Erix looked away when Phin asked about records and waited for Alua to speak first.
"Look... if this is some sort of secret unit, there might be records but we're never going to find them... not in time, anyway."
"We have information you don't want us talking about out here." Erix warns, speaking quietly, and glancing at the neighbours. "And if you don't know this, you want it fast. You can kick us out in 5 minutes if you're busy. It'll be worth it."
"This is taking too long. I'm walking on. I suggest you take her in, she can help you clean while she tells you."
"We have information you don't want us talking about out here." Erix warns, speaking quietly, and glancing at the neighbors. "And if you don't know this, you want it fast. You can kick us out in 5 minutes if you're busy. It'll be worth it."
"You too, eh?" the bodybuilder grunted, reconsidering the matter now that the person who bested him in battle so recently spoke up. "Oh, very well. Get in, the lot of you." Roctar motioned you to follow, the gestured for you to find what seats you could in the small apartment's living room - one large corner of which had been transformed into a gym of sorts. The man of the house deposited his cleaning supplies in the bathroom before joining you. A few moments later the bedroom door opened and a yawning Corlina, awoken by all the noise peered out, clad in a nightgown, her long blonde hair exploded into disarray.
"We got company, wife. Put something on, for Sovereign's sake," Roctar grunted. The elven dancer replied with a sleepy mumble but did emerge again in a minute, now clad in a long bathrobe but clearly still half-sleep as she joined her husband, accepting a steaming mug of tea he handed out to her.
"So, you wanted attention. You have it. Now get on with it," Roctar growled impatiently.
Action 1
Alua looked a bit baffled by the idea of discharge records. "I have no idea." AFter all, she'd spent her final days of the war committed in a hospital, though she remembered very little about it. When the hospital had finally been closed, she didn't remember anything about paperwork.
Action 2
Not having properly met these people yesterday, Alua decided her place was to stay quiet for now and take notes. She couldn't find her notebook or pencil, however, and had to upend her bag to retrieve them. Her healer's kit had opened up in her bag, however, and she spent the next few minutes chasing bandages, medicines, candles, and a jar of leeches...all of which seemed intent on rolling under the furniture.
Two small spirits hovered near the ceiling, laughing uproariously, as she finally retrieved everything and sat down again. "Sorry, sorry," she murmured.
Based on Roctar's impatience, Phin decided to be blunt. "Drummer is dead. Murdered. Borgo too." She only paused a moment for it to sink in before continuing. "We were told that you lot used to hang around together back in the day, along with Svans. We think you may be in danger."
Phin motioned to Erix and the others, "We're working with the authorities to try to figure out what happened to Svans and now Drummer and Borgo. We're pretty sure there is a connection between all the victims and we're hoping you can help us fill-in some of the blanks. How long have you all known each other and how did you all meet? And do you still keep in contact with Volin? We need to find them too."
The rogue paused, knowing there was no polite way to ask her next questions, "Do either of you have a marking or tattoo on your chest? And do either of you know anyone with just three fingers?"
Erix cast a keen professional eye over the gym. It was astounding how well Rocktar had managed to fit so many home made resistance machines into such a small space.
"This is amazing!" he enthused "I pay a fortune to get access to a gym through my club, you've managed to get it all in your house! How did you get the floor to hold up?" He shakes his head "No wonder you punch like a runaway ox-train, if you can train on this whenever you want."
Erix's combat instincts kicked in when Corlina first appeared. He looked towards the door and the stretching, barely-clothed elf. A second later he turned to look determinedly at the gym and started going red.
When she re-appeared better dressed he still kept his eyes determinedly on Roctar. At Phin's blunt words he seperated two of the bottles out and handed them over to Roctar.
I prefer Rocstar.
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"This is amazing!" he enthused "I pay a fortune to get access to a gym through my club, you've managed to get it all in your house! How did you get the floor to hold up?" He shakes his head "No wonder you punch like a runaway ox-train, if you can train on this whenever you want."
"Yeah, I know an empty compliment when I hear one," Roctar grunted, yet Erix's words might still have had some mellowing effect, or perhaps it was just the choice of topic that the bodybuilder responded to. "I did see you take my best hit and hardly blink an eye, you know? If that was an ox-train, what would you call yours? An earthquake?" The two men passed the time waiting for Corlina's re-emergence in easy banter, though.
