Mits rubs her chin in thought.  "Hmm.  Tried to buy.  Didn't.  Left cave.  People witness person that looks like Gikmoth steal crystal.  One that looks like theirs is in her pouch.  Could be a frame-up."

  Joe is hoping for more insights from Gikmoth for why she didn’t steal it beyond ‘I totally didn’t’. Or maybe she did steal it and this will be a very awkward day.

  “So, Gikmoth.  Do you have any idea how it got into your bag? Or was it even your bag in the first place?”

Gikmoth answers, "They found it in my bag. How it got there, I honestly don't know."

The goblins start murmuring about ghosts and the Chug says, "If there were ghosts, Aquarius would know."

Aquarius nods. "No ghosts in this cave or even around it for miles."

"Not all imposters and pranksters that plant evidence are ghosts," Mittens points out.

She looks to Gikmoth.  "Aquarius already said you can go free if you apologize.  Might want to consider it for expedience.  I realize that it is difficult to apologize for something you didn't do, but perhaps she'll allow you to maintain your innocence as well.  Like so:

"'I'm not the kind of person that steals things, because stealing is wrong.  Please forgive the misunderstanding.  I will be very careful about making sure this does not happen again."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:59, Thu 25 May 2017.

  There is always an important distinction between stealing and looting.  The latter generally involves less skill checks too.

  "At this point unless you have something that shows the obvious reasons why you've been framed in child friendly logic, it really would be for the best to say your sorry so we can leave.  Then maybe go look for those other waterfalls you mentioned."

  It's also faster than walking 30 miles or such to the closest place selling scrying scrolls.

Chug looks frustrated. "Sorry?! All she has to do is say sorry?! If that's all anyone had to do to get out of a jam, we'll have dozens of thieves coming to take our junk! We have multiple witnesses! At the very least, I say that since these friends of hers are so clearly bored by our plight, we shouldn't let her go until her friends find this mischief-making shape-shifter, or else it WILL happen again! And next time, we might be framed into a civil war!"

Aquarius thinks on this. "How about it? Are you bunch willing to find the real culprit in order to free your friend?"

"I was planning on looking into it," Mits admits, "But was hoping Gikmoth would be released first so it would look more generous on our part to do so."

She the whispers to Aquarius, "Also, kinda figured that the person who wants her in trouble would get angry that she's been released.  And maybe make desperate mistakes and stuff.  I suspect a certain angry someone did something bad and they're trying to shift attention to Gikmoth to cover it up."

Hypothetical flashback!  "OMG!  I can't believe you dropped and cracked the crystal!"

"You bumped me!"

"We're doomed!"

"Hey, let's put it in the bag of that redhead so if they find the crack, we can blame it on her!"

  “Well, I’m no stranger to people taking back their word and demanding I instead jump through several hoops to get what I came for.  So, I’m kind of expecting Chug and pals will kill Gikmoth and then tell us it’s our fault when we get back whether or not we succeed.”

  He shrugs, “Boredom would have required that I never thought things were good to be true, Chug.  Now look at you, screaming at Aquarius while none of your guard pals so much as bat an eye.  Now there's the kind of selective worship I'm used to.”

Chug says, "I'm not screaming at Aquarius, you moron! I'm screaming at your overgrown lapcat!"

Aquarius says, "These people have committed no crimes and are my guests. You will treat them respectfully. Apologize."

Chug is fuming, but slouches as if relenting. "Sorry. But that... human... DID just question the loyalty of this entire tribe, which is like insulting everyone in the room! He should apologize as well!"

The guards say, "He only speaks what he sees. He saw you screaming in the direction of Aquarius and saw us simply standing by. But we knew you would not scream at Aquarius, which is why we did nothing."

Aquarius says, "If you find the culprit, not only will your friend go free without needing to say sorry, I will have the tribe apologize to her and I will give you the gem. I would rather it be in the hands of even-minded folk than for it to be the cause of strife among my worshipers."

Somewhere, dogs are cringing from the high pitch at which Chug is screaming "I kill you!"

Mits smiles and poofs a poptart.  "Have a taste of what Jengus plans on using the crystal for."

She offers it to Aquarius.

"Sure.  I'll look into the mystery."

  Joe might have been deliberately passive aggressive, maaaaybe.  But it can get results.  Even if still dealing with the whole ‘Did I say apologize? I mean sidequest’ situation anyways.

  <aqua>”It’s less the direction of Aquarius, and more decrying her promise to us.  But yes, we’ll look into this before we get Flert’s friend back.”<aqua>

Chug counters Joe with, "Decrying what YOU say she promised. How do I know you aren't just throwing claims around, taking advantage of our kind goddess?"

Aquarius smiles. "Thank you, kind guests. I will see to it that Gikmoth is treated well while you investigate." she looks at Chug. "Though yes, I did say that if she said she was very sorry, I would let her go."

She tastes the poptart, immediately gets hearts in her eyes, swallows, and gets a very pleased gaping-jaw expression.

https://itadakimasuanime.files...to-inazuma-07-05.png

"But you just made this without the gem. I am confused... why need the gem?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:45, Thu 25 May 2017.

Mits explains, "My conjured confection is but bits of illusory magic and flavor, not real food.  I believe Jengus wants to mass produce the real thing."

