Garrix looks a bit apprehensively at Ephesian and Sunshine, then nods enthusiastically. "Yes! Yes, exactly! My grand vision is to use the remains as a metaphor for Eutropia’s rise." It becomes increasingly clear, if it wasn't already, that Garrix also doesn’t know much about the crime, having neither witnessed it nor investigated further.
However, while they're talking about that the butler has a chance to speak without interruption. He explains to the other Pathfinders that he spotted a suspicious, grey‑haired man peering through the gates of the courtyard only hours before the arson. The man didn’t appear to be armed, but his cloak was covering other bulky clothing.
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Sunshine will "encourage" the butler to point us towards any other associates that might have witnessed something else, but when those leads end, he will move on to Evanine.
---
Anchor post
Robbery at Lioness Jewelers:
1. The minting supplies were the only real valuables but they took a few other things, including cleaning solvent.
2. There was a wayfinder left at the scene. It was particularly well-made. It had sapphires embedded in it. The constabulary collected it and took it away.
3. The day before the break-in, there was a man lurking around trying to stay out of sight. He was fair with grey hair. Maybe human.
Arson of Street Monument:
1. A suspicious, grey‑haired man was peering through the gates of the courtyard only hours before the arson. The man didn’t appear to be armed, but his cloak was covering other bulky clothing.
Attack on Eutropia’s Associate: The socialite Evanine Valborne was reportedly attacked on her way home from an art showing in Grandbridge two days ago. She is accepting visitors in her home in Westpark, though she has not given a public statement on her attack. The constabulary report is not available.
Oppara Lodge: Muesello has offices at the local Pathfinder Society lodge, which is disguised as a bait and tackle shop. Perhaps his assistant, Lolly Adafish, can tell us more about his whereabouts, or give us access to his office, but she may be in league with him. Don’t go here until you’ve gathered as much evidence as you can from the crime scenes, which should help convince Lolly to help, one way or another.
Details about the socialite Evanine Valborne’s estate and visiting hours are readily available by checking the local newspapers, as one of her friends has taken out an advertisement requesting for “anyone who holds her dear” to pay her a visit after the attack in Grandbridge two days ago. Her friendship with Grand Princess Eutropia makes a regular appearance in Taldan gossip, especially as they often attend the opera together.
However, Evanine Valborne lives in the Westpark district, which is a gated, walled neighborhood with regular security patrols. This prevents stray visitors from wandering onto her estate.
Ephesian tries to talk his way into the neighborhood
And Hero Point that:
Everyone notices Tieri, who seems more suspicious because of the sneaking. And Dinardin draws some looks.
But the Pathfinders make it to the estate without incident.
When the Pathfinders arrive, Evanine Valborne lays on a reclining couch with a cloth compress on her cheek. Despite her state, she wears a fashionable dressing gown and has applied makeup that flatters her warm, amber skin. She gives a dramatic sigh before greeting the field agents with, “Yet another set of admirers come to hear my tale of woe?”
Without waiting for them to respond, she launches into the story of how she had been walking back to her home from Grandbridge last night when a group of Pathfinder agents chased after her. The agents caught her as she tried to flee. One of the agents restrained her and another told her to “choose her allegiances carefully.” Just as an agent pulled out a dagger to stab her, another man ran at her. The attackers released her. She saw the man and the attackers running off into the night. Of course, she didn’t follow, as she was too much in shock to even move.
"They were!" says Evanine dramatically, focusing in on the goblin's question, "The attackers cast light spells using their wayfinders to see on the dark street. One of them dropped one of the wayfinders, but the constabulary took it to White Hall, their Grandbridge headquarters, as evidence."
"Could you tell us more about these people who assaulted you? Was there anything else that might have identified them?"
"Horrible, quite horrible yes. It left a foul taste, like the flavor of pickles. No, I'm afraid the wayfinders were the only identification I noticed."
Evanine will gladly repeat, as many times as anyone will listen, her story. But she doesn't seem to have anything else to offer.
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Robbery at Lioness Jewelers:
1. The minting supplies were the only real valuables but they took a few other things, including cleaning solvent.
2. There was a wayfinder left at the scene. It was particularly well-made. It had sapphires embedded in it. The constabulary collected it and took it away.
3. The day before the break-in, there was a man lurking around trying to stay out of sight. He was fair with grey hair. Maybe human.
Arson of Street Monument:
1. A suspicious, grey‑haired man was peering through the gates of the courtyard only hours before the arson. The man didn’t appear to be armed, but his cloak was covering other bulky clothing.
Attack on Eutropia’s Associate:
1. The attackers cast light spells using their wayfinders to see on the dark street. One of them dropped one of the wayfinders, but the constabulary took it to White Hall, their Grandbridge headquarters, as evidence.
Oppara Lodge: Muesello has offices at the local Pathfinder Society lodge, which is disguised as a bait and tackle shop. Perhaps his assistant, Lolly Adafish, can tell us more about his whereabouts, or give us access to his office, but she may be in league with him. Don’t go here until you’ve gathered as much evidence as you can from the crime scenes, which should help convince Lolly to help, one way or another.
---
"Creatures in the Netherworld love pickled foods. It's a great way to develop flavor without sunlight."
When the Pathfinders arrive at the Oppara Lodge, the bait and tackle shop that serves are the lodge’s front has a “Gone Fishing” sign hanging from the door.
As the Pathfinders stand outside (and start to get out thieves' tools), a harried-looking, blue-scaled kobold pushing the door open and hissing a quick “We’re closed!”
