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Zandu, a man of few words in the best of situations, simply gets a determined expression on his face as he continues to try to bring the man down. He points to another torch on the ground, and flicks his finger from there to the grappling menace. As he does, aetheric strands of energy flicker to life around the torch, and it zips off toward his target.
The dog continues its attack.
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Devin was fortunate enough to bring his brown pants today, and decides to book it.
While Dalton weasels out of Sakura's grip, the Aphorite pulls out her one handed morningstart and Slams him across the back. Immediately afterwards, he gets slammed with kinetic force from two sides - one from Ninnic, and one from Zandu. Shenendril comes in and releases a spark of static into his body, and her summoned canine takes a nasty bite out of his shin.
The man goes limp, and releases Sakurat from his hold as he collapses to the floor. He is still breathing, but out of commission for the time being.
There is a sudden shimmer in the air, and a small creature with bat wings, twisted ram horns, and a thin, wiry body appears in the air. It flaps around with its bat-like wings to keep itself afloat.
Quasits usually require weapons made from cold iron to hurt them.
For every multiplier of 5 above the DC 13 (ie 18, 23, etc), you get to ask one question about the creature from the following:
Weaknesses
Immunities
Resistances
Good/Bad saves
"NO! What have you done?! I will end you!"
He releases a pulse of necrotic energy, hitting everyone in a 30 foot radius. Dalton included. The man's body starts losing colour very fast, just as the pulse hits you.
Ekira looks at the creature, bewildered. "That voice... It was YOU all along?"
Her hands go limp, and she drops her sword to the floor. It stops burning immediately, and Ekira cries a shriek filled with desperation. She cups her face with her hands and drops to her knees, whispering "No, no, no... This can't be..."
---- Round 3 ----
Flying creature
Ekira - prone (-3)
Tobias
Shenendril + Dog
Ninnic
Sakura
Ilarien
Zandu
Devin
Dalton (bleeding out) (-58 * -7/16)
vulnerabilities - none listed
special attacks - none listed
special defenses - since the two above are useless, I will put a little extra here:
DR x/cold iron or good; Immune electricity, poison; Resist acid
10, cold 10, fire 10; fast healing y.
x,y are different numbers in this case, but they are there. Just thought to hide them a bit, since this is a special individual.
The dog leaps to try to bite the little creature.
The quasit, beaten up quite a bit, decides to move further away to lick his wounds.
As the little fiend tries to get away, the dog snaps at it.
As the winged demon attempts to fly higher, he is instead slammed from the top by Sakura's morning star. There, Shenendril's summoned canine is waiting for its opportunity, and bites down on the critter. As he does so, the demon shrieks, and goes limp.
Ekira remains on her knees, quietly contemplating something. Dalton continues in his previous activity of lying down unconscious.
Combat over
Tobias returns after half a minute or so, still a little pale, and looks over the scene.
"Apologies. I- I don't know. Something overcame me. Every hair on my back stood up, like death itself touched me. What happened?"
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Ilarien returns, back in control of herself. "Tobias isn't the issue here. Ekira, however...." The witch strides over to where the hapless Iomedaean still lies on the ground. "That was the voice you heard? The 'Inheritor herself?' What else has that thing whispered in your ear, and what have you done because you listened? Far be it from me to tell you what to do, but in your place I would want to have a long talk with Iomedae's clergy, then work to atone for the evil I did."
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The dog, being a Very Good dog, drops the body at Shenendril's feet.
"There's your killer, Sheriff," she responds to Tobias. "Or at least the mastermind behind the murders.
She gestures between Ekira and Dalton. "We'll have to question these two further to see which ones were actually responsible for each killing. I suspect Ekira was just a pawn but this guy may have been the one that found or summoned it," she nudges the unconscious man with her foot.
"I don't expect you to release the Pathfinders immediately, but I assume that you'll delay their execution until the rest of the truth comes out," she continues.
"Did you not hear that horrid scream?" Tobias looks at Sakura when she asks her question.
Ekira starts to laugh through her tears, and stands up. "Thank you. I needed that., she taps Ilarien on her shoulder as she looks at her.
A brief pause.
"Wait... You're serious?", she waves her hand as she takes out a set of manacles and walks towards Dalton. She pats his clothes for belongings, and removes anything that could be dangerous. Including two vials, a set of VERY sharp daggers, and a metal wire of some kind. She puts the manacles on his hands, and drags him towards a wall. She takes out a rope to tie his feet together, just in case. Then steps a few feet back, and looks Dalton up and down.
