The masked Madame Hawk stops when Roderic's ghost fades away and turns her attention to Audrani.
"In fact, I was about to bring these two--" She puts her arms around Elanna and Fioralba. "--to Creekside for lunch myself."
Jumping out of Screaming Moon's hands, Tsu-la yips happily and darts over to Audrahni, running about her feet.
"Hello, Audrahni. So good to see you again. We were hoping to catch up with you a little later, and under less mysterious circumstances, but sometimes the spirits have other ideas.
Hope and I were just about to find lunch as well, so we will be glad to accept your offer."
He turns to Hope and smiles. "Assuming that is all right with you, Hope. Audrahni is a good friend."
Hope saw the spectral presence and had no idea who it was, all she knew was that when the ghost screamed it hurt. As the spirit screamed Hope began to move, it was elegant, almost like dancing, but as she did the light seemed to pull in towards her and in a swirling disk. She was almost prepared when the ghost vanished and she cursed and flung her arms up. The light that had swirled in flew upwards as it continued to swirl in a disk for a bout thirty feet before it disappeared.
When Audrahni appeared Hope gave her a polite nod of greeting. There were few people that Hope offered any respect to but Audrahni was one of them. It was mostly because the woman was kind of like her neighbor given where Hope spent most nights. She hadn't really spoken with her before but she had never had any problems with her either. At the offer of lunch Hope considered, it was a free lunch, and she was going to get something now for sure. Hope looked to Screaming Moon and raised one eyebrow in question at the offer.
Fioralba puffs out her chest a bit and stands a little bit taller when the ghost disappears. "HA!" she proclaims loudly with a flick of her rapier, resheathing it.
She's about to address Audrani when Triel slips her arm around her shoulder. Not bothered at all by the contact, she says to the groundskeeper "Yes. I told it to leave and it obeyed me. I will gladly be treated to lunch for these deeds.
She leans over and whispered to her sister "Hey! Maybe this will make it's way back to the law as well."
Leaning to Triel she whispers "Who's the half-elf and the ginger? Do they have coin to their names?"
Madame Hawk rolls her eyes behind her mask.
"The ginger is Screaming Moon--a shaman and spirit-speaker of some notoriety. I'm not sure who the other one is... I don't think I've seen her before."
Audrahni nods at each of you in turn. ”Thank you. Please, follow me.”
The Creekside Tavern and Inn is just off the Circle, so you don't have far to travel. Audrahni pays the innkeeper, and soon the barmaids bring out tasty plates of seafood and glasses of apple cider for each of you.
The elf is silent for a while, idly poking at her meal, until she realizes she's expected to say something. She clears her throat awkwardly and scratches at her arm. "We should talk business after we eat. I've only lived here in town for a year or so, and I fear I haven't yet met a lot of its citizens. I know Screaming Moon, but perhaps the rest of you would like to tell me a little about yourselves?"
Fioralba eagerly scoops up the apple cider, reflecting "I love everything apple!" and quickly tasting the beverage. Her eyelids flutter several times as she sinks into her seat and moans "Mmmmm. Delicious." She licks her lips with her tongue to get the few drops that escaped while drinking before setting her cup down.
"Thank you for your most generous offer. My name is Fioralba and-" she opens her palm towards her sister, moving her arm slowly in an exaggerated motion that drips with elegance. "this magnificent woman next to me is my sister, Elanna."
Fioralba uses the hand she gestured to her sister with to lift some of the hair that has fallen in front of Elanna's left eye back up over her ear, tucking it in gently before tracing her finger down her neckline. "Say hello to the nice people, Ella."
The masked woman watches Fi's finger movements before turning back to Audrahni. "People around here call me Madame Hawk. I read fortunes in the Circle for coin. Not much else to tell, really."
...are those two--? Perhaps I shouldn't go there. Not at lunch.
Screaming Moon thanks Gozreh for the blessings of plenty before sipping the cider with pleasure.
He studies the others while cracking shells and scooping out the flesh. Nodding pleasantly to Triel, he wonders to himself how she will eat without taking off the mask.
