The only thing in the room is Ebin's corpse, no jurors are in this room any more.
As Groff gets up to see what the noise is about something colorful catches his eye in one of the desks. In one drawer he finds several red scarves
of Varisian silk. When he searches the rest of the desk he finds several debtor’s vouchers with Halgrak’s crude signature on them and a receipt for a string of 12 fire opals.
Shortly after Ebin's corpse falls to the ground the rest of the jurors arrive from downstairs.
"Keep an eye on the corpse, see that it doesn't rise and try to kill us all." Volta continues, "We are not going to get any rest so if we run into any shades that can only be met with magic we are all dead; but we die anyway so I guess we need to keep searching for something that might help, very unlikely that may be."
"We only have a few hours before thirst and exhaustion will cause us to become ineffective so we need to move quickly. I suggest we go upstairs and get check the top area out first and then see if we can get anywhere else."
"What that you have there Groff?"
"If it is your desire to live forever, you had best get accustomed to disappointment," Kanna notes sagely.
"Rather fine pickings for an abandoned building. " and he shows off what he found to his compatriots.
Finngarth admires the fire opals with hungry look. He has always been attracted to pretty stones. Being the god of commerce's follower, he examines the debt reciepts tha beark Halgrak's signature, looking to see what and who the late half-orc owed money for and to.
If no one else pockets the opals, Finngarth does, but he does it openly, not on the sly.
It's a receipt for fire opals not the opals themselves. You all have seen some recently, make a perception check everyone.
The debt notes say he owes the money to Alastir Wade, the mans desk they were found in.
Volta tries to focus and remember any fire opals around.
"Oh yeah, there's a receipt or something too. "
As the rest of jurors shuffle around the corpse, Volta looks at Patrissa and sees a string of fire opals around her neck.
Volta looks around and notices a fine string of fire opals adorning a lovely neck. He faces shifts as he seems about to speak and then turns away quickly saying nothing at all.
Hmm I've seen fire opals recently ... right on her neck. I should ... no I shouldn't. I don't believe in coincidence so those are likely the opals Halgrak bought. But I don't KNOW that she did anything wrong but at the slightest hint of an accusation and the insane vengeful spirits will kill her. I can't be a party to that.
Finngarth is less shy and more direct than Volta. "Where did you get those fire-opals fair lady? They are quite fetching and must have cost you a pretty penny. As a purveyor of fine gems, I am most interested."
His words don't accuse her, but his tone and manner most certainly do. Somehow this woman tricked poor Halgrak out of his gems.
Just to be clear the opal receipt does not have any name on it.
Patrissa smiles as Finngarth asks about the fire opals she is toying with, "These old things? I've loved fire opals my whole life. This are from the family."
Groff trusts her, of course.
Volta starts then looks resigned. Volta looks around waiting for the inevitable death of Patrissa.
Looking for the signs of the unholy attack and staying out of its way, given that any heroics would be useless.
Kanna is not quite ready to give up just yet. She keeps a close watch on Patrissa.
Volta keeps a sharp eye out for any danger but doesn't see anything.
"Why do you think she's lying?"
"Oh. Well lady spit it out!"
Finngarth sighs. People are dying all over the place, and there is evidence about the fire opals, but the woman insists on making this more difficult than it needs to be. He asks as nicely as he can.
"Milady, sure there is more to the story. Please tell us what we need to know, so we can save you from the fate that has taken your fellow jurors, and will surely come for you in the end as well."
However, his exasperation must show on his face or in his tone, because the effect is likely not what he desires.
"We cannot keep you safe is you are not forthcoming with us!"
Between Kanna and Finngarth entreaties, Patrissa sighs "I guess it doesn't matter now, we're all going to die. The fire opals were a gift from my half brother, Alastir Wade to make certain Mord was convicted. I can be pretty convincing, when I want to be." She flashes a smile that melts your hearts, and then the light is gone from her eyes, "We're all going to die now, I don't know why you are here but those from the jury I understand."
Upon hearing her confession Sir Rekkart gasps and the yells out at her, "No it can't be! You tricked me into condemning an innocent man? You tricked me! You tricked me... Iomedae! I have failed you and renounce the gifts you have given me!" He seems like a shell of his former self now.