The rogue paused, knowing there was no polite way to ask her next questions, "Do either of you have a marking or tattoo on your chest? And do either of you know anyone with just three fingers?"
As Phin's harsh words sunk in, Corlina went from sleepy half-attention to a sobbing wreck in mere seconds, and while Roctar kept some of his cool ever as he tried to console her grieving wife, his composure did crack without a doubt. "Borgo and Drummer too?" he asked, as if wishing he had somehow misunderstood. Erix nodded grimly, meeting the bodybuilder's gaze and the man sagged back in his seat.
"I thought... when we heard about Svans, you know? That it was just him getting into trouble again, nothing to do with us - him and the rest of us are done, and past done," Roctar began haltingly, gathering Corlina into a tight embrace as the elf kept on sobbing. "He was good at that, Svans was. Making mistakes, at least where money was involved. But Borgo too? And Drummer? That poor sap wouldn't have done anything to no-one, nohow."
He murmured something into Corlina's ear, and the elf released her death-grip on Roctar enough for him to open his vest and show you a small tattoo just over his heart. A crude work, really, in black and faded colors, of what might have been a round, high tent with wagons parked around it in a circle. "We all got one, back in the day, when we were running with the Circus," he said, telling his tale in no particular order.
Back during the War, people were desperate for diversions from their daily lives and the atrocities that so often filled them, particularly in the regions near Breland's border. High on the list of such diversions were traveling groups of performers that brought crude, vulgar and at times violent entertainment to the citizenry at affordable prices. One such group was the Peace Circus, a group of war orphans turned artists and showmen. They did what thye could to spread the message of peace and hope for better times among the rural population of Breland. Many disagreed with their pacifistic and anti-government views, but none who visited the traveling circus harbored malice against the performers.
The Peace Circus's most popular act was an amusing dance performed by a pair of trained deinonychuses imported at great expense from the Talenta Plains and trained by one of their number, Volin Krober. The on-stage antics of the brightly-colored dinosaurs brought joy and entertainment to dozens of war-torn villages near the end of the War, and were particularly popular among the children. The rest of them had their own roles to play, of course. Corlina danced to the beat of Drummer's music, Roctar was the show's strongman, Borgo the cook, and Svans the manager. Other people came and went over the years, but these six formed the core of the circus that stuck together through joy and tears.
Yet one evening, tragedy struck the circus. For some reason, during one of their popular performances, the two dinosaurs, Kaiwakir and Panch, went berserk and attacked the audience. In the time it took Volin and the rest of the crew to subdue the ferocious beasts, several people were grievously wounded by the teeth and claws of the beasts or by being trampled by the panicking masses. The local Watch responded quickly, deeming the beasts too dangerous to keep and confiscated them. The fines and reparations drove the circus into bankruptcy - it turned out Svans had not been good enough with the numbers to keep the circus's balances in good order. The Peace Circus disbanded and the people went their separate ways, with the six of them all gravitating to Sharn - Svans had some connections in the City and bore enough guilt to try and arrange fresh starts for his oldest companions.
"And that's where we are now," Roctar sighed. "I don't know who would be gunning for us - but three murders in Oakbridge, all members of the Circus... gets one thinking."
"As to three fingers... only one that comes to mind is that crazy bugger, Lucina," he added after a moment, eyes suddenly narrowing. "You don't think he's got anything to do with this?"
Sebastian listened while Roctar told his tale, "A circus eh? Well, there's our connection," he said smiling.
He quickly frowned, "But that doesn't bode well for you. I trust you can keep you and your wife safe."
He asked, "Was anyone hurt or maimed during the dinosaur attack? Is there anyone that you can think of that could hold a grudge against the circus or its performers?"
tag?
Sebastian turned to his comrades, "Well, it looks like we have two more people to talk to, the halfling Volin and the three-fingered Lucina."
"As to three fingers... only one that comes to mind is that crazy bugger, Lucina," he added after a moment, eyes suddenly narrowing. "You don't think he's got anything to do with this?"
Phin was unwilling to mention the bloody handprint. "We won't know until we talk to him. Could just be that he's a witness."
