Llewela makes sure to cover her face and joins the others with Believer.
"Please, call me Briar" she says to Zea when introduced.
She watches Zea carefully as she talks about what's happening, alert for anything amiss in the story.
"Keep Aoede's true nature a secret,"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it." the imp says dismissively waving a hand. "To be clear, that means from everyone right?" she asks, smirking playfully.
Zea looks extremely nervous to even be here in the first place, but it seems as if it's more to do with where she is (as in, away from the Nursery), rather than anything to do with you in particular.
"Now then, please tell us what you can. Who all has been killed?"
"It's...it seems like random killings on the street. I probably don't have to tell you how little Thrune and their allies care about tieflings, but to allow us to be murdered in the street is something that I thought was beyond them." she says, on the verge of tears.
"We used to have an advocate for us and our kind among us, actually. Strea Vestori, she worked to reverse this trend and to earn a place of honor and respect for Kintargo’s tieflings by founding the Cloven Hoof Society. But, as with so many others, she disappeared on the Night of Ashes, along with the person she was working with. Someone called...Hetamon I think?" she says, looking unsure.
"Have you kept it a secret if you tell anyone," Tessa asks before adding, "I do mean from everyone, Blosodriette. Believer, Llewela, and Maccha all know, and honestly I would rather they had never learned about it in the first place."
Aoede doesn't look any more happy about the arrangement than Tessa feels, but what else can they do at the moment.
Whatever troubles she may be facing, Tessa can't help but act when she sees someone else in distress. She moves over next to Zea and gives her a hug. A part of her feels childish, but she pushes the thought aside and focuses on what she can do for the tiefling woman.
"Hetamon?" Tessa thinks on the name for a moment, wondering if she's heard it before.
"I know it's hard, Ms. Zea, but could you tell us more about the murders? Is there anything in common across them," Tessa asks.
Maccha follows up on Tessa's questioning. "Where were they last seen? By disappearing, you mean their houses were also burned down?"
”Disappeared completely, frisked away or left the town, either or. All I know is that Strea was one of the most vocal spirited tieflings I’ve ever met, and that Hetamon was the leader of one of the local cults: some deity of ‘freedom’? Mentioned roses a lot, not sure what that’s about.”
”And well, honestly, we’re not really focused on finding them at the moment, we have a lot on our hands currently. Very much more concerned with keeping those we still have alive.”
Is there anything in common across them
”Beyond them all being tieflings, all taking place in Devil’s Nursery, and all happening at night? Not really, that we can see. That’s why we came to…you all. For help.”
”Just last night was the most recent victim, a young woman in a back alley near the southern wall. I can take you to the place she was found, if that’ll help at all. We’ve been pretty quick to burn the remains of the previous four victims, preventing vengeful spirits, but I think her body is being held somewhere. I’ll have to check into where…she is” she finishes, sadly.
"You don't think those jerks in the Chelish Citizens Whatever would do this, do you," Tessa asks the others.
"If you can give me a moment, Ms. Zea, I'll got get my twin and we can go with you wherever it is we might find a clue. I don't suppose you can tell the others who else has fallen victim to this string of murders?"
Llewela perks up at the details of the Hetamon's "cult", and racks her brains to see whether she'd heard of him before. The trouble with a secret religion is that it's hard to meet the others she thinks sadly.
"The Night of Ashes claimed many valued citizens." she says aloud. "It falls to the rest of us to step up and fill the gap they leave."
"The Night of Ashes claimed many valued citizens." she says aloud. "It falls to the rest of us to step up and fill the gap they leave."
Believer nods sadly, "It is true. We must strive to preserve what we still have. I had heard that someone was working to improve things in the Nursery. Had something like this Cloven Hoof Society been in place when I was a scroungeling... well, wish into one hand. Yes, I think we should look over the body for ourselves. We might be able to determine something from the examination." She halts her clinical language when she notes Zea's distress. "Was she a friend of yours? What was her name?"
She gathers her things and dons the dwarf's chainmail, ready to follow Zea.
I don't suppose you can tell the others who else has fallen victim to this string of murders?"
