"Sweet. I learned a move. I only need four more moves of doom."
"Hey, you're not a tengu. Who are you?"
Korvus rounds the corner to see Lucius sitting on the tengu. The half-orc wizard's eyes narrow at Lucius' announcement, and he murmurs the words of a divinatory spell as Maximus flutters down to land on his shoulder.
"Master Lucius is correct. The 'tengu' is cloaked in an aura of illusion magic," Korvus informs his companions.
The tengu shimmers and changes. In his place is a young man in his early twenties wearing nice, but common, clothing. The sort of man you would expect to see working in one of the nearby shops.
"Get off me, you idiot! Why are you following me? Did they send you? I didn't say anything - I know the rules! I can pay you - more than they promised! Just let me go back to my shop, I've got tools that are worth hundreds, I just need a few days to get rid of them and I'll give you all the gold you want!"
"Who didn't you say anything to? Did someone else try to talk to you?"
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He looks up at Lucius, "You don't know? You're not from them? Oh, thank the Gods."
He looks down for a moment, then back up seeming to be a bit calmer now. "I'm involved in some stuff, and if you value your lives, you shouldn't ask any more questions."
He sighs, "Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you. I sold some tools, for a good price, to a couple of scientists here in town. They didn't want to visit stores because all the tools are always marked. I removed the marks from the tools I sold them so they couldn't be traced. They were worried because they had lost some a while back, maybe a year or so ago."
He looks toward the side of the alley as he continues, "So I sold the tools, but they wanted to make sure I didn't say anything about them, so they insisted on showing me what they were planning to do with the tools. The scientists and their assistants took me down into a basement where they had a man lying on a table, strapped down... I thought they were going to dissect the body or something, you know, to scare me. But that's not what they had in mind. When the first one started cutting, I realized the man was alive."
The man looks directly at Lucius, "They all leapt in to help when he started screaming. Skinned him alive, from his head to his feet. But that wasn't the worst part. The head scientist, he stripped off his clothes then put on the fresh skin. His assistants ran over and started stitching it up, sealing him inside. The rest of the group all pulled out masks and put them on. The masks were made from human flesh too. Then they started dancing around, and started groping me, tearing at my clothes. They finally tackled me and forced a mask over my head too. I felt them grab me... lay me down on the table... and I felt the straps tighten. The scientist promised that he would wear my skin if I ever betrayed our deal for the tools."
He grins and starts chuckling, but everyone can tell it's not humor, it's closer to madness.
"That is twisted. Yea, tell us where it is so we can stop them."
"Vorkstag and Grime. The two scientists. They have a chemical lab in town. The basement is there. But you're not going there, are you? They have all those assistants... and their experiments they keep chained up."
"Perhaps we should see this young man to the authorities for placement into protective custody before investigating the laboratory of Vorkstag and Grime," Korvus suggests to his companions. "I would also like to speak to the sisters from Hergstag that Barrister Kaple mentioned this morning before much more of the day passes. It is my understanding that they established a small mill near the western gate of Lepidstadt. Supposedly, they make the best bread in town."
He shakes his head, "I'm not going to the authorities, I'm better off on my own!"
Harold rubs his jawline in thought, "Let da lad go if 'e feels 'e can run far an' fast enough. Thuff now what you've spilled da beans, as i' were, I'm sure deese flesh-carving'n'wearin' scientists'll be seekin' words wiv yew if we don't take 'em down 'ard an' fast da first time. I'm in agreemen' wiv Korvus fer now. Let's talk ter da ladies abaaaht da children then I'm stoppin' by da local Pharasmian church an' askin' da dark lady fer some a bi' ov relief. Probably won't be best ter check aaaht dis lab until closer ter dusk awer da evening. I'm not sure da watch would be what understandin' if we busted in'er somebodies place ov business in broad daylight wiv only circumstantial evidence what they are up ter no good."
"You'll be safer if you go to the authorities. If you're on your own, they'll just catch you and skin you."
The young man looks at Lucius and shakes his head, "Look, no offense, but you don't know the guys who run the guards and the courts. I'd rather trust a rabid starving troll with a newborn baby than give the legal system in this town any kind of leverage. They don't play fair, and they never tell the truth. So no, I don't think I'd be safer with them."
