Korvus busily scratches notes in his journal as Barrister Kaple describes the details regarding the case against The Beast.
"Ten citizens murdered in village of Morast a year ago."
"Prosecution's witness Elder Lazne says several people were killed - beaten to death - though no bodies were found in nearly all cases."
"Suggested that no bodies were found because The Beast consumed the bodies - but can flesh golems consume anything?"
"Townsfolk 'trapped' whatever was attacking them late at night - supposedly The Beast - but it broke free of its restraints and fled into the swamp."
"Elder Lazne claims to have gotten a good look at The Beast as it fled into the swamp - at night. But how clear was his view of the fleeing subject in the dark of night? Elder Lazne is one of the oldest people in Morast - how sharp is his eyesight?"
The tracks left by the fleeing subject matched those found near the scenes where the victims were killed - but do the tracks actually match those of The Beast?"
"Elder Lazne's description of The Beast was sufficient to convice prosecutors of his veracity. But The Beast is legendary in this region - it is not inconceivable that everyone in the area knows The Beast's description."
"From your description of the prosecution's case, there are several routes of inquiry that could foster doubt in the minds of the judges," Korvus says to the barrister as he finishes with his notes. "But I agree with my companions. We must attempt to speak with The Beast, and then proceed to Morast to question the witness - that is, assuming we can travel there and back before the court proceedings tomorrow."
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Korvus follows Barrister Kaple and his companions to The Beast's cell. Before stepping into the room, the wizard uses one of his wands to conjure invisible armor about himself.
Entering the cell and seeing the legendary Beast of Lepidstadt in the flesh, as it were, the half-orc arcanist marvels that such a creature could actually be alive.
"Yes, I believe you are both correct in your assessments, Master Dawnreach, Master Stonehand," Korvus agrees with his companions.
Korvus steps to where The Beast can see him without causing itself too much pain. The wizard doffs his hat and bows to The Beast. "We truly wish to help," he says in a kindly tone. "Would you speak with us if we eased your restraints?"
The Beast does not respond to any of the communication attempts. It simply sits there, unmoving.
Lucius is rather quiet as he tries to get a feel for the Beast. "What's your name? Do you have one? If not, can I give you a name? Everyone should have a name, mine's Lucius. Where do you come from?"
"Who do we talk to about loosening his bonds? A prisoner in pain is less inclined to be nice enough to talk, right?"
Alexei frowns at the Beast's silence. "Come now, we wish to help you. We shall need your assistance if we are to defend you. While it is selfish, I cannot, in good conscience, not do this task to the best of my ability. We have been assigned to help you, and that is exactly what I intend to do."
Harold frowns as he looks at so much metal surrounding the 'Beast'. They really don't want him going anywhere, huh? The half-orc clears his throat as he looks at the creature, "The last time I was dis locked down, I'd punched a guard fer cheatin' at cards an' started a tavern brawl. It was bof a good an' painful day. Think they broke free ribs an' me collar bone befawer slappin' me in'er a jail cell made ter 'old a bloody ragin' bugbear. I'd say yew got me topped on da uncomfortable sittin' arrangemun's dis time, Mr. Beast."
Softly, you hear something coming from the Beast:
"all sad and dismayed"
"none could comfort him"
"about his fate, his freedom"
"none give him good counsel"
"Amazing!" Korvus exclaims appreciatively, before completing the next lines of the Taldan poem:
"Towards the palace he is gone,
"He climbs the stairway there,
"Enters his chamber,
"There he begins to weep,
"And exhibit his great grief,
"And mourn for his fate.
Alexei looks between the Beast and Korvus, curious but confused. "I think that's a good sign...?" he posits, though there is little confidence in his voice.
The creature turns its face to stare at Korvus, then finally seems to take an interest in the group, twisting its head to stare at each of you for a few moments.
It looks back to Korvus, saying,
"I push everyone away"
"And face each and every day"
"With a mindset of fighting alone."
