"Good to meet you Volidrian. I will not speak for the others, but I do believe we can use your help. We have another pressing engagement, so we do not have much time for investigation. Adding another person, may help us to find this murderer quicker." answers Res. He takes up his post out side the door of Eliva and Angalia.
Nathaniel nods at the newcomer, and at Res’ words.
“Yes, well met Volidrian, and thankyou for your help with the door,” he says. “My name’s Nathaniel. Most of us are also not native to these lands … we’ve come across many strange things since we’ve been here, although killer dolls would be amongst the most disturbing. I think we must investigate de Monte in the morning, though we can’t jump to conclusions that he is guilty.”
To Res, Nathaniel adds, “Thanks. I’ll get some sleep, I’ll come and relieve you in a couple of hours.” Suddenly quite aware of his dishevelled and shirtless state, he says his good nights and returns to his room.
Eliva nods and leads the girl into her room. Angalia follows, still shaken. The night passes, and the body is not removed until morning. A grimy undertaker with a bad hangover arrives to bear the mother away.
Those on watch in the corridor see nothing else of note.
With the arrival of morning, Anglia is the first to stir from the chamber. "I slept little," she says miserably. "Tess faired better. The girl's still asleep."
Nathaniel nods sympathetically at Angalia’s words. “Well, at least the girl got some sleep. I suppose one of us will need to stay and look after her today – the rest of us should get ready to go and visit this toy-maker.”
Leandro nods agreement with Nathaniel. "I am torn. We cannot let this stand, yet the Skull grows ever more distant while we address this. Still, what else can we do?"
Tybalt awakes in the morn and goes downstairs to make sure there's some breakfast ready for the others. A hearty repast will be required if they are to ascertain the exact curse of the doll.
Then he heads upstairs and joins the others.
Seeing no-one else addressed it in all the concern about the horrific murders and the childs' apathy; "Volidrian, when you said you don't know how you got here? Are you from a brighter land, like these others? Or where you bushwhacked and awoke in the inn?"
Volidrian pauses in thought for a moment before answering, "I come from a different land though I cannot say if it was brighter or not, I have only been here for a week and while that week was filled with suffering, so were many before. Though your assumption that any other land would be brighter certainly speaks ill of this one"
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Eliva rouses shortly after Angalia and offers, "Perhaps Angalia and I can seek out Sister Magritte. The Sisters might be able to help reunite Tess with her relations."
Leandro nods agreement with Nathaniel. "I am torn. We cannot let this stand, yet the Skull grows ever more distant while we address this. Still, what else can we do?"
“No one else here seems willing to admit the possibility that Gerard de Monte’s dolls may be killing people,” Nathaniel says. “It sounds incredible when I say it aloud. Still, there may be something in it, and I feel like we owe the people of this place – that little girl – a chance to stop these murders.”
"If you were to help me in my quest I would help you in yours, thus utility lost in time could be made up for in aid."
The vistani leaves the scene and notes that the dollmaker may not be resonsible for the deaths and missing children. However he has lived long enough to recognise the signs of the Curse of the Mists. The man may not be the One but it will be his daughter or sister or wife at the heart of this. It is a simple fact the Mists twist lives .....badly.
"Good to meet you Volidrian. I'm Andrzej and I am Vistani sworddancer." Then he returns to sleep, his scimitar at the ready down one side.
Leandro nods in agreement with Nathaniel, then regards Volidrian with some dismay. "Perhaps, Volidrian, but we are already upon an urgent quest. I am not certain how picking up another aids our haste. Perhaps you can explain yours so we may judge?" He glances down at his undress and watches Andrzej fade. "Perhaps in the morning, while we break our fast?"
***
In the morning, Leandro meets the group in the common room for breakfast, back to his usual fastidious grooming. "So we have an artifact heading into wicked hands, a dollmaker whose wares kill innocents, and now a half-orc with a mysterious quest." He flashes a quick smile at Volidrian to take any perceived edge off his words. "We need a bard to record our adventures, my friends."
"The murderous dolls are my quest, I am only offering as you are already considering taking up this cause"
"I am a satirist, rather than a diarist - however I'll try my best to record them, Leandro." Tybalt replies over the breakfast. "And I agree with Volidrian, the dolls should be our first concern - then we head off to follow the lady. Such is always the way..."
"The dolls target innocents who cannot help themselves. We must not walk away from this. Volidrian, I am with you."
The man descends the stairs and glides easily into a seat near the much larger half-orc. He listens to Leandro and then adds his vote to the mix quietly. "Let us make it a quick investigation and then go after the Skull."
"We can seek out help for Tess in the meantime," Eliva's offers. Anuqa and Angalia offer to assist in that.
"I propose we begin by seeking the toymaker," Leandro volunteers.