She smiles to Chug.  "Aquarius has been nothing but amazing and awesome.  And has shown us her really cool power!  Far be it from us to repay that with trickery.  That would be foolish."

It hasn't escaped her notice that Gikmoth hasn't said much.  But she's not about to draw attention to this.

"Now if I may, I'd like to sniff at the crystal to see if there's any suspicious smell on it.  Or perhaps tell-tale fairy dust."

If allowed, she'll be perceptioning the heck out of the crystal.

  Joe may totally be fine with making up things worshiped beings may or may not have said.  But making their declared promises while standing next to them seems a bit questionable even for him.

  "Though yes, given how this sort of situation can play out there is the possibility that isn't even the real crystal in the first place, so worth us looking it over just in case."

Mittens and Joe find out it is ALMOST exactly as Mittens figured. Chug DID do wrong. But it wasn't cracking the crystal. He was trying to steal it, had made a convincing duplicate and planted it in Gikmoth's carrying case.

Chug is thoroughly yelled at by the tribe. Aquarius has Chug and the tribe apologize to Gikmoth, then apologizes herself. Gikmoth has a big blush on her face and glances aside. "I'm just glad the truth was found out... and that my best buddy never lost faith in me."

Flert glomps Gikmoth, tackling her to the ground and kisses her all over the face. Gikmoth says, "Eek! Flert! Not in front of everyone!"

Aquarius covers her mouth, giggling.

Flert looks up from her kissing frenzy to smile at Mittens and Joe. "Thank you both, SO much!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:51, Fri 26 May 2017.

"Makes one wonder why Chug went to all that effort to replace the original with a replica if the crystal was only be used to feast one's eyes on," Mits muses aloud, "The replica would have served the purpose just as well."

"ARF!" Fluffy comments happily, tail-wagging and face-licking the goblin girls.

Mits gives an elaborate bow.  "You're welcome!"

  See, one of the benefits of having less prejudices than average is you can appreciate two girls making out with eachother on the floor across a wider scope of species.

  A damn shame for Joe then, that he is just barely polite enough not to stare.

  "You're welcome.  Waaaay less people died this time, so I'll gladly take being thanked for standing around talking and looking at things."

Flert helps Gikmoth back to her feet and Gikmoth just rubs her face with her forearm. "Wish we could have met on better terms, honestly, but I am quite... happy... to meet you two, given the results. Thank you."

Gikmoth and Flert both give a classic Japanese-style bow of gratitude in unison.

Aquarius says, "I am happy to have met you also. Please don't be strangers. Come and visit us again some time. In fact..."

She manipulates some water into a seashell shape and then solidifies it into a crystal seashell! "If you ever need me, simply dip this in any large enough body of flowing water, and I will appear for you."

"...unless I'm busy at the moment," being the obvious condition.  Otherwise, that could get very awkward.

Mits smileys!  "Happy to be of help!  May I hear you sing again?"

She lets Joe field accepting the crystal shell.  Lest she be tempted to use it entirely too frequently, or play with it, or show it off to people who'd be jealous, or so many other things.  See?  Mittens has some restraint!

Fluffy tries to snatch the neato crystal shell!

  Joe has always known that he must use his boring token human powers for good.  Or at the very least, not prank calling sweet and pretty ladies (Yes he takes the shell).

  "Thank you, it will be nice to have another group of reasonable people to visit."  He nods at Mittens's request.  "If it's no trouble, that would be nice before we return back to Flert and Gikmoth's home."

Aquarius ohs and says, "Sure!"

And sings this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU5Xq-ItWxQ

(Tried finding a female cover of the song, but they were always so-so, poor recordings, poor performances, or both)

Fluffy doesn't wrestle Joe for the crystal shell and licks his fingers instead.

Mittens grabs Flert by the hips and literally lifts her up over her head and dances around happily, lip-syncing the lyrics.

Fluffy offers to be lifted up by Gikmoth.  And/or Joe.

"Awesome song!  Thanks!"

  Joe shall do the fluffy lifting because without magic, stepladders, or extending arms he can lift puppy kitty higher than Gikmoth.

  "Yeah, I can see why you have a lot of people following you." Though he doesn't mention how odd it feels to hear a water being singing about preventing drowning.

Flert gets a biiig, happy smile to being lifted!

Eventually, Gikmoth and Flert head out with Mittens and Joe.

Flert begins filling Gikmoth in on everything concerning Mittens/Joe since she first met them! After the full briefing, Gikmoth says, "Sounds like you two are different from normal folk of your kind."

Flert shrugs. "To be fair, our tribe is pretty different for goblins in general."

Gikmoth nods. "Can't deny that. That is thanks to Jericho's even-headed leadership. Though I think Uncle Jengis would have wound up amazing even if he didn't grow up with Jericho as an idle."

Fluffy was all tail-wags and leg wiggles!

Mits shrugs.  "Mittens falls into certain catperson stereotypes.  But is very different from the catpersons she grew up among in sooo many ways.  Haven't really run into any others since I left home, so don't have much else to compare myself to besides 'adventurers' in general."

Fluffy says, "So if by 'our kind' you mean, 'adventurers,' you would be right.  Most would not attempt to rescue a goblin."