"Indeed we have, sir, indeed we have. It seems the village had become the manor of fiend committing unspeakable acts upon the dead. The others will surely fill in the details, but what I can tell you is that we have dispatched no less than 3 ghouls, one being of particularly powerful nature. The others.....the others were children once. And have been returned to a state of rest, but it is they who might intrigue you most."
Professor Rokannon smokes contentedly.
"And interestingly enough, these children, including the one named Ellia, had been noted down in the records as being killed by the Beast. Sorry, I meant Alpon. But their bodies clearly show that they were killed by other methods.
"A remarkable find wouldn't you say?"
We still need to talk with the former residents of Hergstag here in Lepidstadt, but for now, their account of what happened does not agree with the evidence of our senses, Karl adds. We wanted you to know of this before we proceed. But, these threats against you trouble me, at least. I have reason to believe that certain individuals, loosely associated with the prosecution of Alpon, may have incited yesterday's riot.
"Who's making these threats, Barrister Kaple?! I can't stand someone making such ridiculous claims against you for just trying to uphold your end of the law. Something is off in this town, I think... what with the riots last night and now these hooligans threatening to make trouble."
Kaple waves his hand and smile, "Here now, don't worry about me. We barristers are hardier folk than to let some unspecified threats keep up from our duties. Why, if I had a copper for every time some addle-headed mule dropping said he was going to jam a knife in my back, I'd be retired by the lake by now!"
"I do thank you for your concern, but I am confident the bailiffs that watch me are able to protect me. But I promise to let you know if we hear anything specific. While I have no problem ignoring anonymous rabble-rousing, I take a dimmer view of detailed plans which actually have some basis in reality."
"And if you do find people who were behind the riots, be sure to let the bailiffs know. Captain Turm is the lady you would need to speak to about it. She'll coordinate with the Home Guard and make sure those responsible are dealt with appropriately. I'll make sure to introduce you later."
The old barrister turns toward Faradir, "And if what you and Franc say is true, then yes, that is remarkable. I'm thinking this is something we should hold until trial - in my experience, evidence like this is best when used to rebut testimony. It would probably be a good idea to interview them though. Depending on what they say, we may be able to discredit their testimony even further."
He looks at each of you, with a stern and serious demeanor, "Remember, trials are won and lost based on what you make the judges believe, think, and feel. What you have found is a great start, but by itself, it's not enough to save the Bea...er.. Alpon. "
"We should probably talk to the witnesses here in town next, now that we have seen the scene of the crime for ourselves so to speak."
He waives to the others to agree or not, as they feel like.
"Well, the sisters from Hergstag - Garrow, Starle, and Flicht - own a small windmill outside the city. Follow the main road to the west, and then south on the last street before exiting through the gate. You can't miss it."
"They lived in Hergstag their entire lives, and they were there when the murders occurred. From what they told me, they remember the details very clearly, and they claim to be one of the last families to leave the town once others started leaving. Between us, it seemed to me that they had a grudge against Alpon for the demise of their town moreso than out of concern for the dead children. As I understand it, one of their relatives helped settle the area."
Karl thanks Gustav for the information and (assuming no one has any other questions for him) waits until the group leaves before asking the others, Well, shall we have a look around for Mr. Rook, or head to the windmill sisters, and see how convincing their lies are?
"Let's go to the windmill sisters first, since we know exactly where to find them. Then we can dedicate as much time as we need to finding Rook."
"Agreed, my brothers. Let us make our way to these sisters and find what we may."
The windmill is a small building, and from the sign outside, the sisters have only recently taken control. The paint is fresh and the colors are crisp, and the picture is unmistakably depicting fresh loaves of bread.
As you approach, you see an older woman exit the windmill and walk to a nearby shed. She grabs a sack of grain and half-drags, half-carries it back toward the windmill.
Don't offer to help her carry it, Karl says in a low voice through gritted teeth. She's salt of the earth, and likely to take offense.
