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Nilah casts as scornful glance at Ejtehah.
They're talking about the trade secrets of their entertainment business! I agree with Almara, disclosing the illusion and damaging their ability to make a living this way won't undo any murders, nor even reveal the perpetrators to us. Let's get Ika's observations so that we can get this investigation back on track.
She turns to Ika, hoping to capitalize on the warm tinglies provided by Magdelina.
Anything you can think of: someone loitering around the tent, something obvious that drew the guards away from your tent. Were you around when anything like this might have happened?
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Ejtehah laughs.
“What do I care about their business?!? Two people are dead! Dead! Do you get this?! Last time I checked people were angry so what happens if one of them starts burning circus tents or wagons? Do you want to endanger lives in exchange for some coin?!?“ he says with an amused look on his face.
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Nilah cocks an eyebrow at Ejtehah's rash reasoning, and only remarks Hmm, so you believe the circus is a reasonable sacrifice for a misguided mob. Dangerous. Be careful who else you offer up as their whims shift and change. You may feel differently once they set their sites on newcomers off of a recent boat in their blind rage.
She turns away from him and awaits replies from Ika.
@Ejtehah they seem to be genuine and telling the truth this time. But you thought that last time too .
Ika has been so busy with her circus duties (as she is the real star of the circus), flitting from the Lair of the Sphinx, to the Big Top, back to the midway for Madam Masque... she hasn't had much time to loiter and observe. The only thing she has personally noticed was the circus clowns near this tent you already knew about - she could see them from the Madam Masque game and thought it was odd. She honestly doesn't know why anyone would target the Sphinx as an individual, it makes more sense they are just trying to target the Circus in general as Jherizhana is their prime attraction.
Almara looks a bit disappointed in Ejtehah's conclusions, but admits her training as a Rogue and illusionist might make her more susceptible to lying as a way to solve problems than most others would. "Plus, honestly a bit of that is traditionally expected in the circus world. Our audiences get much more excited seeing a 'Baby Dragon' even if a few of them know it's not real, for example. But I am also concerned about more deaths. That's why, even though I disagree with it, I am ordering the circus to start packing up. We'll be hard-pressed to get it all done in 2 days, so we have to start now. But its getting quite late, and its been a long day for you and you've helped us all out a lot. Two murder investigations and stopping a riot all in one day! Well, 3 murders actually, including the guard. Get some rest and start again fresh tomorrow." She glances at Magdelina & Ika and smiles gently. "Unfortunately I need Ika's help getting everything ready to go. She should have some free time tomorrow though, once we get everything in process. Although she isn't allowed to visit the town now due to the Sheriff's quarantine, so you'd have to visit here."
@Salmok- she's a bard, she does bard stuff. She will be very open about her skills.
1st - charm person, cure light wounds, silent image, ventriloquism
0 - dancing lights, daze, detect magic, ghost sound, message, prestidigitation
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Hmm... Most interesting. Professor Masaendri's eyes flick back and forth between the various speakers, while her lips remain tightly pressed together (extremely so when Ejtehah speaks). She's still stewing over her failed attempt to take control of the riot situation, so she keeps her silence lest the bitterness creep into her voice. Now, however, it seems she can speak without ruining anything. "Well, thank you for your time, and your honesty. We'll keep looking into this and let you know whatever else we find." With that, she turns to leave.
Once they're all outside, she briskly says: "Well! That was illuminating. Now! Where to next? Would it make sense to talk to some of Sister Esrelda's acquaintances? I suppose the guard was probably in the wrong place at the wrong time, but we could do that for him too if there's time. The good news is, the murderers are likely locals, and therefore are likely to stay in town for a while--assuming they believe they're in the clear, of course. Perhaps the Sherrif's harshness with the circus works to our advantage there. It makes things seem like they are still the primary suspects. What do you think?" She glances around at the group, waiting for their reactions and suggestions.
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"Clowns... clowns are always scary.". A shudder goes down Salmok's spine. "Do we have any other leads on the clowns? We could ask around to see if anyone got a close look at them."
"If that doesn't work, then yes, I agree with you Professor. Some acquaintances of this Sister Esrelda.... I wonder if she made it this way."
If you circle around the outside of the tent and search, you are able to find a small pile of tear-away clown costumes behind the back of the tent (to the north). It looks like the clowns didn't stay in their clown disguises for very long.
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"Ooh, I see! Yes. That makes sense. Even the members of the circus didn't fully realize they weren't part of their team. Very clever." The Professor recognizes Nilah's intent, and scans the ground as well. She knows it's not her strong suit, but perhaps with a little beginner's luck...
Nope. Never mind. "Well, perhaps they left something in their costumes that may help lead us to them. Let's see..." She begins inspecting the discarded garments and the ground around them for any items, hairs, or anything that could give her a clue as to the identities of the suspects.
Whoemever used these costumes were either lucky or professional - there is very little left on the costumes that can be considered clues. In the wigs you find some dark hairs, and one sleeve has a small brown stain on it - coffee, maybe?
On your way back to the town proper, just off the commonly traveled route between the town and circus, you see a visible crowd of six Chelaxian men from Ilsurian that have gathered around the base of a large tree. You cannot see what they are gathered around.
Once you get closer, you see a young male Varisian teenager with a burlap sack over their head, slumped on the ground near the tree. The mob of Chelaxian men are beating him.
