The judges seem deeply disturbed by the testimony, and are studying the Beast with somewhat less hostile interest. However the crowd seems upset - more than normal.
Gkirkhan leaves the smithy, grumbling about teetotaling dwarves and half-hearted plans to make sitting rather uncomfortable for said dwarves.
Wood is still concerned for the creature. He prepares a written statement on the power of magic and how can have caused all the things attributed to the beast.
Due to the stress and importance, it is not close to his best research. After a consultation with Eva and Vert, they decide not to present it.
Gkirkhan is approached by a familiar figure; a tall, ugly Ulfin man - the 'giant' from the circus you helped.
"Our ringmaster sent me to warn you. A lot of people are upset about the possibility of the Beast 'getting off'. There's talk of just attacking the courthouse, dragging the Beast out, and burning it on their own. Be careful. A lot of folks think you're to blame for helping the Beast, as well. If we hear anything more, we'll let you know."
"Tank hyu. Hy guess Hy need to go dere."
Gkirkhan hurries back to the courthouse.
"Lemme run down da evidence I kin remember so ya can presen' it to da court. Hmm, da Beast was liked by da kids, we got a picture o' dem playin' wid 'im, an' iz cryin' sounds like laughin'. Da kids was wrait's, not ghosts, an' da Beast can't do tha' (dat we know of, anyhoo). We foun' an' killed da head wrait', who also 'ad da missin' kids' bodies aroun' 'im. We's got da results o' da Speak wid Dead from da Pharasmic temple, an' dey said it weren' da Beast. One o' da kids died AFTER da Beast was run off. An' we hadda break inta dat one 'ouse, which da Beast wasn' in, 'cuz it wasn't broke inta before us (maybe tone dat back a bit, tho). Easy case."
After the Pharasmin testimony and you conclude your presentation, the court is adjourned for the day. It's about 2 PM.
Barrister Kaple is rather happy about the way things are going and manages to provide you with the information for the last of the three capitol crimes the Beast is accused of without stammering.
"The final crime the Beast is charged with is an arson attack on the asylum of Sanctuary on Karb Isle, resulting in the fiery deaths of Sanctuary's administrator, Doctor Brada and all of his patients and the blinding of the Doctor's assistant, Karl. Karb Isle and the remains of Sanctuary are about 3 miles north of her along the lesser Moutray river, along the western side. It's more an isthmus than an island."
He pauses to take a sip of water and review some papers. "Karl is the major witness, claiming to have seen the Beast coming out of the burning building just before he passed out from the smoke and lost his eyes to the burns he received. He's currently living in a small cottage by the river. Just a warning, he prides himself on his independence, so be careful."
Zhiden sighed in irritation, "Did the law enforcement do any investigation at all, or did they just charge the beast with everything they had that was unsolved when they found him?"
Without really waiting for a response, he began to gather what he would need for infiltration. Finally he added, "I'm going to look into the surgical kit, does anyone wish to acccompany me, perhaps the charming method?"
"Weel, we got two 'r three charmers in da group, dependin' on da gender o' da charm-ee. I ain't one o' dem, tho."
"Unless dey iz ov de vimminly type, Hy iz more likely to cuz a fight."
From the way Gkirkhan says it, he may want to cause a fight.
@Zhiden: Radniche's cramped shop is piled with skeletons, pickled things in jars, and various alchemical components. He's indignant that you might be accusing his customers of any crimes and notes he prides himself on keeping his customers identities private, as they wish.
He also tends to pull out various overpriced items and talk them up during the conversation.
Wood pulls out 10gp as everyone talks.
"I am sure this will handle any administrative fees."
Zhiden watched incredulously as Wood offered the man a bribe.. He shouldn't have been surprised, but he could help but feel it was a little dirty to be offering a bribe. He decided to see if he could help. He suggested the man take the money, because obstructing an investigation could be very serious business.
The man ignores Zhiden and turns to Wood. "I'm sure we can do some business, but...my costs are high. I'm going to need at least 15 more gold for that."
Zhiden sighed, and counted out the money, where the man couldn't see how much he had, of course, and set it out on the counter. After he relayed the requested information, Zhiden pulled Wood away, out of earshot, and whispered something to him, standing so that his back was facing the merchant.
