Holy staghooves, that was close! Mila thinks as a wicked-looking spine shoots past her by a hair.
"There's a nest," Mila calls, her eyes strafing around quickly for the danger. "It's defending its young! Look, like my friend said, we don't want trouble!"
She pulls away-- away from the nest, at least, running for some sparse cover from the wicked tail-spines. She is all too aware she doesn't currently have the benefit of the wizardly armor. She whispers a prayer to Erastil as she goes, and her skin takes on a bark-like consistency.
Rajuna races through the woods, leaping over ankle-breaking hazards.
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"You come into my lair, intrude upon my peace, and then demand that I bow to you, the interlopers? Surely it should be you that makes amends for your intrusion." the manticore replies to Park, readying an action to throw more spikes should anyone make an aggressive move towards it.
Round 2:
21- Park
21- Rajuna
17- Zhandar
17- manticore
5- Mila
Round 3:
21- Park
21- Rajuna
17- Zhandar
17- manticore
5- Mila
"Look, we're sorry we came into your lair! Didn't know we were-- I promise you I got no desire to go into a mama bear's lair and get my face clawed off! We're just tryin' to find somethin' that's got nothin' to do with your nest! Ain't no reason for us to fight-- even if you kill us, we'd wound you, and that'd make it hard for you to hunt and guard your nest, right?" Mila calls. This is not an area she feels particularly capable of navigating, but her sense of the natural world and order is a strong one - it might be a weird looking monster, but it's just like a mama bear, right? Protecting its nest.
Park puts his weapon away. "No. A noble creature such as yourself should bow to no one. We mean you no harm and didn't even know that you were here. We are only looking for details about an evil humanoid that hid in this area and preyed on the humans in the nearby town. Do you know anything? We could go to the town and get you something, maybe an animal, food for you and your family?"
Mila's words bring the manticore's tail up, and its face twists in an expression of anger before Park speaks and clarifies that she wasn't making fun of her, actually. She hovers mid-air for a few moments before settling on top of the large mausoleum in a familiar stance, suggesting this isn't the first time she's rested here, and crossing her clawed paws in front of her.
"Well now that's much more like it." she says, smiling in a gesture that is supposed to be comforting but has far too many teeth for that. "I haven't seen many people out here since the boneyard was abandoned. I don't know why they left it, but I do know it wasn't me. I only moved in a few weeks ago, but there hasn't been anyone by in forever, that I can remember at least. What did this person look like, exactly?"
Her eyes narrow suddenly as she processes what Park said. "How do I know I'll ever see you again once you leave here? What's to stop you from negotiating this and then never looking back?"
Park considers the question. "That's a valid concern. Many people that I have known would be duplicitous like that. There are a couple others of us that I'm sure heard us and are coming. How about Mila and I stay here while they go and get the food I promised? We can talk."
If Park hears the others approaching he will turn to face that direction and call out. "Slow down and put away any weapons. We are talking."
He turns back to the manticore. "As for the person. There is a man currently on trial in the city just a short walk from here. He is.... interesting. Many probably wouldn't call him a man because he looks like a monster that was constructed. They say that he murdered several people here, and they chased him back to his lair here. They also claimed that an alligator caught him, pulled him underwater and killed him. Obviously their story is wrong since he's alive and there is no mark from any alligator biting him. But they are still claiming that he is the killer. He says that he was never here."
"We don't judge a person by how he looks. Some may claim that since he looks like a monster obviously he is one and should be killed. I think someone, some regular human, was wearing some sort of mask to cover their own crimes and target 'The Beast'. That's what they call him...."
When everyone is there Park explains his offer to the Manticore. "So we just need to know what you would like brought back. ??"
How about Mila and I stay here while they go and get the food I promised? We can talk
The manticore nods, seemingly agreeing. "That is acceptable, do talk as much as you'd like." She says, settling in what looks to be a spot she is used to being comfortable in on top of the mausoleum. She truly does listen to Park as he outlays basically everything going on in the current situation, genuinely appearing interested.
"Seems like quite the conundrum you have yourselves in. I have heard of this 'Beast' of yours, but don't know anything beyond the typical stories I'm sure you've already heard." she says, sounding disinterested in the dealings of a city so (relatively) far away and out of reach of her.
"I like you, you are very talkative and so polite." she says to Park, smiling that way too wide and way too toothy smile down at him from her perch. "Bring me something good enough to feed me tonight, and I won't bother you anymore. A deer, or maybe a boar. Something delicious." she finishes, and for some reason you don't like the gleam in her eye as she discusses food.
