[CHQ] A Murder of Crows

[Alaina]

 

The sun was shining, the sky only littered with a few clouds. The air was warm and pleasant, the kind that would cause the local townsfolk to bustling about and playing were it any ordinary day. Yet, in spite of this, there were fewer people on the streets then the days before, and an odd air of tension filled the surrounding area the Cherry Heart guild members would walk themselves to. The place they were told to meet up in was a cluster of buildings making up a housing area.

 

Upon getting to the meeting point, they would see a group of town guards discussing with a group of more official looking people baring Yggdrasil's symbol. One person they were talking to stood out in particular, though, as she was the shortest person around and didn't seem to belong to either of the other groups. The girl turned to meet the rest of the guild members, a serious expression on her face as her eyes darted from person to person. After a quick second, though, a smile formed on her face as exclaimed, "Cherry Heart, I take it! A pleasure to make all of your acquaintances." The girl walked over to them, extending her hand out to shake all who would take it. 

 

"I know it's a bit sudden and you guild types tend to prefer something more extravagant then a simple investigation, but I thank you in advance for it all the same. While Yggdrasil is the one who has issued the quest to your guilds, I am the one charged with overseeing it. You may call me Lavaya En'faya. Might I have the pleasure of being acquainted with your names?" After the greetings were over the girl said, "now, how may I be of assistance to you, detectives?" 

 

[spoiler=OOC]

And just like that you guys have a start to your quest. Ask Lavaya any questions you have or feel free to look around. 

As it has been a day since the murder took place that body is currently not at the scene of the crime, but if you have any questions on its condition Lavaya will be able to answer those as well. 

 

As with all my quests I operate on a 3 strikes your out system, so if you don't post within a week/my next major host post then you get a strike. If you are unable to post within this time frame, be sure to tell me as I will be more lenient, so long as both the reason and frequency of it are within reason. 

 

Happy hunting.  

 

 

[Mr. Hyde]

 

The quest locale was nothing like the last he had been too.  That mansion was pretty extravagant, but now he had arrived to what seemed a hobble of small buildings.  It felt a little cramped, but he had gotten used to cramp spaces thanks to Cherry Heart.  He looked around, looking at all of the officials from Yggdrasil crowding around the crime scene.  Dmitri peeked over the crowd to see if the body was still there, and let out a sigh of relief to see that it had been whisked away already.  He wasn't sure how he would be able to take seeing a murder scene...after all, he was just a school teacher!  

 

Seeing a small framed woman turn around, his attention was immediately peaked.  He stood up straight and puffed out his chest a little.  She was obviously someone of importance.  

 

"Cherry Heart, I take it! A pleasure to make all of your acquaintances."

 

She stuck out her hand for a handshake.  Seeing her do so, his stomach dropped, and his palms became a bit sweaty.  He shook her hand hastily and nodded his head.  

 

"C-c-charmed."  He said, shakily.  

 

"I know it's a bit sudden and you guild types tend to prefer something more extravagant then a simple investigation, but I thank you in advance for it all the same. While Yggdrasil is the one who has issued the quest to your guilds, I am the one charged with overseeing it. You may call me Lavaya En'faya. Might I have the pleasure of being acquainted with your names?"

 

"It's of no concern where we conduct our business, I assure you."  Dmitri said, bowing.  "My name is Geo Newton."  

 

"Now, how may I be of assistance to you, detectives?" 

 

Detective?!  That was a strange title for him, of all people.  He was book smart...this whole ordeal of investigating wasn't really his style.  But it would be good to practice...to add the skill to his repertoire as it were.

 

"Well...I believe we should get down to brass tacks then!  What was the gender of the deceased?  And how were they..."  Dmitri mulled the right word to use in this delicate situation, "made deceased...If I might ask?"  

[mitchermitcher]

Town Square/Reina

We went to the town square to begin the quest. The three of us, Dmitri and Ajalon. The other new recruits already grouped up on their own. For me this meant I had a senior in the guild with me, and a non-human, so it didn't feel like I was out of place thankfully. On the other hand, I had to wonder how our skillsets were going to aid in a murder investigation.