"I believe we have our killer, Tobias. Well... These folks here mentioned some buttons very similar to the ones on his jacket.", she points towards Dalton with his back against the wall.
She overhears Shenendril talking about her. "Oh you REALLY want to hear my version? Alright then- Ask your questions. If you really believe I have been running around, skinning people, that is.", she tosses her longsword to the ground towards Tobias, and crosses her hands over her chest.
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Ilarien sniffs. "Of course not. You're not seeing the full extent of the plot. You didn't need skinning knives to kill innocent people...you had a justice system for that. Think about what would have happened if the truth hadn't come out here: three people would have hung for crimes they didn't commit. Sheriff Tobias tells us that there have been other murders in neighboring towns. Were you involved in bringing those killers to 'justice?' Did you hear a voice in those cases, too?"
Tobias watches the conversation without participating. At least for now.
Ekira, on the other hand, clearly has things to say. "This is just rich.", she looks Ilarien in the eyes. "I live here in Dawnton. I volunteer here to help maintain order. Every night, for the last three years, I am on these streets.", she points her finger to the ground below her. "These. Very. Tiles!"
"You can look at -ANY- night watch report from this period. And you will see my name on it. Written and signed by this hand, then submitted, personally, in the morning to Mayor Luin standing ten feet away from us. You go and ask him how many times I skipped night watch. Go ahead and do that. I can wait. And while you are at it, consider how far away Dawnton is from everything, and when exactly would I have time to go... Well... ANYWHERE and back. In a matter of a few hours before I would be back for the night watch. I would like to remind you, that I do, in-fact, sleep."
She pauses and looks at Tobias. "Oh, yes. One more thing before you start spewing any further accusations. You and your little band of heroes here seem resourceful, and while I actually do appreciate bringing us closer to this guy-" she points at Dalton, still unconscious "-and his little demon on the shoulder over there... I can't help but point out that it is you - outsiders from who knows where - coming here, and accusing me of interfering with law in other areas."
She takes a few breaths, walks in a circle for a few times, and ends up standing next to the lifeless quasit. She looks at it, curses under her breath, and raises her foot to stomp on the quasit's head.
She puts her foot down just next to the demon's head, and screams at the lifeless demon in frustration. The veins on her neck bulge as she does so. She stomps a few more times just for good measure, curses at the quasit with each stomp. Then stops, and her eyes are watery again.
"Better to leave her alone for now. She can get quite-" Tobias steps closer to you and considers his wirds while looking at Ekira. ... passionate."
"Just so that you know, your three friends are in the clear as far as I am concerned. They were in their cells when the incident at the Tent City occured, and it seems we have a culprit here. We'll check his version and see, but with that quasit over there, it seems open and shut again. On the other hand, we already assumed we had the killers, as you surely do realise. I want to be absolutely sure this time."
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Shenendril watches Ekira's outburst warily. Granted, the woman has some right to be offended at a false accusation...though doesn't seem particularly remorseful that she's levelled on herself...but this level of anger seems extreme.
When it dies down she faces the sheriff along with her other companions.
"Indeed. If you like, we can help you transport this suspect and, if you'll release the others we'll all take our leave at the same time," she says.
Tobias nods, waits about a half a minute, then turns to the inquisitor. "Ekira...", he comes closer when she does not respond. "Ekira!"
She snaps out of her state, and turns to the sheriff. "I'm listening." - she responds with a somber tone.
"We need to take this Dalton fellow to my place. Lock him up, and interrogate him when he comes to. Can you help?"
Ekira picks up and sheathes her sword. "Of course. You take his belongings?", she asks Tobias as she tosses Dalton's limp body over her shoulder. Tobias nods, and picks up the things previously removed from his body, puts them into a cloth sack, and then grabs the dead quasit by the foot and starts heading towards his estate.
He turns to you as they both leave. "Are you coming Pathfinders? You need to pick up your colleagues."
"So what was that about?", Tobias questions Ekira's outburst as they move to his place.
Ekira ponders her response first, then readjusts Dalton's body on her shoulder. "I was naive fool. I thought Iomedae spoke to me. Or one of her heralds. But it was ...", she looks at the quasit in Tobias' hand. "... that.", she shakes her head in disappointment, and spits on the ground. The rest of the walk is quiet between Tobias and Ekira. When they get to the cells, they put Dalton into an empty cell, strip him naked, confiscate everything he has on his person, and put an prisoner clothes next to him.
