"What I want is to make sure that justice is done," Kara says in a low, intense voice. "Some questions have arisen about what happened. I'd hate for that to be a hole in the case and let the one that did this get off free." She doesn't specify who that is; some things are better left unstated. "I'm working for a powerful client who has an investment in the matter. If you can tell me anything about what happened, or point me to someone who can, I can make sure that it gets to the right ears."

OOC: Not sure if this would be a Bluff check or not.

The elder's curt reply was about what Livi had expected. Hospitality had never been a strong suit of Ustalav's people. Despite that knowledge the shaman frowned at the man's words. She held her tongue and stayed silent so as to not interrupt Kara.

Kara's demand was enough to make the burly old man stop busying himself with his kill, and give the pair his full attention.  Putting his skinning knife down, Lazlo wiped his bloody hands off with a rag and stood up to face Kara and Liviana.  He loomed over the two shorter women, glaring at them with his bulging, red-rimmed eyes.

"This is ridiculous," he growled hoarsely. "I been over this already with the city guards, about how my kin got butchered.  Then again with the investigator.  Then with the lawyer, then the other gods-damned lawyer.  I the morning I gotta  go tell it in front of a judge, the court, and every which cityfolk feel up for a laugh!"

"Who else?"  The old man demanded, throwing up his arms up in frustration.  "Which important, powerful, learned citizen has to hear this story now, before you people care enough to burn that murdering abomination?  And if he's so invested, why can't his lordship come out and ask me himself instead of sending his lackeys to listen for him?"

OOC: A bluff check makes sense, and you passed.

Kara listens, but her attitude shifts slightly - less investigating, more casual. "Abadar's ass crack, you think someone like that tells someone like me why they do the things they do? I'm not half important enough for that. People like that treat me like a mushroom - kept in the dark and fed on bullshit. All I know is that apparently there's some question about whether the Beast is to blame or not that have arisen, and they want to know as much as they can to make sure the noose doesn't slip off." She shrugs. "I don't even know why my boss wants me to do this - they aren't the type who normally gets their hands mixed up in this kind of thing. Not really the type to take sides about who stands in front of a judge, if you catch my drift."

Seemed like sympathizing and trying to cast herself as being a put-upon worker rather than someone rich and powerful was more likely to win him over. Obviously difficult with how she's dressed, but hopefully she can at least come across as frustrated and tired. It's a bit of a continuation of the earlier lie, making it seem like she's working for someone invested in the Beast's execution rather than her actual employer.

Kara's nonchalance took some of the fire out of the village elder's words, but resentment still smouldered behind his eyes.  Maybe it was the obvious difference in wealth and status between him and the well-dressed dhampir, maybe he was just used to being a big fish in a small pond, or maybe Lazlo Pescar was just simply a very stubborn man.  Either way, it was obvious he wasn't in a mood to just answer questions for some mystery benefactor.

"I asked you a question, girl."  He responded, spitting another glob of swamp-weed from the seemingly endless supply tucked into his cheek. "I weren't being rhetorical about it, and I ain't interested in 'catching your drift'.  You come to my home unannounced and expect me to give ya a little song and dance without even knowing who I'm supposed to be talking to.  Either you ladies can do me the simple courtesy of telling me who you are and just who the fuck sent you out here to bother me, or you can just keep on walking."

OOC: The bluff was enough to bring him from unfriendly to indifferent, but the diplomacy I rolled on your behalf wasn't enough to make him friendly.  If you want anything out of him, you'll have to provide a more tangible reason to cooperate.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:47, Tue 23 Nov 2021.

"Fine. You need to know, so be it." Kara shoots a glance at her companions urging them to let her finish. "I'm Kara Sweetwater, a sort of independent troubleshooter. To be blunt, I'm a mercenary. And to be blunt, I don't really know who's paying me. I was contacted by an aide working for the court with a significant sum of money. They refused to even say who was paying them or where the money came from. The person I met with didn't say much either, certainly didn't explain where this sum of money came from to hire me.  All I really know is what I've told you - there's some issue with the legal case and they want to see if there's more proof. Look, is there any way I can make it worth the time it takes to help me with this? Promises, payment, anything?"

