Both Calli and Judd spot the familiar decorative pouch that undoubtedly contains another of those mysterious grey orbs on the bloated monster's belt, in addition to a large sealed pouch that seems to have been made out of one of these creature's skin, bound tightly at the top with sinew. It's heavy and akward to carry but shouldn't be a problem if that's all someone is carrying.
"If we can save this place we should, Grundy needs a tannery and cleaning this place is sure to be easier than building it anew."
Taking a step back into the corner, Marconis waits and watches to make sure the others get out safely before moving down the stairs.
With a deep breath and several moments to collectively focus, the cleric would call out to Milani, asking for her aid in stoping the spread of foul things and helping the townsfolk.
He conjured up a small font of water aimed amazingly well to help douse the spreading flames.
As Celen's waters dampen the flames Judd stamps out a few remaining sparks, "By Grundinnar's hammer that was foul. But we did it! Its going to be a horrible task cleaning this place out, we should ensure that was everything. How on Golarion did these things get here?"
"How about we fetch mo... the Sheriff and maybe Tabitha if she will come? We need to discover what these things are and where they came from. Perhaps we can search for some kind of trail? That bloated thing must have left some form of sign of its passage right?" Judd says, eyes still locked on the grotesque thing.
Celen's conjured water quickly puts of the fire, and not a moment too soon. The still smouldering floor-boards put out a chemical smell that makes your eyes water, and for a brief moment you wonder if you'll ever smell anything good again.
"I suppose we should split up, a couple of us stay here and a couple go to fetch The Sheriff and Tabitha? I would not want people seeing these things and panicking before we know what is going on. I'll fetch the Sheriff if nobody minds, maybe see if she can have someone sent to get Tabitha."
If there are no objections Judd runs into town seeking Sheriff Stonebarrow, and taking her aside to talk in private.
"Mum, er, Sheriff I think you ought to come and have a look at what we found in The Tannery House. You maybe ought to send someone to fetch Tabitha there to. We found these things... Twisted monsters, and some bizarre stuff. They felt... Wrong, made me sick and clouded my thoughts. Then one of them near burned the house down, but Celen managed to put it out. I may be a lunk head, but I know bad business when I see it, not evil but twisted and wrong."
"Are we going to camp out here when Judd gets back, or are we for traveling towards the next crime scene?"
The Sheriff's Office is further outside of Grundy's main street than one might think, it's to the south-west near the West Sellen built into the soft ground of a large hill. The main office, where Letka spends most of her time when the town isn't under assault by dozens of problems is small and cramped, full of mismatched furniture with a low ceiling that is uncomfortable for the taller races. It lends a claustrophobic vibe to the surprisingly large number of solid dwarf forged prison cells in the room beyond that are currently full of the rowdy day-drinkers sleeping off their inebriation.
Letka sits floating in a veritable sea of paper-work, most full of her tiny meticulous dwarven script. Despite only seeing her a few hours before it somehow feels like days. She listens to your report with the same serious, quiet face she listens to every citizens report. She begins her response with an almost automatic comment you've heard hundreds of times, though it does make you feel better, a bit of normalcy after so much strangeness.
"Judd, what have I told you about self deprecation? It is a useful tactic for decreasing tension in social engagements, though increased and prevalent use results in jaundiced perceptions of mental characteristics..."
Your mother sighs, taking her spectacles from her face to rub the bridge of her nose. Her dark eyes seem lost in thought for a moment, but as always, she soon has a plan.
"This news is far outside of projections, I am glad to see though that you prevailed with no lasting damage. I trust the others are safe as well? I am glad to hear they were of some assistance. I met with Alphonz earlier to discuss the condition of Dirk's apprentices, he is currently questioning them now, perhaps later we may garner more information on that front. For now I will meet you at the Tannery with Tabitha, she has proven to be well versed on numerous extra-planar and magical phenomena, her assistance will prove valuable, thank you for the suggestion."
-
Inside the large tightly wrapped bad are several now familiar looking items, as well as one eerily familiar looking one.
