"No. Lepidstadt is again calm now." Daramid answers.
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"The Shudderwood is full of dangerous creatures. Though I haven't seen one or even heard a first hand account of werewolves. It is always someone who heard something." Daramid replies.
"Now if that isn't a perfect setup for a witch hunt. Or a nice story to scare children and keep the gullible out of the woods. Because you can't prove anything once your werewolf is dead, or so the tales tell." Daramid replies. "But it is a bit too detailed to be completely made up. If you find out what's behind that, I'd like to know. You got me curious."
"It is far away from everything. It's a playground for nobles. And a hideout for people who don't want to be seen for a while. Or that others don't want to see for a while." The judge hints.
"He is of little consequence for Lepidstadt. I just wondered." Daramid answers. "And now you're going to Ascanor Lodge? Leaving civilisation?"
Tea and pie is brought by the maid, who lays the table and pours a cup of tea for everyone who wants some. "That is interesting news indeed." Daramid replies. "What did you clear out at Schloss Caromarc? I don't suppose he is leaving, is he?"
As there is no hiding necessary anymore you get a warm welcome at Judge Daramid's house. The maid lets you in and leads you to the usual room, offering you seats. A minute later the Judge comes to greet you herself. "Good evening. It's a pleasure to see you again. What do I owe the honor to?" she asks.
"Funny that you mention it. Where would I find you, if I wanted to contact you?" Daramid asks.
"Yes. Come bck to me, to tell me how it went, once you've met the Beast again. And of course I'd like to know if Caromarc is involved in this. Besides that, I'm fine. The next days life will get back to normal again. Quieter. And I'm going to enjoy it." Judge Daramid tells and sips at her tea again.
"Lepidstadt is a lawful town. I can't promise you that there is no nut living here who would try something like that. But I can promise that this person would end up in jail and get a long time to think about that. The worst I would expect to befall you, is that you have to pay higher prices for your groceries, if you buy from someone who is particular stubborn. But I'm not afraid that someone will even do so much as to speak up against me in public." "Also, if you live here, you will become known for other things than the trial. And people will see who you're frinds with. That has a lot of influence on how people treat you. Right now I'd even suspect that there are people outright afraid of you. Vorkstag and Grine had a lot of friends in high positions. And you disposed them and got the acknowledgement of the court for that." "If the beast doesn't show up to bring destruction and death in the years to come, it will be forgotten pretty fast. Daramid tries to assure Kendra.
Judge Daramid laughs a hearty laugh. "Welcome to the club. But don't take it personal. You were the strangers who dared to stand up against the mob and the opinion everyone agreed on. Now it's a public verdict. That will make it easier for you. But if you wanted to be liked by everyone, you chose to take on a task with a much too high profile. But you're a Lorrimor. I'm convinced, that you would like a life where you stay silent to not draw attention even less."
While she ponders that question the judge gets up. "I'm going to get your reward. You really earned that." she excuses herself and goes to her office. A few moments later she comes back with four pouches full of coins and places them on the table. "Will you go and check on the beast at the Schloos?" she asks.
"At Schloss Caromarc? What might the Count have to do with the beast?" Daramid wonders.
About an hour later the Judge finally arrives home. "Sorry, you had to wait." She takes a seat at the table with you. "That last day of the trial, was indeed an interesting one. You surpassed my expectations by far. Lepidstadt owes you a lot for rooting out this evil. Even though the Beast roams freely again and we still don't know why it broke into the University. I really hope there comes nothing bad from that. But tell me, what became of Grine? You brought only the corpse of Vorkstag, didn't you?"
"My offer is for your two friends you want to ask too. But please don't contact me again after this visit. After the trial is over I will send for you again." Judge Daramid tells.
"I don't know what is behind it. I only know for sure that the beast can't be responsible for everything that it was blamed for in the last 10 to 20 years. But Prosecutor Otto Heiger has made his case against the beast and if noone can come up with something substancial then the beast will burn in three days. And noone will ever look into these things again." Judge Daramid explains.
