As the smoke clears, Seljak enters the courtyard with the other agents. Checking the large crates to make sure there were no more threats he uncocked the 'coach gun' and let it hang behind his right hip. Nodding in agreement at Lazastahd's observation about the boxes, he chuckles as the dark elf and light elf began chatting. It still amazed him that in all of this chaos how they casually went about doing their jobs, Seljak hoped some day he could be 'professional' like that.
Looking up from the boxes, he hears Daniel's observation about bodies in the ballroom and investigating. Pausing, Seljak started thinking about what he learned about investigations: Get the scene roped off to prevent evidence from being spoiled, tag and number said evidence, collect evidence ... evidence. Turning towards Khardon he asks the dwarf, "Khardon sir, should we go back and continue investigating the wax foot prints?" As he asked he began to walk back the way they came.
Khardon put a finger in his ear and wiggled it around to make the ringing stop. "Not a sir. I work for a living." He answered. "But aye, let's do that. What matters most is that we find out who made these. I trust everyone here knows how to not spoil a scene."
"Bleh! Smells like bacon."
He contemplatively puts some of the corpse in his mouth.
"Taste's like bacon too. I wonder who made these bacon elementals."
Jixxe grabs his dagger and then removes 10 small cogs from the wax work zombies. He then goes up to where Daniel is standing and looks into the ballroom. Jixxe doesn't see much as he is focused on cleaning the gunk and wax off of his dagger. You'd think this stuff wouldn't stick to metal so much or well he grumbles to no one in particular.
"So footprints and then dead people in ballroom. I'm not very good with either, but let's go."
While the group tries to find and maybe follow the footprints, Iryani tries to remember the floor layout and find a way into the ballroom.
Smiling and nodding at Kardon, Seljak responds "Not a sir, yes...S...um, officer Dourstone." While Warlock Bones and Jixxe go about there separate styles of scientific observation, Seljak nods his head at Iryani. Then returns to the room he entered the courtyard from and heads down the hallway where the wax footprints lead, pausing and stiffing the air as he goes.
Khardon passed the cloth to Iryani. ”Possible evidence. When we have the chance, check it out with Bones. Between the two of ye, if there is something to know we’ll have it figured out.” While there were other good candidates for the job, Khardon wanted their heads in the present. Iryani’s knowledge was best put to use, and Bones…if there was anyone who could think (and look) outside of the box, it was him. He slapped Seljak on the back (it was too hard to reach the shoulders) as he went with the orc towards the next room.
Lazastrahd follows Khardon and Seljak in pursuit of the wax footprints.
Jixxe, seeing nothing of interest, turns back to the group just in time to catch up with Khardon.
They are very real and very dead, you can see the bite marks from the wax zombies on them. When you check the doors leading out of the ballroom they are barred from the other side.
Lead to a door and the sounds from inside of the door being barred]
Seeing the wax footprints heading into the door on the western side of the hall, Seljak pauses, wanting to make sure he's following procedures. He pauses again listening at the door, then gently tries the doorknob to see if the room is unlocked.
The door is barded form the other side, you can hear whispers
Jyxxe moves up next to Seljak, pauses to listen .
Then testing the door and finding it barred from the other side, he looks down hoping to find a crack between floor and door.
Seeing the possibilities of a crack or gap he bends down and with a dagger prods under the door gently.
Upon finding a small gap about a inch wide, he sits down, pulls out a mirror, twine,his thieves tools, and constructs a make shift reflector.
Waxing it for smooth operation, he slides it carefully in the crack until he can see the reflection of anything close to the door on the other side. He also looks for the locking mechanism/bar blocking the doorway.
Once identified, Jyxxe will look for a means of picking the lock/removing the bar from this side after he removes and dismantles his contraption.
Jixxe works on the door, and with a clatter, it falls back into the room.
There you see the two missing watchmen of Sergeant Lars Gang, holding each other and looking at you in sheer fear. They seem to have a few bite marks.
Nuck "Say back I says, we have weapons, and we know how to deal with undead!"
Dizy-mut "That's right we is city watch so you keeps back"
They wave daggers at you.
