Kaple's brow furrowed.

"Hmm. I know that Vorkstag leveraged his political connections to block your first attempt at obt-t-taining a warrant to search his factory. I know that you originally suspected him of snatching bodies from the graveyard at Morast. And now, with a bill of sale for cadavers of m-mysterious origin? And a signature that very much looks like his? I th-think that it might be enough. Come with me." He said.

Excitement lit his voice and lent a spring to his step as he led the way to the judge's chambers. They were recessed but the aid at the desk informed them that our hero's patron, Judge Daramid, was not in the courthouse. Kaple's face fell but his expression soon steeled itself.

"Wait here. I shall be back in one hour." He told Cain. He snatched his frock coat and top hat and donned them as he rushed out the door, bundling up the incriminating evidence and a folder full of parchments as he did so.

Cain made his way to the basement to join Constantine, who was in the process of questioning Solomon.

He was once again chained to the sturdy wooden chair in the basement prison.

His horrible features were slack with sorrow, his shoulders drooped, but he brightened with childlike pleasure as our heroes descended the stairs.

"'Ullo." He rumbled, rocking back and forth in his chains in a way that made the guards finger their halberds nervously.

His brow quirked inquisitively at Constantine's question.

"Big fire? Nuh-uh. Moon isn't on fire, silly Con-Stan-Tine. Sometimes bigger. And sometimes smaller. But not on fire. After...after the mean people chased me away. After Ell...Eller died I didn't wanna be around 'em any more. Never again. So I went far. Into the swamp. Don't remember no big fire."

The goblin follows Cain to where the Beast was located. He stares at him, head tilted. As some may just run away out of fear Galus goes to get close to him, and reachs out a hand to put it on his shoulder "....I am Galus Gluak. I'm not afraid, no..not a slight bit. Some people believed you did bad things. Really bad things, yes yes. But I got a feeling something inside of you is good. I bet. I bet someone uses you." He puts his hand down and sits down in front of Soloman "We got something in common I bet. I bet we do. Yah get beat on or or pushed away. Sometime people don't understand yah right right? Yah want to live in peace. I bet you do. An' I spent much of me life being afraid. Everyone is bigger then me. But I try tah help out. Show them that that I might be as strong as they are or as big. But I can help." He taps the violin "I get afraid. Past comes back yup it does. I know whats its like tah be left alone. Yah can trust me, alright? Some people get all afraid cuz they don't understand you. But I do. Cuz we're both different right? Right right." He takes a deep breath, expecting someone to push him away or tell him to back up. And if they do they will get something bad happen. Well maybe "So. Will yah tell me what happened? Yah know? Pal to pal? I want tah know an' its all important. Plus I can play yah a tune? You like music?"

@Solomon
“No big fires, ok so you went away. I know about going away from people sometimes when i feel sad.  Do you remember why you decided to come back?”

@Galus
“Yes he likes music very much,”

Cain doubts that Karl was lying about what he saw, but he has a question of his own. "Do you know a man called Stanislav Brada? Doctor Stanislav Brada?"

The guards did stop Galus from entering the cell with the chained Beast, but Solomon nodded gravely as the little goblin spoke. His face pulled back into a horrifying grimace that showed yellow teeth. His features were stitched too tightly to allow anything resembling a smile.

"Music! I like music, little green thing." He began to sway gently as Galus played.

The melody seemed to focus him, to entrance him, and he seemed somewhat more cogent than normal as he answered Constantine and Cain.

His horrible features contorted, brow drawing down.

"Didn't decide to come back. I was out in the swamp lookin' for bugs. I wasn't sleepin. Honest! But then I just woke up and I was in a big building and them mean men were beatin' on me." He nodded towards the guards, who took a nervous step back from the cell bars.

"They brought me here, an' Apple told me I had to stay here for a while."

The great creature turned to face Cain, that furrowed expression deepening as he tried to work his mouth around the name.

"Stansi...stana...slava...no, I ain't never heard of 'im."