There are several orbs of varying color, though nothing you haven't seen before. There are several small fetishes like those found in the living quarters below, those these seem much more carefully and expertly crafted, some even seem extremely old. The fetishes are mostly of animals and humanoid figures, made of several different types of materials, their quality is impressive despite their unusual make, and many details such as feathers and floppy tails can be seen. The last item, wrapped heavily in several layers of this unusual thick skin is an ancient wooden rod, carved with several old arcane symbols down it's length and decorated with fur, feathers, and fangs, strung on leather cording. The Rod is so old only it's inherent magic seems to be keeping it from falling to dust, and even without any magical talent, a faint hum of power can be felt when holding it. Whats strange is that the markings, and the rod itself look Kellid in nature.
Blue Orbs x2
Red Orbs x2
Numerian Coins x4
Rod x1
This is an ancient Suzerain Scepter that was given to the ruler of a tribe as proof of their right to rule.
He too glanced at the items they found, the rod drew great interest but despite his knowledge and studies on the thing, he was drawing a complete blank. The fatigue of the day and his week long lack of proper sleep probably had a bit to do with it as well.
"as important as it would be to get to the bottom of the towns troubles quickly, Im almost spent on magical energy. Hopefully the Sheriff and Judd return soon, those... things give me the creeps."
he admitted now that the danger was apparently passed, He was having a hard time looking at their remains. It had to be something from the meteor, or caused by the meteor, it was too much of a coincidence that all these troubles were starting now after it had fallen.
He also tried to hold out hope that somehoew that vile beast was the one responsible for his daughters nightmares... though She cried about a bug thing... disgusting as they were... those creatures didn't look like bugs to him...But still. Hope was kindled a bit there.
He knew he had probably one more good channel in him, but he held off of it still, wanting to make sure they weren't continuing on before he used it.
Judd's brow furrows, "Mum, I hit stones for a living I wouldn't know a prevalent from a normal valent. And while I am not sure I catch your meaning properly, about jaundice, it seems like you mean people might think I'm thick? I don't think that's a bad thing, being underestimated can be mighty handy, and it lets you see more of how people really are."
He nods, "Anyway I'll head back and wait on you. Don't be too long its not pretty in there."
With that he heads back to the tannery, stopping off at the bakery to pick up a half dozen sweet apple pastries from Manda who seems oddly flustered by his "ruffled appearance".
Marconis takes a look at the strange rod when Cellen finishes his own examination, turning it slowly between his fingers to try to get a feel for it.
"I am afraid I am lost on this one."
Judd arrives back and offers everyone a pastrie, away from the gross stuff, "So the Sheriff and Tabkitha should be on their way. I guess once they have looked at things we can wrap those monsters in some of the furs here and burn them? Maybe the bear to?"
"Thank you Judd," Marconis says accepting the treat. "I normally try to stay away from sweets, but after our recent endeavor, I think I can indulge a little."
"Yes, think we've earned it," Judd agrees, [b]"Manda may be a rather confused girl, but she sure can bake. I had to ban her bringing them over to the Workshop because me and the boys were getting tubby."
Sheriff Letka and Tabitha arrive later than expected, Ms. Almick looking tired and grumpy, a heavy cotton shawl pulled tight around her light frame despite the weather.
The two will immediately set to the task of trying to identify the creatures and where they might have come from, intently examining the corpses and the weapons and tools they had on them. Letka views the creatures with guarded interest, while Tabitha scuttles about grumbling to herself, occasionally poking one of the corpses or removing bits of skin and teeth and placing them inside of an ancient looking leather bag she keeps tied tightly at her side. After several minutes, the two will gather with you all to discuss their findings, Tabitha plopping herself onto one of the uncomfortable looking stools the Tanners kept lying around.
"Well, what they are I cannot say."
Tabitha Almick will begin, her normally shaky voice is smooth, clear, and strangely melodic. She normally keeps herself to one or two word sentences much like the Mayor, and many of you realize this is perhaps the first time you've heard her say more than a few words in passing.
"But I believe I can tell you what they were. The totems and symbology they carry resemble those of an ancient Kellid tribe that travelled the plains and forests of southern Numeria ages ago, the same barbaric tribes whose descendants now settle in Starfall, the capital of Numeria. These creatures, I believe, are the descendants of that very tribe. As hard as it is to imagine, those humans were somehow changed drastically through generations into the creatures you see before you. Precisely how this came to happen is beyond the realm of the arcane, and thus outside of my expertise, though my magics have allowed me to discern that my theory is at least partially correct."