These two look like nobels dressed for a ball. One is a man in his 30s the other a half-elf female in fine dress. Looking close you can see the bodies have been looted.
checking the mans pocked you fine a ticket, to something called the
"Ball of Horrors"
1 + 1
As you look around the space, you not many eax footprints leading out of one door.
Perception DC21 please
"Two nobles. Looted. Can't even tell what families they are from given that their signet rings are gone. However..." He pulled a ticket out of the man's pocket. "The ball of horrors? Looks like they got their money's worth."
Seeing the two guardsmen, he begins to lower his weapon until they waive their daggers at the two agents. Cocking the hammers on the shotgun, Seljak looks at Jixxe and smiles a very toothy smile. "Leave it to watchmen to bring knives to a gun fight." Looking back at the two, he gestures the shotgun towards their knives. "You put yours away and I'll do the same." Knowing Khardon would know what questions to ask these two, Seljak hopes they do as requested so they could take them to the old dwarf. "Then we'll go talk to Khardon."
Daniel looks around the ball room and then says "He looks familiar. It's on the tip of my tongue. Her, I don't recognize. We need to pull everyone together. We are getting separated and that is not good if we get into another fight. We should regroup, discuss what we have found and then decide which way to proceed."
"I'm not saying your incorrect, Beatty", Lazastrahd began. "But this is an investigation first. There's some merit to spread ourselves out to gather all the evidence. And we have a small window of which to proceed with said investigation."
Someone is behind one of the window drapes
The man is Lord Rqial a local land owner, the half elf you have no idea about. You do know that Rqial has recently been lending money to small armor makers in the city.
Iryani watches Jixxe as well and is actually a little impressed. "well done, Jixxe."
Iyrani did not go in weapons high and tries to look calm and peaceful. Clever move to mention the dwarf's name. This might ease the tention.
The two guardsmen realize they are not in danger and sheath the weapons.
Nuck who seems the smarter of the too,
"Rite, well, we have to go, you fancy inves-e-agors can take it from here."
He picks up a sack that seems heavy and tugs his mate to head to the door.
'Ok, ok, I know this, steps in investigations: first, secure the area and and all evidence. Step number two talk to all eye witnesses.' Confident in his knowledge of how to proceed, Seljak Shakes his head as he walks into the room; lowering the shotgun and releases it to it's sling as he moves. He places a large green hand on Nuck's shoulder. "Your right, this is our investigation. But you don't listen very well, your not leaving until you speak with Khardon and certainly not with evidence from our crime scene."
"I'm not saying your incorrect, Beatty", Lazastrahd began. "But this is an investigation first. There's some merit to spread ourselves out to gather all the evidence. And we have a small window of which to proceed with said investigation."
The dark elf stares at the nearby window dressing, then looks to the other investigators in the room. Lazastrahd holds his revolver up at head level then makes the 'shh' gesture with his other hand and points to the window drapes.
"..and such lovely windows they are!" At that, Lazastrahd whips open the window drape, revealing the hidden party.
"What nice folks we meet in here." Warlock Bones says amiably.
Jixxe steps between the guardsmen and the door. He folds his arms and states simply, Your not going anywhere. Especially with that bag.
Iryani tries to follow his peers and makes a fake angry look and brings up his fists looking like an amateur boxer entering the ring for very first time.
He shifts around nervously and lowers his fists again before making a fool of him. "aehm... Yeah, please wait here, OK?"
At Iryani utter failer to scare, the larger of the two says.
"Look here you civilians, we are members, of the watch! and this here is evidence we is taking to out sup-pir-rers, You don't tell us what to do we tell you. Now get out the way"
He hefts the bag and goes to push by you all.
KN local DC10,
He is right by the law you can't stop taking evidence to the watch,
Lazastrahd finds a terrified looking servent his hands up
"PLEASE DONT SHOOT ME"
Sence motive DC18
'He's right, but we were ordered too.' Glaring at Nuck, Seljak nods, remembering what Lazastrahd had said. "Your Superiors? That includes the Watch-Captain himself right? That's who we were sent by, told we'd have the watches complete support." Pulling out pen and paper, he licked the pen. "So we can report back to the Watch-Captain, can I have your names and badge numbers and your reasoning for not speaking to our investigators or letting us examine the evidence before you leave. I'm sure he will want to know and I don't want to get my information wrong." He pauses for moment, "Or would you rather make this less paperwork on all of us and answer a few questions about what you saw?"