Phin patted Corlina's arm comfortingly, "When was the last time you spoke with Volin? Seems to me that he would have been visited first if someone was taking revenge for what happened. Can you tell us how to find him?"
The rogue glanced around the apartment looking at possible access points. "The killer is very good at getting into and out of places without a trace. It would be in your best interest to make sure everything is locked up tight at night and you may want to look into getting a guard dog of something."
The two men passed the time waiting for Corlina's re-emergence in easy banter, though.
Erix looked over at Phin, and then back to the couple. "I can give you a few tips if you want to set up some nasty surprises. Might be able to find someone willing to stand guard while you sleep, as well. Even lend you some weapons, if you know how to use them."
"I'd offer to stay myself, but if we're about to confront the bastard responsible I want to make sure I'm there to provide moral support."
He asked, "Was anyone hurt or maimed during the dinosaur attack? Is there anyone that you can think of that could hold a grudge against the circus or its performers?"
Roctar gave the inquisitive an incredulous glare. "Which part of that 'people being grievously wounded by the teeth and claws of the beasts' and 'getting trampled by the panicking masses' did you miss? You napping with eyes open, or are you trying to get a reaction from me? For if it is the latter, I have a reaction here for you, ready for the asking," the strongman growled, raising one balled fist while Corlina's sobbing renewed.
Sebastian turned to his comrades, "Well, it looks like we have two more people to talk to, the halfling Volin and the three-fingered Lucina."
Phin patted Corlina's arm comfortingly, "When was the last time you spoke with Volin? Seems to me that he would have been visited first if someone was taking revenge for what happened. Can you tell us how to find him?"
"Halfling? Who said anything abut Volin being a halfling? It the lizards that came from the damn Plains, not the man," Roctar growled, still clearly angry at Sebastian for having to repeat the bloody part of his story, knowing how it distressed his wife. "He's an elf, Volin is. And I don't know... a few days past since I last saw his pointy ears. How about you, wife?"
"Last- oh. Um. A few days, yes," Corlina replied haltingly, a very clear look of guilt showing on her face, a fact that her husband clearly missed as he divided his attention between glowering at Sebastian and trying to calm is wife.
Erix looked over at Phin, and then back to the couple. "I can give you a few tips if you want to set up some nasty surprises. Might be able to find someone willing to stand guard while you sleep, as well. Even lend you some weapons, if you know how to use them."
"I can hold my own in a fight, but might be something in what you say," Roctar agreed grudgingly. "Perhaps I could ask one of the boys I'm training to help..."
Roctar gave the inquisitive an incredulous glare. "Which part of that 'people being grievously wounded by the teeth and claws of the beasts' and 'getting trampled by the panicking masses' did you miss? You napping with eyes open, or are you trying to get a reaction from me? For if it is the latter, I have a reaction here for you, ready for the asking," the strongman growled, raising one balled fist while Corlina's sobbing renewed.
"But for holding a grudge... I don't know. I mean, sure, people were hurt, but it was all an accident, and we paid dearly to make up for the wounds and pain for the victims."
"Last- oh. Um. A few days, yes," Corlina replied haltingly, a very clear look of guilt showing on her face, a fact that her husband clearly missed as he divided his attention between glowering at Sebastian and trying to calm is wife.
Seeing the guilt written all over her face, the rogue pushed for answers.
"Corlina," Phin said gently, "Now is not the time to withhold information. It literally could mean the difference between life and death...for you, Roctar, or Volin. We really need to find him and speak with him before it's too late.""But for holding a grudge... I don't know. I mean, sure, people were hurt, but it was all an accident, and we paid dearly to make up for the wounds and pain for the victims."
Even though she knew it was a sensitive subject for the couple, Phin pressed on with questions about the incident. "Do you remember the names of any of the people who were hurt? Or how many were hurt? When you say that you paid dearly to make up for the wounds and pain, was this monetary?"
She glanced at Corlina and then back to Roctar, "I know this is dredging up painful memories but I have to ask to be certain. No one died from their injuries, right? They were just hurt?"
Erix looked over at Phin, and then back to the couple. "I can give you a few tips if you want to set up some nasty surprises. Might be able to find someone willing to stand guard while you sleep, as well. Even lend you some weapons, if you know how to use them.""I can hold my own in a fight, but might be something in what you say," Roctar agreed grudgingly. "Perhaps I could ask one of the boys I'm training to help..."