OOC: Sorry for the delay, life got very packed for a bit there. I figure this will either go very well, or very poorly; I look forward to finding out which.

"Yeah, no volunteers.  Not too surprised either..."  Harald barged in on the ongoing conversation, pausing in surprise as he noticed the pair of fresh faces.  "Eh?"  The big man looked between the two ladies, "Well you two aren't from this village, that much is sure.  And by the look on Lazlo's face you must be asking about the Beast too."

"What do you say we bring them along?"  Harald asked the village elder, pressing a thumb towards Liviana and Kara.  "I'll fill them in with what you told me on the way, so you don't have to go through the story again."

"Assuming you're investigating the Beast anyway.  Don't know why else the two of you might be out here."  He addressed the ladies, "Lazlo's offered to take me out to where the villagers chased the Beast when it was jumped by a blood caiman.  Supposed to be dangerous though, and he wanted to bring a few more bodies.  Sounds like a good place to get some clues if you ask me; if you're willing to come along."

"I'm Harald by the way."  He introduced himself.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:26, Sat 27 Nov 2021.

The old man made a sour face at Harald's suggestion.  "You sure, big man?  They're sellswords, and shady ones at that." 

The village elder spat contemplatively, then shrugged.  "Eh, fine.  Can't stop you from telling them if you want to.  I'd rather not head out to that part of the swamp with just the two of us anyways, and at least this way I can keep an eye on 'em."

He turned back to Kara and Liviana with a trace of weary resignation.  "I was about to show the big guy here the boneyard where we thought we killed the Beast.  You can come too, if you want.  Long as you don't try anything shady."

Livi had watched silently as the conversation unfolded. As Kara continued her charade the shaman decided to keep her mouth shut and avoid attention. Her mentor had often stated she had a horrible poker face. Whether they were making good progress was hard for her to judge but the appearance of a large man seemed to bring a conclusion.

"Liviana Preda," she said with a curt bow at the newcomer. It appeared that they weren't the only ones that had been hired to investigate the incidents. Whoever this man was the elder seemed to tolerate him. "A pleasure to meet you Harald. As you suspected we are looking for information about the beast. I assure you we can pull our weight." She commented, the last part directed towards the elder.

"An excellent compromise. And yes, we are more than ready to do our part." Kara smiles. It's a tight smile, restrained, and sharp. "We are ready to go immediately."

"If they're sellswords, they'll be able to look after themselves."  Harald shrugged as he answered the villager, then nodded as Liviana shared the same sentiment.  "What's important is to have some more hands when we go out into the swamp, aye?  Besides, I couldn't find one other person from Morast who was interested in going out where we're headed."

"So, you have the boat ready?"  He asked.

Lazlo shrugged.  "Not surprised nobody else is up for the trip.  Between the Beast's tainted blood and whatever it was up to out there, that old boneyard is bound to be cursed somehow.  We'll need a second coracle if we're taking four people.  Gimme a sec."

The old man wiped off his bloody hands again, then went to approach his neighbor.  "Hey, Ivan!  Too chickenshit to row out a mile into the swamp?"  Before Karl could respond, Lazlo continued.  "Tell you what, let me borrow your boat and we'll call it even.  And keep an eye on the dead Caiman for me until I get back."

---

It was a short trip through the Dipplemire, even for those with no experience traveling in such a small boat.  After fifteen minutes of rowing, the party found a tiny, miserable island rising from the swamp, a tangle of trees covering its dour, reed-choked surface. Hundreds of fetishes hung from the trees—simple, roughly humanoid figures made of sticks and bound with twine. Larger fetishes were planted in the ground on various parts of the island, leaning drunkenly in the soft mud. A large nest built of sodden swamp wood sat high in the boughs of a trio of tangled trees on the northwest side of the isle.  In total, the island was about 100 feet from end to end.