Diplomacy Aid Another
"We can talk and walk, if you'd rather, ma'am." Darren smiles winningly at her, and motions that they should continue down the trail together if she wishes.
Just as he started to reach out to help the old woman, Professor Rokannon hears Karl's comment and recoils like he had put his hand into a fire.
Remembering his previous failures in getting people to talk to him, he took his time loading his pipe while keeping his mouth shut and his ears open (at least to start with).
Franc decides his intense devotion may overwhelm the woman and hangs to the rear.
The woman pauses to look at your group and scowls, "Ain't got no time to talk, and ain't interested in it either. I've got bread to sell, bread to bake, and work to do. If you've got some coin, then I'll talk to ye as long as you're buying some of our loaves."
She continues dragging the bag of grain into the windmill, not waiting to see if you follow.
The interior of the mill is pristine - it's so clean you could eat off the floor. And in an operation that uses grain and flour, that's no easy feat! Two other women toil inside the mill, both of whom appear to be younger than the one carrying the grain. While these are obviously the three sisters who own the mill, the two younger women couldn't be any different from the oldest. Both of the women have long hair tied into ponytails, and their trim figures move with a grace you have trouble believing. Both of them are easily the most beautiful women you've seen since arriving in Lepidstadt.
One of them, apparently the youngest, sees you enter and gives your group a dazzling smile as she dusts her hands off on her apron. "Good morning, friends. What a lovely day - would you care for a sample of our bread? We baked a few loaves overnight and they're fresh and ready for sale. Only a silver per loaf - quite a deal for fresh bread, eh?" She reaches into a basket full of bread and pulls out a dark variety, quickly tearing off a few chunks for you to try. The other sister glances up as you enter, smiles and nods, then returns to her work.
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Shanoa takes pause upon entering the overly clean mill, at once feeling something isn't quite right. Play along for now until I can figure out what's wrong here...
She fishes out a couple silver from her pouch and hands them to the talkative one, fixing her gaze on her and trying to discern her motivations. "It smells delicious - I'd like a few loaves."
Karl looks troubled and stays toward the entrance of the mill, well out of reach of any of the sisters.
Smells good... he mumbles noncommittally, and fishes into his pocket for a silver coin while studying the interior of the mill.
Professor Rokannon is struck by the delicious smell, and readily asks for a sample. If he likes it, he'll pay for a loaf of his own.
"I would love to buy a loaf!" Darren says excitedly, reaching for a coin, dropping it, then bending over and scurrying across the spotless floor to retrieve it as it bounces toward the sisters.
"Ahem... I'm sorry about that," Darren stands up and straightens his armor about him, checks his sword to see that it's still in his sheath, and then tries to smile his best smile at the beautiful middle daughter. "Yes, please, we'd like to buy some bread, and then ask you just a few questions if you've the time to spare. Surely you've heard about the Trial coming up, and we wanted to ask about your experience with the abandonment of Hergstag."
Diplomacy
The young woman beams as the group gathers round to sample the bread. It is fabulous. Easily the best bread you've had here in town, and possibly ever. And to think, a tiny windmill on the edge of Lepidstadt could produce such a marvel!
When Darren asks his question, the older and middle sisters stop what they're doing at look at him. The youngest pauses and a puzzled look comes across her face. The middle sister brushes her hands on her apron and approaches. She pats the younger one on the shoulder, "Starle, I'll deal with these folks, you get back to work now."
The woman looks like she's about to protest, but the oldest growls something and the girl practically hops back to the wheel to take the place of her sister.
The middle sister fixes you with a stern gaze. "My name is Garrow. Thank you for the business, but your questions border on our private lives, and that's a topic we don't discuss with strangers. So I'm not sure what you know about us, or Hergstag, but I would advise you to drop the subject. Things in the past should stay there, don't you think?"