"Well, there's Morvay, that's the one from last night. She...she was my friend yes. That's why I finally decided to step up and find some help." she says, her voice cracking. "I didn't know any of the other four well, but I do know their names: Ravik, Sarea, Morin, and Kali. We want to get headstones made and all, but until this is all over with, no one really wants to get out and about. Understandably, if you ask me."
Llewela perks up at the details of the Hetamon's "cult", and racks her brains to see whether she'd heard of him before.
Llewela isn't quite sure who exactly Hetamon is himself, but the religion of freedom and roses sure seems a lot like Milani. A secret cult leader of the Everbloom in Kintargo is certainly a prime target for Thrune and his allies; it makes sense they'd make him disappear, if they are at fault that is.
Yes, I think we should look over the body for ourselves.
Zea is obviously extremely relieved to hear that you'll take the 'case' on, as it were, and smiles weakly as you seem to be taking her seriously. "Well, like I said, we're keeping the body in a safe place, I just have to...track her family down and ask them where she is. You could accompany me to their house? We should try to do this during the day if possible, so the earlier the better." she finishes, looking resolved.
The mention of roses makes it clear for Maccha it is about Milani. Maybe another cell of the Rose of Kintargo, maybe unrelated. Unknowingly, Zea had come to ask for help for an organization which the founding team was mostly Milani worshippers.
"I understand. We should go now and not let these murders keep going." she said, aware they probably had a point, even if that point was some kind of horrible "cleansing"
Maccha tried to focus on all their names to not forget them: Morvay, Ravik, Sarea, Morin and Kali. Used to seeing people dying in the poorer districts, it was common for them to be just blood in the gutter.
Speaking of names, I should probably have one.
"Anyway, you can call me... Shrub." she just says the codename without thinking. Maccha looks at her companions, apologizing for just springing this on them and also apologizing to Llewela for just stealing her idea and, being much less grandiose about it.
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"Five murders!" Believer cries in dismay. "So many... Yes, please lead on Zea, just as soon as we are all ready."
As Tessa heads toward the door, she lowers her voice as she mentions "Maybe tell your little friend to stay away from the others and no more pranks." It was worrisome to leave the Imp behind, but hopefully some orders from her Sarini would keep her contained and the others safe while they were out.
Tessa nods at Believer's advice before heading back downstairs.
About ten minutes after leaving, Tessa returns in a change of clothes and wrapped up in her cloak with Aoede by her side.
GM, if there's nothing going on besides a staring contest between Blosodriette and Aoede
Zea waits for everyone to be ready and then walks with you through the streets of Kintargo. She has a hood pulled up over her face (presumably to hide her fiendish heritage and horns) and does her utmost best to not attract the attention of anyone besides the party.
Luckily (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), the morning is still young and the day is sunny and bright as you make your way across the city, with not a single cloud in sight. The streets are somewhat filling back up after the terror of the past week or so, but people are still nervous and don't speak to anyone outside their immediate groups. You can still feel the tension hanging over the town like a fog cloud.
Finally, after what seems to be an agonizingly slow journey through the slightly larger crowds compared to the previous few days, you reach the abandoned shop that Zea says contains the body of the poor victim. She nods at two hellspawn men standing guard at the door way, and they let the group pass into the empty storefront. It's slightly cold even inside, with the fall weather getting colder and colder every day.
"Come, she's over here, in the storeroom." Zea says, leading you to the table where the body is stored before leaving you to your work. "I'm sorry, I just can't stay and look at her too long...I'll be right outside."
The body is hidden under a rough sheet, but pulling it back immediately reveals the cause of death: the face and neck area have been significantly mutilated. Further investigation is necessary to discover anymore, however.
Believer takes care in her examination, praying for guidance and detecting for evil, magic and even poison. She winces at the state of the body's mouth. "By Milani's Thorns, I think the poor girl was tortured. Why would anyone do such a thing?"
Llewela follows Zea through the streets warily, watching her fellow citizens as they go about their day.
In the abandoned shop, she also carefully examines the body, wincing slightly at the mouth. Turning her attention to the rest of the body, she suddenly notices the less obvious wounds.