He then hears Fioralba introduce herself and drops the mussel he was holding and frowning. Covering the surprise by wiping his hands, he softens his expression. "Fioralba... and Elanna... from Riddeport, yes? At least that is where I heard of you. Famous even in that town of ... adventurous people."
Madame Hawk dips her head low and inches her mask up slightly so she can take some food in her mouth before pulling it back down and chewing.
Fioralba doesn't know quite to make of this. She lifts her cider and sips again before taking a moment to respond. When she does, it's not to Screaming Moon but to her sister. "Did you hear that Ella, we're famous. Everywhere we go in town, people seem to know our names. It does not appear we need to go to Magnimar to seek our fame, we've found it here!"
She then proceeds to laugh at her own joke. The sounds of her voice are warm and the laughter is the type that is contagious and minimally brings a smile to your face as you try to resist the urge to respond with a chuckle of your own.
Turning back to Screaming Moon, she nods "Yes. Riddleport. I'm afraid it's true."
"And adventurous people. That's quite a generous description of that steaming pile of beetle dung of a city." she says with a roll of her eyes.
"Tell me Screaming Moon, your name, it-" she pauses her statement so that she can lean forward and place both of her elbows on the table, resting her chin in between them so that her golden wasp chain dangles and twists in front of her hands. She continues to push forward and bring herself much closer to the shaman before continuing, "it intrigues me so." She finishes with a cluck of her of tongue. Holding her position, the she continues to stare into his eyes with her golden own as she lowers her voice to a whisper and asks "Will you show me how a Moon screams? Inquiring minds want to know."
Leaning into her sister, Elanna looks impressed. "What exactly did you just do anyway? Maybe," She says, with hope, " just maybe, that will help us. You never know, you may have just saved this rubbish little town's future!"
Following Audrahni to the tavern, Elanna slips her arm around her sister's waist and allows her hand to slide lower, and appreciatively pats her sister's behind. "You did well big sister, we seem to be getting a free lunch from an attractive woman!"
----
Elanna pushes her own glass of apple cider to her sister, knowing how she loves it so and orders a stiffer drink from the bar for herself. Elanna seemingly doesn't tuck into the seafood much, seemingly preferring a more liquid diet, supplementing it occasionally with a hand-picked clam.
"Clearly, Fee, we were just too good for that sorry-backwater, I still vote we get outta here post-haste!" She adds, gesturing at another table the other side of the tavern. "Look at who is sitting over in that corner, its our bestest friend." Indeed, the otherside of the tavern houses the son of the Port-Master sending dirty looks across the tavern. Elanna giggles and waves in his direction.
Having had her little fun, she turns back to the table and looks towards Screaming Moon and corrects her sister. "Us, will you show us, how a moon can scream so, if it is as I think, it sounds most spectacular."
Moving her gaze from Screaming Moon to the other traveller, Elanna asks; "Haven't seen you around here? Are you just passing through this particular sorry-backwater on your way to another?" She looks at the woman with a judgemental gaze, taking in her clearly making her own judgements on Hope's attire as Elanna continues to push her food around her plate.
Hope looked to Elanna warily as the woman asked about her and considered just what she wanted to say. She could tell that her appearance was being judged and she really didn't care since everyone else judged her too. Finally, deciding it wasn't worth trying to hide anything Elanna could find with little effort Hope caught her gaze with her amber colored eyes and said, "I'm Hope and it would surprise me if one such as yourself ever bothered to see someone like me. I've been here a year and have no home, no job if I can't find someone needing help," she paused and a slightly feral smile crossed her lips as she said, "they also say I'm, crazy."
Audrahni listens quietly to your introductions. Once you have finished lunch and are relaxing with your drinks, she nods and speaks at length.
"Thank you again for taking the time to chat with me. You seem like capable sorts. I think the Cove needs people like you: heroes. The stink of violence is in the air. The near-confrontation you were just involved in isn't the first we've had recently... surely you've heard of the slaughter that took place last week? Something strange is going on here in Roderic's Cove, and someone needs to do some investigating to figure out what that is. I'm hoping you'll be up to that challenge.
"My main concern is the appearance of Sir Roderic himself. The last time Sir Roderic's ghost made appearances in the Cove was during events 10 years ago that culminated in a minor uprising. Roderic's Cove's previous port-Governor, Jess Gildersleeves, was run out of town after she was found to be undermining the Cove by diverting funds meant for the small town to shady interests in Riddleport.
