Garrotten

[Monsieur Rose]

Luna

She looks at Zahra and laughs. "You think so too? You were right, Zahra! My mistake. Let's go."

Luna waves at the grumpy priest. "Thanks! See you later tonight!" She tries to appear friendly and a bit slow.

Then she leaves and tries to spot somewhere they could covertly observe the comings and goings of the church.

[gurusql]

Draxon

Draxon nods at what is being said then asks, "I thank you for your excellent offer to be a personal liaison here, I am sure that we will take you up on this. You mentioned that you know that there is an assassins guild here in town and that the church does not know much about it. And given your position, I would say that you know your business. You also mentioned that the Mayor and the authorities do not know about the guild either. Is this a best guess or do you have one or more friends in those groups that told you this? I am only asking so that I know the source of my facts good sir."

[Quonundrum]

Lestadt

"Indeed. How would you characterize the relationship between the Church and the Lord Mayor? Is she aware of the High Priest's condition?"

[Rex]

Zahra

Zahra follows along with Luna, nodding as they go and glaring at the annoying priest.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Un-secret Investigation
Godsday, Morning, Clear
Second Day After The Barons Murder

Outside

Luna and Zahra take their leave of the unfriendly priest, walking back outside the gates and moving into town. They head for a clump of trees behind the church where they can observe the grounds for a while when they suddenly hear an awful ruckus coming from just beyond the small copse of vegetation.

Within seconds, they hear screams and cries from a few townspeople right before an explosion of noise that sounds like an entire house imploding. As they try to figure out what has happened, they start hearing cries that the assassins are nearby.

Actions?

Zahra AC:5 24/24 CLW/CLW/C/DM/DM A/DC/KA/SWA
Luna AC:7 26/26 DM/E/FF/IA/SA/SA C/CM/CLW/T NP/P/SS




Inside The Church Of Osprem (3)

Curate Basil doesn't appear offended by the questions in the least.

"I am not certain myself as to how much the Mayor and her people know about the guild. We here at the church do keep up a good rapport with the Lord Mayor, but you know how that whole church and state thing goes. I tend to think they would know more about it than us, but I don't know of any current investigations they might be conducting."

"I think she suspects that High Priest Harper's mental faculties are declining in his later years, but Canon Harmin is adamant that we don't let that fact slip out to the wrong person. He believes we need to handle this situation in-house, if you understand me. So I doubt even the Mayor herself knows the extent of what the two of you have witnessed here this morning. I will ask again that you please not give that information out to anyone else."

Actions?

Lestadt AC:8 20/20
Draxon AC:5 27/27 DM/MM/US ESP/K




Ruts and Runts At The Lake

As the boys ride off in style on the top of their massive grey mount, Carling quickly disappears into the greenery. He finds a nice branch to leap up into where he can watch what happens from the shadows of the forest.

When the guards exit the trees, they spot the massive tracks in the soft dirt and immediately start after them. Carling can hear their leader giving an order, but the ongoing shouts from town interfere with his eavesdropping. (Can I get a d20 Int. check from Carling along with your next post, please?)

Redgrave trots the boys on his huge back into town as promised, where he suddenly morphs into his dwarven form right there in front of them. (healed 5 hit points) The boys eyes grow as large as saucers at the unexplainable sight, but they still take the coins with a "yes sir", before rushing back towards their favorite fishing spot.

When Redgrave watches them go, he sees the 8 guards heading in his direction, following the massive tracks in the ground. Even though the townies are still in an uproar over the destruction that just happened, Redgrave appears either forced to give himself up, or head right back into the lions mouth of panicking townies. The stone weaponsmiths shop (46) is directly across town from his current position, so some sneaking will be necessary to arrive there unseen.

Actions?

Redgrave AC:3 25/25
Carling AC:3 14/17

[Spearmint]

Karloff Redgrave

Well I was hoping the guards would not be so close or have mobs of townsfolk chasing me. If I can avoid those I will and heading out of sight seems the best thing.

just trying to avoid the 'I turn into a seagull ' scenario and fly across the lake and back.

[Rex]

Zahra

Whispering to Luna, "I suppose we should take a look."

[Bluetongue]

Quicksilver Carling

Quicksilver Carling: Intelligence check vs 13 [1d20]=8 [4d6]=18 just 8.

He focuses on the lead guard, the one who tried to arrest him and is taking notes. He stays in his sheltered hiding place but subject to what he overhears and observed, might follow this guard in particular if heading back to the tavern is out.