Pulling the coracles up onto the muddy shore, Lazlo spat one last spurt of swampweed into the cloudy water.  "Right, here you are.  Do what you came to do, just be respectful."  Sparing a glance at the large nest on the other end of the island, the swamper checked his crossbow, adding.  "And, uh...be quick about it too, maybe."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:55, Fri 10 Dec 2021.

"Here's the meat of the story then," Harald began retelling the witness testimony as he rowed one of the two small boats out into the swamp.  "First people started going missing out in the swamp; which Lazlo says isn't too unusual in and of itself.  This isn't exactly a safe place to go wandering.  But the number of folk disappearing made everyone start going out in groups, and as armed as they could."

"Folks stopped disappearing out in the swamp after that, but then folk got nabbed right in the middle of the village.  A young couple; a bunch heard them scream but no one saw anything but blood by the time others made it to the scene.  Then after a couple nights Lazlo's own kin were taken; his son, daughter-in-law and grandaughter.  No one heard anything this time; he said he went to visit and there was nothing but blood all over his son's house."

"That was when folk started setting up around the village to watch for the monster coming back.  Everyone armed up with crossbows and keeping an eye out.  Lazlo says they saw the Beast come into Morast and they started shooting.  First time anyone alive in Morast saw it too, I figure.  The Beast ran and they gave chase, tracked the Beast all the way here."  Harald looked out at the island they had rowed to.  The fetishes covering the place definitely spooked the swampy area up a notch.

"Anyway,"  He returned to the conclusion of the story, "They caught up to it just in time to see a huge blood caiman jump the Beast.  Caiman dragged it down into the water while the Beast was cursing; ripped the Beasts shoulder open even.  Everyone figured that was the end of the Beast right there, and it wasn't seen again until its capture in Lepidstadt by that scholar fellow."  Harald helped pull the small boats up to shore.

"So that's why we're here."  The big man stretched, "I gotta say Lazlo, those coracles are cramped.  Anyway, if this was the last place the Beast was seen after such a killing-spree; until it got captured so much later, there might just be some evidence for us to find."  Harald's boots squished deep into the mud as he stepped away from the boats, making a sucking sound as he pulled them out.  "Well, we're not getting out of here without getting dirty."

"Oh, Lazlo; do us a favor and give a shout if you spot something big and nasty coming our way, eh?  We'll try and make it quick."

Harald Goldtooth rolled 24 using 1d20+10.  Perform: Oratory.

Lazlo snorted as Harald asked him to keep an eye out, as if amused that the blond giant even had to mention something so obvious.  The old swamped remained by the boat, crossbow in hand as he looked out over the swamp.

OOC: Everyone give me a perception check, as well as a quick description of how you search, where you're focusing your attention, what you're looking for, etc.

Livi lifted her cloak as she stepped off the small rivercraft. She stretched her legs after she planted her feet on solid ground. Although the trip was short the ride in the cramped little coracle was what she would consider a pleasant experience. She examined the island they had arrived at. The small strip of land seemed to be covered in the odd fetishes. "So this boneyard, did the villagers erect these effigies or was this the work of the Beast?" She asked as she examined one of the larger sculptures on the island.

Once her question had been answered she slowly paced her way towards the nest on the northwest side of the island. As she advanced she kept an eye on the branches in the trees for anything that had gotten stuck. She also checked the ground for anything stuck in the ground. As she approached the nest she drew her knife as she looked for a way to see inside.

17:13, Today: Liviana Preda rolled 22 using 1d20+16.  Perception.

For her part, Kara barely seems invested in the search at all, glancing around and making a token effort to look under some leaves, but in general seeming more aware of the nest and of her fellows than of anything related to searching the area.

2 on perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:35, Tue 07 Dec 2021.

"Right then."  Harald said as Liviana directed her search towards the scraggly nest on the island.  "I'll check the shoreline."