Sense Motive
"Pleased to meet you, Garrow. My name is Darren Cayle."
"Now miss, I truly understand one's resignation to speak of such things, as I also have experienced painful things in my past that of course I'd rather not speak of... but please, I beg you to see the difference in this scenario."
"We're not here to glean information about yourself or your sisters, but rather we're here to aid in the trial process for the being you probably know as the Beast. It has been made our job to guarantee the Beast, guilty or not, his right to a fair trial. We were told you and your sisters would likely be testifying at the trial, and wanted to compare your story to the story the evidence we've collected thus far has told us."
Garrow seems skeptical, but considers what Darren says.
Glancing over, she sees her sisters silently watching her, apparently letting her take the lead for now. Looking back at you, she folds her arms, "Very well, I'll hear you out. What do you want to know?"
"Thank you, Miss Garrow."
"First, then, whom do you believe was responsible for the tragedy that happened at Hergstag? Really, if you don't mind, I'd like to hear the whole story -- as much as you're willing to tell me -- about that unfortunate incident."
Karl hangs back, but eventually does have a piece of bread. His face lights up as he eats, and he quickly commences to stuffing his face.
Franc smiles as Darren continues his conversation. Beckoning Karl over, Franc says in low voice, "It appears young Darren has caught the favor of the young maiden, do see how see moves as they speak?"
Sho whuh? Karl mumbles through a mouthful of bread. Oh... oh! Karl winks at Franc in a horribly blatant manner, then crams more bread into his mouth.
Garrow grimaces and narrows her eyes slightly. Finally, she sighs, "The children were killed. They vanished, one by one, only to return as ghosts haunting their own homes! Families fled town in the middle of the night to escape their own children coming back as vengeful spirits! One day, we found out who it was - the Beast of Lepidstadt! It just came into town carrying the body of poor little Ellsa, making these awful sounds! As soon as we saw it, we grabbed whatever we could to try and catch it, but the monster was too clever. It knew the area and escaped into a thicket outside of town, and then fled deeper into the swamp. More and more children became ghosts, and we all finally had enough. Those of us still in Hergstag decided that cursed place forever!"
Karl continues to be completely distracted by the delicious bread. All the children died in the wild? he asks between bites. Or in town? Sorry, wasn't clear on that part...
Stepping forward, Franc seems pleased with woman's response, but feels he may learn more,"Madame, I thank you for what you have told us this day and your story has stirred the spirit of Ragathiel. He compels me to action, thus I must ask you a few more questions so we may exact vengeance on the responsible party. What did the children do when they returned in death?
Garrow looks at Karl, "We never found most of their bodies. Ellsa was brought back to town by that monster, and poor Karin was killed in her bed."
Franc speaks, and the woman turns to him, "They started trying to cause trouble for the people that were in the house. Making noise, breaking things, hurting them. It was terrible! First the families lost their children, then the poor little ones came back as undead monsters. Must have been the horror they experienced being killed by the Beast!"
"Well, the only body I saw was Ellsa's when the Beast brought it back to town. Karin was buried too, but I didn't see her body. Some people did, but not me."
Starle, the youngest, speaks up from her work at the wheel. "I saw her, remember Garrow? I was doing my deliveries when they found her. All pale and thin looking she was. And we never did figure out how the Beast got into her room. After it fled and we set those traps, figured it would have set some off when it snuck back into town."
Garrow looks at the group, "Anything else?"
Karl swallows his bread and thinks for a moment, before nodding to Garrow. Just one other question for me. Ever have any trouble with wasps, buzzing creatures, insects, anything like that?
She thinks for a moment before responding, "No, not that I recall."
The other two sisters look puzzled before shaking their heads as well.
Oh wait, I have one more question. And please, my apologies, I do not mean to be rude, but how is it that residents of Hergstag come to own a windmill outside Lepidstadt? I cannot imagine that the land, materials, or labor to erect this place came cheaply.