"It looks like tiny bite marks. Just on the hands and neck." she says, pointing them out. "Maybe rats or something go to her before she was found? But I don't think then the bites would be more spread out." she says doubtfully.
Tessa turns sickly pale at the sight and hearing both Believer and Llewela causes her knees to buckle. She clings to an equally pale Aoede, who holds onto Tessa with equal need. After a moment to regain her composure, Tessa makes herself look at the poor girl's wounds.
No, those aren't the bites of rats, Tessa thinks to herself as she takes a closer look.
"Maccha? Could you go ask Zea if the others had similar wounds on them? Specifically missing teeth," Tessa asks, her voice sounding a little fearful as she asks. She has a suspicion, and she can feel her stomach tying up in knots.
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Maccha's eyes widen at the sight and she does not have the opportunity to take it all in before Believer and Llewela share their observations.
This is horrible, this is... she cannot even finish thinking, covering her mouth with her hands as if the teeth were going to be removed as well. She weakly agrees with Tessa.
"I will... Wish me luck." no point in letting the poor girl be a bearer of bad news.
She leaves the storeroom and meets back with Zea. "Hey Zea... I'm sorry that we've put you through so much already, but I need to ask some questions. Were... the wounds... similar on the other bodies?" Maccha avoids speaking about the teeth at first so directly, but steels herself to bring it up if need be.
Believer looks up at Llewela, "Bites? Show me."
She looks over the bite marks carefully, praying again for guidance.
She tries to guess if some creature might be responsible for the deaths.
Believer and Tessa work together to look over the corpse, seeing if they can figure out what exactly is responsible for the horrible gruesome murder. After a few minutes, they come to the same conclusion: awful fey called tooth fairies. Contrary to some popular fairy tales, tooth fairies are horrendous little mutilators of both bodies and mouths. Brought into being with a special ritual in which teeth are buried at a place with strong connections to the mysterious realm of the fey, they are true terrors of the night, raiding the settlements and districts they live in and stealing teeth before killing their victims.
Before you can do too much with this info, however, you hear the sounds of metal armored boots on the stone streets outside. Whoever they are, they aren't trying to hide their presence. Within a few moments it is clear the mysterious 'visitors' are making their way here, as the front door of the abandoned shop is smashed open and several yells of pain are heard, presumably from the guards up front.
Zea comes flying in, sprinting at full pace into the back room the body was being held, her eyes full of fear. "Thrune's witch Tiarise is here with those hellknights, you have to hide! They say they're after the body, go upstairs, they won't find you. Quickly, you cannot be caught here!" she says, her eyes pleading with you and pointing to a set of stairs at the back of the storeroom.
Maccha barely had time to finish her questions to Zea when she heard the commotion, the sound of hellknight armor stomping on the ground all too familiar. She followed Zea running to the storeroom and heard her mention Tiarise.
Maccha does not say anything and tries to silently go up the stairs.
"Don't worry about us. Protect yourself!" Believer cautioned Zea as she followed Maccha as quickly and quietly as she could manage. Her duty tugged at her, but she had to trust that it was not yet time to fight such foes. Protecting the innocent was the priority and connecting them to their rebellious conspiracy was no way to do that.
Aoede shoves Tessa towards the stairs and wraps a surprisingly strong arm around Zea's waist.
"Not letting you get whacked to save our hides," she says as she tries to pull the tiefling along with her.
Llewela listens intently to the description of the tooth fairies culprits, but any further questions are cut off by the arrival of the guards.
She curses under her breath that they should be taking an interest now, and follows Zea's direction and heads up the stairs. At the top she draws her adze and waits, ears straining to hear what's happening below
"Not letting you get whacked to save our hides," she says as she tries to pull the tiefling along with her.
Zea breaks away and stays downstairs as the group moves up. "They'll be expecting me, this is my 'clinic', as it were." That the tieflings have been reduced to this shoddy place tells you more about their situation than you could have gotten by asking.
"Go, I'll get them to leave." she says, not leaving any room for disagreement.