"These things bear a... power in them, and on them in the form of those stones. A power I think that was not meant for this world, or at least one that the forces I wield violently opposes. Those grey stones were important to them, but I know not why, they hold great danger in them that much I can feel."
For a moment, Tabitha will hold her right arm grasping it tightly, her face contorted in pain, looking for all the world to be a tired aging woman.
"Ugh, damn these old bones. My arm always flares up when there's a storm coming. But, that is what I have found if you have any questions."
Letka will nod at Tabitha's assessment, her lips set into a scowl.
"I fear I know little about these beings save that I am confident these creatures were responsible for the murder of Sandra Jheru and the post modem mutilation of Belloo Flungnugget. These creature's claws match those found on the victim's bodies, and their weapons were responsible for those impossibly thin and precise cuts. Of course nothing you described matched the wound that initially killed Belloo, nor Dirk or Kahlil. How curious... I pray there are not more of these creatures hiding about Grundy, or perhaps there are different species?"
Letka scratches her head, and Tabitha shrugs, but it's clear the mystery isn't solved yet.
"Then, I guess we are to investigate the third crime scene next. Should we make camp, or rest up at our own homes before heading there? I don't know about the rest of you, but I am going to need to rest a bit to recover my energies. To accentuate his point, Marconis will hold up a hand that will crackle slightly with arcane energy.
"I admit, I do not know. I don't know how these creatures even developed without anyone knowing of their existence. But their arrival now cannot be mere consequence."
Tabitha says, her pale brown eyes lingering on the corpse of the bloated king.
"You have more than earned respite, I cannot imagine the horrors you were forced to endure here, and I am so sorry for unintentionally throwing you unknowingly into these creature's den. I don't know why they chose this place of all things to base themselves, but you are correct Mr. D'monius, continuing upon this investigation is sure to unearth answers to the questions your discoveries have created. I cannot fathom what else lies in wait, but you have prevailed here today. And I believe you can do so again."
Letka says, wiping off her spectacles on her collar that pokes through her shining half-plate.
"I thank you for saving this building as well, and from what Alphonz tells me the apprentice tanners are undamaged from the prolonged exposure to whatever mental stimuli they were exposed to. They expressed great interest in returning to their profession and laying their master to rest. I'll have Alphonz gather a group of volunteers to clean the building and prepare it for operation again. You may gather anything of use or value from these... Wretched Ones, it's the least I can offer, and I'm sure you may find some items of use."
Letka composes herself and helps Tabitha to her feet.
"Are there anymore questions for Ms. Almick before I return her home? Will you be headed south, camping on the road or do you intend to spend the night in town?"
I wouldn't mind spending the night back at home, but camping out on the road makes us closer to the next site, I'll leave it up to the uh... full time deputies."
The aasimar offered still trying to take all the information in. Perhaps It was the assaults upon his mind from earlier, or just fatigue, or worry or a mix of all those but for the life of him he couldn't fathom the nature of the beasts or how they came to be.
Judd frowms not understanding much of what Tabitha said, "So there are a whole tribe, a whole city of these things? What of the the bear my impression was that it had been twisted from a normal beast? Oh and can you tell us anything about the properties of these items we found Tabitha M'am?"
"Yes."
Tabitha will say simply.
"Somewhere out there is an entire tribe of these Wretched Ones as Letka called them. Perhaps several if their leader held that few fetishes, assuming the old ways were kept relatively intact of course."
She keeps rubbing her right hand, musing for a moment.
"As for the bear... it sounds as if went mad, those things happen sometimes. But for it to lose its mind and remain in that same spot, a spot you were then lead to by some trail? That seems to be far too much of a coincidence..."
She'll look slightly offended at being asked to identify the strange items, her scowl lines long and deep on her face.
"I don't know what any of those things are, but if you bring that stick by my shop later perhaps I'll take a closer look. For now it's getting dark and I've been away from my home one too many times today."
Addressing Tabitha, Marconis says, "I have a theory on how they may have gained their current state while remaining unnoticed this long, but to prove or disprove we would have to examine the crater." Turning to his companions, "I may be able to figure out the rod, given time, and a safe place to activate it. Aside from that, the only thing I really want is a couple of those Numerian coins, to display at my shop. Once we figure out what the rod does, I would be fine with giving it up to whoever it would best serve." Marconis says, with a hint of excitement while mentioning the coins. Looking to Dion, "It amuses me, sometimes others too."