"Back up please! Back up yes yes. Cons, back up alright? And you was it Cain? Yes yes back up. Give me room. Go on." Galus stands up, pulls out his violin. He starts to play a rather sad tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdkWFPrrZVQ

The goblin slowly walks up to the lumbering brute and goes to hold a hand out to him "Its alright, I won't let them harm you. Nope nope I won't because I al Galus Gluak! Gleemen an' an' entertainer of them there people and all of that. Alright." He keeps his hand out, watching this golem "Perhaps perhaps it seems yes they were controlling you? I say they were. Not good. Well then yes I say we should find a way to stop them no? Right? How would you like that? Be in yes control all the time? Be free from everyone, live your life no?"

"Alright? Cons and Cain? We can do that right?" The goblins eyes lower and he he looks at the floor "We we have to. I know he's done some things, yes I know. Hurt and killed but but I feel he's good a good soul I do."


Man I got to stop rolling 1's!
14:33, Today: Galus Gluak rolled 18 using 1d20+8.  Perform: Dance.

14:32, Today: Galus Gluak rolled 11 using 1d20+10.  Perfom: Violin.

“Ah yes someone moved you against your will from the deep swamp.  Do you remember seeing or hearing anyone before you went asleep?  Someone is responsible for the break in, but not you.  I have told them not to be mean to you anymore.  Has anyone been mean since then?”

Solomon swayed gently to Galus's playing, a deep rumbling that could have been humming emanating from deep in the patchwork bulk of his chest. His calm demeanor seemed to be focusing his memory, helping him to answer questions with aclarity.

"No, I was alone out in the swamp. I don't remember goin' to sleep. But I do remember wakin' up."

He shook his head.

"They ain't been pokin' me any more. But I keep askin' 'em to let me leave and they won't."

The Beast swayed back and forth in the thick chains that held him to the massive wooden chair.

Cain sighs wearily. This does not seem to be getting them anywhere. If the Beast does not remember any fire, then who was it that Karl saw that day? Another golem? They don't seem to have much to go on here.

Worst fears confirmed someone went to the effort to find  and take over Solomon deep in the swamp either to cover the real reason for the break in or to set the capture of the patsy.  Surely Kendra knew a way to locate Solomon were he to get lost.


“I understand perfectly well.  They are doing their jobs in not letting you leave yet.  We still must prove you a man and not a monster.  I believe you are innocent, and am working to prove it.  I have told them they should wind a music box for you to listen to.  What do you know about fire, like how they are made or used?”
Solomon needs neither light nor warmth so starting fires doesn’t seem like a thing he knows much about

SCG recalls the Morast murderer and the figure seen by multiple witnesses there, it certainly matches the description of the lone witness from sanctuary....

"Cons? Yes yes you. Constantine right? He's not man, and not a monster." The goblin stares at the paladin "He's a friend. Does it matter what he is yes yes? I got no friends. Nope not at all. Because I'm different. He's different." Galus tries to get the words to come out but he sighs "I bet I bet I could find him a music box. Why not let a gleeman find it? Makes sense makes sense." He felt ignored by the paladin, thrust aside by the others again. Was he there for their amusement?There for everyones amusement? He shook his head, played another tune for Solomon. He believed someone was controlling him. Someone was or were "Once your free and can live yes yes anywhere I will go with you alright? Anything yah want us to know yes yes?" Tilting his head, he puts the violin to his back, bowing.

10:24, Today: Galus Gluak rolled 11 using 1d20+8.  Perform: Sing.

10:24, Today: Galus Gluak rolled 23 using 1d20+8.  Perform: Dance.

10:24, Today: Galus Gluak rolled 28 using 1d20+10.  Perform: Violin.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:42, Mon 17 Aug 2020.

Solomon shook his great head at Constantine.

"Fire is bad. Eats things up. Hurts if you try to grab it. Stay away from fire." He advised cautiously.

He smiled down at Galus but, like most who the little goblin had met in his travels, he seemed to be having a hard time understanding his gibbering words and repeated phrases. Still, he swayed to the music and seemed quite captivated.