Believer spots a small broken plank with a hole in it that would provide a safe spot to take a look at the going-ons below, without much chance of them seeing you.
Within a few moments of you making it upstairs, you hear the door to the impromptu exam room slam open and those metal footsteps enter the room below you. A handful of hellknights come into view through the hole, passing beyond your sight as they investigate the room. Right behind them is the unusual sound of buzzing insects, a lot of them.
"Ah, chirurgeon." a female voice says from the door, out of view of the hole. The voice is quiet, but strong, echoing throughout the building completely somehow. "Good to see you again, I hadn't expected to be back so quickly but ah, I was in the neighborhood. You understand." The figure finally walks into view, a dark-skinned woman clearly not of Chelish descent carrying a strange staff topped with flowing bead strings. Surrounding her are numerous of those flying swarming insects you heard earlier.
Zea speaks, her voice obviously nervous. "Tiarise, it's so good to s-see you." she says, out of view. "What can I help you with?"
"I'm here to inspect the body, of course. Thrune has a lot of interest in the...happenings in the district. We want to help you solve these unfortunate murders."
"Of course, it's right over here." Zea replies, presumably taking her over to the body you were examining not a handful of minutes ago. They spend a few agonizing minutes talking quietly amongst themselves, Tiarise clearly looking over the same details you did, with the mutilated face and missing teeth. After those few minutes, the Hellknights reappear in the hole as they leave, and the witch is shortly behind them with her small swarm of insects following her.
Llewela keeps still as the leader of the guard comes into view, hardly daring to breathe and hoping that none of the buzzing insects investigate their peephole.
She listens suspiciously as the woman goes to inspect the body, unable to work out her true intentions without being able to see her properly. But if she's working for Thrune, she's probably got some other motive. And clearly Zea doesn't trust her. Llewela thinks to herself.
When the Zea announces the coast is clear, she emerges from the hiding spot.
"So who do you know about her?" she asks. "I've not seen her before."
Maccha walks up to the hole Believer pointed out and spies as the Hellknights arrives, looking back at her companions and swapping places with anyone else that is curious, minding her steps to be completely silent.
She finds it hard to believe they want to solve the murders but is completely ignorant of whatever they want. When they finally leave, she sighs relieved, the enormity of their mission and the kind of people they'll need to directly opposite in the future coming into view.
Aoede sighs as she lets Zea go and follows the others up the stairs. While the Hellknights and this Tiarise tromp into the clinic, Aoede and Tessa hold each other as they wait for the intruders to leave.
Aoede scowls when Tiarise talks about wanting to solve the murders. Tessa believes her no more than Aoede does, but she's far too shaken up to put her finger on anything concrete. Instead, she tries to place the woman's name and appearance. A memory tickles the back of her mind, and she's wondering why Tiarise seems familiar to her.
"She's been a...constant annoyance in the Nursery ever since that bastard Thrune popped up. No one knows where she came from, but she hasn't left us alone. Always buzzing around, poking her nose where it doesn't belong." she says, obviously frustrated.
Tessa remembers a few rumors going around about the witch, a powerful member of Barzillai's inner circle. She is one of his closest arcane allies, and has great knowledge specifically dealing with the intersections between outer planes. Tiarise is one of the biggest fore-leaders of the secret revision of Kintargo's history, attempting to remove all history of any rebellion from its past.
"She's one of Barzillai Thrune's allies. Probably the mage that's closest to him. She's been trying to rewrite Kintargo's history, from what I've heard," Tessa says quietly as she still clings to Aoede.
"Zea, did you see the other victims? Did they have similar wounds on them and missing teeth? If they did, I think what killed them, and what almost certainly killed the poor girl in there, are tooth fairies. They are wicked fey that go around mutilating people by taking their teeth, before killing them." She shudders after relaying that information. "You can make them by doing a ritual that involves burying teeth at someplace that important to the fey. I think Tiarise is behind it. She doesn't seem interested in helping stop this so much as seeing what's happening, like someone doing research, at least that's what Aoede told me."