Korvus smiles at The Beast and recites the next lines:
"My friends don't see it,"
"The struggle and pain,"
"With their stares of vain,"
"Not breaking my barriers."
The half-orc's smile turns wistful as he completes the poem. "I know what it's like to be different from all of those around him... To struggle to find acceptance from those who think him a monster. But you don't have to struggle alone..." Korvus says softly to The Beast.
"He knows poetry? You're just a tortured soul, aren't you? Korvus is right, you don't have to be alone anymore. We can be your friends if you'd like, to help you face each and every day."
The creature glances down, then twists his head up again to look at the group. It speaks again in a louder voice, "I is like music words. Is good you like too."
He allows his head to fall back down, the raises it again, "I is knowing why here. Not is doing things."
Looking at Bjorn, it clenches its fists and strains at the manacles holding it in place, "Not hurt."
Then it moves its head around, demonstrating the restraints, "Not hurt too. But want look now no chain neck."
He uses his hand to gesture toward himself, "Is Alpy. Little Alpy."
As the creature speaks, you notice that its mouth maintains what appears to be a sneer. As you watch, it becomes clear that the sneer is simply how the parts of its face are sewn together. While it can move its mouth, it apparently cannot control its lips very well.
"Nice to meet you, Alpy. This is Bjorn, Harold, and Alexei. Your duet partner is Korvus. Little Alpy, I like it."
"Probably, what are you getting at?"
Lucius finally gets what Bjorn is hinting at. "I am the clever one.. Oh, duh. I think someone should have a chat with the guards. Maybe about the weather or something."
Lucius slaps his hand against his forehead at Bjorn's lack of subterfuge skills.
The guards look at each other in surprise at Bjorn's request. One of them finally shrugs then pulls a couple of keys from his pocket. Tossing it to Bjorn, "Go ahead if you want to, we're not going in there."
One of the other guards sneers, "Yeah, go ahead, but if you do anything that lets it try to escape, we've been authorized to use any means necessary to keep it under control. And we won't be too careful about who gets in our way."
A couple of the others chuckle at that while glaring at the group.
Alexei shrugs at Lucius. "Sometimes the shortest route to the goal really is a straight line."
"So's the shortest route off the edge of a cliff. Well I guess it worked so no harm done." Lucius turns to the Beast.
"Hey Alpy, we're going to loosen your restraints okay? Please don't try to escape or try to kill us."
The Beast bobs its head as Lucius speaks, then goes unnaturally still as Bjorn enters the cage.
As the Ulfen man gets close to the creature, the tension in the room becomes almost unbearable. Even the guards appear to be affected by it.
Bjorn reaches his hand out, idly noticing that Alpy is so still he is almost a statue, not even breathing.
With a deft hand, he places the key in the lock and quickly turns it, releasing the catch and causing the restraint to open. Alpy continues to remain precisely still, despite the obvious freedom he now enjoys.
Bjorn backs out of the cage, and closes the door. Only then does the creature move again, turning its head from side to side, then moving its chin up and down. Looking at Bjorn it bobs its head a few times, "Nice beardy man. Let Alpy move head. Nice beardy man."
Despite the creature's mouth being fixed in position, you can tell by the excitement in his eyes that he very much appreciates what you have done for him.
"Heh, beardy man."
Alpy squints his eyes after hearing Bjorn's question. After a moment, "I is only knowing about in swamp. Stayed there, quiet and dry. Made friends with girl one day. Her name Ellsa."
It stops speaking for a moment, and begins violently turning its head from side to side. "Ghost Man killed her. He laugh and laugh at Alpy when try to save her."
Alpy eventually stops thrashing around and calms down a bit, "Took body back to town, but peoples yell at Alpy. Throw things, yelled things. Just try to give Ellsa back to village."
He sags down, "Liked Ellsa, no want hurt her, was Alpy friend! Ghost Man like hurt boys and girls, not Alpy!"