"It isn't about holding your own..." Erix hesitated, then surged ahead "let me be clear, here. From what we've seen, the person doing this isn't fighting - they're murdering. One shot, base of the spine, while you're asleep... doesn't matter how good you are in a fight, by the time you know they're there, you're dead."
Seeing the guilt written all over her face, the rogue pushed for answers.
"Corlina," Phin said gently, "Now is not the time to withhold information. It literally could mean the difference between life and death...for you, Roctar, or Volin. We really need to find him and speak with him before it's too late."
"I..." Corlina began, then bit her lip.
"Show some decency, woman!" Roctar growled, gathering Corlina protectively in his arms. "She already gave you her answer, so why pick on her? If you have the time to waste and are working with the Watch as you said, go and find whoever's responsible before they strike again!"
She glanced at Corlina and then back to Roctar, "I know this is dredging up painful memories but I have to ask to be certain. No one died from their injuries, right? They were just hurt?"
"I guess so?" Roctar said, cautiously but then shook his head. "No, got to be it. If someone had died, the Watch would never have let us off with reparations, however crippling they were. There'd have been a trial, and someone'd have been given time behind bars. Likely Volin, seeing he was in charge of the beats. Or perhaps Svans, as he was the manager of the whole show. But they let us go, and that's proof enough for me."
Seeing the guilt written all over her face, the rogue pushed for answers.
"Corlina," Phin said gently, "Now is not the time to withhold information. It literally could mean the difference between life and death...for you, Roctar, or Volin. We really need to find him and speak with him before it's too late."
"I..." Corlina began, then bit her lip.
"Show some decency, woman!" Roctar growled, gathering Corlina protectively in his arms. "She already gave you her answer, so why pick on her? If you have the time to waste and are working with the Watch as you said, go and find whoever's responsible before they strike again!"
"My apologies," Phin coughs, "I meant no disresp-", Phin coughs again. "I'm sorry, but Corlina, could I get some water?"
Phin follows Corlina to the kitchen as she gets the requested water. Once out of ear shot of Roctar, the rogue posed her question quietly, "Alright, so what do you know that you didn't want Roctar to hear?"
Sebastian looked at his colleagues, "So we have a connection: the Peace Circus and we have an event: dinos on the loose and hurting but not killing people."
He shrugged, "Unless someone was really hurt then it appears that the event should not have been enough for someone to start getting revenge, not this kind of revenge. How about if someone's reputation or business was ruined? How about if our killer was in charge of obtaining the dinos or perhaps training them or perhaps in charge of overall security? Something like that."
He added, "We need to talk to this Volin and find out more about the dino event and who might have been responsible or who's livelihood was perhaps ruined because of it."
He looked at each in turn, "What are your thoughts?"
He looked at each in turn, "What are your thoughts?"
Alua looked up from her notebook to ask, "Are we sure that Volin isn't behind it? AFter all, they were his dinos. He probably lost the most. What if he thinks these people were responsible?"
Alua stood to go, then said, "It would really be best if you could stay out of your normal routine for the next few days. Can you stay in a random inn for a few days? Stay away from work, from your friends, any place this killer might look for you." Distracted by the ghost of what appeared to be a kite with claws that was drifting past, she looked over their heads and said, "I don't want to have to look at your bodies for clues tomorrow."
Phin follows Corlina to the kitchen as she gets the requested water. Once out of ear shot of Roctar, the rogue posed her question quietly, "Alright, so what do you know that you didn't want Roctar to hear?"
Corlina almost jumped out of her skin at Phin's whisper - clearly, she believed she had let nothing slip earlier. She cast a panicked look at the living room, then back at Phin, arguing with herself in the silence of her mind. Then she nodded and headed for the bedroom, motioning Phin to follow.
After the door had closed behind them, the dancer seemed to reconsider her choice. Her had hovered over the doorknob, but after several tense seconds she sighed and sat down heavily on the double bed that took most of the space in the room.
"I..." she hesitated again, then swallowed and soldered on. "I... may have... had a teeny little affair with Volin. For the past five years. Or so."