 

"Pleased." I accepted her hand after Dmitri. Her being the girl meant to work with us, Lavaya En'faya, who was already there waiting. A little short and she seems quite sociable. Very polite. "Reina Fragola Hortensia. Do not mind the mask and let's get to business."

 

"From what I already understand, the corpses, uh, victims were all elven. Beyond that, we don't know very much. How many victims are there, and how are the severity of each of their injuries? Also the location of the murders too." I wasn't a detective so I was doing my best to figure out what information someone would need to solve a murder. I hadn't had to deal with corpses very often, so I wasn't very eager to learn the details, I must admit. I must've been fidgeting around with my mask a little. 'Also, any evidence or suspects Yggdrasil has already found would be something we should know about."

[Alaina]

After shaking hands with the man in glasses, Lavaya had wipe her hands on her jacket before saying, "charmed to meet you as well." Looking to the woman in the gas mask she said, "as well as you." Her eyes lingered on the golem for a moment before she clapped her hands together saying, "wonderful preliminary questions. For you, Mr. Newton the deceased was female. And as for her murder, well, she died likely from the numerous wounds that she sustained. They consisted of very large lacerations across the abdomen. It is presumed that the time between her death and the moment she got these wounds was very brief."

 

Turning over to the woman, she said, "as for your questions Ms. Hortensia. In this particular case, there was only one victim who is, yes, of Elven origin. But, in the case a whole this will have been the fourth to fall victim to the murderer. All of them suffered similar wounds in similar fashion. Different places, but all equally lethal, all equally large and all equally quite severe. The murders don't really have a common place in which they happen, however all of them are punctuated by the victim letting out a blood curdling scream followed swiftly by their death."

 

"As for whether Yggdrasil has any leads for you to follow, well." The girl looked over to the guards that had been around the area. Now closer and their attention being directed to it, they would notice that the guards barely seemed to be paying attention to their surroundings or the crime scene itself, rather instead just socializing with each other and generally seeming ready to move on. "They haven't really given me much details so, I can't really say what they know." Looking to the three members of Cherry Heart, she proclaimed, "however, that's why you all have to make your own leads! The first step to solving any case is gathering information, so, gather away!" The young woman emphatically gestured further down the road they were on. 

 

"Outside of the lack of body, the crime scene is still mostly undisturbed and the guards won't care so much as long as you don't bother them. And, if you have any other questions to ask myself, then feel free to." With that, were the group to go down the road the only things they'd immediately see are the crime scene itself, the guards, a man further down the road who appeared to be pacing back and forth, a woman with a troubled expression looking towards the crime scene and another man sleeping against a building on the opposite side of the road of the crime scene. 

[VCR_CAT]

Ajalon

 

"Cherry Heart, I take it! A pleasure to make all of your acquaintances." A girl, the client they were meant to meet, went around the group of guild members and shook their hands one-by-one, in which Ajalon merely grasped her hand gently as it was offered. "I know it's a bit sudden and you guild types tend to prefer something more extravagant then a simple investigation, but I thank you in advance for it all the same. While Yggdrasil is the one who has issued the quest to your guilds, I am the one charged with overseeing it. You may call me Lavaya En'faya. Might I have the pleasure of being acquainted with your names?"

 

Then, each guild member introduced themselves, Ajalon discovered too late that it would have been their turn to introduce themselves too late, and before they could say anything the conversation had moved on, and the golem found themselves making only quiet, nervous vocalizations as they absolutely did not want to interrupt anyone.

 

"now, how may I be of assistance to you, detectives?" 

 

The others had gotten to quick work asking questions and getting a better read for the situation. This wast the first time Ajalon had ever seen anything of this sort happen first-hand. Every now and then there was a problem at a village with someone being killed for whatever reason, but Ajalon had never been allowed near where it had happened or seen the people who were meant to find out what happened at work. That one particular word, "Detective", rang in Ajalon's mind as they pondered it, distracting from much of the conversation. It sounded like another word-- "Detect", which meant to notice something, but then the "ive" made it descriptive like someone's nature, that they were to frequently notice things. As Ajalon pieced this together in their head, they felt a strong wave of satisfaction as the pieces fell together and they realized what it was their job was exactly: to notice things about the murder!