[Monsieur Rose]

Luna

She jumps a bit as the explosion hits her delicate ears. "Good Gods! I thought the assassins were more subtle than that. Yes. Let's go see what's going on."

Luna looks around for any urchins or kids nearby. She's looking to pay someone to watch the church for people who exit.

[Quonundrum]

Lestadt

"Rest assured, discretion is a keystone of my profession. Our official determination is that High Priest Harper was simply indisposed at the time of the murder."

"You have made an interesting point earlier about the local government. It is an obviously open secret that assassins operate out of Garrotten. As you said though, they have never conducted an assassination within town, and apparently operating so secretly that they have thus far eluded any investigations by the Lord Mayor."

"Yet, planting clues at the scene of the crime explicitly implicating three prominent individuals that have either specific knowledge of the assassins or have the resources to be a threat, suggests a motive of opportunity to eliminate a danger to the Guild."

"If so, why not choose an associate of the Lord Mayor? I would conclude they do not view her a threat, either due to incompetence ... or complicity? I suspect in due course we may need to determine this ... Perhaps you could provide us a letter to formally sanction our intention to hunt the octopus? That may help us obtain an audience with the Lord Mayor."

[gurusql]

Draxon

"We will keep this information to ourselves for sure. Perhaps even better than indisposed would be praying for a particular divine miracle. Are there actual specifics that would be true that we could include here?

I do like the idea of talking to the mayor about the octopus and getting her behind it as well."

[OGRE MAGE]

The Investigation
Godsday, Morning, Clear
Second Day After The Barons Murder

Garrotten Proper

Luna looks around for a child to hire, but every single townsperson she sees is either gawking at or rushing towards the excitement across town. She and Zahra hustle in that direction as well, but they arrive on the scene a bit late to see what had happened. There is a badly ruined home (39) with a lot of people standing around it, all of them showing expressions of disbelief.

Seeing a patrol of castle guards chasing off towards the southern end of town, it isn't hard to deduce that something pretty terrible happened here. The gathered crowd can be heard shouting about assassins, apparently believing their guild has finally been revealed. The current running gossip is that an elf and a dwarf, probably leaders of the guild, were seen harassing and then accosting someone named Priska before they killed him in cold blood. Then, after attacking town guards, one of them used magic to create an elephant that crushed the home before sprinting off into the woods.

Actions?

Zahra AC:5 24/24 CLW/CLW/C/DM/DM A/DC/KA/SWA
Luna AC:7 26/26 DM/E/FF/IA/SA/SA C/CM/CLW/T NP/P/SS




Inside The Church Of Osprem (3)

Curate Basil thinks about the words of Lestadt for a good long while before finally answering.

When Draxon speaks his peace, another expression of concern crosses the pious mans face.

"I can do what you ask, and I could pen the letter myself, but what you say is a bit concerning to me. I don't think you will have any trouble getting an audience with her for a task such as this, but...."

A rapid knock at the door interrupts the priest mid sentence before another acolyte rushes into the room.

"Excuse me curate, but there is something happening in town that you should probably see! Folks outside are screaming that the assassins have been FOUND!"

Basil leaps up from his chair. "We should probably go have a look at this before we get any further along in our discussions!"

Actions?

Lestadt AC:8 20/20
Draxon AC:5 27/27 DM/MM/US ESP/K




Redemption?

Carling stays put when the guards continue their pursuit of the bearded rhino and the young boys. He can see that these guards are not the same men who questioned him earlier, and are likely a patrol from the Mayors castle. While he watches the area closely, thinking about trailing their captain from the shadows, the elf spots something strange in the lawn near the water. It appears that grass and weeds are moving periodically of their own accord, as if something unseen were walking through the area.

Redgrave knows he was seen earlier by some of the more nosey townsfolk, and he can tell that the excitement he and Carling just caused has not simmered down one bit yet. In fact, if anything, there are even more people milling about town than there were before. With his magic potion still in full effect, he dashes for a clump of trees where he hopes to hide for a while until things cool off.

The guards don't find him there right away, but the dwarf can hear the excitement around town growing by the minute. A few moments later, a boy jogs past his position, noticing him peeking out from the foliage. "Hey! HEY!!! I THINK ONE OF THEM IS HIDING RIGHT OVER HERE!!!!" The teenage boy is about 20 feet away, pointing directly at Redgrave's hiding spot. (somewhere between 28 and 34)

Actions?

Redgrave AC:3 25/25
Carling AC:3 14/17

[Bluetongue]

Quicksilver Carling

With the guards bypassing me, I will presume my Hide in Shadows skill still prevails and looking at the odd movement I am going to assume a couple of other things.