Killian just stands silently aside a smug look on his drunken face and asks, "What are you going to do now?"
"Well, now we know why the jury is being targeted, at least. I still don't understand why we are here, except perhaps to act as witnesses to their punishment. Know this; if I can defend you against death, I will, but only to see that justice is done by the letter of the law. When we get free, you will confess your crime to the officials and accept your punishment."
She turns to Killian. "Were I you, I would not be so smug. You are in as much danger as the rest of us. Perhaps more, as I expect that you knew that Mord was innocent and went along with the verdict for what reason I cannot guess."
Finngarth is enraged to hear the woman's tale of deceit. "The entirety of civilization is built on the rule of law. The requirement of serving as a juror is holy, and you have profaned it with your greed! Abadar is horrified at your disregard for the pillar of justice. You should be ashamed, and have likely doomed all these men to die!" He falls to his knees praying to the god of justice for mercy on Rekkert and any others that were tricked into behaving so foolishly. He also prays for damnation on the vile woman.
"I have half a mind to offer you up to the vengeful spirits that haunt this place to save the rest of us! Your action deserve no less!"
Groff looks extremely angry and starts yelling at the lady "You put us through all this! You harridan!"
Volta says tiredly, "What did you all expect? People don't usually volunteer for a horrible death. Crime were committed but justice is not being done here, it's all evil vengeance." Volta goes on, "Let's move swiftly then we have only hours at most before thirst and exhaustion will disable us. Let all of us go to the top, and then we run to the last rooms we could not check. Maybe, just maybe we can find something of use to end this nightmare before all are killed. In any case we have nothing left to lose." "Sir Rekkart! Having renounced your divine gifts, when we needed them the most, would you lead the way as a warrior to face what is likely your final battle against evil?"
Patrissia looks shocked as Groff accuses her, "Me? I didn't put you through this. Oh, I may be an an accomplice, but I didn't bring you here or any of us. I've got a hour to live at most, by my estimate so I've got nothing to hide. Most of the jurors had their reasons for convicting Mord, I only had to manipulate a few. I'll help you clean out this place as much as I can but my magic isn't that useful against undead."
Sir Rekkart shakes his head and says "I'm going to keep an eye on her and make sure she cause no more trouble. She needs to be turned over to the authorities and I'll do my best to make sure she is. Let's go upstairs and the search the rest of this place. We may find a way out of here."
Groff takes point heading up the stairs.
Volta follows Groff, looking out for trouble.
Kanna follows the others, bow at the ready.
A salt wind blows through this cold, openair tower. An old rust-covered bell hangs from rotting wood beams above, obstinate against the wind’s caress. The tower offers a rare vantage of Beldrin’s Bluff’s desolate environs. To the south, the cliff ends abruptly mid-block, a few sagging inns and shops still desperately clutching the edge of the rock. The old Absalom arboretum stands to the west, now an overgrown tangle of wild twisted trees, slithering vines, rank blankets of pulsating mold, and dark recesses from where alien eyes peek and then vanish only to appear elsewhere. The area of the ward beyond the arboretum is flooded with the sea’s backwash and old sewer water, and many of the buildings there have surrendered to water-rot. The sea churns in the distance and one lonesome gull cries against the night.
Stepping through one of the openings you see a bird-like humanoid with broken rotting wings and an insectile head.
Kn: Religion
Finngarth stares in horror at the insect-headed monstrosity on the belltower, his mind racing through his training in the Bank of Abadar, wondering if he was ever described such a foul beast.
"It can die again. "
and Groff moves up to paste it with his dorn dergar.
power attack
Volta draws his rapier defensively and moves to allow any behind him to pass forward against the new enemy.
Allow people to move past me without issues.
"Alright, we're killing it. Fair enough."
Ianfir waits, ready to attack and when the creature approaches him he swings with his scimitar and hits the creature.
The beast then attempts to retaliate.
It barely touches him giving him some small scratches and he shakes off the after effect of the bite.
Groff moves around and whacks the beast with his weapon and it falls to the ground dead, again.