Believer was being too cautious to intuit much about the scene. What's with the bugs? She wonders idly.
Turning to Zea, "You mentioned that this was your clinic, and she called you chirurgeon. Are you a healer, Zea?" Eager as she was to talk shop with someone she had so much in common, she turns back to the subject of the murders.
"I think Tessa has the right of it. If we can see a map of the Nursery and mark down where the bodies have been found, we may be able to identify their hunting grounds and bait them out. Fortunately, if they are so keen on tiefling prey, I can serve as the bait. And give the little blighters ample opportunity to bite off more than they can chew." She suggests as a plan of action.
"I--I think we should find out a little more before any of us volunteers as bait," Aoede says, nodding to a very distraught looking Tessa with a very cross looking frown when she catches Believer's attention.
Can we tell what order of Hellknights?
Zea, did you see the other victims? Did they have similar wounds on them and missing teeth?
"Uh, yeah they all did. I didn't know that...there were such horrible things in this world." she says, shuddering as Tessa tells her about the tooth fairies. "I have had suspicions that Tiarise was behind it somehow, but I wasn't able to bring any evidence up." she says, shrugging. "It doesn't surprise me that witch is involved at the very least."
Are you a healer, Zea?
"I, uh, somewhat." she says nervously, waving a hand around the inside of her 'clinic'. "I don't have any magical healing powers or anything, just my own two hands and what supplies I can scrounge up..." she finishes, hoping not to disappoint.
If we can see a map of the Nursery and mark down where the bodies have been found,
Zea brightens up at this, nodding. "Now that, I can do. Hold on one second, I'll draw a quick map for you." she says, excited to help in any way possible. After a few minutes, she has a map ready for you to look at. "X's are the previous four, star is the uh, newest one.." she says, her voice drifting off sadly.
Despite still being badly shaken, Tessa lets go Aoede and walks up to Zea as the chirurgeon talks. After Zea finishes explaining the map's markings, Tessa wraps her up in a hug.
"I think you need this as much as anyone else here," she says. "As my friends keep telling me, every little bit helps. Besides, you're much tougher than I am. I nearly lost it just looking at one of their victims. You've seen all of them. I can't imagine what that is like."
Tessa holds Zea tighter as she pushes back the welling emotions she feels. After she relaxes her grip a little, Aoede walks up and gives the healer a rueful smile.
"Sorry about this one. She's really sweet, but she can be a bit much if you're not used to her," Tessa's twin says as she pulls Tessa off of Zea. "Could you point out which ones happened first, and how long it was between them? That might help us figure out when and where those wretched little monsters will try to attack next."
Maccha checks the map "It's really spread out throughout the whole Nursery. The order they happened could be important to tell if it's some sort of path the murderers are going through. Regardless, it's best we go, I fear we might run into more Hellknights near those places as well."
Zea is obviously startled by the physical touch, and stands in the hug awkwardly for a bit before patting Tessa on the back.
”Uh…yeah.” she says, extremely ‘elegantly’ and not uncomfortable at all. ”Yeah, I can do that. They started from the right side of this map and worked their way to the left in the semicircle. I thought it was the pattern of a mortal serial killer, but if it’s true that they’re the opportunistic killings of faeries, that means they have to have a sort of lair right? Maybe if you set up that ambush you can find your way to their hideout by following a wounded one, or somehow tracking their movement throughout the night.” she says, catching on to the beginnings of a plan.
The order they happened could be important to tell if it's some sort of path the murderers are going through. Regardless, it's best we go, I fear we might run into more Hellknights near those places as well."
She nods, agreeing. ”Checking out the other murder sites could be valuable as well, though like you said there might be Hellknights or even Tiarise herself checking out those sites if you’re right about her nefarious interest in them. Will have to be careful, those Hellknights do not mess around.”
”We’re obviously not sure how many there are of the creatures, but presumably more than one, right? You’ll need to be careful, but I think they might be drawn to the lone tiefling walking through the streets. If these faeries are roaming from their hideout, maybe it could be somewhere in the ‘center’ of the semicircle, to the south part of the district? At least a good place to start, that’s for sure.” she says, seemingly realizing how much she’s been talking and falling quiet as she looks around at the group.