Wood explains the situation.
"I can easily handle a 10 gold fee off the books. Any more and you would have to agree to testify in the trial of the beast. Are you sure you want to sign up for that?"
"I don't think that such important and well-connected merchants could possibly be linked to the crimes of that creature. And, what fee? You're merely purchasing a product or two from my stock. My prices are my own. If you feel you're being overcharged, take it to the guild or shop elsewhere."
The group meets up back at the courthouse to share their information.
Current options:
1: investigate the arson the Beast is accused of.
2: investigate these merchants, Vorstag & Grime.
3: wait for an attack on the courthouse that may not happen until after dark.
Pick one.
"Weel, we got time fer both iff'n I read t'is map right. Ain't far ta th' remains o' dis asylum. Or we kin talk ta dis blind witness, mebbe set 'im up wid a cleric ta cure 'is malady."
Rova glances over at Eva, and adds "Assumin' ya can't do it yerself."
"Well, if past experience is any indication, I think I would much prefer to look into the merchants, but if you think you need me, then I suppose I could suffer through a little more terror." Zhiden spoke with a sort of hopeful despair, as though he knew what he wanted them to saw, and also knew that they were unlikely go go along with it.
"Mehbe ve should send Zhiden und sumvun to de merchant's. Rova, vould hyu like to go?"
Imrijka sighs. "Will go let guards know of threat. Best go check on Sanctuary first. After all, not supposed to kill locals just because act stupid. Even if very tempting. Besides, once trial over, can find bodysnatchers. Pharasma demand."
Those who track down Karl find a friendly, independent human male, wearing a bandaged over burned out eyes.
"Welcome, strangers. Come in, break bread and have some wine. How can I help you?"
Wood accompanies the hobbit to the merchants hoping to be part of an 'exciting camper's. "Lead the way. Let me know if you need to disappear."
On the way, Wood provides a dry description of how the invisibility spell works.
To the merchants:
A tall, iron chimney belches yellow clouds into the sky from this small brick factory. Large leaded windows arch in a dozen places on its outer walls, but they are so begrimed as to be opaque. A large gate opens into an inner courtyard beneath a sign proudly proclaiming "Vorstag & Grine, Chymic Works". the building has two floors and a tower, topped by a lightning rod.
As soon as you get within 60 feet of the place you can smell the acrid fumes coming from the chimney.
A twenty-foot-high stone wall, topped with broken glass, surrounds a small courtyard before the workshop. A heavy oak gate bars entry beneath the sign. A bell hangs by one side of the gate.
"Wow, really? I thought it was all just, you know, magic. Zhiden said with a shrug, in response to Wood's explanation of how the invisibility spell worked. He stopped in front of the entrance, far enough back as to not be overheard and said, "So, for the record, what exactly are we here for? Do we think they were involved in the murder in the swamp, or that they were robbed? Or are we just trying to find anything incriminating in general?"
"I'd radder head off ta da asylum m'self. Shouldn't take too long, since it's a burnt out ruin. Jus' poke about an' fin' wha' we kin ta get da beast off. Only real evidence I heard about was dis guy's testimony. An' 'is description is very rough. So rough in fac', it coulda been anyone close, includin' me. Dat's why we gotta get 'is eyes fixed, so's 'e can confirm it wasn't our boy."
Wood explains, "We are here to get anything we can to help the beast. I will act the all powerful wizard and you can do all the talking as my agent. If we can't find anything that way, I will make you invisible so you can snoop around."
Wood reaches into his pack and puts on the ornate wizard robes he purchased to impress the town of Ravengro. Some may say the pointy hat was too much, but then they would be those that favored the subtle.
Zhiden nodded, "So long as I don't have to bow and scrape. I got over a near fatal case of that not too long ago, and I don't want to risk another bout."
Zhiden headed toward the gate and rang the bell. He adopted the most outrageous persona he could think for whoever came to investigate. "Dear sir!" He announced loudly, gesturing toward Wood. "I am called Zhiden, and this is my employer, Hartigan the Magnificent! We have come to speak with Master Vorkstag, about a matter of grave importance! Can we come in?" Zhiden had grown up under the assumption that people equated halflings with irritating children, so he saw no reason why he couldn't have some fun with the stereotype. He did, however, feel no small amount of shame that the first name on his lips when he needed to make one up was the pompous fool he'd escaped from.