 

The girl mentioned something about the crime-scene and motioned down the street to where it was. From the sounds of things, it seemed like they were allowed to observe the scene, or more accurately, to "detect" things in the crime scene! Ajalon started towards the scene, but paused as the others had not yet come to that decision. If there was one thing Ajalon learned about being in a guild, at least from what others had told them, it was that a guild member was supposed to work together with their guild.

 

"Pardon me, but may we go 'detect' things in the crime scene now?" Ajalon asked their guildmates politely.

[Mr. Hyde]

 

Geo watched as the girl wiped her hands on her jacket, and raised an eyebrow.  While she wasn't looking, he took a sniff of his hand, and inspected it for impurities.  

 

"Wonderful preliminary questions. For you, Mr. Newton the deceased was female. And as for her murder, well, she died likely from the numerous wounds that she sustained. They consisted of very large lacerations across the abdomen. It is presumed that the time between her death and the moment she got these wounds was very brief."

 

Lacerations?  So the murderer used a slashing weapon...typical among these types he presumed.  

 

 "as for your questions Ms. Hortensia. In this particular case, there was only one victim who is, yes, of Elven origin. But, in the case a whole this will have been the fourth to fall victim to the murderer. All of them suffered similar wounds in similar fashion. Different places, but all equally lethal, all equally large and all equally quite severe. The murders don't really have a common place in which they happen, however all of them are punctuated by the victim letting out a blood curdling scream followed swiftly by their death."

 

So there was no distinct style...no distinct features of this serial killer other than lacerating the victim?  Who was to say it was just one in the first place?  

 

"As for whether Yggdrasil has any leads for you to follow, well.  They haven't really given me much details so, I can't really say what they know.  However, that's why you all have to make your own leads! The first step to solving any case is gathering information, so, gather away!  Outside of the lack of body, the crime scene is still mostly undisturbed and the guards won't care so much as long as you don't bother them. And, if you have any other questions to ask myself, then feel free to."

 

"Pardon me, but may we go 'detect' things in the crime scene now?"  The golem asked, quite politely.  It was as if he were a child, just like Ro.  He would take this molded creation, and teach him everything he would learn!  Dmitri's face blushed at the prospect of having another student under his wing. 

 

"Why yes, Ajalon!  Now follow me!  I might not be a detective proper, but we'll surely get a lead if we ask around!"  Dmitri looked to the crime scene, where his eyes were immediately drawn towards a troubled woman's breas-eyes!  He hurried over to her, and instructed for Ajalon to follow.  "Watch carefully, listen, and learn."  He approached her cautiously, and stuck a hand out, a calm expression on his face.  "Ma'am, I'm with the guild known as Cherry Heart.  We are here to investigate this crime, and prevent any further murders from happening.  Any information you would be able to give us on the goings on that happened here...well they would be quite vital."  He then looked to Ajalon, and smiled, before lecturing him.  "Now, Ajalon, go to someone else around the crime scene.  Ask them the same question, and relay the information back to us, okay?"  He flashed the golem a thumbs up.  "Counting on you now!"  

[mitchermitcher]

Town Square/Reina

"Yes, we may as well." I agreed to Ajalon's eager inquiry, but my reply was overwhelmed by Dmitri as he, equally as eager and excited, took over and lead themselves over to one of the onlooking people. Rather than follow, it occurred to me that division of labor would make the investigation flow more smoothly and efficiently, and remained behind to question the girl in charge.

 

"Miss...Lavaya, was it? It does confuse me a little, how this quest is being managed, per se. I had assumed it was Yggdrasil who issued the quest, but it seems that you are unaffiliated with them. And you don't seem to be with the guards either. What is your relation to this case exactly...?"

[Alaina]

With the group splitting up to cover more tracks to investigate the murder, with Ajalon moving to the crime scene he'd find the place where the body was. The would find an outline of a body, presumably the victim's, drawn across the ground. There wasn't much left of the crime scene beyond the spatters of blood that were likely from the victim. The blood was spattered on both sides of the body and seemed to be moving in the direction the head was. 