"Let those three go.", Tobias instructs the guard on duty while pointing at the cell at the end of the hallway. "And bring them to my office. Rest of you, come with me."
Tobias moves to his office with you. Ekira decides to get some alone time and separates from you somewhere on the way. She tells Tobias she will be back later for the interrogation, apologises to everyone for her demeanor, and you see her leaving the estate via the front gate.
Once in Tobias' office, he sits down. "Nasty business, this. I invite you to be present to the interrogation if you want, but I will understand if you want to simply leave. Your colleagues will be here shortly, and once they pick up their belongings, you can all leave. I won't hold it against you."
After the three captive pathfinders are escorted into the office, they all shake your hands and thank you. Tobias orders his guards to keep a look out for them, and pulls out the large chest from the locked cabinet.
"These are your belongings. You may empty this chest, then wait outside. I'm sure you all miss the sight of the night sky."
He then looks towards all of you. "The rest of you, come with me. It's time to figure out what happened here."
He takes two potions from his table, and heads towards the jail building.
When you enter Dalton's cell, he is dressed, and a smaller chest is brought from the entrance hall. Tobias makes sure the manacles are secured to the wall by chain, and uncorks one of the vials he brought. As if on queue, Ekira enters the buildingm holding a large red candle. She seems her usual determined self again, but with an extra lok of righteous fury hinted in the eyes.
She gives her weapon belt to one of the guards further away from the entrance.
"I would like to be present. I brought something that will help.", she taps the candle in her hand with an index finger.
Tobias invites her inside, and Ekira takes a small stool to put in front of the prisoner. While Tobias pours the potion into Dalton's mouth, Ekira lights the candle.
Dalton wakes up, and gives the manacles a few tries before giving up. He looks at the burning candle placed in front of him.
Tobias starts the interrogation: "What is your name?"
Dalton wants to speak, but no sound comes out of his mouth. He looks at the candle again, confused, and mutters "Dalton"
Tobias looks at Ekira. Ekira smiles, gives Tobias a nod, and stands back.
"Dalton Krune.", the prisoner states.
Tobias scribbles into his notes, and moves on with the questioning. "Is this your shirt, Dalton?", Tobias pulls out the shirt with obsidian buttons.
"It is.", the Varisian answers.
"A button from this shirt was found at one of the murder sites. At Otto's farm, specifically. Were you involved in the death of Pandeyr?"
Dalton shakes his head sideways. Tobias frowns. "I would like you to use words to answer me. If you will not do that, I will consider it non-compliance. You don't want that. Were you involved?"
Dalton opens his mouth, but there is no voice heard. He stops, and then responds with a "Yes."
"Alright ... Were you in any way involved in the deaths of Pandeyr Lorre, the half-elf miller apprentice; Ervias Greatglide, the halfling town caller; or Safrafe Hultu, the human ... working girl?"
"I was.", Dalton responds.
"Please elaborate.", Tobias pushes further.
Dalton's mouth moves without sound again. After a few seconds of trying, he looks at the candle, and seems to have given up. He sighs, shakes his head, and speaks normally. "Might as well spill... I have personally killed and skinned the miller's student. Then hanged him on a tree with help of Tovril.", he looks at the body of the quasit on a nearby chair. "We killed and skinned him near the river, washed the body, and then brought him to the farm at night time."
"Okay.", Tobias carries on - "How about Ervias and Safrafe?"
"The cryer saw us kill the hooker. We forced him to not speak, but he was about to talk. He had to go. Orug interrupted me when I was trying to hide the body."
Tobias scribbles down notes as Dalton speaks. "How about Badrir Kits?",
"I don't know who that is...", Krune spits out, almost laughing.
Tobias stops writing, and looks at Dalton. "The young man with arrows stuck in his neck at the fair."
"Oh... That was Tovril's work. He stole a few arrows from one of these guys to get people off of our trail."
Tobias seems concerned. "How many people have you killed in Mendev, exactly?"
"Fourty three, give or take...", Dalton speaks as if talking about the taste of his bland morning toast.
Tobias drops his notebook and Ekira's jaw drops. Ekira covers it with her hand, and Tobias moves his chair back a bit to pick up the . They both seem to be stunned for a moment. Dalton continues.