Letka will say her goodbyes and will lead the obviously cranky old woman back home barring any more questions. With the days still long, there is plenty of daylight left to continue on back to Grundy proper, or head east towards the other murder sights. With the sun finally beginning to wane the light spreads into the Tannery, piercing the almost mystical atmosphere it held. You all can gather up what you want or need, collecting the strange and alien artifacts these creatures held. Even without getting them appraised, you know Numerian artifact can sell for small fortunes, so at the very least being a deputy certainly helped to pad your coin purses today.
But questions still remain. Three deaths still go unexplained, death from being cut in half by something hot, death by massive exposure to some strange disease, and death by something massively strong and flexible.
The Wretched Ones didn't display anything that could have resulted in those injuries. Why were they here? Why did they they choose the Tannery as their base of operation? What were their goals? Many more questions have arisen, but it was clear that if they hadent been rooted out, there would have been even more deaths. Taking solice in the fact that you helped make Grundy a safer place, you all head out from the Tannery and the horrors it once contained.
As they walk Judd is silent for a while thinking and then proposes, "That was too close, if we are to be fighting such things - and there seems a good chance we are - then we need better equipment. I propose we sell these objects and start a special constables fund to better outfit ourselves. I know these boxes are not much good to me, but they might be good to some World Wound bound Crusader. What do you say?"
"A fund sounds good, I could do with replacing some ammo." Marconis says, patting his bolt case. "Not to mention, I have been thinking about learning how to enchant weapons, which takes money. This could be a boon to all deputies, not to mention eventually helping my shop, and thus my family."
Walking back to the town proper takes a good forty minutes, but the fresh air does wonders, and by the time you see Skiff Street and the south of Grundy, the horrors of the Tannery seem like a distant memory. The sun is finally, lazily sinking beyond the horizon and the heat of the day is giving way to a surprisingly cool night, just a precursor of the winter to come. Skiff Street is surprisingly even busier than you left it earlier, though as you pass through, the rest of Grundy seems to have settled down a great deal with most of the travelers and fortune seekers having found lodgings or a place to drink.
Few people talk about it, and even fewer people seem to realize it, but lately Grundy hasn't been the kind of town that people walk around at night in. It's hard to believe that your town, your home, has become so dangerous. And you few know exactly how dangerous it's become.
Each of you can split up, deciding upon a time and place to meet tomorrow to continue the expedition, and heading off to your respective homes.
He was glad to see his home, though his heart still bled sadness for his daughters condition. He didn't think the creatures at the tannery were particularly buglike, but he found himself hoping that they were responsible for her night terrors. He found himself staring at his home and shop for a moment, just taking it all in, his minds eyes remembering when they first decided to settle here, when they had bought the building grand dreams of making it home.
He went in of course, to tell his wife of the days events, of the things they had found and fought, of what they had discovered... and worse what they had not.
Judd bids his fellow constables good night, before heading back to the Workshop. He finds the place empty save for Tungst who is sitting cross legged upon the floor reading an enormous book entitled Philisophical Entropy and the Distribution of Enlightenment,
"Uhhh, Tungst, just that title makes my head hurt. Have you not got a wife to go home to?" Judd laughs, smiling down at the half-orc.
Tungst holds a finger up, continues reading for a minute, then sighs and carefully sets the tassel in between the pages and closes the volume,
"Evening Judd, that time already? Got lost. How did you constabling go, can we rest easy in our beds?"
"Ah, I am not sure how much I am supposed to say, better check with Mum before I go running my mouth. But be careful, there are bad things around. Keep your doors bolted and if you see anything suspicious you take Carlia and run here don't fight. Stop in and tell Shemish the same will you? Badly in back?"
Heading out to the back he strips off his armour and pours a few buckets of water from the well over himself seeing Badly at work grooming the donkeys and talking fond nonsense to them as usual.
"Ev eve, even, Judd."
Judd repeats his message to Tungst and then gathers up his armour and a wire brush and sets to work cleaning it and his hammers. After setting everything agleam and oiling it carefully he carries the lot up to his rooms setting them up on the battered old arming dummy he long ago dubbed Mister Splinters.