Our heroes spent some time in the basement jail, chatting with Solomon and asking what questions occurred to them. It was a distinctly odd experience, to chat with a creature as horrifying as The Beast of Lepidstadt. But it became increasingly clear that their first impressions of a simple, gentle mind bound behind terribly twisted flesh were all too accurate.

At length there was a clatter on the stairs and Barrister Kaple, huffing and puffing, stumbled down into the holding area.

"Th-there you are! I w-w-was looking for you in my office." He grinned and brandished a sheet of parchment with an official looking seal.

"I got it! It turns out that Judge Daramid was just looking for an excuse to grant a warrant, and without Vorkstag pulling his political strings and with all this evidence piling up against him the other judges weren't able to overrule her."

He smoothed the paper out on a nearby table.

"This is a full warrant to search the chymic works. You should move f-fast, before they try and block you again."

Eyes narrowed, he looks up at Soloman. Galus attempts to climb up, getting close to his face and puts his hands on Soloman's face."Odd. Yes. Do you have other friends?" He points at the others and himself "Besides us? Yes? Or no?" the goblin seems to remember something. And he seems bothered. Rather greatly bothered but he's got a mission.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:52, Wed 19 Aug 2020.

“Absolutely!  I am thinking a couple of us perhaps Caine and Shade can try the front gate and maybe Galus and I can knock out one of the windows. Might as well not just see the gate again.”

“First bear traps, second through the window and last a knock at the gate?”

The guards standing watch over the prison lowered their halberds and barred Galus' entry into the cell, but Solomon regarded him levelly through those beady, bloodshot eyes.

"Didn't have no friends. Not for a long time. Not since Eller. Now you are all my friends."

Again his lips drew back in that rictus grin, yellow teeth flashing.

Barrister Kaple bade farewell to our heroes as they once again made the short trip out to the chymic works. Olver and his band of urchins were still on watch and reported no comings or goings from the factory. Yellow smoke still belched from the smoke stacks. The acrid chemical scent of bleach still permeated the air.

---

---

It sounds like everyone is ready to move on so I've jumped ahead to the factory. Let me know if there's anything else you would like to do first and we'll detour.

"Yah think I'm scared of you? I will take your halberds and stick them so up your..." The bard stares at them, eyes narrowed. He seems very aggrivated. First he's ignored and now looked down on well not figuratively! His hand goes to his rapier but he stops and looks at the Beast "Eller? Well I will come back. You behave alright? And I will get yah a music box alright but you have to behave."

Once everyome heads for the chymic works, he sticks to the back, furrowing his brow. Oddly the bard doesn't say a word perhaps feeling like he will be ignored and doesn't go near the door sticking off into the sidelines and trying to hide while listening in. The gecko stays back as well in the shadows.

14:35, Today: Galus Gluak rolled 25 using 1d20+18.  Stealth.
14:35, Today: Galus Gluak rolled 27 using 1d20+8.  Perception.

“Men! We may need strong arms should our warrant not be honored and the door remain locked in our faces!”
Diplomacy Today: Sir Constantine Godalming rolled 26 using 1d20+10
With bonus results is 30


SCG has the carriage park a bit away from the gates, he hauls the bear traps and chains in front of the main gates, sets them then goes to the gate to present the warrant and demand entry.  The traps are bright and not hidden so not likely to be accidentally triggered....

He waits to see what preparations his compatriots intend before knocking...
This message was last edited by the player at 20:15, Wed 19 Aug 2020.

Captain Walton wasn't present in the jail for the interview, but he was in his office. Constantine presented his request and the captain, who had originally been such a staunch opponent of the trial, leaned back in his chair as if considering.

"Aye, if you're off to execute an official search under the jurisprudence of a warrant you'd better take some of the lads with you." He said.

He called for his secretary and summoned a pair of guardsmen, who who were the most disposed to cooperate with our heroes.