"No, no, we're close--Pathfinders? Well... okay, get in here, quick."
Cases of artificial lures line the walls of the shop past the entrance in this small sales room. Fishing poles stand in neat racks on display in the shop’s window, crowding the space and obstructing much of the view. Signs on capped barrels advertise a wide range of live bait, from leeches to minnows to crickets. A wooden counter holds a locked money box and a ledger. Three doors lead out of this room: one to the street outside, one behind the counter, and one on a wall covered with mounted fish.
The kobold, who introduces herself as Lolly Adafish, notes that the front room of the shop is a little crowded for this many people at once. She opens the side door and ushers the Pathfinders into a storage room, which is much larger though still a bit cramped due to all the crates. Near the door to the shop, these crates contain mostly fishing lures and similar equipment. On the other side of the room, mostly sheet metal and other raw materials.
The Pathfinders notice that Lolly seems rather... stressed. "What exactly is going on?" she asks them.
1. The minting supplies were the only real valuables but they took a few other things, including cleaning solvent.
Robbery at Lioness Jewelers:
2. There was a wayfinder left at the scene. It was particularly well-made. It had sapphires embedded in it. The constabulary collected it and took it away.
3. The day before the break-in, there was a man lurking around trying to stay out of sight. He was fair with grey hair. Maybe human.
1. A suspicious, grey‑haired man was peering through the gates of the courtyard only hours before the arson. The man didn’t appear to be armed, but his cloak was covering other bulky clothing.
Arson of Street Monument:
1. The attackers cast light spells using their wayfinders to see on the dark street. One of them dropped one of the wayfinders, but the constabulary took it to White Hall, their Grandbridge headquarters, as evidence.
Attack on Eutropia’s Associate:
Evanine recalls that as the attackers were running off, the man shouted that they were “incompetent fools” and said that they were using his fine tools like dunces. It was unclear whether he was berating subordinates or chastising strangers. The man she saw during the attack was light-skinned with grey hair.
"I'm looking for him too! He sent for me to help with some machine of his. I got into town two days ago, but the shop was empty and I haven't seen him since. Why are you looking for him? What's going on around here?"
"I don't know! I haven't spoken to him." Lolly squirms uncomfortably. "Are you really Pathfinders? Why are you here?"
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"We're really Pathfinders," Sunshine says, flashing a wayfinder - his regular wayfinder.
"We heard that Muesello makes customized wayfinders. Does he? Can we see some of his work? Does he make them for everyone?"
Sunshine's going to look around Musello's office and the shop in general, unless Lolly stops him.
With a nod to Sunshine, Ephesian will try to be honest with Lolly while attempting to calm the Kobold down.
"One of Muesello's allies requested aid from the Society since he's gone missing. We're trying to figure out what's going on. You must admit, the situation is quite odd. Is there anything else you can tell us about Muesello's disappearance?"
"He's the Society's preeminent wayfinder crafter," Lolly says, "but he hasn't made all of them.
"I--I don't know anything." Sunshine notes Lolly's hesitance. She's hiding something. "If you're investigating, shouldn't you be telling me something? How do you know he's missing? Oh, hey! You can't go in there! It's locked, anyway."
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As the party tries to squeeze information out of Lolly, Brother Nebulous remains silent and reflects upon the most holy teachings of Razmir.
'The Book of Masked Proverbs, Chapter 5, Verse 3: Blessed is he who tells but one lie among many truths in the service of the law, for he is my good and faithful servant.'
'We have many truths at our disposal...best to tell them to Lolly along with a discreet, believable lie to secure her compliance.' He thinks to himself.
Brother Nebulous steps forward, robes billowing and fluttering with a sudden gust of wind that follows in his wake. He stands with the upright posture of a preacher about to deliver divine truths to his flock.
"Lolly, your loyalty is admirable, though misplaced. As a show of good faith, let me disclose what we know to be the truth." He waits till he has her full attention before speaking.
"All over town, crimes have been taking place. Robbery, arson, assault. Do you know what were the common elements? A fair man with grey hair was spotted at the scene of the crime. Sound familiar?" He doesnt wait for her to answer the question before continuing.
"Wayfinders abandoned at the scene of the crime like conspicuous droppings. And worst of all?" He pauses to let his words sink in. "The arsonists were seen heading towards a bait and tackle shop much like this one."
He advances towards Lolly, using his height to tower over her imperiously. An uncomfortable silence lingers. Suddenly, he lowers his voice and affects a gentler tone, almost whispering his next words to the Kobold through his mask. "The Constabulary are already involved in this matter. It is only a matter of time till they track down the culprit. Please, Lolly. Help us help you and Venture-Captain Muesello by co-operating with us. Starting with answering Sir Dinardin's question."
"Uh, in town? I don't think anybody else here makes them. The Society uses a lot of those things. One person can't make them all, not if he wants to do anything else, too."
Lolly watches Sunshine start to pick the lock. "...I do have a key," she says, deflating a little as the evidence is presented.
"Okay. I.. I did see him once, briefly. He came in yesterday and went straight into his workshop. He didn’t explain what he was doing, and urged me to stay away from the lodge in case someone showed up to cause trouble. I ignored him, of course, and stayed at the lodge in case he returned." She hesitantly agrees to let the Pathfinders into his workshop, though she tells them that Muesello warned her he left an “unpleasant surprise” for any enemies that might come poking around—she hasn’t gone in the room since Muesello left.
Sunshine isn't able to pick the lock, but Lolly offers him the key.