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Yes, that would be good. We could also check with the guards who responded to the brawl, to see if they can remember anything specific about how it started. It sure looks like it was a diversion now!
Nilah muses.
But, that doesn't have to be next, just something else for the list.
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Nilah is horrified when the party sees a group of men beating a teenaged child.
Is this what passes for civility around here? And they're suspicious of the circus?
She doesn't immediately make a move to intervene, at least not until seeing what the rest of the group wants to do.
The townsfolk react with hostility to Nilah and Magdelina, accusing them of “helping those carnies get away with stealing and killin’ folks!” They turn their focus from the boy to you, and move forward with raised weapons to drive you off. However, when Salmok points out the teen is dying, they lower their weapons a bit and appear shocked and horrified and overall much less sure of themselves than they were a moment ago.
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Seeing that her team is moving in on the mob, Nilah joins in verbally dressing them down.
You all seem to have pretty simplistic outlets for your rage. Did any of you happen to be clients of the lender? It'd be awfully convenient to pin that on passing performers.
Understanding her accusation is a *little* wild, Nilah looks to see if this draws any "interesting" reactions from mob members.
Between all of you working together, they are convinced to put down arms.
A couple of them mutter something about not meaning to kill him, just rough him up some for not following the Sheriff's quarantine. A couple of them look ashamed of their behavior and ask if there's anything they can do to help, and a couple of them look panicked and try to run away. They all move out of the way so you can reach the victim though.
Once you get close enough to inspect him further and remove the bag from his head, you see this guy and notice
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"Regardless of the previous murders, if this boy dies, you will all be charged. Now, you can make this easier on yourselves. By cooperating with our investigation, you will show your intent to end these horrible events and get life back to being peaceful and safe for everyone. So!" Professor Masaendri pulls out her writing implements. "Kindly tell us your names, one at a time. Once we have your names, we will talk to each of you, separately, to record the chain of events that lead to this moment. Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation."
She intents her manner to be professional and impartial, but it comes across as waspish and sarcastic.
The townsfolk that stayed are generally cooperative and give you their names and the ones that fled. Two of them offer to turn themselves in to the Sheriff.
@Nilah, none of the townies seemed to react suspiciously to your accusation.
Do you take the offenders into town to the Sheriff in person first, or do you go back to the circus to return Milandru to his parents first?
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So, there are enough of us I think to swiftly get both things done. Some of us can take these two to the sheriff, and one or two can bring the boy back to his parents at the circus.
She looks around at the group.
Magdelina and Salmok, why don't you get the boy back. We'll meet you back at the circus after we get these two safely handed off for booking.
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At the Sheriff's:
Kyra looks a bit surprised when you walk in with the 4 men, but not as much as you might expect. "I knew the mood in town was volatile, but Carus? I expected better from you." She shakes her head in frustration and books the mob into her jail, for everyone's safety. She thanks you for your interference and keeping both sides safe from further injury.
At the Circus:
On the way back to the circus, Milandru quietly thanks you for saving his life, and tells you why he was out after quarantine - he made a friend of one of the youths from town, a lad named Grayson. "I only wanted to say goodbye!" he says tearfully.
Milandru’s parents are grateful for his safe return. His mother gives them a scarf of the suggestive dance, a family heirloom, as a gesture of their thanks.
It was already about closing time at the circus when Sheriff instituted the quarantine, so by now it's getting very late indeed. The family of Sister Esrelda is probably asleep by now.
the group followed your earlier suggestion to meet back at the circus, and then go back in to town to try to question Esrelda's family.
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As the group approaches the town square, something catches Salmok's eyes. He looks up in a nearby tree. A small humanoid figure is hiding in the shadows. Without drawing too much attention, he'll whisper, "Don't look, but there's someone up in the tree right there. It's creeping me out.". He'll briefly glance that way. "I said don't look!!!"
As you get closer, the shadow turns out to be an adult human male that is suspended by the neck from a dirty and torn Varisian scarf. His eyes have been gouged out, his mouth has been stuffed with rags, and his left hand has been severed at the wrist and is missing. A sheet of paper has been pinned to the body’s shirt and is stained with blood, written in Varisian...
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Ejtehah is disgusted.
"This whole town and circus has gone mad! No order and no respect for the law!" he says and shakes his head!
He moves to the hanged man on his riding horse and starts to search for clues while he is still hanging.
"Ahh, look. A harrow card!" he says and shows it to you while ignoring the man's injuries.
"The harrow card of The Desert, depicting an androsphinx, stuck just inside the body’s vest, and a dingy, heavily creased, note appearing to be a few days old in the trouser pocket. The note is signed “Arhaneem Braeton,” but bears no personal seal. The note explains the bearer has been hired to 'work on one of the Skull River boat crews, and is on probation—an advance is permitted to buy new boots if necessary.'” he reads to you all.
"Well, There is no mystical or symbolic relationship with the harrow card. The only possible context is that The Desert depicts a sphinx. Anyone wants to take a look at this?" he says after some thought.
@Ejtehah he is really dead.
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The Professor casts Light on her hand again, holding it up like a bright-minded student. "Oh! Well, now, that is just gruesome. If it really was someone from the circus, they wouldn't be stupid enough to keep advertising that. For crying out loud, this is horrid!" She immediately begins to search the area, wondering if the perpetrator left any signs of their passage, or--<gulp>--if they're watching from the shadows right now.
Nothing. They're too good.
What do you do?