"I believe that Sir Roderic becomes restless when his beloved cove is in danger, not that he is the cause of those dangers himself. I now suspect that, in order to give the town's founder the rest he finally deserves, Roderic's Cove must be made safe for its citizens. But that would first require determining what sort of peril is building in the town's shadows. I've done a little bit of work looking around for clues, but I'm not the best at talking to people or noticing subtleties. Perhaps you will have better luck than I did."
"If you want to try to find out more about Sir Roderic's ghost, an investigation of his old home, Roderic's Wreck, would be a logical step. The old building is dangerous, though, so you should be cautious and deliberate if you decide to search it."
Audrahni scratches her chin before continuing. "As for the slaughter, I can give you a few leads. I'm the one who gathered the bodies and dug their graves. All six were human, locals who left behind no immediate family. Of the six, two worked as trappers, one as a fisher, and three were unemployed. One thing tied them together apart from their shared deaths: all six wore the same rune on their clothing, the sign of one of the new gangs in town--the Horned Fangs. That rune is actually the old Thassilonian rune of wrath. I'm not certain why the Horned Fangs have adopted it as their symbol.
"One of the bodies bore an obvious sign of death—a deep puncture wound to the throat from a stabbing weapon, likely a rapier or a short sword, but the other five bore no physical wounds at all. The expressions frozen on their dead faces suggested a singular cause of death. I believe they all died of fright.
"The first person on the scene of the massacre was Ladia Kelstrop. She might be able to provide more information."
Madame Hawk pauses in her lunch to listen to Audrahni. ...well. That at least should make my investigation easier.
"This Kelstrop person... do you happen to know where she lives?"
"Us, will you show us, how a moon can scream so, if it is as I think, it sounds most spectacular."
Breaking her gaze for a moment, she turns to her sister with a smile and says, "Yes, of course. Us."
"I'm Hope and it would surprise me if one such as yourself ever bothered to see someone like me. I've been here a year and have no home, no job if I can't find someone needing help," she paused and a slightly feral smile crossed her lips as she said, "they also say I'm, crazy."
Fioralba turns to the crazy lady and raises her cider to her in a mock toast. "Here's a free tip, Hope. If you want something in life, you need to take it. Also, if you sit in the shadow with that hood pulled up, no one can see. Let yourself be seen."
She clucks her tongue again and says "And there is nothing wrong with being crazy. That's other people's way of telling you that they don't understand, not you. When they call you crazy, just laugh at their foolishness and do what you do. Go a little crazy. I'm homeless too, but that's" where I live." She raises her apple cider in a toast to Hope before drinking and turning to their hostess.
After listening to Audrahni, she shivers and repeats "Oh. Dangerous and deliberate? I like this already."
When she mentions death from rapier, Fioralba's eyes look down at her own blade and then over to her sister's. "What. I didn't do it. Don't look at me like that."
After Audrahni fills them in on Kelstrop, she turns to Triel. "We should go, we have destiny to fulfill. But before we do, are you going to finish that cider?" she asks, eyeing the beverage.
Screaming Moon eyes the sisters warily as he sets down his cup. Looking each of them in the eye in turn, he responds seriously. "I suspect that each of you know something of Shoanti and that your questions are meant to tease, making fun of my name in some way. Well, I was a child once. I will take no offense."
He drops some food down to Tsu-la, using the act as an excuse to break eye contact. "Besides, there are perhaps those at the table who do not know Shoanti. For them, I will indulge you." He sits back a little and lightens his tone. "Shoanti names - those earned at adulthood - are meant to be descriptive of the individual. Some describe their personality, others a significant event in their past. For me, it is a story of the day of my birth."
He lowers his eyes, looking embarrassed. "Honestly, I don't like telling the story, as it sounds silly. But, I have spoken to those who were there and they all tell the same story with great sincerity." He tells an abbreviated version of his backstory.
At the end, he chuckles. "Tsu-la would have me believe he was that very same fox. That would make him a very old fox, though."