Stomping through the mud all around the shore of the boneyard, Harald kept one eye on the waterline for threats and the other on the lookout for anything that could be evidence.  Admittedly, he didn't know exactly what form evidence out here might take.  But Harald was inclined to believe that it would at least stand out from the mud and gloom.

Harald Goldtooth rolled 10 using 1d20+6.  Boneyard search (perception).
This message was last edited by the player at 03:25, Wed 08 Dec 2021.

5:30PM Moonday, 10th of Lamashtan, 4710

Liviana examines the wooden fetishes, quickly realizing that they mark the position of graves from the mounded earth below them.  She's not completely sure what tradition the fetishes come from, but her best guess would be that they belong to an obscure branch of Gozreh worship.  Either way, they're old:  Some of them have almost completely rotten away, putting their origin well before the murders happened.

She notices something else about the graves: They don't all have the mounded earth that suggests a body.  Quite the opposite; six of the graves sag into the ground, as if they've been dug up.  Judging from the state of the fetish markers, these were some of the most recent graves in the boneyard.

The nest to the northwest is a more recent creation.  It's impossible to see inside without climbing up, by Liviana can tell it was made by some sort of large flying creature.  Large enough to be dangerous to humans, probably.  Coming close to the nest, Liviana notices the distinct smell of rotting flesh: something up there died, and fairly recently.

Meanwhile Harald makes his own discovery:  The remains of a camp, hidden in the brush of the south end of the island.  Around a small firepit, he discovers an old waterskin (still half-full of wine), a rusted cooking pot, and a small vial still containing a trace of green liquid.  Examining the potion, Liviana is able to identify it as an alchemist's extract of darkvision.

A short distance away from the camp, Harald also notices a small fishing coracle hidden in the reeds along the shoreline.  Inside the coracle lies a pair of sacks filled with various supplies: An old set of clothes, a thick cloth apron, a rusted lantern, a length of rope, a shovel, and three large knives, all covered in about a year's worth of rust.  There is also, shockingly, what looks to be a severed human face.  The face has clearly been carefully removed from it's previous owner and preserved somehow, though it's purpose is unclear.

OOC: Dealing with Lazlo, traveling to the island, and conducting your initial search took about an hour.  Taking 20 on a thorough search of any one area (such as near the nest, boat, or camp) would take about half an hour for one person.  Climbing into the nest requires a DC 15 climb check, but only takes a round or two: It's 20 feet up.

"This is a hell of a place to camp."  Harald said as he came across the campsite on the island cemetery.  He rummaged through the campsite, "Old, but not too old.  Wouldn't be surprised if this camp was here right around the time of the murders."

"And a boat too."  Just a short distance from the camp, and there's a boat.  Like the ones they had come here in.  "Looks like whoever rowed out here to camp never left.  At least by their boat.  What in the hells..."  Inside the boat was a face.  Harald looked around at the swamp and then at the rotting supplies.  Then back to the preserved face.  "Well if that isn't a suspicious piece of evidence, I don't know what is.  Wonder if you're one of the missing locals...?"  Harald took the face.

Returning to the others, Harald mentioned his findings.  "Looks like someone set up camp here a long time ago.  And I don't think the Beast could use the small boat either.  Also, I found this there."  He showed the preserved face.  "What do you make of this?"

Looking up at the nest that was being examined from the ground, Harald offered to let either of the ladies carry the face.  "I can climb up to that to see what's inside.  If whatever made it is like a normal bird, it could have carried all sorts of things into its nest.  Could even have a clue or two."  So saying, the big man started on his way upwards.

OOC: I can take a 10 and beat the climb DC of 15 easily.  Unless you would prefer I roll?
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 12:27, Sun 12 Dec 2021.