"If there is nothing else, I'll be going now."
-----
You head west toward the gate and end up turning south to follow the last street still inside the Lepidstadt city limits. 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.
"Hi there! Do you need help with that? We hear you make the best bread in town."
She turns slowly to look at Lucius, and her lips curl back in a snarl. "Why do you think I need your help, boy?" She spits on the ground in front of Lucius' feet, then turns her attention back toward the grain she's dragging into the windmill.
"I just wanted to help. I'm sorry I asked. Someone feel free to help me out. "
Lucius looks like he is about to speak up to defend himself, but he decides against it at the last moment.
The woman glares at Bjorn, then pointedly continues dragging the bag of flour into the windmill. Over her shoulder, she calls, "Come on, and close the door behind you!" through the open door.
You all enter to find the interior of the mill absolutely 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.
While the oldest sister begins scooping grain out of the bag she just dragged in, one of the others, 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.
When Bjorn 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 the group with a stern gaze. "My name is Garrow. What we remember is the Beast appearing in the village carrying the dead body of a little girl named Ellsa after a bunch of other children went missing. What's it to you? We don't have... fond... memories of Hergstag. And we don't like strangers showing up asking about it."
"We're just trying to get the truth. Alpy didn't do all the horrible things they said he did. What we've seen is proof of that, like bringing the girl into the village. I'm sorry about bringing up bad memories."
She looks at Lucius and crosses her arms in front of her chest, "That's great. What does that have to do with us? Your friend asked what we saw, so I told him."
The pointed reply belies a noticeable change in demeanor.
"Please forgive us our questions, good ladies," Korvus says humbly, doffing his hat and bowing respectfully to the women. "I assure you we mean no disrespect. The Court has tasked us with investigating the crimes for which The Beast is on trial. We spoke with him about the incident in question. He stated that he befriended Ellsa, and that she was killed by a red-eyed 'Ghost Man' wearing a dark robe and making a sound like bees buzzing. He attempted to battle the Ghost Man and save Ellsa, but was unable to strike the ghostly creature. He then attempted to return Ellsa's body to the village. He stated that the Ghost Man killed other children in the town as well."
Korvus adjusts the pince-nez on his snout and looks solemnly at each of the women. "My companions and I visited Hergstag yesterday. On the hill bearing a scarecrow overlooking the town we were attacked by a spectral creature fitting the description of the Ghost Man described by The Beast. We destroyed the creature, but once we did so we saw several other similar shadowy creatures emerge from the town's buildings and flee into the surrounding fields. Near the scarecrow on the hill we discovered a small cave - apparently the wraith's lair - and the remains of four children. None of the bodies displayed broken bones or other signs of struggle that one would expect if they had been killed by a creature such as The Beast."
"We brought the bodies of the four children back here to Lepidstadt as evidence for the trial, but afterward we intend to return to Hergstag to bury them in the hallowed resting place of their people. However, as the only survivors of Hergstag that we know of, if you have a different manner in which you wish to lay the children peacefully to rest, we will acquiesce to your wishes."
Harold takes off his hat and holds it over his chest as he nods with Korvus' account of events, "It was a right nas'y soul what did yaaahr village 'arm an' an' allk da lives ov da little innocents but i' wasn't da Beast what did yew wrong. Just cause a bloke is big an' mean-lookin' doesn't stand what 'e is necessarily da root ov all evil."
Garrow's face doesn't change, but something in her eyes indicates her lack of surprise...
She looks over at the other two women who are now staring back at her. It appears as if they are sharing something. After a minute of this silent communication, Garrow looks back at you. Starle, the youngest, moves to the door and closes it, locking the bolt and turning the sign around to close the shop.
Garrow sighs, "We had our doubts, and what you saw confirms what we suspected. But our story is already in the hands of the prosecutor. If we go back on it, he could make our lives ... difficult."
Starle wanders up and looks at the group with her hands clasped in front of her, "Please, you don't understand. We... have permission to stay here, in Lepidstadt. But if we don't testify against the Beast, we will have to leave. And that would be bad."