Smiling he sees a large still steaming pie set upon his great irregular round table - made from the stump of the massive oak they had to uproot when they expanded the graveyard. Honestly Manda must really think I am simple - I can feed myself. Lovely girl though, if she was not so easily confused and I was not such a lunk headed ogre...
Taking a generous slice of pie, some corn bread and some dried squash he eats and then heads to bed for his first real sleep in a week.
Calli-
As you round the street towards your home, you spot a large shape taking up the doorway. Leaning against the painted wood of you door is a large man, easily seven feet tall and covered with dark hair. His thick mustache melds into his short beard which melds into his sideburns which meld into his thick eyebrow. The top of his head is of course bald, though it's currently covered with a small festive fez the color of spoiled wine. His arms are thick with muscle and more hair, his plain tunic held tightly under his massive gut by a bright gold cord, and his long striped vest is tucked under the cord as well. His pants are as black as the night around him, but his huge wooden shoes are practically statues, carved and painted in the form of white birds with rainbow tails of various feathers that stick from his heels like wings.
As you approach to withing view, he'll rush foward, still far down the street with his arms open wide in what will a completely unavoidable and rib-crushing hug. He'll cry out,
"Little Dove! Of course this is you! HAHAHA! I had heard you were here da? So of course I must come! It is I, Bolhrick!"
And of course, it is Bolhrick. When last you saw him, Bolhrick Garkmav was the set and prop master for the Glory of the Risen Rose, and one of the most stable and practical men you have ever met (his fashion sense not withstanding). The Glory of the Risen Rose troupe owes much of it's existence to the hulking man and his incredibly skillful hands, handy at just about any task Bolhrick kept the Rose's wagons moving and had an almost supernatural ability to assemble the most life-like and vivid props in no time at all. His sets alone could bring people to tears, or have audiences gasping in horror. But it wasn't his talent that endeared you to Bolhrick, it was the quiet dignity and beauty of his soul. Gregarious and friendly, generous and loyal, what Bolhrick lacked in physical beauty, it was clear to any that met him that The Eternal Rose had blessed this man in other ways. And at the very least he was a blast to drink with.
"It has been some time since I have seen you has it not!?"
His booming voice echoes slightly and you can hear dogs begin to bark in the distance.
"The troupe has been lesser since you have left Little Dove, but I say 'Bah, at least there is more for me to drink'! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
He begins laughing so hard you worry he might pass out at his own joke.
"But fate has lead to us staying here for a time, so I say enough drowning in wood shavings and paint chippings, I must drown myself in the finest drink this fine town has to offer! But for this I must drink with someone special! So da, here I am! And here you are! And here is our drink!"
He says, holding up a huge barrel holding dozens of clanking glasses.
Celen-
By the time you reach your home, the 'closed' sign is firmly in place, and the steady stream of customers you've had this last week is now dried up. Inside, your wife has transformed her throne of pillows into a sturdy fort in the center of the room. She sits in the center of the construction, flailing in vain with a pillow out one of the arrow slits, her pregnant stomach refusing to allow her better access. Your daughter is currently fully into a successful siege of the unprepared fort, her dollies arrayed in prefect formation around the structure and standing ready for new orders. Jyacynth is currently running forward at full force, her high pitched squealing war cry undoubtedly bringing fear to the forts occupants. She plows into the less than sturdy forward wall but promptly bounces off, flying into one of several pillows scattered about the floor. Undaunted, she readies her assault anew, flying into the pillows at top speed ignoring the futile swings of the forts occupant, and manages to blow out the forward wall, allowing her dollies to advance into the structure. Before her cunning plan can be enacted she turns excitedly towards the door, cramming her hand into her mouth she then screams out,
"DADDIE! Da-da-da-da-da eeeehe he!!"
Somehow completely unimpeded by the pudgy hand in her mouth. She runs up holding her free hand up to you, clearly wanting to be held by her father. Hepzibah bursts free from the pillows like a breaching whale, sending them flying across the floor. She stands trying in vain to rub the creaks from her back and whispers,
"Oh thank the gods..."
She smiles lovingly towards you, fluttering her long eyelashes and flashing a brilliant smile with her too-sharp canines. You immediately realize she has work for you.