Andrzej scratches his chin reflexively. He hasn't had time to shave and tufts of hair sprout along his jawline and under his nose. He rubs sleep from his eyes and looks around for someone to get him a hot drink.
I feel like a dirty animal. My ablutions must wait for a convenient time.
"I need a tisane for the road, at least."
Res listens carefully as the group discusses their options. "We have passage on a boat in two days, and we are guessing which direction Katlin will be heading. I think our best course of action is to head back to Dr. Savarre and regroup. Given that, we have two days to investigate these murderous dolls. However..." he pauses, and his face darkens.
Res looks around to be sure no one can hear. Then in low voice he continues. "We have a more pressing problem at hand. The moon has been waning the past few evenings. Volidrian you must know something before we continue together. I trust you will hold this information to yourself. For while evil permeates this land, it does not exist within this group of people. I have fought beside them long enough to know. They are as brave and loyal a lot as you will find. That said, there are some among our group that were bitten by wererats a while ago. We do not know who has been afflicted. Tonight is the first new moon since our encounter with those wererats. Those who have been infected will turn tonight. We must take precautions after dark to protect our comrades from each other and the general populace. If I recall correctly, those at risk are Tybalt, Andrzej and Leandro. I do not think locking them in a room will be sufficient. We should manacle them to a sturdy structure until they return to normal, if they turn at all. It is safest for them and us."
"Oh. OH. Right you are, Sir Res, the time is now here. Do you think manacles will work properly if we... transform?" The paladin wrinkles his nose in disgust at the idea. "We should take as many precautions as possible, methinks, not limited to one."
Andrzej opens his mouth at the sudden reminder and it slowly closes as he nods to Res.
I have been scratching alot?
Volidrian responds in a hushed tone,"Sir Res, I appreciate your candor in telling me about you're companion's problem, and rest assured to you all I have always found it prudent to judge based on who a person is rather than what they are. I have 2 sets of manacles and locks which you may use, as well as a fresh rope.
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"Manacled to a wall for the evening?, it's a full moon not a friday night." Tybalt quips softly, the underlying nervousness in his voice slightly marring the quip.
"Anyway off to the Dollmakers shop. Should we be subtle.... or less so." he asks.
“Let’s finalise precautions for tonight later,” suggests Nathaniel, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of some of his companions turning into monsters. “For now let’s visit the toymaker. I suppose we can’t say for sure that he is guilty, so perhaps a subtle – or at least not overly heavy handed approach may be in order?”
Andzrej eats quickly after the discussion and then heads back upstairs to gather his belongings. He stares out of the window for a moment wondering about lycanthropy. There are vistani Helsin killers to track down the worst excesses of were-creatures. None can join the Helsin until they have slain one alone.
He returns downstairs and waits by the door. While there the man looks outside to see if anyone is paying undue attention to the Inn, especially after the night they had.
Andrzej turns to Volidrian when they meet again. "You will need to take my magics and spellbooks away, manacles alone may not hold a sword dancer or a magus. Same for the others. But be prepared to end my life if a poor soul is in danger from my corruption."
Volidrian nods approvingly, "I shall do as you ask, it is good to see that you are indeed men of honor to make such a request. Should the worst come to worst is there anything in particular I need to know about wererats? I am unfamiliar with such... but Sir Res indicated that you have fought them before." Volidrian seems a bit uncomfortable about asking you this.
Res answers Volidrian's query. "Be wary of being bit. A bite may inflict you with the same curse. Also, do you have any silver weapons? Any were creature is most vulnerable to silver. That is why I carry this." Res pulls out his silver greatsword and shows it to Volidrian. "Finally, they also can change shapes. What may seem to be an ordinary rat, may truly be a wererat in disguise. That is why it always best to destroy the vermin whenever you see them."
Turning to Nathaniel, "It is good to have you and your counsel back. I agree, no need to tip our hand yet. Let us pay a visit to the doll maker and peruse his wares."
"We must be certain to return before sunset," Leandro cautions unnecessarily, "And do you think we should remain in the inn? The management might not appreciate it."
Most of the party sets out to the toymaker's shop, while Eliva, Angalia, and Anuqa try to find someone to help reunite Tess with relatives.
On the filthy street outside the Marshflower Inn, passerby give the place a wide berth, glancing up as if the mere presence of the place were an atrocity. It is apparent that he townsfolk view the scenes of the murders as an ill omen, and the innkeeper was right to fear for his business prospects.
Following the directions to de Monte's shop is straightforward enough. You make your way through the crowded thoroughfares toward the bustling market, where hawkers sell produce from the surrounding plantations and fishmongers ply their trade. Down a side street, you come to a garishly painted storefront, all reds and golds and brilliant blues. One of the incredible dolls hangs in the open doorway, it's broad grin welcoming visitors.