Why are they making this more difficult than necessary. Iryani asks himself, but prefers to say nothing this time. He does, however, block the door with a very obvious move, while looking relaxed and peaceful.
"just a few questions..." he murmurs silently after Seljak had finished.
The small one speaks up,
"I't-ant worth-it"
to his larger companion.
The talkative one swings the bag round and send it fly into the other room.
"If ya want it go get it, and we an't telling you nuffing, Now if you don't mind we have to be about our duity, tell that to the lords and ladies if you please or not please"
And with that the two push past you and walk off out the way you came in,.
”Easy now, we are here to find out what’s happening. How about ye calm down and tell us who ye are and what happened?” Khardon said in a well practiced tone. It wasn’t his first rodeo in dealing with scared civilians.
As the two guardsmen headed to the door, Seljak looked at the light elf. "It will be ok Iryani, I've committed their features to memory, Agent Khardon will know their names, even without a badge number we can put them in our report." He shugs, "It would have been easier if they just answered a few question." Sejak blinked, What would I have even asked... "Tell me what you saw" I think that would be right.'
-------------------
Moving towards the doorway, Seljak, using eyes and nose investigates the threshold to see if whatever left the wax footprints entered the room.
Jixxe follows the example of Seljak and lets them go. He doesn't feel the need to confront them further. He as well commits their features to mind. He then goes to the bag and opens it.
He keeps his hands up and takes a few steps from the window.
SM= He is feeling shame for hiding.
"They attacked, the statues, they came alive. The master had them put in here to the party guests could come and view them. The Lord over there came in with his lady and as soon as he touched one they all came alive. I was here with some drinks sirs. I... I'm sorry sirs I hid, if not they would have killed me as well."
He can't face the dead on the floor and looks away.
"Sirs do you think the others have come to life as well?"
Jixxe: The bag has 2 silver goblets, a gold candle holder, some gold and gem rings, a tiara, and some silk bed clothing.
Seljak:
You smell perfume coming from the other room
When you go look you find an empty bad, bed sheets missing, the smell is coming form under the bed.
I young girl and boy of about 12 and 6 look at you. They seem to be half-elves.
"The others have taken all everything of worth, just leave, we don't have thing more."
The voice is that of the young girl.
Khardon held up the card he found. ”The Ball of Horrors.” He said. ”As we said, we’re here to get to the bottom of this. What was this ball, who organized it, and who was the host?”
"Good find, Seljak." Iryani says when entering the room. "we're not here to hurt or rob you, little ones. Can you describe the people that you say took everything of worth? And can you describe what they exactly took?" The second question was directed at Jixxe and the bag as it was at the children.
Iryani in Elvish the girl says
"They had big boots on, we did not see their more sir"
The little boy looks at Seljak with wide eyes.
Elvish again.
"Will he eat us?
you note they don't comes out from under the bed
It was my mater sir, Lord book, it was a party for his brother Sir Colros. He hired the merchant hall here sir. Had them invites printed and invited a lot of hob-nobs, sir. We got some fone food in and best blood wine, and been setting up all day. Then A bunch of men showed up this morning with all these 'Grotesque statues' they decorated the place, lot here sir, then after it, all started all them 'Grotesque statues' comes to life, My master said it was all part of the surprise bit then they start to bite and hurt people sir. Everyone just panicked and ran and hide sirs. I not proud to say I was one Sirs."[/b]
He still will not look at the two dead bodies
”We escort them out. The danger is localized here. And while the Watchmen outside are scum, they are cowardly scum who won’t take unnecessary risks.” He said, running his fingers through his beard. ”And we now have a name, at least. But first…” He turned his attention back to the man they had rescued. ”Who were these men who brought the ‘grotesques’? Were the abominations expected decorations? As we bring ye to safety any information would help.”