"Well look who's back so soon! And not a moment too soon, as someone's daughter decided it would be an excellent idea to break into our stash of old sheep livers and roll around with them in the yard."
Your daughter will punctuate that sentence with a well timed giggle. Well that would explain the scent, which is far and away from the worst thing you have smelled today.
"She needs a bath, the trash needs taken out, the vials need scrubbed, that batch of new Blackwater needs powdered and separated, and the hares I left out need salted. I'm going to bed, my feet are killing me. Don't let Jyacynth stay up too late, and hurry up to bed yourself. Love you!"
Despite her mockingly sweet tone, she shuffles off to bed obviously exhausted from a day of keeping shop and watching a 3 year old. She'll smile back to you as she reaches the doorway, and it's amazing how even through everything her eyes still have have that same sparkle they did when you two had just met, that same sparkle that still is meant just for you. She'll let out a loud yawn and shuffle off without a further word towards your bed.
Marconis-
Arriving back home you find the shop closed tightly for the night. The shelves look unsurprisingly bare as you enter the house, and as you ascend the stairs you can hear the sounds of dinner going on, normally a big to-do in any family, and yours is certainly no exception, though it is strange that Shiloh would begin it so late in the day.
As you walk through the doorway into the room, you can see your sisters sitting about the table talking excitedly about some new silk a Qadiran trader brought in while you mother flies about the table, filling their plates with food despite their constant pleas for her to sit and eat. They turn excitedly and welcome you when you approach, Silvy even leaping up to hug you. Although they act normally, your mother yelling at you about being late for dinner and Pralia scoffing at the state of your clothing, you can see in their eyes that they were very worried about you.
"Well, I suppose you'll be wanting some ham then! Oh, and next you'll be asking for some potatoes! Ha, here we go, you're even going to beg me for some of my fresh vegetables!? The ones I guarded from those blasted scavengers all day in the hot sun! I'll bet you even have the nerve to get me to save you a piece of Anna's delicious cake!? Well I never!"
Shiloh will "mumble" loudly to herself as she runs around the kitchen piling food onto a plate. Of course even though her exasperated mother tone is enough to grate your very soul, her wide smile makes it clear she is actually just glad to have her son home and safe.
"It's good to see you brother, or should I say Master Deputy *flurry of giggles*. I hear you took care of several drunk... er..."
Silvy will say sweetly flushing as both of her sister yell out,
"Silvy!"
Obviously bringing up a topic she was wasn't supposed to talk about, Silvy will rush over to help Shiloh carry over a pile of food that could feed the entire 4th crusade.
"...I was only worried..."
Silvy will say quietly.
"Yes well I'm sure that lout only got what was coming to him...and hopefully he won't remember everything..."
Pralia will say with a huff.
"Girls that's enough. Now hush and let your brother eat, he's obviously tired and starving."
Shiloh will say with an air of finality, smiling brightly at you through her silver locks that always manage to escape her bun.
"Thank you," Marconis says, "the day has indeed been rough. But look what I have to put on display in the shop, Numerian coins." Marconis says, pulling the coins from a pouch in his back pack, which he then hangs in it's usual spot in the corner, along with his cloak and wide brimmed hat. "I am thinking of getting a display case for them, so I can put them side by side to show off both sides of the coin. Also, in the morning I will need to add about a dozen books to the list of supplies to be ordered. Since the river rout is shut down, we will have to send for these by land, but they are essential for my studies." Marconis will visit with his family for a couple hours, talking about his day, and asking about theirs, then head to bed a little early.
Dion-
Heading back to your workshop you can see several people still milling about in the craftshops as the sun finally finishes sinking into the horizon, many of them adventurers begging shop owners to stay open a bit longer so they can stock up on supplies, but some are clearly travelers who are stuck in town thanks to the blockade looking for something to do. Your workshop remains closed, your fellow tenant still gone, though knowing exactly what to look for you can spot that your door has been cleverly sabotaged.
Well, better sabotaged than last time. All it will take is a severing of the thin wire running down... wait, three more wires attach at seperate intervals... and a piece of fabric glued to increase friction... even a false panel almost seamlessly built in, clever. After a solid minute of breaking down the triggering mechanism through dozens of redundancies and red-herrings you head inside. Where of course Violet is sitting innocently, balanced on top of your drafting table. As soon as you enter she looks at you with large eyes and screams,
"NOTHING'S HAPPENING HERE!"
