova
Vertielle
Wood
Zhiden
Perception
Zhiden cast his eyes over a wide area, hoping to notice something of interest, preferably something that would recast everything in a new light.
I suspect these crimes are unrelated, and that they are being blamed on the beast. He would not curse while engaged with a caiman, and we should check him for the scars of such an attack. He need not use darkvision, and wouldn't know how. We should track the true culprit by the use of these tools, as well as this face we've uncovered.
Vertielle has spent some time collecting various blood samples for a Blood Biography spell, including the caked blood found on the tools.
Let's head back and question the townsfolk, then we can leave tonight and use arcana to further reveal what happened here.
Evangline
Gkirkhan
Rova
Vertielle
Wood
Zhiden
Give me a DC15 Diplomacy check for further info from the locals.
"Anyone have any injuries recently?" It appears the wizard has managed to keep from being condescending this time.
You get much the same information that Headman Lazne has already given you. All give the same basic description of the creature that attacked: a gigantic, grotesque, deformed creature covered in a patchwork of skin, scales, and feathers, covered in fungal boils and hideous pus-filled eruptions. Further all confirm that it cursed quite clearly when the caiman bit it.
What do you do with the skinned face you found?
The trip back is non-eventful.
"Sounds like a different beast then the one on trial,
I think we should find the real culprit here. "
Vertielle hides the skin, not wanting to distress them, but sketches the face as it would have looked.
Yes, it rather does. Where to start? We have no time. Let's head back to Lepidstat and try to track some leads before morning.
Yes.
"We aren't going to get much sleep tonight are we?" Zhiden asked, a weary look creeping across his face. "So how do we prove that he the beast didn't do this, when all we have is a lack of evidence of its presence?"
Wood is trying to track down the potion of darkvision.
"Whoever used that potion may have bought it here. The village is too small to support an alchemist."
Wood canvases the alchemists.
Rova thinks washing off the swamp muck before appearing in court would be a really good idea, and so gets to scrubbing himself.
In the morning he lays out his good clothing, gets himself combed and shaven, and makes sure his nose ring is centered nicely...
"Remember, Beast's innocence isn' wha's needed, they need ta prove he did i', our testamony is ta say it weren' 'im. Only proof dey got is witnesses see'n a big t'ing, which ain't e'en a good description o' da Beast. 'e ain't got feathers, boils, scales 'r none o' dat."
"So, ta review our evidence:
One, Beast don' swear or bleed or talk fancy, all o' which da locals testify 'e did.
Two, da Beast ain' got scales or feathers, or boils fer tha' matter.
T'ree, grave robbin' ain't wha th' Beast is accused o', but it was done, an' prolly by th' real culprit.
Four, Beast ain't know fer slicin' off people's faces an' keepin' 'em in jars.
Five, Beast couldn' even hold one o' dem surgical tools
Six, Beast sees in da dark widout help, an' can't drink a potion anyhoo
AN' seven, We should check 'em fer a scar where dey said dat swamp lizard bit 'em. Don' know iffn t'ings like dat get scars or wha', but iffn it ain't there, it's anudder point.
Anyone else got somethin' I'm forgettin'?"
Wood looks at Rova approvingly:
"You are not just a big, burly empty-headed fighter. I couldn't have summarized it better. I just think catching the culprit should be in our grasp, but is just eluding us."
Wood smacks his left hand with a fisted right hand.
"I would hate to see a conscious creature executed, it would be a loss to scholarly magic, and a horrible injustice."
It is obvious Wood strongly about both point. Which one is more important is not clear.
Zhiden smiled bitterly. "I think you two have a very romantic view of justice. It's been my experience that people tend to be quick to judge when it comes to things that are different. I don't think we will get a satisfactory judgement without the real culprit."
I agree with Zhiden. But, between the extract, surgical tools, and the face, we may have a leg to stand on finding the true villain.
"I 'ave a feelin' we'll be runnin' inta th' real culpert durin' our investigaterin'."
Rova fingers his giant sword's hilt...
"An' I think we'll be ready fer 'im."
"Then let's find the real culprit, before our time runs out."
Ok, so, who is going to do stuff tonight, and who is getting some rest before the trial tomorrow?
@Vertielle: you do get the info in the spoiler if you show the sketch to the locals.
Add an assassinated poacher to the list. They had seen activity around the boneyard, and probably died for voicing it.
Rova gets cleaned up, and a good night's rest; there are going to be a lot of busy nights ahead, so grab sleep when you can...
"'Tween Vertielle an' Eva, shouldn't be much trouble gettin' da court ta listen ta 'r arguments."
Let's hope, Vertielle agrees before finding a place to sleep.
Zhiden, if you're staying up, why don't you try and find out where an extract of darkvision could be obtained, or even a set of these surgeon's tools. Shouldn't be too many places, and it'll help us later on I'm sure.
"All right, that doesn't sound too difficult-well, I suppose it could be, I have no idea how hard this stuff is to find. What do you suggest? Asking around, legitimate business, breaking and entering?" At the last suggestion, Zhiden's voice lowered, and he struck a comical pose. It was clearly a joke, but he might just have meant it.
No where will be open now, but I'm sure it won't take too long to canvas those still awake at bars and such.
She points to the raven symbol on the tools.
This is the symbol of Zbraslav Hora and Sons. They have a shop on Alchemist's Alley. Check the shop ledger... Discreetly.
Vertielle points out that the Carnies they met earlier might know more about the city, perhaps allowing less time to be spent discovering this information.
"Zhiden, a life is at stake. YOU CAN CUT SOME CORNERS!"
"Vertielle is right in that we need discretion on this as we ask around."
Zhiden couldn't help but stare, wide eyed, for a moment as Wood ordered him to. . .whatever it was that he had meant, theft was certainly implied. "All right, I'll be back before dawn," He finally said.
His first stop was Alchemist's alley, since he didn't know how long it would take to cover the other angle. He kept to the shadows, and approached from above whenever possible. He headed for the store's documents, hoping to find an inventory list and a list of sales.
He hoped to find the items in question on an inventory list (and if he did, he'd help himself to an extract of darkvision, because it might be a useful demonstration during the trial) and to find a customer who had bought both of them. He'd copy down any names he found that included purchases of the surgical kit though.
Vertielle reluctantly gets some sleep, knowing that being well rested tomorrow will be of the best help to the group.
Wood follows Zhiden excitedly: "I never done anything illegal, this should be exciting. It is for a good cause. I'll be the lookout and magic you if needed, maybe make you invisible."
Wood rubs his hands together in glee.
"Obviously I am not going to sway anyone by talking. But I can sure help with the boosting."
Zhiden shrugged, "It's not as enjoyable as you would think. The excitement doesn't come until afterward, and until then you are nearly paralyzed with fear of getting caught."[b] It wasn't a lie, not really, because Zhiden wanted to believe it. And to be fair, the fear of getting caught really was a constant, and powerful concern, and the rush of getting away with it was unmatched. He had, however, snuck into too many places where he stood to lose more than gain to actually believe the claims that he'd made. [b]"I wouldn't want anyone else to risk getting in trouble, but I certainly wouldn't mind being invisible."
"Then shall we get to work..."
Zhiden
Zhiden manages to find the place and check through its records. Unfortunately, they're not much help. That set was sold to a Vladka Kostel, but there's no further information on the purchase.
Zhiden:
Further checking of the records indicates multiple purchases of many items by this same individual both before and after that item.
Evangline
Gkirkhan
Rova
Vertielle
Wood
Zhiden
Also, it's now about 5 AM.