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The world seems to become grayer, blacker, and whiter as Lydia approaches with her new Halfling acquaintance, obviously just in time to hear the finer details of evidence get pointed out.
"There's not enough blood here," Lydia sniffs. "Barring certain...rare circumstances - which would probably exonerate the accused anyways - he couldn't have died on this spot. I guess he'd have to have been killed elsewhere, then carried here...which would be a lot of dirty work, and would have taken so much time...that those three might not have even come here in time to have possibly done it."
"Ooh, lovely button...not from around here, though. Judging by the shape and stock of their general store, I'd also say it likely wasn't purchased locally, either. So a strike in favor of the murder being...at least a foreigner."
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Kronis makes a mental note of all the discoveries made. "Yes. A quick return to check this button against the clothes of the Pathfinders, which I suspect will not match any of their clothing. If it does not, we should search the town for someone missing a button of this type. In fact, it would perhaps be best if we split up. One of us can return to the jail to check the clothing of the suspects, and the rest of us should keep an eye out for missing buttons on clothing. This tall outsider mentioned in the rumor mill is a good start, if anyone spots him."
Otto has not been to Dawnton since the murder, so he only knows a couple of stories. ,
When the Pathfinders were arrested, the dwarf had blood all over his hands and clothes.
Two small children saw one of the Pathfinders mutilating the body of the second victim. They barely escaped when the Pathfinder chased them.
Though you have been in the town for almost one day, the town has taken little notice of the Pathfinder's presence. After dinner, and a regathering of information, the party decides where each member should go.
For those of you less of the knowledge skills... During the morning and afternoon, the field near the tent city is abuzz with activity. An impromptu marketplace springs up during the early hours of the morning, locals set up festival games, and dozens of men and women of all ages participate in contests and sports. Soon after arriving, though, it should be clear that those who excel at the local contests and sports tends to win friends quickly. A beer garden has sprung up here as well. (which you have already found).
Fairgrounds, Otto's Farm, General Store, Mayor's Residence, Beer Garden, Word on the Street.
At the Fairgrounds:
Lots of games spring up: archery, Acrobatics, Climb, Ride, and Swim. Please describe the game of your choice with as much detail as possible (and make the roll).
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Oh a riding competition. Do we get allocated mounts or can I use Kokina? She loves a competition.
Kinshasa sits on Kokina's back and begins to demonstrate his riding prowess as the large constrictor moves beneath him. They make passes back and forth across the competition area, much like a dressage competition with a regular horse.
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Lydia tries visiting the Beer Garden, listening for bits and pieces of discussion, or even trying to pick up an overall 'zeitgeist' amid the chatter.
If she has time later, she's struck by another idea: What settlement of any size and longevity doesn't have a graveyard??? She'll seek it out, and try to spend some quality time with those whose company she is *truly* at home with .
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Dumpy isn't particularly interested in the various games and competitions. He has a hard time interacting with people, especially in larger number.
Though on one side of the field, there is a place set up where the locals are shooting targets, still and moving, with slings. He watches for a while, and eventually the numbers ebb slightly, and he sees about joining in.
Throwing a rock, at least, he was familiar enough with.
He didn't fare too poorly... though he is surprised how good some of the locals are.
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Without any 'matches' Galvanix decides to test his abilities as a swimmer... not exactly what he has spent his life training for, but a good form of exercise nonetheless.
Although he didn't embarrass himself, Galvanix realizes that his future as a water-borne Olympian is certainly not going to happen.
After a successful race Galvanix and Elris hear two woman talking as the swimmers are putting their clothes on: There’s a witch in town who plans to bring the hanged murderers back as undead. They’ll slaughter the whole town on the morning of the execution.
Though the novelty is enough to create an event all on its own, the mounted serpent cannot outrun the farm-horses common to the locals.
Two children are sent to the bales of hay lined with targets to retrieve arrows and sling stones. Seeing them run happily causes one woman to shudder. "To think it could have been them, she says to no one in particular, then sees Dumpy listening and continues "Three small children saw one of the Pathfinders mutilating the body of the second victim. Only two escaped when the Pathfinder chased them."