"If you mean me -AND- Tovril, that would be something in the ballpark of eighty or ninety. I'm not sure how many Tovril put down on his own."
Dalton smiles quietly, but Ekira and Tobias remain quiet.
The guard holding Ekira's belt extends his hand to give the belt back to the Iomedaean. The steel weapons clang against each other, and Tobias turns around.
"BRAF! Don't do that. I assume you are listening to this conversation?"
The militia nods. "Every word, Sir."
"Good. You are now a witness to the interrogation. Come stand closer, so you can hear better. And get those weapons out of her reach, for crying out loud!", Tobias turns back to Dalton as the guard just tosses the belt further towards the entrance office. Ekira watches her weapons land, but immediately focuses her attention on Dalton.
The Sheriff continues. "Is the Pathfinder Society involved in the killings?"
Dalton shakes his head. "We stole some of their weapons and killed with them. Two or three times. To shake people off our own trail."
Tobias makes notes for a while, and Ekira asks from the cell door. "Why me?"
Krune smiles. "Ah, you know demons... Corrupt a holy warrior, act like their god, drive them mad... The usual stuff. We almost had you, too.", Dalton smiles.
If Ekira could strangle the man from where she stands, she would do it. Instead, spits on the ground.
"Do you have any other complices?", Tobias rubs his temples as he asks, pondering something.
"It's just me now. Tovril is probably back downstairs, and ain't coming back any time soon."
Tobias stands up and rests the back of his head against he cell bars. He absolutely does not turn his back to Dalton while inside the cell.
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Shenendril blanches several times during Dalton's questioning - when he talks casually about his kills, mentions his body count, talks about attempting to corrupt the inquisitor. She is tempted to hand Ekiras her own sword but refrains, respecting the fact that Tobias would try to stop her and not wanting them to hurt each other over the scum being questioned.
"Not that you care, I'm sure but that's not how it works for his kind," Shenendril says. "His body and soul aren't separate things. When his physical form was slain, his soul was destroyed permanently. He's never coming back. Though, I hope you soon take his place down there."
Dalton shrugs at Shenendril's little note. "Well, it was fun while it lasted."
Tobias asks Ilarien' note. Dalton goes on a long talk about killings and planted evidence, about a man who was found drunk in his home a few days north, with his wife and his best friend having a great many stab wounds... Found in the accused's bed. He smiles as he reveals the details. About a small group of soldiers drugged and killed by their own brethren in their sleep. About bandits in their hideout fighting for a seemingly prescious jewel...
But they're all dead now. And Dalton is alive. Either way, Dalton does not know their names. Not all of his work was that intimate.
But it is clear that Dalton and Tovril have been travling together for a while, they left a bloodbath in their wake.
Tobias questions Dalson on invididual cases from his jurisdiction, and once the candle runs out, he closes his notebook. "I believe I have heard enough. Five times over."
He exits the cell, and puts a padlock on the barred door.
"Braf. You are a witness to the confessions. Time for us to process some paperwork. And-" he taps his notebook "-there will be quite a lot of it. Head to my office and wait for me."
Tobias then turns to you to thank you for helping to catch this... man. he announces the hanging will keep the schedule, but there will be only one man hanged. Even though he would hang him twenty times if it were possible.
Ekira follows Tobias, gives you a brief nod as she walks by. Her eyes are thankful, to an extent, but she is still a bit disheartened from the evening's events.
You reunite with the original team, and start making praparations to move back to Starrise Spire together. The first team questions you on details of the investigation with several "ooooooooh" moments in the process. They are thankful for saving their necks, and are happy to finally sleep outisde of their cell.
If you remain in town until the next day, you would be able to witness Dalton being escorted to the freshly built gallows in the square. A great crowd gathers in the area, and one hour before noon, Tobias starts to read Dalton's confessed crimes, including sixteen murders in Tobias' jurisdiction, forgery of evidence, assisting in further elevel cases of murder, and multiple other crimes. The crowd shouts at first, but the noise soon dies out in disbelief.
After Dalton's crimes are enumerated, and the noose is put over his head, he is offered to say his last words, but chooses to remain quiet. Instead, he smiles a wicked smile as he looks over the crowd.
He looks at the hangman, and nods. After a single pull of a lever, dalton drops several feet under the floor, and instantly snaps his neck - a quick and painful death. Nothing like the deaths of the man's victims.