Alua looked up from her notebook to ask, "Are we sure that Volin isn't behind it? AFter all, they were his dinos. He probably lost the most. What if he thinks these people were responsible?"
"Volin? Blaming Svans, I might buy - he got the Circus on the brink of ruin even before the lizards going nuts on us. But Drummer or Borgo? Nah, I'm not buying that. Besides, they were his beats, so if someone needs be blamed for what was an accident, it would be Volin, not the other way around," Roctar grunted, shaking his head at the idea.
"I..." she hesitated again, then swallowed and soldered on. "I... may have... had a teeny little affair with Volin. For the past five years. Or so."
The rogue couldn't hide the surprise from her face. May have? But Phin didn't want to spook Corlina by teasing her about her word choices. Roctar obviously doted on his wife in his own way but being an elf, Phin could understand Corlina needing contact with another elf. She couldn't help but wonder if this was a glimpse into what may have been with her and Erix had she made a different choice years ago.
She gave a low, soft whistle, "I completely understand you not wanting to mention that out there. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. So now that we're away from prying ears, can you tell me the last time you saw Volin and where to find him?"
Phin glanced at the door, "We need a reason for being in here together. Do you have a tattoo as well? We can say that I wasn't satisfied unless you showed me one way or the other. We came in here so you could show me and remain modest. That should placate Roctar."
He looked at each in turn, "What are your thoughts?"
Phin had a thought that was a little out there. "What if it isn't about revenge? Sure, taking the tattoo suggests a trophy but if the killing is about anger then why would you want the constant reminder? Maybe it's someone who was in their glory days back then and wants to relive it. Maybe the killer feels betrayed somehow which is why they're killing but also want to remember the good ol' days which is why they take the tattoos." Phin shuddered as thoughts of stuffed dolls with a piece of skin pinned on their chest as the killer played with them crossed her mind. She shrugs, "Just a thought."
She gave a low, soft whistle, "I completely understand you not wanting to mention that out there. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. So now that we're away from prying ears, can you tell me the last time you saw Volin and where to find him?"
"Last night," Corlina said, blushing. "Roctar... he thinks I was working late. He thinks I do a lot of that. Instead..." she blushed a shade redder.
Phin glanced at the door, "We need a reason for being in here together. Do you have a tattoo as well? We can say that I wasn't satisfied unless you showed me one way or the other. We came in here so you could show me and remain modest. That should placate Roctar."
Corlina nodded, placing her had over her left breast. "I do. We all got one - it was Svans's idea. Poor Svans," Corlina said, biting her lip to keep the tears from overwhelming her again.
"We know whoever does this has training. Could well be a professional. In which case the tattoos could be proof of the kill? That suggests whoever is ordering this kills is far enough away they can't just listen to gossip." Erix shrugged "I'm guessing. I've never actually been a paid assassin, so I'm not sure."
"Now if that is the case, whoever is behind this would have had to case the areas and find people. The tattoos aren't big. That means they might have been asking questions. In fact if this isn't a former circus member it is pretty unlikely they're going to recognise everyone. That means they'd have had to ask questions too." Erix looked back to Sebastian "That help? We asked around, but..."
He hesitated again "If Volin was injured the other night, that suggests he might be responsible, or might have been a target. Either way, we need to move fast." He looked back to Rocstar, and then Sebastian "I don't want to use people as bait - but this is one of the only places we know the killer is likely to hit."
"Last night," Corlina said, blushing. "Roctar... he thinks I was working late. He thinks I do a lot of that. Instead..." she blushed a shade redder.
Phin reassured Corlina, "What you do on your own time garners no judgment from me. But it's good to know that Volin was still alive last night." And that also gives both you and Volin an alibi for Borgo and Drummer's murders
"I do. We all got one - it was Svans's idea. Poor Svans,"
"Did Svans give you a reason for wanting you each to get a tattoo? And can you think of everyone who may know you have them? Were they ever really visible during your show?"
"We know whoever does this has training. Could well be a professional. In which case the tattoos could be proof of the kill? That suggests whoever is ordering this kills is far enough away they can't just listen to gossip." Erix shrugged "I'm guessing. I've never actually been a paid assassin, so I'm not sure."
