weed heads off to the taven for a pint....then some rest....
while at tavern....
I'll join Weed for a pint.
your company is always welcome eterran....
At the tavern.
Yes, pint and then rest!
The party returns to the tavern and tips back a few reflecting on the day. The room is quieter than before with most of the hard working laborers gone, preparing for the day ahead.
Grimm notes a table of folks in the back that were not there earlier. Their appearance seems seedy at best.
weed shifts to take a nondescript look at the table while engaging in conversation with his companions....
Grimm attempts to overhear what they are talking about.
Grimm can generally make out that the group is discussing how to take advantage of the unease about the town with the recent murder, and if they can somehow raid the Carnival.
Do we recognize any of these people? Do we think they are locals?
The party has seen at least one of the small group at the bar before. They all look like locals, but with the itinerant status of many of the loggers and the high number of wagoneers and other folks that largely work on the road it's hard to determine how many others are from Belric.
Any other actions or is everyone ready to call it a night?
Naugrimm stares into his ale cup lost in thought.
for lack of better....Weed takes note as best he can of the group....and says lets call it a night
assuming the night passes quietly....Weed will awaken early and wander the town....looking about
Yes, Rodion is happy to have a night's rest and new spells prepared!
Heading to the common room and seeing nobody from the party (Weed left). Rodion will break his fast.
Weed wanders aimlessly around Belric, observing nothing more that a small lumber town coming to life.
Rodion rises, his mind refreshed and magical energies renewed. Making his way to the great room he is warmly by the staff and enjoys some fried eggs, porridge, and bacon.
To Rodion: “Save me some bacon and eggs Rodion!”
To the breakfast staff: “What have ya heard about town concerning the murder?”
The eager staff helpfully tells Grimm that while most citizens of Belric appear to be shocked by the heinous crime, most are not all that sad about the fact that Archivin Walder was the victim. Their appears to be a lot of fear that the sphinx will claim another victim and anger at why the Carnival is not being arrested or moved along by the authorities.
Follow up question to the staff.
“Why didn’t folk like Archivin Walder?”
The staff explains that, as the local moneylender and pawnbroker, Archivin did not have many friends in Belric.
It seemed like everyone, even and maybe especially the powerful in town, owed Archivin something for something. With his death it is hoped that many of those 'debts' will go away as the person that knew about them and had an interest in collecting them is now out of the picture.
Should we warn the caravan about the possible raid?,
Eterran asks Grimm.
weed turns back if nothing catches his eye and heads back to the Inn to see if companions have risen....
“Good idea lad, let’s do that now.”
Get everyone together and head to carnival.
Rodion is ready to head out.
The party finds Phardaen Panotti making his rounds about the main drag of the Carnival. tThe crowds are much lighter than the first day and there seems to be a general lack of energy from all involved.
Phardaen is still finely coiffed, although his usually jauntily feathered cap appears a little less so today. Sighting the party, Phardaen approaches-What news fellows?
Weed will continue back to inn
(Not being with party)
Weed is with the party at the Carnival per Grimm's post above.
“Wanted to warm ya, overheard a group of locals at the tavern last night, they were thinkin of trying to raid the carnival.”
“Might’ve been the drink talkin, but ya never know.”
Phardaen scowls-I'm not surprised. Any time some misfortune befalls the yokels we visit, they are quick to cast blame on the Carnival. We are always alert for any mischief, but we will take extra precautions just in case. Thank you for the warning. Hopefully your investigation will exonerate our good name, such as it is.
“Yes, and we best be about it. Let’s go find the sheriff.”
Off to the sheriff’s office.
off to the sheriffs!!
S1
The party arrives at the Sheriff's office and are relieved to discover that the snooty looking clerk is not currently behind the administration desk. The junior deputy spies the party entering and notes the look of determination about them-Yes sirs, how may I be of service today?
Weed....having learned a lesson in diplomacy
Smiles warmly
you sir....have an air of authority and importance about you....you must be the sheriff we seek...??
The young-ish deputy produces a deep blush and reacts to the kindly tone-Me? No sir, I just work here in the office most days. Kyra Feldane is the sheriff. She's terribly busy these days, what with the murder and all. Do you have an appointment or is there something I can do to help you?
ahhhh....my apologies....you just seemed in charge....we do not have an appt...but perhaps you could be so kind as to assist us...my companions and I are representing the carnival in this matter....and would be most appreciative of an expedited meeting with the sheriff to gather some information..and help the shefiff solve this case...could you help us...
Deputy-Well then, appointment or not she will probably want to see you. This situation is creating quite a stir!
The young man excuses himself and ducks through a nearby door.
A few minutes later he returns ushering you through the same door-Sheriff Feldane will see you now.