Lucius tries to analyze Alpy's story. "Tell me more about this ghost man."
"Another spirit wrecking havoc? Why doesn't anyone have the decency to stay dead?"
"Him wear dark robe and have red eyes! Me not able touch him. Try to grab and punch, but him not there. Him make sound like bees too!"
Alpy puts his lips together, "BZZZZZZZ!"
"Definitely undead, but I have no idea what kind. We're gonna have to see this ghost man for ourselves."
Harold grimaces at the description of the Ghost Man, "Great, anuvver damned spectre ter tangle wiv. Won't da dead rest fer once? Oi, Lil' Alphy, what abaaaht a village called Morast? Supposedly, accordin' ter witnesses, yew beat ter dearf some folks from there an' made off wiv their bodies. The townfolk tried ter capture yew but yew escaped in'er da swamp. This ringin' any bells?"
Alpy squints his eyes after Harold speaks. "I not know town of More Rats. Not beat mans or take bodies."
He looks down at the ground then back up. "Alpy give true story to beardy man and glasses man and nice suit man and fast talk man and crazy hair man. Long days ago, got mad at man who not give Alpy food. Me bad, try take food because think should eat. Man try hit Alpy, but me strong. Hurt man on road. But not in long time. Alpy try be good since then. But did hurt man bad. Learn now not need food. Feel bad long days now."
"But not hurt mans in rat town. Not know where is in swamp."
"Well he's being honest with us, that much I'm sure. Do you know who created you, Alpy? What's the first thing you can remember?"
Korvus notes the pertinent details from Alpy's story as The Beast speaks.
"The Beast - Little Alpy - has never been to Morast."
"Alpy does not eat."
"Alpy stays in the swamp."
"Hergstag is the only site of 'The Beast's Crimes' that is located in a swamp."
"Alpy was in the vicinity of Hergstag when the six children were killed. Alpy was friends with one of the victims - a girl named Ellsa."
"Alpy says the children were killed by a 'Ghost Man', who made a sound like bees buzzing."
"Alpy attempted to battle the 'Ghost Man', but was unable to strike the incorporeal creature."
"Alpy returned Ellsa's body to the villagers and was blamed for the murders."
"Thank you for all of the information you've provided us, Alpy. It is most helpful," Korvus says congenially to the Beast. "If I may, would you be so kind as to allow me to take a measurement of your feet?" the half-orc wizard asks.
The creature shakes his head, "Just remember being in rock house and swamp. Long, long, long nights ago. Person who made Alpy man wearing blue dress with glowy lines and circles."
When Korvus asks his question, the creature looks at him for a moment, "Mess or men Alpy's feet? Alpy not understand. Need feet to walk."
"Korvus just wants to write down how big your feet are. So we can help prove your innocence. I assume so at least."
"Indeed, Alpy. Master Lucius is correct. The witnesses in Morast claim that the tracks of the perpetrator of the crimes there were yours. I wish to note down the size of your feet - even make a tracing of their outline, if you will allow - in order to show the people of Morast that the tracks they found do not match yours," Korvus explains.
Alpy nods, "Yes, make picture of feets! Like drawrings!"
He seems unusually excited about the idea.
Harold nods at Alpy's story while Korvus takes a measurement of his feet, "So yew weren't ever near Morast? That is good ter 'ear, Alpy. Now we just 'ave ter figure aaaht what da villagers did see an' almost capture an' convince 'em i' wasn't you. And da 'aaahrs in da day are growin' short if we're ter make i' ter what town, investigate, an' make i' back ter Lepidstandt befawer da trial in da morning."
"Yea, that's great. Maybe there's another creature out there that looks like the Beast? Whoever made Alpy might have made him a brother too."
"Or someone using Alpy as a convenient scapegoat for their own crimes," Korvus muses as he finishes drawing the outlines of Alpy's feet. "Thank you, Alply," Korvus politely thanks The Beast.