The dead talk to Lydia, though they only repeat what they heard from long ago. A whispering sound, felt more than heard says 'When Kenabres fell, half the survivors got possessed by demons.' There is an implication that those poor Pathfinders most certainly killed those people, but it’s not really their fault. As she is about to leave, another voice, a clearer voice says, "A tall thin human looks for you. He has dark unkempt hair, and patch of a beard the same color."[/b]
Kronis sees one of the guards from the mayor's manor the night before. He is complaining about work with all the authority of one well into his drink. There’sh going to shbe a sjhailbreak tomor tomorrow night. The Pashfinder Shoshieshy shent another gang of their adventurersh to busht the firsht bunsch out. Thoshes thugsh. All have orders to kill the. To kill the sheriff and ANYBODY who getsh in their way.
As the party are relaying their most recent information to each other a short woman, stops and stares at the Pathfinders. She is looking at the stranger's armor and weapons and then decides to approach.
"Word has reached me that strangers with armor and weapons are asking about my prisoners. She looks at you, judging your response before asking bluntly. "What are your intentions in town?"
To Kronis she says. "True, Sheriff Tobias is the law of the land, but I serve Justice directly. The voice of Iomodae demands it of us."
At Galvanax's outburst Ekira, the Inheritor's inquisitor stands straighter. "Do not speak to me in such tones! Your mouth is as bad as a Pathfinder! She pauses as something occurs to her. "Are you a Pathfinder?"
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Kronis nods. Well. That confirms her identity, anyway. "You have no legal authority, inquisitor. Were Iomedae speaking to you directly, I doubt she would tell you to be so hateful of others. No, I suspect your mind is quite far afield, and I do not recognize authority in the insane. Now, we have broken no laws by being here, so I suggest you leave us in peace." His voice never raises, but his eyes are hard. He's not nearly as intimidating as many of his superiors who have been inspectors for decades, but he certainly does his best to match their cold stares.
He doubts he can convince her to go, but it's worth a try to avoid violence.
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Lydia just waits in the back in silent fear and loathing.
She doesn't want to waste words on this mob-heading b!~%*. She would prefer certain other forms of interaction that she has in mind. She grips the handle of her scythe so tightly it's going to need a fresh layer of varnish when all this is over.
"Uh - Lyds? Are you feeling quite alright...?"
Suddenly, Lydia speaks up.
"Yes. I am a Pathfinder."
She steps forward.
"I'm also a Dhampir."
"And a necromancer."
"Urgathoa is my goddess. We don't talk much. We both keep busy."
"I've literally been to Heaven, and back. It was nice...but I found it to be overrated."
She throws in a nice *hiss* with her huge canine teeth on full display in the Inquisitor's face.
"I've shown you what I am. Now you show us what YOU are. Raise your torch. Raise your mob. I've seen this play before. Played my part in it. Seen an entire little town, much like this one, MY town, turn into monsters that devour their own. Now you...you play YOUR part. What's YOUR line?"
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Kronis's jaw clenches at the words of both Galvanix and Lydia, but especially Lydia. He'll have words to exchange with the venture-captain when this is over about just how trustworthy she could possibly be.
Still, he says nothing. He's quite certain they've oversold it, but trying to backpedal now would only weaken their position. The die has been cast; all they can do is see what it lands on.
Her mood seemed to be increasingly confrontational, but at the declarations Ekira returns to a calmer attitude with a little smile. "My deity does speak directly to me and has done so since my arrival in Dawnton. Justice is needed in a 'far out town' as much as it is in Mendev or Oppara or Absalom. Iomadae tells me that Pathfinders are in town. She tells me also that the Pathfinder Society is engaged in villainy." She cites several cases of questionable Society behaviors. "After the Pathfinders betrayed the Diamond City to the demons, I hardly needed her voice, but now I have it."
As the exchange comes to an end she turns to the people of Dawnton. "Beware these Pathfinders she tells them. "There are up to no good and you would do well to stay clear of them. She then turns back to the Pathfinders. "You may not have done anything illegal, yet but know that I know you are here. The justice of Iomodae shall not be subverted. The evidence is clear and the murderers shall hang. You may take it up with the Sheriff if you do not like it."
She ends with a prayer to Iomodae and leaves the party standing in the street directing others to leave them be as well.
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"Well, it looks like the Pathfinder Society has become a personal target of the gods! Would you believe that? Instead of focusing on the mess of demons lurking about or about a dozen other things of more importance. Hah." Elris scoffs after she leaves but her demeanor does weigh on him somewhat heavily.
There is a reason I was chosen as a warrior and not one of those stuck up paladins but even a warrior of the divine doesn't act as mad as her...