Raj keeps his own counsel but he has reservations about everything that is happening here. There are too many strange events. He indicates that Zhandar should stay with Mila and Park as the winged beast was clearly a threat. Rajuna heads back to the boat and (presumably) Lazne who rowed them over.
Park looks around for a place he can sit and be comfortable as well. "Why would I not be polite. Your attack was self-defense, and nobody was seriously harmed. You are obviously intelligent and willing to compromise rather than fight to the death. I know.... basically nothing of your kind. That indicates that your kind is rare, at least around here. Exterminating a species is evil. Could you school me? What are you called? Perhaps your name, but also your species. I am Park Song, Tiefling, even though I look mostly human. I'm a musician as well as an explorer. If Raj takes a while getting something for you to eat perhaps I could play some music, and sing? For your enjoyment if you like such, but also to pass the time."
Park hopes that Rajuna doesn't take too long bringing back the meal. They still have to get back to the city to defend the Beast! But he doesn't want to treat this creature like the others are treating the Beast....
Zhandar sits warily near Park and Mila, watching with admiration as Park expertly wades into the waters of diplomacy with the evil magical beast. If asked any questions, she stares nervously before answering, as terse as she thinks she can get away with. She urges her familiar to stay hidden within the folds of her cloak for safety.
Seeing that her attempts to help talk had just angered the beast, Mila decides to keep quiet. She sits down as well, near the other two, using her cloak to provide a protection from mud and dew. She keeps her hands tightly on her bow-- not holding it as if to attack, just clutching it to her. She doesn't like that Rajuna had gone back alone but knows that leaving only two here with the monster also had its problems. Just as long as he don't run into any caimans or nothin' on his lonesome....
After a few minutes, Zhandar speaks up, timid and gruff. "Master, uh, manticore? Would it be all right if I went back to the other side of the island while we wait? I found somethin' in the water that I believe might give us a clue as to what happened here, and I am thinkin' we won't have any time when Rajuna gets back to investigate further. I won't leave the island, I promise, if that's okay?"
"You may call me Vashira. I am what your race would call a 'manticore', though we of course have our own private name for our kind. What would you like to know, curious one?" she says, smiling down at the bard.
perhaps I could play some music, and sing? For your enjoyment
"I would love a song, actually, it has been quite a while since I have enjoyed something so...decadent."
Rajuna heads back to the boat and (presumably) Lazne
Lazne is in fact waiting at the boat, and looks up in surprise at Rajuna. "What happened to the rest of ya? Find something worth staying for?" he asks warily.
Would it be all right if I went back to the other side of the island while we wait?
Vashira nods, understanding. "Of course, as long as Park stays here and keeps me company until a suitable meal is provided, I have no issue with the rest of you departing."
”What happened to the rest of ya? Find something worth staying for?”
”Not sure yet, we’re still lookin’. But there is a beast on the island. A couple o' them are trying to negotiate with it… not sure if that’s gonna work out, or it’s a ploy and we’re gonna get bloody. Do you have deer or boar ‘round here? Or maybe you got a pig in your village? I can pay.”
"A beast? The Beast?" he asks, but quickly understands that's not possible. "Yeah, stupid question, sorry."
Even more confused at this point, he nods slowly. "Got a good pig ready for the slaughter, will sell her at market price. Don't tell me what you're gonna do with it." he finishes, shuddering.
Park is satisfied that the creature is calm. When it/she? responds with a smile he thinks and replies. "Varisha? That's a pretty name. Questions? Well, when we approached each other, you fired a group of spikes at us. It looked like they were slung from you tail. Are those a natural weapon? If so, quite impressive. And your wings? They are almost like I would imagine dragon wings would be. Can you fly long distances? They did look quite strong, but I only got a short glance."
With the request for a song Park plays a couple simple tunes at first. He doesn't really have anything that he feels would be appropriate for the audience.... Many of the bard's tunes are about human heroes vanquishing monsters. On an inspiration he calls Birdie to join him. "I'd like to do a duet next, with my tiny partner here. I call him Birdie. Of course he has his own name, in his bird language, but I can't pronounce it properly. Please keep the noise down so you can hear both parts."
He gets out the flute from the prison and starts an old melody. Birdie listens at first, then joins in.
"A beast? The Beast?" he asks, but quickly understands that's not possible. "Yeah, stupid question, sorry."
Even more confused at this point, he nods slowly. "Got a good pig ready for the slaughter, will sell her at market price. Don't tell me what you're gonna do with it." he finishes, shuddering.
