This enormous tent is dwarfed only by the big top itself. The southern side has no wall, just a tall curtain pulled across its front. A sign posted outside advertises that this area has been set aside for meeting the sphinx at limited times throughout the day. Just inside is a large metal cage with no floor and bars running across the top. A single large door is set on the north corner of the west face, secured by a heavy lock. Strewn about the grass beneath the cage are silk sheets and piles of cushions and satin pillows.

In front of the cage is the body of a man, definitely a townsfolk given the way he was dressed. The man looks surprised and has large bite marks across his arm and chest. His body seems bloated and grayish.

In the mud and grass one can see large footprints leading out towards the back of the tent in the direction where the sphinx's home wagon is situated.

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Standing around is a big beefy looking thug who could only be Venlok as well as another pair of guards keeping visitors away and patrolling around the area.

Amara carefully considered the scene as she waved lazily to Venlok and security, assuming Torgan's presence would be notice enough they where working to solve the murder for Almara. She tilted her head this way and that, sighing.

"God, I just got here and already I can smell its a set up for the carnival. Whatever made those big scary paw prints would be a lot deeper from a creature with paws that size and they stop as soon as they leave the tent. Plus someones removed the stakes in the back to sneak in under the tent."

Amara casually motioned first to the prints, then to the back of the tent where there was a large gap in the stakes that was out of place with a second or third glance.

"At least I know I'm helping figure this out for someone whose likely innocent. Hey big guy, any chance we know anything about the body? Who he is, and the like?"

Karella saw the tracks as well. "You've got good eyes, Amara. Yes, I see them too. These tracks could not have come from the sphinx as they appear too shallow." She followed the tracks, <blue>"But the strangest thing is that the tracks disappear as soon as they leave the tent. Where could the creature have gone?" She looked to the sky.

Ryn was a bit distracted at the large beefy man as they walked up to the tent that was large but not quite as big as the big top. But then he began to immediately examine the dead man and the area around it. He looked up as the two Elven women began to talk about their findings. "Hmm? What?" He blinked and looked around. "Ah. I see. Yes. No doubt made to appear as if only a flying creature, or one who could teleport, could have committed this crime. Yes. Somewhat crudely clever."

The bloating and grayishness of the body were strange. He looked at Venlok. "How long has this man been dead? Or at least how long since he was found dead? The coloration and bloating seem...odd to me if he hasn't been dead long. Poison, perhaps?"