The oldest woman barks out a harsh laugh, "Aye, they would as likely kill us as let us walk away. Not testifying about what we saw would be a death sentence."
Garrow nods grimly, "So you see, it's not that we're unsympathetic to you or this Beast, our hands are pretty much tied. We have to testify against the Beast."
You recall another creature that lives together in threes, is female, and typically forms a family unit called a coven.
These sisters are hags.
Korvus' eyes suddenly widen, then he schools his features and nods in apparent understanding. "Yes. Well, I must say that we certainly appreciate your predicament, and I can assure you that we will speak to no one about the subject. Despite what we encountered in Hergstag, nothing that we discovered disputes your story that you saw The Beast enter the town bearing the body of one of the missing children - it only provides a differing perspective to the event, and it will be up to the judges to decide The Beast's guilt or innocence based on your testimony and the evidence we have gathered for the defense. There is no reason why you should be prevented from testifying, so your continued presence here in Lepidstadt should not be at risk."
"You have our sincerest thanks for taking the time to speak with us, and we do not wish to take any more of your valuable time" Korvus adds, taking a step toward the door. "We were told that you bake the best bread in Lepidstadt. I see that you are now closed for the day, but if we may we will purchase a few loaves and be on our way."
Lucius looks confused. "Err, what's going on? Why would they kill a bunch of bakers?"
Thinking quickly, Korvus replies to Lucius' question. "We saw for ourselves last night that Prosecutor Heiger's brother and cousin are less than honorable men willing to stoke up a mob to ensure that Alpy does not receive a fair trial. I do not think it too unreasonable to presume that Master Heiger is also involved in their dastardly scheme. Can you imagine what would happen if such influential men managed to turn the city's populace against these poor women? They are hapless refugees whose village was destroyed by an undead menace, and we saw for ourselves that more such wraiths haunt the ruins of their village. This city is their only refuge; as gentlemen it behooves us to ensure that their safety is not threatened," the half-orc wizard states emphatically.
"Well, duh we have to help them. But you really think they'd try to kill them? What can we do to help?"
Harold ducks his head at the ladies as he follows Korvus' lead toward the door, " A pleasure, ladies. Soz fer da inconvience. We understand bein' pressured ter 'ave ter do somethin' yew would rarfer not."
Garrow eyes Korvus as he speaks and backs toward the door. Her gaze darts between Korvus and Lucius, and everyone notices a tension in the small bakery that was not present a few moments before. The older and younger sister watch Garrow with interest, but in the shadows of the room, they seem somehow taller.
With a final look at Korvus, Garrow speaks, "We don't have any bread to sell, but take a few loaves. A gesture of goodwill, and faith." she says with a slow bow of her head in the half-orc's direction.
The lock clicks and the door swings open.
"Our thanks, good lady," Korvus replies, taking one of the indicated loaves and bowing respectfully to Garrow. "Thank you again for your time, good ladies. We will not impose upon you further," the half-orc wizard adds, bowing to each of the women before departing out the door.
Once the companions are down the street a good way and out of view of the mill, Korvus stops and leans against a building, pausing to take several deep breaths and to allow his suddenly shaking hands to stop trembling. "That was very close," he whispers to himself.
"Master Grimsley? I believe Maximus has intimated in the past that you possess a flask of spirits? If it is not too much to ask, I believe I could use a sip to settle my nerves. Oh, and gentlemen? Don't eat the bread!" Korvus says emphatically, then surreptitiously glances around before adding in a calmer tone, "At least not until we can serve it with a fine meal that will do it justice."
Harold reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls forth a small metal flask that sloshes with its liquid contents. He holds the container out to Korvus as he gives the man a once over, "Everythin' okay, Korvus? Thee seem a mite bi' strung aaaht fer a nice, friendly chat wiv some little gals."
Korvus takes a long pull from the flask, grimaces, and then hands it back to Harold. "Their forms may have been fair, but let me assure you - those were no mere girls," Korvus warns his companions.