------
Listening to Audrahni quietly and seriously, Screaming Moon's only reaction is to nod his head seriously.
Helping Audrahni is without question. For the rest... I set out to learn more of the world of these strangers. He quietly listens, allowing the others to ask questions.
"And there is nothing wrong with being crazy. That's other people's way of telling you that they don't understand, not you. When they call you crazy, just laugh at their foolishness and do what you do. Go a little crazy. I'm homeless too, but that's where I live."
Fi's words cause a sharp chill to go through the masked woman's bones. Her eyes widen behind her mask and she stares at Fi.
Madame Hawk pushes her cider towards Fi, now decidedly put off. "Help yourself."
Hope listened to Fioralba's response and smiled slightly in amusement, "At least yours is a refreshing attitude, it's a shame my craziness is all too real though. The things I hear, the hideous secrets that the Voices whisper, that my mind has not snapped under the weight is nothing less than a miracle," she paused as a thought floated through her mind, "or maybe I have snapped and can no longer see the difference?"
Considering the suggestion she remove her hood Hope finally decided to see what happened and complied with the suggestion. With her hood down Hope's face looked far more elven that it should, her ears nearly as sharply pointed as a full-blooded elf, her features sharp and only slightly softened by her human blood. Her eyes looked like those of a full elf except for their amber color and her black hair seemed to devour the light that touched it making it so dark it was hard to look at without feeling like you would be pulled in next. If she had been eating better she would be more filled out than she was but currently she looked a little too thin for her frame. If she filled out and cleaned up her exotic features would make her a strickingly attractive woman.
As Hope removes her hood, Elanna looks taken aback. With her hood down, Elanna appreciates her features more fully and her gaze changes, as if hungrily eating up the woman's unearthed appearance.
"Absolutely, and if we solve this, it might even get us off the hook. Or celebrated. I'll take either, preferably both." Elanna says with a grin. She stands up, leaving her half-finished lunch on the table, finishes off her second drink and smoothes her clothes.
"Right, where can we find this Ladia Kelstrop?"
A gleeful smile overtakes the older twin as she gracefully reaches forward and pulls the glass toward herself. Raising it to take a sip she says "Thank you, Madame Hawk." before turning to raise he eyebrows twice at her sister as if to say silently Look at the prize I just got.
Madame Hawk turns to address Hope. "The fact that you're concerned at all tells me that you're more stable than you think."
When Hope finally comes out of her shell, she tilts her head slightly to the side as if to size her up. Deciding she could use another bite, she pushes Elanna's unfinished lunch over to Hope as they stand. She whispers "It's already paid for. Take it for later, sweetie." before winking and turning back to Triel.
"Madame Hawk. What shall we find waiting for us when we seek Kelstrop? Do you have insights?"
"Hopefully, some answers. Likely, even more questions." Madame Hawk replies, getting up from the table. She finished her lunch quite quickly.
As she moves quickly ahead, Fioralba moves to keep pace with the drow. Falling beside her as she walks, she lowers her voice to a whisper and asks like an inquisitive student consulting their teacher "Madame Hawk, is this the path that I must take to fulfill my destiny of arcane power? Is this as you have read it?"
"Considering the Empty Throne's prediction came true--and the fact that it was an opposite match--I'm certainly inclined to think so." Madame Hawk shrugs. Considering the height difference between the two women, she has to stoop a bit to give her reply.
"Of course, your sister doesn't seem to agree."
"I'll be at the Lady's Chapel if you have any more questions. Um, good night." Audrahni stands and bows stiffly before taking her leave.
A haze of smoke hangs in the air around Kelstrop's Meats, bringing with it the mouth-watering smell of smoked salmon, beef, and pork. Ladia Kelstrop can be found within as she monitors the temperature of her fires and directs her staff in rotating the meats or tending coals.
She gives you a nod as you enter. "Welcome. What can I get for you?"
Looking briefly back over her shoulder at her sister who is walking alongside Hope behind her, she turns back Triel and says "Ella doesn't believe in harrowings. I must admit I myself have been skeptical in the past, but I believe most who read are charlatans. You appear to have some true power in readings however, you had just predicted the Empty Throne after all!" she says with amazement, completely taken by how the predicted events had come true.
