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There is no magic in the area, but Layla founds that ground is firm and the inside of the tent has seen a lot of foot traffic. She just needs to understand which one are relevant to the murder scene.
Meanwhile, Ayla looks over the corpse for details and her angelic eyes find the strange thing almost missed by Camaenor because of the dim light in the area. Woman's neck still has a slender rope burn around her neck, indicative of strangulation by garrote or similar weapon.
Shasta started looking around for something, that might be out of place and give some hints. Some distance away from a murder scene, he find several small vials under the bank. They are empty, but some residue is still there.
Keelee finds that north part of the tent miss some of stakes and it is possible to sneak out from tent without using the main entry.
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Keelee was more or less comfortable with the footprints. She found several large marks and pointed, where large feline body was standing, looks like those leave to the north of the tent. While looking around, Ayla grabbed the cage door to find out that it is closed, but not locked.
In a moment, the curtain opens again and Almara Delisen enters the tent, accompanied by Master Venlock. They both are shocked to see what happened.
- Hey! - Varisian lady calls for boy, - run in the town and find Sheriff
Master Venlock stops her:
- Are you sure this is a best way to bring such news? What was she doing here? Did anyone knew she went here?
- I don't care! We are almost enemies here and attempt to hide, bring us in the wrong light. They blame us for everything: killings, pick-pocketing, bad food. Carnival has nothing to do with this. We should show this to Sheriff as she arrives.
Man steps away from the body and says, that he should organize ground patrol.
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Since it was only small residue in some of those it was hard to identify the contents of potions. Due to a specific features Iridestine was able to diagnose that alchemic nature of origin for them.
Soon, Sheriff arrived with couple of church people to take the body. They've diagnosed it and concluded that Sister Esrelda was killed by massive feline beast. Almara tried to appeal that it is not what it seams and this could not be done by Jherizhana.
- By the way, where is she right now? - asked Sheriff.
Miss Delisen hesitated a bit before answering:
- He is in her vagon. You see, she is more a friend of our circus that captive, but admitting her as a crew had some trouble in past. People tend to think, she is dangerous, and we prefer to play a role of Jherizhana being our prisoner.
Despite this explanation, Sheriff is offended:
- You’ve brought a dangerous creature into this community — a creature you clearly cannot keep track of, let alone control. I can’t say I know for certain there’s wrongdoing here on the part of your people, but after a point it ceases to matter. For the safety of my town, I’m putting this circus under quarantine. I don’t want any of your people leaving these grounds unless it’s to leave town completely. I’m giving you several days to get packed up and go.
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Sherrif puffed:
- Sister Esrelda always saw good in different people, even in Varisians. One of cathedral servants said, that she was investigating body of Archivin and than said some nonsence, like "Her pawns! I need to see them" and rushed to the Carnival.
She turned to walk away, commenting on Ayla's words:
- I don't want to risk my people anymore, but I would not limit you to do what you want. If you want to risk your life talking with that sphinx - go on. But now, announce that Carnival is over and take care that townfolk leave the grounds before you let the beast out of her wagon.
Almara nodded:
- I'll do all arrangements, assign the guards and then I'll set up the meeting with her for you.
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An hour later, a dancing girl found Pathfinders to invite them for a meeting with a Sphinx. Because of lack of space, meeting was held in the same tent - "Lair of the Sphinx" - where the murder happened earlier. She assured them, that "cage is closed and you have nothing to worry about".
As agents entered the tent, they saw a wonderful creature with a lower-torso of lion, falcon-like wings and upper-torso of beautiful woman. The creature raised up to see visitors:
- Greetings, visitors!
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- I am the magical beast, and my nature is a magic itself. My voice seems innatural to you, because I used to give it best features and attune to get a reaction I want from people. It would be dissapointing for them, if they see a fantasy beast with a voice of small girl, isn't it?
- I have nothing to do with those murders. Actually, I am riddled about enigmatic nature of the killer. It is trying to stage those murders like the beast did them, but only beast is me. So I am curious to find why does villain hate me so much? I do not know anyone in neighborhood and I haven't done anything wrong to them yet. Even if someone is pooling a charade, it wasn't me...
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"You are not what you seem. Like the dancing girl act, you use illusion magic to hide your true self! Why, you are just a young girl hidden in this trick! Is it your spell, or someone else's magic? Be honest with us, for we are the only ones who can help you now that the villagers are so angry about another murder that your illusion looks like it caused..." Camaenor continues to speak without emotion, hoping not to spook the girl or enrage whoever is behind the trick.
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- The riddle here is for every one. If you guessed a part of yours, - Jerizhanna looked at Camaenor, - don't ruin it to others. I joined Carnival about year ago and had to prove myself worthy, but thanks to Almara, they accepted me. I share my part of income, so they win nothing if I am gone. This city has long-living grudges: one people hate another. Someone staged the killing, like I did, but I haven't done it. Now the second one is done same way. I can take a knife in my hand, - she lifted her paw to prove the point, - it might be big, but it is more sense to stage someone with hands as killer, than make it the way that points directly to me?
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Keelee reasons out loud "So we are looking for someone who holds a grudge against sphinxes? But the first murder was likely just to steal the key since the lockbox was robbed the same night, and the sphinx probably just a frame job. So the cleric knew too much and was killed again the sphinx was framed. Most likely the killer doesn't know the sphinx's secrete, and discovered the cleric knew something?"