Firstly, this is Ashley. She disappeared invisible before when we came through here earlier. Secondly, unless she has excellent perception, no reason why she hasn't but my hide skill should also camouflage me from even infravision; I don't think she has seen me either.

I will stay still presently and observe and listen a little more

[Monsieur Rose]

Luna

Her brow goes up as the descriptions reach her ears. She mutters to Zahra "Elf and a dwarf? Anyone you can think of?" Luna looks around to make sure nobody can overhear them.

"This isn't good. People are going to suspect any newcomers, and maybe even take matters into their own hands. Someone will be blamed."

After any conversation, she moves to the ruined building and talks with the crowd. "Is there anyone still in there? I can help the wounded."

[Quonundrum]

Lestadt

He also quickly rises from his seat and nods in response to the curate, gesturing for the cleric to lead the way. As he moves to follow, Lestadt shoots a concerned glance at Draxon while touching a finger to his lips; a subtle suggestion to be mindful of what they say among the villagers outside ...

[Rex]

Zahra

Whispering back to Luna, "I think I know who it was, this is not good."

[gurusql]

Draxon

Notices the motion from Lestadt, takes a moment and puts his head down and then follow Lestadt out.

[OGRE MAGE]

I want to give Spearmint a few more hours to post here, but will likely update this action later today either way.

[Spearmint]

Karloff Redgrave

Well bad news seems to travel fast, this youth suddenly getting his description and pointing him out. "Shut up if you know what is good for you and your kin!" he mumbles then rather than turning chicken (or pigeon) and flying away while the polymorph is still in effect he heads off towards the weaponsmith as quickly and unobtrusively as he can.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Floundering Investigation
Godsday, Morning, Clear
Second Day After The Barons Murder

Garrotten

The girls hustle into the centrally located growing crowd of townsfolk, pretty sure they know who these culprits may be. As they move towards the destroyed house in the distance, they see even more people standing around outside of it in disbelief. Luna hears shouts about someone named Priska possibly still being inside.

Then Zahra hears shouting in the distance, something about a dwarf hiding in some nearby bushes. When she looks in that direction, she spots Redgrave walking quickly and unobtrusively across town to the east. A boy walks behind him, still pointing and shouting to anyone who will listen, drawing even more attention to her fellow investigator.

Luna's suspicions about the crowd seem accurate as many folks start walking towards this rouge dwarf, shouting and pointing at him, calling out that the assassins have been found, attracting even more attention from the many enraged townies. Then a patrol of 8 castle guards rushes into the scene, heading straight for the commotion.

Actions?

Zahra AC:5 24/24 CLW/CLW/C/DM/DM A/DC/KA/SWA
Luna AC:7 26/26 DM/E/FF/IA/SA/SA C/CM/CLW/T NP/P/SS




Outside The Church Of Osprem (3)

The three men rush through the church and out into the grounds, exiting through the gate to follow the trickle of people hustling across town to see what all the commotion is about. Curate Basil leads the procession, asking townies along the way what they know about the fuss. All three men hear similar replies.

Apparently there is a duo of a dwarf and an elf, both assassins, who just broke into a house in broad daylight on the other side of town. They killed the person who lived there. Then, after the guards arrived, they attacked them as well. Once more guards arrived, one of them transformed into a massive grey dinosaur that trampled the house before eventually running away from the guards.

Another disturbance seems to be growing further to the south, where many people are gathering, shouting, and pointing.

Actions?

Lestadt AC:8 20/20
Draxon AC:5 27/27 DM/MM/US ESP/K




Reaping And Sowing

Carling watches the footsteps in the grass move away towards town, eventually losing sight of them completely. The elf wonders how Redgrave is faring, listening as the sound of shouting townsfolk grows even louder in the distance.

Redgrave ignores the shouting kid, along with the others who are now gathering around after hearing the boys warnings. Knowing he still has the magic liquid rushing through him, he decides to simply walk across the open lawn to the east, hoping to make it unseen or at least unmolested to the weaponsmiths shop across town.

The kid keeps shouting, so do the others gathering around him. Then he sees the castle guards who were just chasing him headed his way again. If the dwarf had to guess, it would seem that about half of the town so far has come out to see his and Carling's recent handiwork. People start forming a rough circle of frightened bodies around him, allowing the guards room to rush in and apprehend the assassin once they arrive.

Actions?

Redgrave AC:3 25/25
Carling AC:3 14/17