Fascinated with Triel's ability to predict the future, particularly her future of arcane power, she hangs on Triel's every word.
---
When they reach Kelstrop, she nods in greeting. "Good day to you. We've just eaten and are seeking information at this tme. We are investigating the massacre and are hoping perhaps that you could share some details with us?"
The masked Madame Hawk steps forward to speak with Ms. Kelstrop. "Good day. Do you have a moment? There are some questions we would ask of you."
"Could we perhaps discuss them in your office?"
Considering Fi answered first, she winces a bit on the inside. She might not be happy with the idea of being investigated. Play this carefully.
"...yes, they pertain to the massacre."
"Haven't got a office but I'll talk to you here." Ladia says, quickly warming up to Triel's pleasant manner. "The massacre. Aye, a frightful night that was. I rose late at night, as I do most nights, to tend to my smokehouse fires. On my way, I saw a number of people fleeing north from the Circle. Rushing to the scene of the fight and shouting at those fleeing to stop, I stumbled upon the grisly aftermath. Six bodies were sprawled out on the ground dead. I immediately started shouting for the neighbors to wake up and help and to keep an eye out for the varlets who’d committed the crime. Alas, it was too dark for me to recognize any of the people fleeing the scene, but I suspect they weren’t thugs from Riddleport. Pirates would have fled south to board their ship at the docks, not north."
Ladia hesitates a moment before continuing. "There was one more thing. I noticed Kynae Fromperton, lurking around the scene soon after I started yelling for help. Kynae slipped away before more help arrived—I certainly don’t think he was involved in the actual deed, since he’s just a kid, and I don't want to see him get in trouble, but there’s a chance he might have seen something more."
You know that Kynae is the son of the town drunk. As such, he rarely spends time at home. He can most likely be found at Blackberry's Bakery.
The masked madame shrugs. "I cannot really fault your sister for her reluctance to believe--a healthy dose of skepticism never hurts."
I mean, I only recently started doing it to earn money...
-----------------
Madame Hawk pauses, listening to Ladia's recounting of the incident. When she finishes, she nods. "Thank you for the information. You've been helpful."
"So, it appears our next stop is the Bakery." She looks over at Fi. "They have quite a few types of sweets there--I could perhaps be persuaded to get you one while we're there."
"It's Ok Madame. I will get my sister a treat." Elanna says, popping up between the two. "I know exactly what she likes. Maybe I could get you one too? Try to guess what you like?" She muses, as they walk to the bakery.
"Thank you for your time, Ladia. We'll speak to this boy for further information."
----
"OOooooh." Fioralba says, attempting to slide her arm around Triel's waist and pull the drow closer. Ella slips in quickly however and her arm slides around her sister's waist instead.
She smiles at her sister and says "I like sweet things."
Taking its namesake from the halfling woman who runs it, Blackberry's Bakery specializes in the plentiful blackberries in around Roderic's Cove. The proprietor uses the tart berry in breads, confections, jams, jellies, muffins, pastries, and, if you ask nicely, a fine blackberry brandy.
As Blackberry busies herself with her confections, you spot Kynae Frumperton sitting on the floor under a window, thumbing through a book. He is a rail-thin boy with dirty smudges on his face and ragged hand-me-down clothes.
Glancing between the skinny boy and the many sweets on offer, a simple plan pops into the masked one's head.
"Ms. Blackberry!" Madame Hawk waves to the halfling proprietor. "One muffin, please."
As they walk, Fioralba says "Can you imagine having a name like Frumperton? How can you not be a big pile of frowny faces?" She puts her hands on her lips and tries to frown as hard as she can and says "Hello. I'm Ms. Frownerton."
---
Once they reach the bakery however, frowns are forgotten as she smells the sweetness inside. She inhales a long breath smelling the food before taking note of Kynae inside. "That must be him, Frownerton." she says, messing up his name.
Once Triel orders, Fioralba says to no one in particular "I like apple things."
"Can you imagine having a name like Frumperton? How can you not be a big pile of frowny faces?"
"Indeed." Madame Hawk gives a deadpan reply. "But, it could be worse--they could have a name like Misraria."