"Sorra. I meant 'beast' instead of like 'monster', because I'm not exactly sure what the creature is yet. If you could fetch that pig, I'd be indebted. I'll go see what's what and be back here in a quarter hour." Once Lazne is safely away, Raj heads back to the graveyard.
Are those a natural weapon? If so, quite impressive... Can you fly long distances?
"They are a natural weapon of our species, yes. They regrow at a surprisingly quick rate and I can throw about two dozen a day before needing to wait for more to regrow. My wings are quite strong yes, and I can fly long distances should I need to. But obviously I prefer not doing so as staying in my territory, as it were, is much more advantageous."
Vashira settles in to listen to Parks' quite soothing music while the trio waits on Rajuna to return with the pig. Once he is there, she quickly swoops in the second he leaves it for her and her claws eagerly tear into the unfortunate animals' hide.
"Offer accepted, graciously. Feel free to poke around as much as you want, and feel free to visit again any time." she says, giving a wide toothy smile.
She then flies up to her nest unless you had any other specific quesitons, leaving you to explore the island unbothered. You hear a quick squeal and then a squelch, followed by the horrid sounds of her crunching on her fresh meal.
Recalling Zhandar’s request before the winged beastie appeared, Raj offers up the kit of tools he found for examination. ”These are worth maybe 300 gold – expensive tools to just leave laying around on an empty island out in the sticks. See the raven on the handles? Might be a maker’s mark we can trace. I can’t say these belonged to the real killer who is digesting in a caiman’s gut… but it seems possible.”
Leaving the kit for team analysis, Rajuna heads back to the southwest corner of the island to take a look at the site Zhandar mentioned. He finds it without a problem. The artisan clothing fit with the tools he found, and the human face in the bag certainly lends credence to his ‘real killer’ notion.
Not sure he really wants to find out what’s at the end of the rope... the rogue nevertheless wraps the line around his waist and uses his body weight to haul the load ashore.
Park, Birdie and Mila search the graveyard and the southern end of the island.
Identified the empty graves. Somebody has been grave robbing?
Found the camp site.
Could not ID the substance in the vial: "The bottom of the vial contains the dried remains of a green substance that smells vaguely of carrots. Attempt a DC 20 Craft (Alchemy) or Knowledge (Arcana) check to identify it."
If Mila can't ID it will save it for the others to check.
Zhandar identifies the tools that Rajuna found as being a surgical
tool set used by physicians and chirurgeons. Strange and highly specific tools for any random person to have.
Mila doesn't know much about whatever the green substance might be.
"We oughta show that one to Zhandar, maybe she knows."
Zhandar returns with Rajuna to show the others the results of their exploration. She gives herself a slight magical boost before she examines the vial that Park has to show.
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Zhandar identifies the vial as once containing an alchemist's extract of darkvision. With your earlier knowledge on flesh golems (of which the Beast is one), you remember that they have darkvision natively and therefore would not need an extract of darkvision.
Not sure he really wants to find out what’s at the end of the rope... the rogue nevertheless wraps the line around his waist and uses his body weight to haul the load ashore.
Luckily, there isn't a decaying body on the other end of the rope. Instead, a dried blood-soaked cloth sack (just big enough to hold a Medium-sized humanoid in fact) containing some rope, a gag, a rusted lantern, a trio of heavy knives, and a rusted shovel is attached to the other end of the rope.
Rajuna bags all the evidence. As Lazne pilots them away from the island, the rogue frowns heavily in thought. ”Mister Lazne, your folks best stay away from that island… An’ if your village has problems with some winged beast, come find us in Lepidstadt. We’ll kill it for ya.”
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Mila sits, and thinks, and thinks some more, and when Rajuna is able to bring out the supplies from the water she frowns in even further thought. She doesn't think she's stupid, but she knows she's not a scholar the way some people are. Her momma would say she's smart in the heart, not in the brain, per se.
So trust your heart, maybe...
She takes an arrow from her quiver and pokes in the dirt with the tip, doodling, considering everything they know now that Rajuna has brought the things from the little coracle.
Someone here in Morast snatched people and skinned their faces off. (She shudders.) They had surgeon tools and everything. Lazne says they fought a giant fella... could a giant fella have done that fine work? Maybe. Giants can use tools same as anyone else, she figures. Could a seven-foot fella have managed that little boat without sinking it?