Karl smiles guilelessly, truly curious.
Garrow's eyes flash for an instant, and a trick of the light makes her face seem inexplicably covered in shadows. But the moment soon passes and she resembles her previous complexion.
"That's our business, but suffice to say, our relatives founded Hergstag and we inherited their fortune. We just want a simple life away from the uncertainty and danger of living several hours away from Lepidstadt in the middle of a swamp."
My thanks Mother Garrow. I'll trouble you no further this day. Any chance you could spare a few more loaves? That bread is truly delicious.
Karl hands over enough silver for three more loaves of bread.
Darren bows briefly before the lady and looks her in the eye, "My many thanks, Miss Garrow. I'm sure we'll meet again some day, as now I know where to find the best bread in town."
"Until then," he turns to exit with the group.
As the group turns to leave, she thanks everyone for the purchases and bids you all a good day.
"A peculiar old crone to say the least."
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Once they're a safe distance away from the windmill, Shanoa speaks up to voice her concerns. "Something isn't right there. I had a hard time putting my finger on it, but it just doesn't add up. A windmill without a hint of flour on the floor, that somehow produces the most perfect bread, baked by perfectly beautiful women. Doesn't that seem just...a little too perfect to anyone else? And if these ladies inherited a fortune from this whole debacle, well doesn't that mean they had the most to gain from the town disappearing? I mean...I didn't sense that they were completely evil, necessarily, but that doesn't mean that there isn't foul play involved. I just...I don't know. I think we should keep an eye on them and be wary."
Every death they described was the work of a wight like the one we destroyed on that hill. I'd stake my life on it.
Once out of sight of the windmill, Karl tosses the bread to the ground. It's a shame to admit, but you're right Shanoa. Those ladies are not what they appear to be. I'll eat no more of their handiwork, though it was the best I ever tasted.
He looks to the others. So far, today has only brought me more questions, and precious few answers. I wonder if there is any kind of record of the founding of Hergstag, the sisters' inheritance, the building of the windmill... There might be something there. Perhaps something a noted academic could look into. He gives Professor Rokannon a questioning look.
Then, there is the matter of Master Rook. Perhaps we will learn something there.
Professor Rokannon follows the others out, regretfully leaving the most excellent bread he had ever tasted behind.
A windmill without a hint of flour on the floor, that somehow produces the most perfect bread, baked by perfectly beautiful women. Doesn't that seem just...a little too perfect to anyone else?
Professor Rokannon's eyes rose, and he looked back at the windmill.
"Yes, you're right. I don't know why I hadn't noticed before. Perhaps some kind of magic."He frowns in concentration as he Detects Magic at the building, cursing himself for not thinking of doing so while they were inside.
He also looks over the structure of the building itself, checking if there was something unusual about it.
But looking at the windmill, you notice the three large vanes. But you know that most windmills have four vanes, three are much less efficient. And come to think of it, why would they have built three windows like that? They just don't look right in the building... that has three sides... that houses three sisters.
You glance over to Franc as he comments about the old crone.
Everything falls into place - these women are indeed sisters. Literally and figuratively. A coven of hags requires three members, and they always call the other members sister.
Professor Rokannon drops his hands with frustration.
"Bah. No magic." Irritated, he busied himself with packing and lighting his pipe. He turned back frustrated, gesturing vigorously at the windmill.
"And why in the HELLS would they build a windmill with only THREE vanes? Inefficient! And only THREE windows! Badly placed too! And... the BUILDING only has three sides. That's just bizarre."
He frowns, thinking.
"Three." He mutters, almost under his breath.
"Three, three, three...
"Three women. Young. Old. Inbetween."
He turns to the rest of the party.
"And all sisters."
A sick looks comes over his face.
"Hags. They're a covey of Hags. I'm sure of it."
He slowly takes a long puff of his pipe.
"Almost sure of it." He frowns in thought, now looking more puzzled than afraid.