"That one's too close to misery. Either you're a victim of it, or a perpetrator thereof."
Elanna can't help herself and as Blackberry is distracted, she swipes a small blackberry and apple jam slice for her sister for later.
Walking back over to the main event, she smiles and compliments Blackberry. "This shop smells so delicious! Now Madame Hawk, she looks like she might like...hmmmm" She says, feigning deep thought, "Blackberry bonbons. Sweet, bite-sized and pack one hell of a flavor punch. You like a mixture of powerful yet sweet, I can tell." She says, tapping her nose with her finger.
"How did you guess?" The madame tilts her head at Elanna, her tone as deadpan as before.
Screaming Moon follows along, impressed by the women's ability to get information.
As he enters the bakery and sees the boy sitting in the corner and the women get distracted with sweets, he nudges Tsu-la, nods his head toward the boy and quietly says "Go ahead... fetch"
The fox rolls its eyes again then walks over to the boy, poking a head under his arm and sniffing at the book.
Kynae smiles down at the fox. "Oh, hey, little guy! Wot's your name, eh?" He scratches the animal under the chin.
The not-very-perceptive magus doesn't see what's happening with the fox and is very distracted by the sweets.
When Madame Hawk's muffin arrives, Fioralba opens her mouth and says "Is it sweet? May I have a taste?"
Tsu-la sniffs at the boy's hand and happily yips.
Pretending to just notice the boy's presence, Screaming Moon walks over and kneels down. Smiling, he asks, "Sorry about that, young man. Is Tsu-la bothering you?"
"...two muffins, actually."
Once the second one arrives, she gives the second one to Fi and walks over to the boy with the first.
When she sees Moon speaking with him, she opts to hang back for a bit and watch.
"Oh, no! He's cute!" Kynae says. "He your pet, mister?"
Taking the muffin from Triel, Fioralba takes a bite and says "mmmMMmm!" After chewing it she turns to her sister, eyes wide with excitement and with a moutful and says "Thweshe arhe delishousnesh!"
She holds the muffin out to her sister and says "Try a bite!"
Handing the muffin over to Elanna, she turns back to Triel and nods in her direction. "Thank you, Madame Hawk."
She too joins in watching the conversation with the boy.
"Well don't spoil your appetite, I have a surprise for you later!"
"Hey Madame, do you have another?" Elanna asks Triel hopefully. "I don't think there is going to be any left at the rate Fee is going." Elanna also hangs back, not bothering to get involved with this young, most likely foolish, boy.
Laughing, he reaches down to scratch behind Tsu-la's ears. "Friend is perhaps a better word. He gets offended when referred to as a pet. What is your name?"
After receiving a response, Screaming Moon introduces himself and motions toward the others. "Say, we are talking to people around town about the killings that happened a few nights ago, hoping to stop whatever is happening and return the town to safety.
It occurs to me that young boys often see and hear things more than adults. I know that was the case when I was young. How about you? Did you happen to see anything that night?"
Madame Hawk orders one last muffin and hands it off to Elanna.
Kynae glances around, as if afraid somebody might come along to punish him. Finally, he sighs. "Awright, fine. Yeah, I saw some of what went down that night. I was out late to, um, get some night fishing done. I heard talking coming from the Circle. I sneaked over there and hid behind a rain barrel. There was two groups of people arguing. One group were those gangers, the Horned Fangs. The other were them hoity-toity know-it-alls what live in the Peacock Manor. One of those lot, a woman, was accusing the Horned Fangs of 'properating a runelord's rune, or something like that. She was pretty pissed off. The Horned Fang said something naughty back to her, and she sputtered, and then, all the sudden, things went real weird.
"I think the woman drew a rapier, but it looked broken. There were no blade, just a fancy hilt, yeah? But she jabbed it toward the Horned Fang, and suddenly his throat opened up, and blood went everywhere!" Kynae's eyes grow big. "But that weren't the worst of it. Things came out of the fog. Ghosts. Monsters. Worse. They all started swirling through the air, and one after the other the Horned Fangs just dropped dead! One of those ghosts turned my way, and I thought that maybe it looked a bit too much like me old man, so, well, I took off.
"Please don't tell him!" he adds nervously.