She juts out her jaw, plants her hands on her hips, and mentally dares you to challenge her obvious claim. Two seconds of silence will blow away her resolve, and she'll shout out,
"Oh yeah! Don't believe me! What you wanna fight big guy!? Get him guys!"
She'll snap her fingers, pointing to you ask if directing a spell or a well trained army of hedgehogs, but after a solid twenty seconds it's clear nothing is going to happen.
"..."
"..."
"...REALLY! Come on, we worked on this for like, ever!"
Throwing the cap she uses as a disguise on the floor in disgust she'll shout out,
"You win this one! But I'll get you next time!"
She'll hop off the table, landing on the floor and wander back over to the corner of spare supplies you let her work with as if nothing happened. Of course her weird display was only a distraction so those Imps could escape unseen, after all they get quite a tongue lashing from Violet if they're seen in your place. She'll happily greet you for real, her tone light and playful, and you can't help but be glad she's here to greet you.
"Well, looks like you've had an interesting day, I hear you even found something interesting in the Tannery. Something about a diseased monkey? *Sigh* I suppose children were a poor choice for an information network."
The adjoining room with your bedroom is just beyond the door, but it seems Violet won't let you sleep without squeezing a bit more information out of you. If you weren't sure, you would swear she seems a bit worried though...
Calli-
"HAHAHAHAHA! I am thinking your reputation is already gone if I could find this much drink!"
Bohlrick shouts happily, hefting the barrel to create a cacophony of clinks.
"But I am sure they will not last long! Come, I will tell you of our friends and our travels!"
With that he follows you inside for a night of drinking and revelry. Eventually, the night fades into vague memories of stories, laughs, handstands, ghost hunting, pan handling, actually handling pans, throwing up, backflips, fist fights, agriculture, fly fishing, cow tipping, sculpting, and several more things you're sure will surface in the days to come. It sure was fun having Bohlrick back in town, and hopefully soon you can meet the whole gang again.
Marconis-
Before you head off to bed, Anna will stop you in the hallway, already changed into her nightgown. She'll set you with a serious look, and speak in an even more serious tone.
"Marconis, I... I know you're set on displaying those coins but... Numeria conciders all star relics to be theirs, and well... I've heard some pretty terrible rumors about what Technic League. People say they'll burn whole towns to the ground just for hiding even a single piece of metal! You might want to concider giving those coin things to the Technic League representatives in town. But, either way I trust you, be careful brother."
Marconis will let out a long sigh, "I suppose you are right Anna, I will take them to the league tomorrow, maybe I can get permission to display them as art, if not, then get paid for their retrieval." Marconis will head to bed with a saddened look, knowing Anna was probably right. I can not win for losing, this league does not sound like the friendliest group.
The next morning Judd rises early and heads to the yard where he fills up the massive stone bath trough from the well and takes a chilly soak. After that, he heads into the workshop and checks the task board, leaving a few notes for Badly about the days jobs in chalk.
Next he heads across the street to the bakery and picks up a loaf of fresh bread having a puzzling conversation about Manda becoming a spinster with her sister Carlia.
Heading back home he opens the marble cool chest and retrieves the butter and some thick blackberry jam to finish off his breakfast. Then he straps on his armor, and sets out to round up the rest of the special constables,
"I figured we could all go see what we could get from the merchants for our spoils and see if we cannot better equip ourselves. I thought we might visit Pyotr Drev first? I could use some better armor saw yesterday that this is really not up to the job, Grundinnar kept healing me up, but that does not mean getting injured is fun."
At Pyotr's, if none of the others object Judd presents one of the box weapons, "Morning Pyotr, we're looking to exchange this for some of your less interesting treasures. I'm looking to pick up some magical fullplate if you have it, but I think this thing is worth more than that, here look..."
Holding up the box he demonstrates its use upon an apple brought for the purpose, "Celen can explain its magics better than me, but its got to be valuable... I would also be interested in an adamantine earthbreaker if you had such a thing, Master Marl told me they carve through stone like butter..."