Nathaniel shivers in the heat as he looks up at the smiling doll above the shop door. Before they get to close he murmurs to his companions, "I agreed a subtle approach would be best, but I'm not sure I'm so good at that myself. Someone who is diplomatic or good at concealing their intent should do the talking - how should we approach? Allude to something strange about the dolls, or say that his dolls appear to have been stolen from the scenes of most of the murders? Any other ideas? "
"I dislike lying; it sullies our good works. Perhaps we could simply ask for an explanation of the dolls, a demonstration or two,and watch how the man reacts. Or find who has bought one recently and might be in danger, " the paladin suggests, "See if these are magical, if we can?"
"I would be happy to let Tybalt talk. He may do better at first impressions than some. But if we get answers I don't mind how Tybalt talks the toymaker round. Time is against us." Andrzej prepares to wait outside.
"Come along, good Tybalt, and we'll chat with the toymaker, if we can. Best Sir Res join us in case you slay the man with your puns." Leandro opens the door and motions the silver-tongued bard and more stoic cleric inside.
"Sounds like a good idea, circumspect but forthright. For if he's a villain then it'd be best to acertain his plans, whilst if he's not them we need information from a friendly source." He walks in with a nod to Leandro and continues in the same tone; ".....then I said to the young mistress, 'Best find a place for that.'" He turns to look around the shop and find the proprietor.
Andrzej smiles at the banter as the pair head inside and purses his lips at the way Leandro has found Tybalt's measure. Then he circles round the shop and location quickly to see if there is another entrance or exit. To see if there is more to the place than a simple shopfront.
"I agree with starting simple and asking questions about the dolls and see where things go from there. For, now we will try to avoid direct accusation." Res joins Leandro and Tybalt and enters the shop.
The shop lies on he ground floor of three-story townhouse, although dormers above the third floor suggest an attic or garret space at the top. The structures in this part of the city are all closely packed and suggest multiple uses, with owners and tenants living above the bustling storefronts so close to the market.
Within the shop, the space is cluttered and cramped. Small toys decorated with bright ribbons abound on low shelves beside tiny doll-sized dresses, colorful wooden balls and delicate toy hoops. Scattered throughout are more of the intricate dolls, occupying prominent spaces among the lesser toys. Each bears a painted smile, as if asking to be played with.
A girl, barely sixteen, greets you with a broad, practiced smile. "Welcome to de Monte's toy workshop!" Her smile falters a little as she assesses these three heavily armed men who have entered the toy shop. Her voice comes back somewhat quieter. "Are you... Looking to purchase a gift? Or..." She looks to the door, as if expecting to find some wide-eyed tot in tow, but sees none.
She stands by a counter to your left, the room's only occupant. A door leads beyond into the rest of the building.
Leandro approaches the girl, bowing, and smiles in a friendly fashion.
"Greetings, lady. We have heard tales of the wondrous toys made by a true master and came to see them for ourselves. Did you have one of these dolls when you were small, perchance? They look almost real!"
The girl smiles at Leandro's question. "If I had, I'd've been the happiest girl in the land, no question. A child never forgets a toy so magnificent as one of Monsieur de Monte's dolls. Are you travelers, then? Here on one of the ships? We get folk from fantastically far off places. Monster de Monte's reputation reaches far."
"Have you got a little one you're shopping for? No doubt if you come home with something this beautiful she'll love you forever." She smiles warmly, already an accomplished saleswoman at an early age.
As the magus completes his tour, he looks around for any signs of sewer grates or runnels to wash away the rubbish somewhere into sewers.
Andrzej observes that the streets do have runnels to move rainwater and sewage, but - in contrast to the tunneled undercity of Mortigny - Port d'Elhour does not seem to have much of a sewer system, and the occasional stench attests to that fact.
"Have you got a little one you're shopping for? No doubt if you come home with something this beautiful she'll love you forever." She smiles warmly, already an accomplished saleswoman at an early age.
Leandro looks thoughfully at the dolls, then turns to the salesgirl. "Not a little one... but is there any reason a grown woman might not like such a work of art? Surely a little girl lives inside each woman, as a boy does inside each man."
Andrzej passes on to the rest outside what little he can learn of the shop and lack of sewers.
Res picks up one of the dolls and examines it. "Very fine craftsmanship indeed. I'd like to meet the man that creates such marvels. Is Master de Monte available?" asks Res.
Andrzej passes on to the rest outside what little he can learn of the shop and lack of sewers.
"Did you find a back door?" Nathaniel asks Andrzej.
If not, he will try to find his way around to the rear of the building and look for a rear entry. In either case, he will also try to look for any windows in the front or rear facade of the building, recalling that the killer doll at the inn apparently got in and out through the window. If there is anything interesting at the rear of the building (say for example a rubbish bin no doubt full of incriminating evidence) he will have a look at it.
Andrzej shakes his head. The gypsy magus trails behind Nathaniel, going around again.
Volidrian will stay in front of the building in case negotiations go sour inside.