Phin looked at Erix with what appeared to be pride, "That's the best idea yet. Taking the tattoos definitely makes sense as proof of death. Which makes our job doubly hard because we have to figure out the killer who has no emotional connection to the victims and the one who hired the killer who has no physical connection to the victims."
Phin reassured Corlina, "What you do on your own time garners no judgment from me. But it's good to know that Volin was still alive last night." And that also gives both you and Volin an alibi for Borgo and Drummer's murders
"Actually... about last night," Corlina said, hesitating. "I woke up after midnight, after... you know," face scarlet from embarrassment once again. "It was about time to get back home anyway, but I wanted to take in a bit of the night air first, so I went to the window. And - I thought I was just seeing things, that I was still dreaming a bit, you know? - but now that you told us about poor Borgo... I thought I saw someone climb out of his window. Which was ridiculous... except if it was the killer. Not that I saw much more than that - I blinked, and whoever I saw - or thought I saw - had vanished."
"Umm... would knowing that be helpful to you?"
"Did Svans give you a reason for wanting you each to get a tattoo? And can you think of everyone who may know you have them? Were they ever really visible during your show?"
"Visible? Mine certainly wasn't!" Corlina exclaimed, blushing again - something she seemed to be doing a lot of late, yet for a different reason, both hands now covering her bosom. "Roctar's certainly was - he was topless most of the time, to show off his muscles while lifting or bending things. But the reason? To show we belonged. That we were a family. Since before the Circus, none of us had had one, at least one we'd have wanted to remember."
"Umm... would knowing that be helpful to you?"
Phin gave Corlina an encouraging smile, "Definitely. That narrows down the time. But vanished? Like vanished from the windowsill vanished? Or quickly climbed down vanished? Are you sure you just blinked and didn't fall asleep briefly again?"
"Can you tell me anything else about the person you thought you saw? Size? How they were dressed? Was their face covered?"
To show we belonged. That we were a family. Since before the Circus, none of us had had one, at least one we'd have wanted to remember."
For someone who danced and put herself on display a lot of the time, Corlina sure did blush a lot when she felt self conscious. Phin definitely understood not wanting to remember the family one was born into, "Everyone wants to belong to some sort of family - either the one they're born into or the one they choose should their kin turn out to be unkind." She looked thoughtful before asking, "Was there ever anyone who wanted to be part of your family that was excluded? Or possibly someone who had been part of your family that you all had a falling out with? Someone kicked out of the family?"
Phin gave Corlina an encouraging smile, "Definitely. That narrows down the time. But vanished? Like vanished from the windowsill vanished? Or quickly climbed down vanished? Are you sure you just blinked and didn't fall asleep briefly again?"
"Can you tell me anything else about the person you thought you saw? Size? How they were dressed? Was their face covered?"
"Into the shadow, I guess. Unless they jumped from the platform?" Corlina said, brow furrowed in thought. "And I didn't get a good look at whoever it was - more than half believed I hadn't really seem anything. The Inn is too far from Volin's window to tell what someone over there is wearing. During daylight, sure, but at night? Whoever it was was about human-sized, that's all I can say."
"Was there ever anyone who wanted to be part of your family that was excluded? Or possibly someone who had been part of your family that you all had a falling out with? Someone kicked out of the family?"
"No... nothing like that," Corlina said, shaking her head. "Sure, people came and went over the years, but always by their own choice. The Circus was never really large, you know - if someone'd have had real bad trouble with someone else, we'd have known."
So, let me get this straight... would you like C&R to come with you? They would hate the idea - they are scared, and home is a comfort in such times. But you might be able to convince them. But having them tag along would make asking Volin about his affair a bit delicate - it would likely result in another murder scene, right then and there, with you having ringside seats.
So, give me aye or nay. Do you want them to follow. Or leave them behind with stern suggestion to lock up and stay inside? Or some sort of option C?
Your choices here might result in lives lost or saved, so I want to be 100% sure.
...or I might be just pulling your leg to keep you on your toes ;^)
I don't think they should come with us. Alua's vote was for them to go to an inn for a few days, and not tell anybody (except maybe us) where they're going.
Right... they won't go to the Inn - killer already struck there, so it's proof in their mind the place is not safe. And they certainly won't be arguing to go with you (quite the opposite). So the two of them will remain at home and you'll head for Volin's apartment...