Pyotr Drev's shop is a ways outside of Grundy, a bit north of the other craftsmen's shops towards the river. Even from a distance his forge's multiple smoke stacks are visible, twisting and angling into the air like some sort of dead spider's legs. His shop is... cluttered would be a polite word for it, dozens of half-finished products and inventions line the many random walls of his outdoor shop, many of the half-finished products have detailed descriptions of function and drawings of the completed product attached, as if Drev's mind moves too fast for his hands to keep up with, always moving on to the next project.
The spindly Half-Orc is currently ignoring a throng of several adventurers from Cheliax who obviously lack the imagination to determine what his inventions actually do, and will happily blow them away when a deputy walks into his shop. Wearing a hood to block out the morning glare Drev will peer out at your unusual find through his grey/black hair that falls over his eyes. Grinding his teeth through the demonstration, his tiny tusks poking into his upper lip, when you hand Drev the weapons to inspect he will faint immediately falling to the ground with foam and spilt falling from his mouth.
Before anyone can even react, he'll jerk back awake screaming,
"O-OF COURSE! I'LL BUY THE-"
His sentence will be cut short as he slams himself into the top of the table he was working at, a loud WHACK resounding through the early morning air. Blood dribbling down his face he'll fly to his feet (avoiding the table this time)and undauntedly cry out,
"I-INCREDIBLE! That's just it don't you see! There isn't any magic in these things! It's pure unadulterated technology! Simply incredible! So advanced that it's indistinguishable from the arcane! Ha-ha! H-hurry! Pick out whatever you'd like! Eh-within reason...."
Drev will show off several pieces of armor, but all of them are far outside of your price-range. Eventually it will become clear that you're looking for something less impressive than he has available. Drev will write you a writ for the Barracks, the shop south and closer to the river.
"Thank you so much! Eh, just be sure to not tell anyone you sold this to me... but I will totally take any more pieces of technology like this that you find! Bring me some more and I may even be able to incorporate this technology into other items!"
Heading down to the Barracks, which is a large conglomerate of several crafstmen in town, you can find exactly what you're looking for, and "Cherry" Ralvientorem the elven proprietor who manages and runs the store will be more than happy to take Drev's writ. Apparently he doesn't give them out often, despite being one of the more well-off merchants in town.
Marconis wakes with the sun, having left the drapes open to catch the mornings first rays. He sits up slowly at first, rubbing his eyes. Then, remembering the business with the coins he springs to his feet and hurriedly gets dressed and runs down the stairs, stopping only long enough to grab his cloak and hat. "Good morning ladies, be right back, he calls to his family, and leaving before giving anyone a chance to respond.
Marconis heads straight for the Technic League, hoping to get the proper permission to display his fascinating coins, and hoping they won't just take them.
Smiling Judd holds up the other box weapon raising an eyebrow, "If you can make a great big hammer do what those things do I might be interested. But for now I need to get some armor I took a hammering I do not want repeated yesterday. Good luck working those things out Pyotr, they are far beyond me!"
At the barracks Judd selects a set of sturdy looking magical fullplate and tries it out beaming at the perfection of the fit aided by the armor's magic.
Celen smiled as his wife went up to her bath. He couldn't blame her, though the goddess above knew he was tired. Spending time with his little one was always worth it however. By the time he managed to make it up to his daughter's room he was beyond tired, but his wife needed rest. He put his daughter to bed, borrowing some of the mountain of pillows to make a pallet on the floor... just in case his daughter had night terrors again.
When the morning finally came he did his best to get up and get ready, ideas on where to possibly spend the wealth earned from deputy work. He knew his wife on occasion had dealings with Mister two-tones down at the docks. He knew the Halfling occaisionally carried magical gear... which was better not to ask where they 'acquired' it. But... He was tired and didn't have the patience to deal with the little Halfling rapscallion, especially when he didn't like the little man at all.
He found himself pacing back and forth, yesterdays events playing though his mind, he needed more magical umph, and he knew strangely enough those priests he didn't trust had a stock of wands of all kinds handy, perhaps his partial status of being a deputy would enable him to see about getting a few wands.
It was... disappointing the wands they had available, but the magical blessing he could summon through the power of the magic would only help. He didn't remember when they were supposed to meet, the day seemed too long already so he hastened to the sheriffs station to meet the others. . .