He shakes it off and looks back to the group.
"She is going to be trouble yet. What should we do next Kronis? Before we are fighting for our lives as well as theirs?" he asks the investigator.
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"I say we put her in her place right now! Hey you ain't nothing special... let's just put each other to the test... I don't think you have what it takes to go toe to toe with a real champion."
To the crowd... as Galvanix struts around in a circle.
"One day only folks... you get a free show from 'THE TALDAN'... straight from the gladiatorial pits of Ostenso!"
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Kronis shrugs and shakes his head at Elris. "I am not sure why you ask me. I am no leader. I am merely a recruit in the inspectors at Lepidstadt University; I have not even the experience to make lieutenant yet. I would--"
He stops when Galvanix starts a spectacle. "Honestly, Galvanix, how is that going to help our situation? She has made these people suspicious of us. You are only confirming her words. Please sit down."
He rubs his temples. "She dresses as one of the mad inquisitors of the Third Crusade. Overzealous creatures who did terrible harm to the cause. I wonder..." He shakes his head. "Very strange."
He sighs. "I do not claim to have all the answers. Honestly, I am uncertain where to go next. I could head to the General Store to see if there is more to be learned there, but I don't know. The eyewitness accounts are not adding up, the meaning behind the evidence is elusive, and I believe Ekira just made our job infinitely more difficult." He looks down at his tea, now cold."I think I will take my leave. I will see you all in the morning." Still frowning, he gives a small bow to his compatriots and heads up to the room.
of course:
Who is where for the night?
What is next in the morning?
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Galvanix shrugs at Kronis' rebuff... knowing that in the end he made need to take the law into his own hands if freeing these Pathfinders are what 'needs' to be done.
"Okay, Okay, I get it, but these people are sheep... scared of their own shadows."
Lydia is an undead? Well... I need to stay away from her... I have heard about vampires.
Turning to the person that Galvanix has begun to recognize at the leader, he addressed the rest of his comrades, "Hey, Kronis is pretty smart and knows all about this investigating stuff... I am a trained pugilist... I'll admit it. So, Kron... what do you want us to do? From this point forward, you're in charge."
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Kronis shakes his head. Was she really possessed? I cannot tell. She certainly does not seem in her right mind.
He pauses at the foot of the stairs, sighs, and returns to the table, speaking in low tones so as not to be overheard. It doesn't matter now that Lydia has outed them, but he decides it's better safe than sorry. "I will not give orders. There are no 'leaders' on Pathfinder missions. One may blaze a trail in circumstances where his or her skills are more apt than others, however. So I will give no orders, but will offer these suggestions.
"In the morning, one of us should go to the jail and check this button against the clothing of the accused. Hopefully we are allowed in, now that the sheriff knows who we are. Then we should see if we cannot find this place in the woods where someone claimed they saw the Pathfinders 'dancing.' I suspect it doesn't exist, but it's worth a look.
"In the afternoon, someone should, perhaps, join me at the General Store to see what there is to find. Dumpy, you seem to have skill at their games. Perhaps there is more to learn there. I am uncertain what more we can learn in other areas, so I will leave that to your own discretion. Most importantly, someone is missing a button."
He produces the button and sets it on the table. "There is a very uncommon shirt missing a button. That person is our number one suspect. Keep your eyes open for this button as we move through the day, regardless of what you choose to do. Those are my suggestions, but I am not your leader. You must make your own decisions. As Pathfinder agents, we are expected to make our own decisions in the field. But if you find my suggestions well-advised, by all means follow them." He rubs the bridge of his nose. "Now I am going to bed, unless there is something you wish to add. I am very much open to others' suggestions here."
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Galvanix knows how to find people... he will search for the person with the unusual and rare (missing) button.
Galvanix picks up the button from the table and inspects it.
"This button? I will find whoever it belongs to. What do you want me to do when I find them... bash'em or just find out who they are?"
(Next Day- searching for the shirt with missing button).
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"Ekira didn't make it more difficult." Dumpy mutters, then points towards Lydia. "She did."
"See if *you* can hold something like that in for 100 years," Lydia retorts sourly. "I've never asked for too much. Enough was enough."
Having found the graveyard, she spends the night finding her peace in it before heading back to the inn just before dawn. In the afternoon, she visits the Mayor's House in the hopes it has some halfway-interesting books, papers, or historical curios.