"We just narrowly escaped being captured by a coven of hags. An annis hag and two green hags, if I had to guess. A single hag would be a challenge for our group to overcome, but an entire coven together is much more powerful than its individual members singly. If they had chosen not to release us, they likely would have ground our bones to make the flour for tomorrow's bread. Speaking of which," he pauses to glance distastefully at the loaf of bread in his hands, "I wonder what ingredients they use to make the people of the city love their bread so?"
"But what I find most disturbing of all is the fact that they are afraid of Prosecutor Heiger. Which leads me to wonder with what nefarious organization are he and his family involved?"
"Wait, what? They were hags? Why would they live here?" Lucius says as he takes another bite before realizing what he might be eating. He vehemently starts spitting it out. "This bread might be people!?"
The Chymic Works is a large brick building with several chimneys blowing out colored smoke that rises into the sky before disappearing.
A large gate blocks the only apparent entrance into the building. Knocking and calling out results in a small malformed man sticking his head out of a second-story window. In a high-pitched voice, he asks, "The Works are closed right now. Come back tomorrow."
"We're here to see the wiz.. I mean, if you're closed why are you here? Shouldn't you be at home on your day off?"
He scowls at you, "We work all night, but we don't let customers in after the office closes. Too dangerous. Bad chemicals and fumes. Nasty stuff. You come back tomorrow, better for business."
"Wait, what? They were hags? Why would they live here?" Lucius says as he takes another bite before realizing what he might be eating. He vehemently starts spitting it out. "This bread might be people!?"
"Indeed, Master Lucius," Korvus replies to the young man's outburst, reaching out to take the partially-eaten loaf of bread from his grasp. "That is why I said not to eat it. As to why they are here, they have evidently struck some sort of bargain with powerful forces residing in the city - forces which apparently include Prosecutor Heiger and his family."
--------------------------------------------------------
"We work all night, but we don't let customers in after the office closes. Too dangerous. Bad chemicals and fumes. Nasty stuff. You come back tomorrow, better for business."
Korvus steps forward to address the man in the window. "Please, goodsir. We have just recently arrived in the city from Magnimar. My name is Korvus Slade, and I represent the Stone of Seers, the most esteemed school of wizardry in the City of Monuments. The Deans of that most august institution have sent me here to broker a trade agreement with your establishment - the high quality of your products are well known even in far-off Varisia! We planned to arrive here earlier today, but our carriage from Caliphas was delayed by the frightful road conditions. I was hoping to be able to tour your establishment this evening, as our intinerary for the next several days is filled with commitments at the University of Lepidstadt. Is there any way that we could gain entry now? I'm sure the Deans of the Stone of Seers would be most appreciative in their trade negotiations..." the half-orc wizard smiles, taking out his coin purse and hefting it meaningfully.
The man prepares to interrupt Korvus until he hears the words "trade agreement". Mouthing "Varisia" and "Caliphas" as Korvus speaks, the man begins nodding his head slowly.
He turns and says something back into the room, then his head appears again. "Well, I'll let you in the office, but you'll have to talk to the boss."
A few minutes later the gate opens slowly revealing the man to be rather short, and grossly malformed. He wears a dark smock that is covered in various patches and old stains. His garment covers his back which juts out with weird humps and bumps, as well as his right shoulder that is significantly higher than the other. He bows low before you and ushers you inside the gate, closing it behind you.
"Welcome, welcome. Please come into the office, Grand Sirs, and we shall be happy to help you."
He leads you into a small room containing a long table and several chairs. A pitcher of water and glasses have been placed on the table. Another of the malformed men stands near another door that apparently leads into the main building. This one has strange scales covering part of his face and head, giving him a distinctly reptilian appearance on that side of his body.
A few seconds pass before the door opens. A man enters followed by another of the men, this one with an oversized left hand. The man stands at the head of the table and takes a moment to look over each of you. "So, which one of you claims to be from Magnimar, and what is this about a trade agreement?"
Most surprisingly, the man speaking to you is none other than Augustus Heiger, cousin of the prosecutor Otto Heiger, and one of the men you followed to The Leaky Bucket after the riots.
Lucius will let Korvus do the talking as he observes these strange people.