Livi had not been sure what they would find, but the fact that they did discover disturbed her. Several recent graves, a large monster's nest, and a campsite that contained among other things... a severed face. "Spirits protect me, Harald what is that?" she whispered when it was revealed. When the large man offered it she reluctantly grabbed the flesh. She carried it back to show the evidence to Lazlo. "Yes, well we seem to have uncovered... this." She said as she showed the face to the elder. "Do you recognize who this is? Also has there been any deaths in the town recently? We noticed that the dirt around half a dozen of the graves had been disturbed. We might have a case of someone who is grave robbing."

Kara stared for just a moment at the face before commenting, "Bit of a peculiar thing to find. Very careful in how it was flayed - not something I would expect of a Beast."

The sheer, callous lack of emotion she displays is almost disconcerting. As though a flayed humanoid face were nothing to worry about, just a potentially important footnote.

"I can scan all of this for magic, if no one objects." Her mention of magic seems almost deliberately understated.

Kara didn't find any magic about the camp or the boat, aside from the faint traces of alchemist's extract they had found.  Lazlo recognized the severed face, however.  "Nan Kleben."  He answered grimly.  "A hunter.  Not a local, but she would come by Morast from time to time whenever she had some meat that was, uh, hard to sell.  Last time we saw her around these parts was...well, right around the time people started disappearing.  Guess it got her, too."

Harald reaches the nest with ease, quickly finding the source of the smell:  A dead dwarven man lay in the huge nest.  The corpse was recent, less than a week old.  He was dressed like a traveler, with a colourful patchwork coat and gold jewellery woven through his beard.  He still clutched a decorated crossbow in his hands, but it looked like he had never gotten a chance to use it:  A strap on his quiver was still tight, holding the bolts firmly in place.  Half a dozen long spines were lodged in the dead dwarf's chest and neck.

The source of these spines quickly presented themselves, as a bestial roar sounded out from the sky.  A large winged beast swept over the trees, howling with rage at the party's presence.  The creature had the body of a lion, the head of a woman, and a long tail bristling with razor-sharp spines.

"Manticore!"  Lazlo yelled, running for the nearest tree.  "Take cover!"

OOC: The Manticore is flying 40' above the ground.  Everyone acts before it.  Harald is 20' up in the nest, which provides partial cover.

As Lazlo explained what he knew Livi couldn't help but give a confused expression. Could a severed face of someone have survived for a year in this swamp? Before she could ponder how something like that happened she heard a fearsome roar. She looked around in time to see something move overhead.

At the elder's warning she dropped her knife and the face to the ground. She dashed towards the trees herself as she pulled out her crossbow. With her back to a trunk she took a moment to load her crossbow. "Harald if you can make your way here I can give you an easier time fighting this thing," she shouted over her shoulder.

---

Free Action: Drop Knife and Severed Face
Move Action: Move from O10 to L10
Free Action while moving: Draw crossbow
Second Move Action: Load crossbow

Kara clenches her fist. Always with the distractions.... Fortunately, it's at least simple enough to pull from that irritation, letting anger turn to flame in a sort of magical alchemy. An orb of scarlet flame appears directly between her and the approaching manticore.

Casting flaming sphere in square L7.

"Guess we know who made the nest."  Harald glanced towards the roaring manticore and then down at corpse in the nest with him.  "Looks like it shoots spines, sorry to see."  He scooped up the dwarf's body along with the crossbow and bolts, to take everything important out of the nest all at once.

"Sure thing!"  Harald called back to Livi, "I'm on my way!"  Without hesitation, the big man leapt from the top of the nest to land upon his feet at the soft ground beneath it.  Then he used his momentum to close the distance to the two ladies; skirting around the flaming orb that appeared quite suddenly.

Once next to Livi, he dropped the dead dwarf.  "What do you have in mind?"

Move Action: Pick up dwarf and his crossbow
Move Action: Move to L9
Free Action: Acrobatics for jumping down from nest (negates fall damage)
Free Action: Drop dwarf corpse

Harald Goldtooth rolled 20 using 1d20+9.  Acrobatics DC 15: Jump down from nest.