Game on!
Erix tensed.
'If this really is the guy who's been killing people, he has the mindset and talent to be a [i]real problem.'[/i] He realised, doing his best to discretely make sure he had a clear line of attack. His eyes flicked quickly over the target as he looked for weapons.
He's wearing a rapier and a pair of daggers on his belt, in plain sight. He's dressed in a silk shirt (partially open to show well-built chest) and leather trousers. Would be a challenge to hide anything except perhaps a small blade in a boot.
And again, he matched the description of Volin you got, and he was sharing a bed last night with Corlina while the murders in the Inn were happening... unless the dancer was lying, and Phin didn't think she was.
Right... up to you, of course. I just assumed you at least shared Volin's description and that he had an alibi, "ask no questions but trust me on this".
Sebastian sighed and looked at his comrades. he silently mouthed a 'be careful' as he approached the man who matched Volin's description.
He smiled, "Volin? We need to talk to you. We think you may be in danger."
---------
"Yes, Mr....?" the elf replied, suddenly wary at being accosted by a group of strangers at his own doorstep. He glanced at the key in his hands, clearly regretting that he had just locked himself in the hallway with the four of you. "And what's this danger about? If it's about the rent again, you can bloody well go back to Judith and tell him he's going to get the money on time, as he always does."
Phin snorted, "Rent is the least of your worries." Figuring it best to keep Volin off his guard, the rogue continued bluntly, "We're here because of the deaths of Svans, Borgo, Drummer and hopefully stopping the future deaths of yourself, Roctar, and Corlina."
As she said Corlina's name, she watched Volin carefully for his reaction.
"Phin!" Alua gasped, aghast at her tactlessness. "My apologies, Mr. Krober! My associates are genuinely concerned for your safety, and that makes them blunt. We are with ir'Brock Investigations, and have been hired by the Watch to look into a series of murders. Please, can we speak to you inside?"
"Phin!" Alua gasped, aghast at her tactlessness. "My apologies, Mr. Krober! My associates are genuinely concerned for your safety, and that makes them blunt. We are with ir'Brock Investigations, and have been hired by the Watch to look into a series of murders. Please, can we speak to you inside?"
"Borgo and -" the elf said, hesitating, clearly caught off-guard, and who could blame him? Come to think of it, he had heard some extra commotion through his window while he was making himself presentable for the City streets, but hadn't spared it a second thought. But if what these people were saying was true...
"Inside. Yes, of course," he rallied. "Except... here you are, perfect strangers warning me about danger and then wanting to talk to me where no-one can see... I assume you can prove your connection to the Watch?"
"That's the Watch seal, all right," he muttered, nodding his head. He finished unlocking his door, nodding silent greetings to a neighbor who had poked his head into the stairway to see what all the commotion was about, then gestured for you to enter.
Volin's small apartment was beyond full with five people now inside, but you did manage to fit yourself into his living room. The furniture there was old and past its prime, but reasonably comfortable - for those who managed to land themselves proper seats. Nothing in it screamed rich or even well-to-do, but you did note the animal theme present - here, books about zoology and geography on the shelves, there, paintings and carvings of various types of animals. And as a crowning glory, even a small stuffed dinosaur standing on its hind legs in one corner.
"You have my attention," Volin said. "So what was this about murders?"
Looking at the others to make sure that they weren't going to stick their feet in their mouths again, Alua then took out her notebook and said, "Okay. So two nights ago, Svans was murdered. Then last night, Borgo and Drummer. We figured out the connection with Corlina, and visited her and Roctar. They're fine. We know about the Circus, and your tattoos. Which have been removed from the victims. So we wanted to make sure that you are okay and see if you can think of anything that would help catch the killer. Or killers."
Sebastian opened his mouth to speak but closed and nodded in appreciation as Alua took the lead. She's doing a good job."
The investigator added, "We also know of an accident that happened with the dinosaurs that you brought on from the Talenta Plains. Did you bring them in? Did you train them? Do you know of anyone who was particularly affected by that incident?"
Before Volin spoke, he quickly added, "Or is there any other reason that you think someone wants past personnel from the Peace Circus dead?"