The manticore doesn't know anything about a 'Beast.' The manticore lives on this island and would probably know if someone had been lairing here, snatching people, all that. Of course, a manticore ain't exactly someone they can put on a witness stand... Mila draws a series of circles.
Lazne says the blood of the beast tainted the burial ground... she ain't seen 'tainting' though she did see graves that looked rifled through. Graverobbing's never good. It's a low person, who takes from the dead. Maybe whoever it was took from the dead before they started to steal the living too...
Her gaze returns to the little fetishes everywhere in the trees. They are kind of creepy. What's their purpose, she wonders?
Poke, poke, poke goes the arrow in the dirt. Mila sighs.
"When we have Lazne take us back to the village side, can we ask a few of the other folk in town about what they saw with the 'beast' they fought? Like... how tall was it, a description, all that. Stuff here just don't add up right. Also, uh......... uh, I hate to even bring it up, but maybe we ought to see if anyone in town knows... um... who that skinned face belonged to? If it's someone's kin, or something, at least they could get a burial."
Mila uses the arrow tip to flick a little dirt around, shaking her head.
"I dunno if we got time to go to the other village. Hergstag. And what about the city itself? Even if we prove that the Beast wasn't the one who did stuff HERE in Morast.... that may not mean much to folk in the city who are convinced he did stuff THERE, to them."
She looks up. "Park, can you ask the manticore who owned all this stuff we found? If she ever saw them? I'd ask her but... um... seems I just put my foot in my mouth with her."
”Also, uh......... uh, I hate to even bring it up, but maybe we ought to see if anyone in town knows... um... who that skinned face belonged to? If it's someone's kin, or something, at least they could get a burial.”
Raj is rarely surprised, but Mila has managed to make it happen. He warily shakes his head, ”There ain’t enough sugar in Golarion to make that medicine any less bitter. And the mask is evidence, we can't turn it over. But, there might be another way…” He carefully pulls out the mask and examines it closely…
He looks at the skin… Is it from one person or several? If it’s several people, how is the stitching? Is there anything unique about any of the features: freckles, moles, pre-mortem scars, or bits of hair in any unusual colors? If it's from one person - male, female, rough age?
”We don’t mention the mask but we can ask Lazne and others to describe their dead and if they had any unusual features.”
"That's a good idea," Mila says, head bobbing several times in relief at Rajuna's suggestion (even if her stomach wants to turn a bit as he looks at the skin mask intently). "Yeah. Thassa lot better than having to show it to any of them, for sure."
Raj sets about his grisly task with care. "I've put hard questions to people before... but I've never held up a face and said 'Is this your auntie? You mind if I keep her for awhile?' I don't ever wanna do that."
Park hears Mila’s question but shakes his head. ”No. Vashira already said that she didn’t know of any people living out here. And she was only here for a couple of weeks. She did say that she’d heard of the beast but didn’t see him out here. Pity she couldn’t testify. Might scare the crap out of any jury member that thinks the ‘Beast’ is scary!”
Meeting back up with Lazne he tells you that whenever they would discover someone missing, they'd never find the body afterwards. Just signs of them being taken with a struggle.
The trip back to Lepidstadt is uneventful for the most part beyond the normal fauna (no blood caimans thankfully) and you arrive back at the city a couple of hours before nightfall, giving you some time to put towards investigating the surgeon's tools before the night is done.
Whenever you're ready to head back to the courthouse with your findings and report to Gustav, you will find the barrister poring over the mountain of files and papers he is working on for this case. He will gladly take and file away any evidence you might have to be presented in court the next morning.
Meeting back up with Lazne, he tells you that every time the villagers discovered someone missing they were never able to find the body. Just evidence of them having been dragged out into the swamp, usually with signs of a struggle. He is willing to answer any more questions you might have and the village itself is also amenable to most questions, as long as you're polite about it.
The eventual trip back to Lepidstadt is mostly uneventful, with only the usual fauna sightings to break up the calmness (no blood caiman visit, thankfully). You arrive back in town a couple of hours before nightfall, giving you some time to put towards investigating the surgeon's tools should you wish to poke around a bit on that.
When you're ready to head back to the courthouse and report back to Gustav, you'll find the barrister poring over the veritable mountain of papers he's been working on for this case. He'll accept any evidence you might have collected and file it to be presented in the next morning's court.
In Morast
You take just the description of the face mask (which is just someone’s singular face cut away from their head) to Lazne and he is able to match it to Nan Keblem, a poacher that visited Morast to sell his goods about once a month. He has not been seen for about a year, matching the timeline of the Beast’s last supposed attack.