"Stannen and Veler will accompany you." He said, standing as both guards saluted.

Stannen was a quiet, swarthy dwarf and Veler a new recruit to the force, young enough that he didn't have to shave more than once a week. But both were loyal guardsmen and both seemed happy enough to accompany Constantine out to the factory.

The little group congregated outside the doors, Galus tucked into the shadow at the side. The two guards fingered their halberds nervously as they approached the door.

Cain goes to lurk by the side of the door, out of sight of anyone inside. He's leaving the talking to people whose charisma is not a dump stat.

“Thank you  Captain Walton and your men Stannen and Veler will only be used to assist with the door, keep things in, prevent things from leaving, taking custody of prisoners and as back up should the situation turn dire.”

Once the guards are in place and the bear traps are chained in front of the large gate

SCG rings the bell and knocks on the door

Constantine stood in front of the door flanked on either side by the two guardsmen, quite an intimidating sight. To either side of the smaller, inset door in the larger loading door Cain and Galus lurked.

Again there was a long wait and then, eventually, the slot in the front of the door slid open and the all too familiar pointed nose and goggles peered out at Constantine. There was an immediate tizzy of fury.

"YOU again!? Again! You are harassing me! I won't stand for it! I'll have you up in irons! Go away! Go! Go! Go!"

There was a great stamping of angry little feet behind the door.

---

Cain, they're nailed to the frame and covered in soot and grime, but not boarded over. It would be relatively easy to smash one with a rock or something similar.

Galus, let me know if you do wind up drinking that potion before you guys go through the door.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:23, Fri 21 Aug 2020.

“Yes it is indeed me again and this time I have a warrant to search the whole place.“

Holds the warrant
“So this time open the door right now or face charges and arrest for obstructing justice!”

Today: Sir Constantine Godalming rolled 20 using 1d20+9.  Intimidate.

Total is 24 if the Grint is small size
This message was last edited by the player at 20:21, Fri 21 Aug 2020.

While waiting for the annoying doorman inside to respond, Cain wanders off to the nearest window, picks up a rock from the ground and tosses it up and down in one hand, eager to get this started.

Site was out of commission for a while. DM, how much time has passed since we started searching the burned building? More than 5 hours? Asking to know if Cain's Mage Armor ran out or not.

Shade had been impressed by Galus calm and kind treatment of Solomon, and the things they had learned where intriguing indeed.

As the left the basement, she said to Galus, "Well done, Galus. Solomon has had little enough kindness, and you know how he feels. Thanks for playing music for him."

After Solomon had revealed the gap in his memory between being in the swamp and being in jail, bypassing the fire and the library break-in entirely, Shade said to the others, "If someone took control of Solomon, that is one terrible thing. But there's another possibility that fits the odd crimes for someone who wouldn't be inclined or able to set a fire or do a delicate break-in: illusion."  Shade's own form blurs, taking on the form and face of a blonde farmwife, then a powerfully-built man who had the look of a soldier before going back to her own face.  "I can't do much other than normal-sized folk with the magic I have, but with a more powerful spell you could hang a lot on Solomon just by someone imitating him by magic."

--

When they arrived at the Chymic Works, warrant in hand, Shade was grinning like a cat with the cream.  While the others went to tweak the door dragon's nose, she went to go find Olver and his crew.  "Anything special to know, Olver?  We've come with papers to crack open these doors."

The goblin bites his lip and nods his head. He keeps to himself once they get there and people are talking but he motions for Shade to come over as he steps out of the shadows "Soloman...umm. Yes he can't be well hurt with magic. Nope well not litterly. So I feel someone is using him yes yes." He then goes to slip in the shadows. Poof he goes into the shadows. And man he's definatly gone.

OOC
If possible I will just use the old Stealth of 25 and Perception of 27.

If not:

17:20, Today: Galus Gluak rolled 28 using 1d20+18.  Stealth.

17:20, Today: Galus Gluak rolled 10 using 1d20+8.  Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:05, Mon 07 Sept 2020.