A gnome wearing a dark outfit and a leather apron appears at an upper entry above a loading bay and says "I'm sorry, we're rather busy at this time. We're not accepting any new clients." He then turns and heads back into the darkness of the upper loading bay.
"You wish to guard courthouse, but is guard's job. I now want to see what is true here, will go with Rova to find evidence for final day of trial tomorrow."
She pauses to look at those of you staying to guard the Beast. 'Be careful if attack does come. Townsfolk likely drunk, no armor, just sticks, torches, and rocks for weapons. If you kill, likely be jailed, not able to attend trial. Judges could dismiss all previous evidence and convict Beast. So, be warned."
Zhiden paused for a moment, looking a little crestfallen that his ploy hadn't worked so easily. He recovered quickly though, "Oh, no sir, we are not here on business. The Magnificent Hartigan has been retained to use his vast powers of divination to assist in a missing persons case, one that has developed into a murder case, I'm sorry to say."
Zhiden looked around, as though he was concerned about being overheard, and then lowered his voice as he added, "Hartigan has traced an item used in the murder back to Master Vorkstag, and would like to ask some questions about it. If you wish to turn us away, I suppose we will have to make a formal request, which I suppose could be very embarrasing, not to mention costly."
Zhiden is so good, Wood really believes his name is Hartigan!
@ Wood & Zhiden: you are standing at the gate entry. The gnome who called to you is on the second floor level.
"I said, we're not interested at this time. Begone. If you need more encouragement...Fido!"
From a kennel in the southeast corner of the yard steps a strange, silent, muzzled animal that stalks to the end of its 20' chain, swinging its head from side to side, tracking the target its master gave it.
"Peachy."
The white wizard looks unhappy at being challenged.
"Very well, I suppose your master will be very unhappy when he learns of what you have done." with that, he turned to Wood and nodded before walking away. When they were out of earshot of the gnome, Zhiden added, "I suppose we get to do this the fun way."
@Zhiden: without shouting, you were never in earshot. He was in the second floor doorway.
@Gkirkhan &Eva: after you've been there an hour, the captain of the jail guard comes downstairs and says "There are rumors of an assault on the prison tonight. We're going into lockdown at 6 P.M. After that, no one comes in and no one goes out until 6 A.M."
He turns to the two of you. "That goes for you folks, too. Once the doors are locked, you're stuck in here with your -buddy- until morning. Your call."
"Hyu'z vorried Hy needz a light? Hy kin seez just fine in de dark und mein buddy vill be no trouble."
Gkirkhan gives the guard a cold, hard smile, the kind of smile someone hoping for someone to make the wrong move makes. Once the guard is gone, Gkirkhan's face goes dark. He continues to watch the hallway, but his words are to the Beast.
"Hy know don't hyu didn't keel dose keeds. Vot dey became..."
Suddenly, his vision goes blurry as tears well in his eyes.
Wood is discouraged, and casts a spell on Zhiden making him disappear from sight and returns to distract the golem watchdog and the gnome.
He casts again, and a small creature of fire appears.
Calling out in a loud voice,
"Master Hartigan, master of fire, is calling on the professionals of this enterprise to meet him. Do not refuse me."
As the wizard thinks back to his childhood, he calls out again:
"Red rover, red rover, I call the gnome I saw in the window over."
The creature of fire stands next to the wizard wearing an imperious frown.
@Wood & Zhiden: are you sure about this? The golem hound will be able to spot Zhiden - it's a dog (scent).
Also, you got a description of the owners...Grine is a red-haired gnome. You've been ordered off the property by the owner. If you continue, it's trespass and since you've lied about your identity and gone in invisible, trespass with intent to commit a crime.
I repeat, are you sure you want to do this?
@Gkirkhan and Eva: check the map. You are in an underground chamber with 15' high ceilings. The only entries are either set of stairs, both of which open into the actual courtroom.
Wood has a sudden vision of Zhiden clapped in irons for trespassing and their credibility destroyed as the Beast is executed.
Wood reluctantly cancels his spell.
"My friend, it is not worth it."