The party passes through the door and enters a nondescript office. Behind a simple oak desk sits a mid-aged woman with short, cropped, blond hair and brown eyes. Seeing the party enter, she rises and greets you-You are here from the Carnival says my young deputy. Do you have any documents representing you as such?
“Good day sheriff, we’ve no documents, just a verbal contract with Delisen. You can send one of yer men to confirm it if necessary.”
If we have a document and I somehow missed that please adjust my dialogue with the sheriff accordingly.
As you say good dwarf. What service can I provide you?
“We’d like to examine the evidence ourselves sheriff and hear yer impressions of the case so far. Delisen seemed certain the sphinx couldn’t have committed the murder and I haven’t heard anything to convince me the creature would have any reason to do so.”
Upon noticing, Rodion thinks about any magic the sheriff may be using:
Weed glances at rodion and raises his eyebrows discreetly....
Rodion reasons that it could be any number of things: a nervous habit; a signal to someone watching/standing behind the party; activating a magic ring; who knows?
She sighs before tiredly responding-First, make sure you understand that you are representing the Carnival. Any misconduct on your part will reflect poorly on your employers and make their case that much worse. That being said, I'll write you a note that should give you access to some places and clear you if you run into any of my people.
Here's what I've ascertained so far: The victim was Archivin Walder, the town moneylender and sometimes pawnbroker who owns a local business called the Locked Box. Walder was found mauled while walking to his home after the circus two nights ago. Walder’s wife, who went looking for her husband when he never came home, discovered the body. Agnes Walder begged her husband’s four full-time guards who lived at the Locked Box for help. Three of them left their post to search, and one guard stayed behind to secure the office. Thieves, presumably in league with the creature that killed Walder, burst into the Locked Box, killed the remaining guard, and stole many easily carried valuables (such as gems and jewelry). The robbery was interrupted when the guards brought Walder’s body to the office instead of his home, and they glimpsed two humanoid figures fleeing in the night. Upon finding the guard dead and the building burglarized, the three remaining guards secured the building until I was notified.
She pauses and looks the party over for a moment before continuing-I'm not entirely convinced a creature from the circus is responsible for the murders. Nevertheless, the people of Belric are fiercely independent and reactive. The mood in town is sour. There are stories all over the place about a great four-legged beast flying over town last night after the circus closed down, silhouetted across the moon. Of course, I’ll be damned if I can find a single eyewitness who actually saw the sphinx. Now poor Walder is left dead in some bushes. It’d be one thing if these deaths were accidental, but the robbery angle has people thinkin’ of a Sczarni heist. I’m not proud to say it, but this stirs a lot of unworthy opinions about Carnival folk.
“Thanks for the information and the note sheriff. Best you know we overheard some folk at the tavern discussing a possible raid on the carnival. Could be they was just drunk but maybe not.”
Describe the people to the sheriff.
The Sheriff considers Grimm's words for a few moments frowning-I think I know who you are talking about. That's a nasty group, and long suspected of several unpleasantries, although I've never been able to make any serious charges stick. Thanks for the heads-up; I'll take a few men and go rattle their cages. Maybe it will discourage them from whatever foolishness they are cooking up.
I'd just as soon the Carnival move on, but they can't with a murder charge hanging over one of their members. Best to make sure the relations between them and us don't get any worse in the meantime.
Anything else I can do for you?
yes.....who....do you suspect of possibly being responsible, seems like many had a motive and stood to gain from his death...
The Sheriff looks at Weed with disdain-Looking for someone to your job for you, eh? Typical half-elf...
Look, your guess is as good as mine. If I had any firm evidence, I'd have the suspect locked up at this point.
As for motive, none that I can see from the Carnival; that's why I haven't moved against them yet. There are tons of folks here in Belric with a motive, just can't think of any that would be this brazen with regards to a murder. Robbing his store is another matter all together.
Hells, who knows.
Let me know what you find.
“Sheriff, do you have a description of any of the gems or jewelry that would enable us to identify it if we saw it?”
“Less anyone else has additional questions for the sheriff let’s be on our way. We’ve lots to accomplish, let’s speak with the wife and the guards?”
Just to the group after we leave:
“Let’s visit the wife first. I can’t help but wonder if Weed’s shadowy figures were involved with the robbery or murder?”
The Sheriff looks back to Grimm-Nothing of note that I can think of. Of course we will be keeping an ear to the ground for anything that someone tries to sell for the foreseeable future. Only an idiot would try and sell those goods here in town; my guess is they are on their way to the docks of Augustana by now.
Any other actions at the Sheriff's office? Otherwise I'll advance to the scene at Walder's shop.