In Lepidstadt
Raj gives the barrister a polite nod and waits until the team has his attention. ”We’ve got some information, evidence, and some recommendations. The upshot is we don’t believe the Beast did the murders in Morast. But to make the argument stick hard in the prosecution’s throat, you’ll need an expert on golems to testify to what they are, what they can do, and how they behave. If you can paint a picture of their ‘norms’, the evidence in Morast points to a whole different villain. Also, do you got an alchemist we can talk to? One who might be willing to appear in court or sign an affidavit?”
An expert on golems can describe how they are created (from scavenged corpses) and that they are under the complete control of their creators. We want that on the record. The expert can further attest to the fact that golems have darkvision (no need for the extract and they don’t make extracts), aren’t particularly articulate, aren’t physically adept enough to skin a face with precision, and generally pummel enemies to death. They are not stealthy stalkers like the killer on the island either. We also want the expert to discuss how golems heal. IIRC, they don’t heal naturally since they are constructs… so IF the prosecution argues the Beast healed from the croc bite, then who healed it? The logical guess would be its controlling creator.
An expert on alchemy can attest to the fact that we found an extract of darkvision and can further attest to the fact that a competent alchemist can create an Enlarge extract… which would explain the large size of the attacker in Morast.
What we want to keep OUT of the record (and maybe not tell Gustav) is the killer could still be alive, or linked to a conspiracy.
After reporting in to Gustav and potentially talking with any alchemists he knows, Raj will begin trying to track down the tools and the maker’
Gustav immediately grabs a notepad and scribbles down every bit of information as Rajuna relays it, seemingly able to absorb and process info faster than you thought the middle aged attorney was capable of.
At the end of it all,he thinks for a long hard moment before speaking.
”I think this is our best chance yet at proving the Beast’s innocence. Or, at the very least, of this specific crime.” he clarifies, grimacing slightly. ”I think I know of at least one professor at the University that can help us with the testifying on golems part of our defense, and I will get to work immediately on procuring an alchemist that will lend us their expertise on that front. Excellent work! Just be sure to be here at the courthouse around nine tomorrow morning, as the trial starts at 10. We can go over any remaining bits of evidence and get our facts straight before you present the evidence.” he finishes up, any bit of his infamous stutter disappearing as he gains more confidence in your abilities.
Raj will begin trying to track down the tools and the maker’
The skills required to make surgeon's tools are rare, but because of the presence of Lepidstadt University, some 20 such artisans work locally. Rajuna’s knowledge of the area is enough to reveal that all of these craftsmen operate within an area called the Surgeons' Flats.
The rogue is feeling a bit more confident as he observes Gustav move from despondency to drive. He clearly has some sharpness, which will be needed at court. To be fair, Rajuna was not looking forward to being in court or – Gods forbid – called to present evidence. But at this point, the die was cast.
In Surgeon's Flats…
Teasing information from reluctant people was not Rajuna’s strength. He was more of a squeeze-them-until-they-break sort. That said, he did know more than a few fences and had some inkling of the value of certain items and materials. Even some maker's marks carried some intrinsic value.
Rajuna’s knowledge of these matters is enough to identify the raven symbol on the tools as a maker's mark used by Zbraslav Hora and Sons, who have a workshop on the tiny Anatomists' Alley.
Zbraslav Hora is a bookish, taciturn man who wears thick spectacles. He frequently deals with various tinkers and itinerant peddlers who sell his wares, and keeps a ledger of all of his sales. Zbraslav noted down the purchaser as Vladka Kostel, a red-haired Varisian woman who wears a green silk scarf depicting a swan. Zbraslav knows she works for an auction house, but he doesn't remember which one.
Unfortunately that’s all the time you have for this investigation section tonight, as it has reached past 6 pm with the time you spent following these two leads, and the working businesses needed to follow the clues are closed. Best to try again tomorrow, after the trial and investigation into Hergstag.
Raj shares with the team what he’s learned about the surgeon’s tools and the next lead in that parallel investigation.
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Park will choose one of the nicer local restaurants and go there with Zhandar and Mila, letting Rajuna have some alone time with Kendra.
Kendra is feeling much better now about her father's untimely murder, what with being out of Ravengro and having a friend of her father's to reminisce with. She has spent the past day around in town handling more of her father's will, divvying up what needs to be given to beneficiaries and taking care of any last wishes he may have left her. And, of course, thinking through her future options. She inquires into how you have been, and what the group is up to.