Seeing how uncomfortable Tessa made Zea, the young woman feels her face flush with embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, Miss Zea. I--I didn't mean to make things awkward," she says quietly.
It seems clear to Tessa and Aoede that they had a couple of options. Either investigate the sites of the murders or look for their lair to the south.
"What's around the tower," Aoede asks as she looks over the map again.
"Yes, starting our search in the middle makes sense," says Llewela, poring over the map. "The other option is near the first attack - they might have not wanted to go too far from where their nest is."
"It's this one here, right," Aoede asks, pointing to the one attack that didn't follow the arc of the others.
"I, uh, somewhat." she says nervously, waving a hand around the inside of her 'clinic'. "I don't have any magical healing powers or anything, just my own two hands and what supplies I can scrounge up..." she finishes, hoping not to disappoint.
Believer smiles at the young tiefling with warmth. "You are describing ninety percent of what all healers do, day in and day out. I will see about keeping you better supplied, once we've dealt with the business at hand. But it looks to me like you've been doing a fine job."
"I'm inclined to check the most recent site first, just because there is a higher chance of there being something left to actually find. But yes, tightening our search to this central area seems our best bet." She was quite willing to try her hand at the lone tiefling as bait option, but the others did not seem keen on the idea, so she shelved it for now and waited to see what their search would turn up.
Maccha just silently agrees to their plan. When they seem to have come to an agreement, she adds "I'm not opposed to your plan, but really? Putting yourself in danger is your first idea?" she could not stop herself from showing her worry to Believer, a visit to the Nursery reminding her how her deal friend was in danger for simply existing in Kintargo.
===
After they leave to investigate a previous crime scene, Maccha brings up to the group. "Do you think Zea would be willing to join us? She had heard of us and came to us and is a healer. Maybe having someone for first aid might help in case other tragedies happen at out base."
"I am!" Tessa says when Maccha says she's not unopposed to Believer's plan. "I--I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want anyone to get hurt."
Aoede sighs as she guides Tessa out of the clinic.
"Thank you for your time, Miss Zea. We'll do what we can to prevent another tragedy," Tessa's twin tells the chirurgeon.
===
Once they are outside and out of earshot, Aoede glares at Believer.
"Maybe, but that might be a conversation for later," she tells Maccha before laying into Believer. "And what's this about going alone to act as bait?! If anyone is going to be bait, it should be me!"
"Aoede--" Tessa starts to say, but closes her mouth as Aoede cuts her off.
"No! I know what you're about to say, but you know as well as I do that I'm the best choice if someone has to risk their skin."
Aoede holds Tessa's eyes for a moment before turning back to Believer and looking at the others.
"Keep her alive and I can't die," she tells them while pointing to Tessa. "That's why if anyone is acting as bait in this plan, it's me."
Believer rolls her eyes theatrically over the outpouring of concern. "That's very sweet, but you're all missing a key point here. Several, in fact. One," She holds up a lavender digit topped by a cruel looking black nail, "I am far from defenseless." She jingles her chainmail to punctuate the fact as she continues to tick the points off on her fingers. "Two, I can heal myself faster than you can draw a weapon. Three, the point of bait is to draw out the danger and spring a trap. That's where you four would come into play, hidden nearby and watching for the moment to spring. I would only appear to be alone. Five, Aoede would only be useful in this role if Tessa were willing to expose her to harm, which we know is a load of hot fertilizer. She'll do herself harm before she'll bear to see Aoede endure so much as a paper-cut. We've seen that for ourselves." She said, arching a challenging, pierced eyebrow at Tessa. "Which actually places Aoede at greater risk of destruction than simply falling to her wounds since her life is tied to yours, but I digress." She drops her hand, ceasing her counting.
"But finally, and most importantly, none of you are tieflings and we are what these things are hunting." She shakes her head sadly and with more than a little shame. "Hunting my kind while I have been sleeping in a comfortable bed, having coffee and pastry and painting my face to hide it from the world. You are all good people, but I have a greater stake in this fight. If it comes to it, it will be me." She says this last with fervor, her burgundy eyes glowing with her passion and conviction.