"So it is only you two who would take on this investigation?" Judge Daramid asks Herm and Kendra. "I don't think that would be wise. If I'm right, you might face worse than you can handle and I could never forgive myself if Professor Lorrimor's daughter would come to harm or worse because of me."
"I'm not involved in the investigations. But Barrister Kaple knows all the witnesses names and what they will tell, has all the details and has access to the beast. You might as well start with asking the beast. But that is up to you. But it all starts with meeting Kaple." Judge Daramid answers.
"You simply go to the court building and ask for him. He should be in his office there. Judge Daramid replies.
After some tea and cookies and talk about the Professor and his end Judge Daramid becomes serious again. "I have a request. I face a problem that I can't solve myself and that I can't ask anyone in Lepidstadt to help me with." "Tomorrow starts the trial of the beast. I am one of three judges to sit in judgement over it. But with all the prejudgement I fear it will get no fair trial. They nominated Barrister Kaple as defence. That guy can't speak a straight sentence. Much less defend the beast in such a case. Don't get me wrong, I don't think the beast is innocent. But there is is a cancer in Lepidstadt, a darkness lurking behind the shadow of a scapegoat. For many years the people of Lepidstadt have laid all their ills at the door of a creature known as the Beast of Lepidstadt — murders, thefts, and terror have all been attributed to the Beast, but I know that many stories are exaggerations or simply wrong." "I also know that some people have different stories to tell about the creature—about its kindness and humanity, of how it has rescued loved ones or helped those in distress. Now that the time has arrived for such kindness to be repaid, however, no one dares to step forward and challenge the Beast’s reputation." "The people of Lepidstadt have blamed the Beast for too much and for too long, and they want it to pay for its crimes, whether those crimes are real or imagined. In addition, I have some concerns about the crime for which the Beast was finally apprehended — the break-in and theft at Lepidstadt University. I am convinced that the Beast’s capture at the university was not all it appeared to be, for why would a creature that is intelligent knowingly enter the university, where it was certain to be trapped?" "But I can't voice such concerns publicly, or I'd kill my reputation in the best case. So if you'd agree to investigate the crimes the beast is accused of and find out if there is more behind it I'd pay each of you 1000gold. You can easily register as defendants of the beast at court and support Barrister Kaple. But the town won't like you for that. And we can't be seen together once you start with that. What do you say?"
"Yes we do." Judge Daramid replies. The others she asks "I assume you brought the books mentioned in the will of Prof. Lorrimor to Dr. Crowl already? And you have one last book for me?" On confirmation she leaves the room to fetch the pouches with the coins promised in the last will. On receiving the locked tome she hands the pouches to the four friends of the Professor. "Please sit down. Margaret will be here soon with tea and cookies."
Judge Daramid invites the visitors to take a seat. She is in her sixties, with gray hair pulled back into a bun. The room has a large round mahogany table with matching chairs in a classic style. She can't already know but the visitors make it clear what's the purpose of the visit is. Approaching Kendra she asks "Miss Lorrimor, I assume your father has died?" and on confirmation adds "My sincerest condolences to your loss."
"I'm sorry, but I haven't heard of that." Judge Daramid replies. "That's what you told me the Professor was investigating, right?"
"It sounds as if you want to get the Beast out of that too. Once you're thoroughly done the Beast is no longer a case for the court but for the church for canonization." Judge Daramid jokes. "You know already more than I do. The beast was never charged for that so I don't have any details of the crime. And I doubt anyone in Lepidstadt knows as much of this crime as you do. Because the Beast was caught red handed. There was no need for an extensive investigation."
"Please bring some cookies too for my guests." Judge Daramid asks the maid. "And please pack some of this tea for Mr. Truthfinder."