"So lets get to looking, because standing around and bickering will only waste time."
Tessa shrinks under Believer's gaze and looks as if she's about to cry in frustration. Aoede was right, but that didn't mean her getting hurt didn't affect Tessa. She could feel it over their link. Aoede slumps as Believer's logic quenches her own fire.
"Fine, fine, you win," Aoede sighs. "Just keep in mind that we already have one of our number who's apt to take blame for things she has no way of affecting. We don't need two. You're not all-knowing nor all-powerful. Besides, you don't have a greater stake in this. So what if you and the people here look different from Tessa, Maccha, and Llewela? You're still people, aren't you? We're trying to make Kintargo better for everyone."
"B will be fine if she needs to act as bait." Llewela agrees. "But hopefully it won't need to come to that. Using bait would mean we'd still have to track down the nest. Finding it ourselves will cut out that step."
Once they reach the site of the attacks, she helps in questioning the nearby locals.
Maccha shrugs her shoulders "I was not doub-" she cuts herself off, no point in arguing, they all accepted the danger they would be in when they started their little rebellious group and starts helping on the search and the questioning.
The most recent murder scene, the one where the victim you examined came from, is relatively empty of people. A handful of vagrant tieflings mill around the entrance to the back alley, but quickly scatter once they see you approach. Only Believer appearing and attempting to talk to them gets them to stick around long enough for them to confirm that the hellknights and Tiarise were in fact poking around the night it happened. What they wanted or what they found, they don't know, but they left pretty quickly.
The actual scene itself doesn't have much evidence to be found immediately to your eyes, as the murder itself actually happened a couple of days ago and any immediate evidence has been washed away by the rain of the past. A single tooth sits up against a wall in the alley, confirming your suspicions that the teeth were ripped out at the scene of the attack, most likely by the fairies.
Feeling despondent after what they witnessed at Zea's clinic, Believer's observations when she rebutted Aoede, and seeing how the people of this district react to her, she doesn't see much. She shivers as she spots the tooth, and tries not to think about what kind of pain the poor young woman must have been in before she died. Aoede, on the other hand, does a little better at looking around, but she too finds little of use to them.
"Are you sure this is going to help," Aoede asks as she looks at the others. "I don't think any of us have any experience tracking anything, much less fey through a city. I know Tessa and I don't."
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"So what if you and the people here look different from Tessa, Maccha, and Llewela? You're still people, aren't you? We're trying to make Kintargo better for everyone."
Believer's stern determination softens, "That you say it like that. As if it's a truth so plain that there can be no doubt... it means a lot. I do indeed want a better Kintargo for all. But look at how tieflings are treated. Cast off, penned in, now hunted on the streets... dare I say it? Culled! It's clear not everyone feels the same."
"My adoption by Father Blom afforded me greater opportunities than my kin. Safety, education, love... True luxuries that those who struggle for basic survival never know. I could have extended those advantages to others. Instead, I turned away from this place. I let myself be drawn into the work and lost touch. I will do better."
"It's not something I do well, either. But the Hellknights and that witch certainly seem interested in the murders. Maybe they checked wherever the fey are making their lair." She said, doing her best to follow the tracks.
Llewela examines the tooth carefully, but fails to see anything to point where the trail leads. She sighs and picks up the tooth carefully, placing it in a pouch. "It might be of some use in finding the fae, and if not, we can at least return it to Zea." she explains.
She looks at the tracks Believer finds with interest. "Even if they don't know the fey, we might find a clue as to why they're taking an interest. If we know what they want, we may be able to loosen the hoops of whatever they're planning."
Aoede laughs when Believer says she's not a good tracker despite being the one that spotted the tracks.
"Maybe, but for now you might as well be a skilled hunter compared to the rest of us."
As they follow the tracks, Tessa moves up close to Believer. She hesitates, clearly wanting to say something, but unsure of if she should say it or if now is the right time.
"Bee," she begins quietly. "You're a healer, right?"