Knowledge History DC 20 (or 15 if from within Vieland):
When the palatinate Lozeri denounced Count Beauturne, the astute Count Caromarc of Vieland recognized the changes in the wind and stepped down as ruler, retiring to his secluded manor in the Dippelmere swamp, north of Lepidstadt. Life in Vieland has largely gone unchanged since Caromarc’s resignation. "It's the residence of the retired count Caromarc. We're ruled by a council here in Vieland but that's rather new in historical perspective." Judge Daramid replies. "But please do pay a visit there. Even though the beast was innocent in the cases brought to court it is still a dangerous creature. And a creature made. Maybe you could unveil who is behind that. Who ever did this might also be able to contain the beast."
"That would be quite the accomplishment. I wonder myself what the town is going to do about all the business parters of Vorgstag & Grine" "But the beast told you something about Schloss Caromarc. I didn't catch all of it but it got me to wonder. Would you please tell me?" The Judge asks.
The maid leaves the room to prepare tea. "So what are your plans now? Are you staying in Lepidstadt or are you leaving now that the trial is over?" Judge Daramid asks.
"Good morning." Judge Daramid greets you. Putting four pouches on the table she tells "I brought your reward. You more than earned that." "I knew something bad was moving amongst us but I wouldn't have thought something that bad." She takes a seat herself. "Tea anyone?"
As the trial is over Judge Daramid comes over to the defence. "Thank you. You did Lepidstadt a great favour by rooting out this evil. Please meet me tomorrow morning in my house."
"Let us see how it all works out and maybe I can help you in an informal way behind the scenes. But I make no promises." "As for contacts. If I had someone who could shed a light on that I would already know what is going on. And you need to hurry indeed. The evidence has to be registered until 10 o'clock in the morning."
"I won't lie to you. I can't do anything for you in public that would give away our connection. And if you step up for the beast you might as well get chased away by a mob with torches and pitch forks." the Judge replies.
"For many years the people of Lepidstadt have laid all their ills at the door of a creature known as the Beast of Lepidstadt - murders, thefts, and terror have all been attributed to the Beast, but I know that many stories are exaggerations or simply untrue." "I also know that some people have different stories to tell about the creature — about its kindness and humanity, of how it has rescued loved ones or helped those in distress. Now that the time has arrived for such kindness to be repaid, however, no one dares to step forward and challenge the Beast’s reputation." Judge Daramid explains. "But I have no one first person witness' of any of either one or the other."
"He told me he uses this book to look up allies in his fight. But if you want to know for sure you would have to ask the Professor himself." "But seeing you be so concerned about everyone being safe and finding out the truth strengthens my hope you would lend me a hand in a serious matter where justice needs to be served." "As the Professor trusted you with the books and all you're tailor made for this. As you already noticed we're having a trial here. But something is wrong with that. The beast was blamed to long and too often for everything that happened around Lepidstadt. And now the people want to see it burn. But I fear it will receive no fair trial. That is a shame. But I wouldn't go to these length if it were only that. But something is afoul here. Too much blame is pinned on the beast. Something sinister is going on in Lepidstadt and the beast is the scape goat for that. Are you willing to take a role in the trial and try to find out what is really behind it?" "I'm willing to pay each of you another 100pp if you take on defending the beast and investigate what's behind it. But publicly I would know nothing of this and even deny it. You would have to be discreet about that and would be on your own." She stops as the maid comes back in and serves the tea. Once she left again the Judge asks. "What do you say?"
Judge Daramid accepts the book and replies with a smile "And the rest is a secret. It's no public order you know." "I'll get your reward. If you'd excuse me for a moment." she gets up and leaves with the book and comes back with three pouches and places them on the table for you to take.
The Judge chuckles "What do you think it is? The Necronomicon? It's a book about a secret order the Professor was part of. And it is to be placed with me that no one in this order comes to harm." Sense Motive DC13: She tells the truth. Not the whole truth though.
Judge Daramid nods to the maid who leaves the room. With a gesture she offers to take a seat at the table and takes a seat herself. "Did you already deliver the books to Dr. Crowl?" Judge Daramid asks.
"Good afternoon. I expected you to come. Would you like some tea?" Judge Daramid offers.
The other thing is the book 'Manual of the Order of the Palatine Eye' (which you don't know as you can't look inside the locked purple cover). And there it is interesting whom you have to deliver it to. |