 

The woman seemed to be surprised as Dmitri walked up to her and asking, "oh, um...are you working for the city, then? I'm sorry you just- " she took note of the man's appearance before saying, "pardon me, but I doubt I have much to offer to the case. I was merely coming back from my shopping trip when I suddenly heard a woman scream. I wasn't able to see what happened, just her body as it fell backward." The woman shuddered, "truly it was a dreadful thing." 

 

Lavaya looked pleased as she saw the two other Cherry Heart members get to work, and turned her attention back to Reina as she asked yet another set of questions. "Well, to say this quest was issued by Yggdrasil is not false. In order for any quest to be made official and posted on a guild's board, and thus subject to rewards such as guild points, it must be sent to the local Yggdrasil branch to be approved. After the approving process is done they are posted to the guilds and thus, issued by Yggdrasil. Sure, under the table or unofficial requests can be fulfilled but these are less common as guilds tend to benefit more from official quests. As for your second part, well," the girl paused a bit as a proud smile crept across her face.

 

"Well, let's just say I'm not entirely affiliated with the state but I have some say in this investigation and, by my request, I saw it fit to bring others onto it as well. Those others are you all. So, the guards an I are not working together, per se, but we are working towards the same goal." 

[Mr. Hyde]

 

"oh, um...are you working for the city, then? I'm sorry you just-Pardon me, but I doubt I have much to offer to the case. I was merely coming back from my shopping trip when I suddenly heard a woman scream. I wasn't able to see what happened, just her body as it fell backward." The woman shuddered, "truly it was a dreadful thing."

 

Dmirtri nodded, respectfully.  

 

"Indeed...a truly horrible act.  We're just making sure we have all the leads we can get, so we can catch those who are responsible."  Dmitri then inspected the woman, and mulled her alibi over a bit.  However, something seemed off, and it finally clicked.  "If you don't mind me asking, where did your groceries go?  If you came back from a shopping trip, surely you'd have some produce with you?"  Dmitri's eyes slyly looked over the woman again.  Her story was starting to not add up, and if his perception was spot on, then this woman was lying.  

[VCR_CAT]

Ajalon

 

"Why yes, Ajalon!  Now follow me!  I might not be a detective proper, but we'll surely get a lead if we ask around!" Dmitri had responded with an incredible enthusiasm, and the group had made its way down the street towards the scene of the crime.

 

The group found themselves in an alleyway with the outline of a body drawn on the ground, and a few people milling about the area. Ajalon had gotten to work inspecting every detail of things that needed not inspecting, closing examining the brick and stone walls of the buildings that flanked the crime scene all around. Just as they had plucked a chunk of brick off of one of the buildings and brought it towards their mouth, Dmitri had spoken up once more.

 

"Now, Ajalon, go to someone else around the crime scene. Ask them the same question, and relay the information back to us, okay?"  He flashed the golem a thumbs up.  "Counting on you now!"

 

Ajalon hastily swallowed the piece of brick and returned the thumbs up, unable to grin due to the inflexibility of their face but hoping their body language communicated as much. Ajalon looked down the street and noticed the man pacing back and forth obsessively, and made their way towards that man.

 

"Excuse me, sir," Ajalon said. "I've been told that repetitive pacing is a sign of stress and/or distress. Is something bothering you?"

[mitchermitcher]

Town Square/Reina

"Hm, I understand then. Excuse me." I excused myself from her.

 

Although my suspicion is baseless, it is also true that she couldn't dispel it just now. Lavaya En'faya. A character not directly related to the guards, shows up under the guise of an assistant, and did not identify herself when I asked. No matter how I think through it, she's the most suspicious character here. I replayed the scene of our meeting in my head again and not once has she explicitly stated her relation to the case. If she was the killer, it'd be very convenient for her to be part of the investigation effort.

 

It would be best if I consult someone else. But the other two are busy doing something else, I can't interrupt them either. But by myself, I don't have the ability to restrain someone, not confidently.

 

In my worry, I had walked over to the wall before I realized it. There was a sleeping man leaning against it, who I then decided to wake up. I adjusted my gas mask, hoping it would make me look a little more threatening.

 

"Apologies. I'm part of the investigation for the murder case that occurred just over there. Tell me what you know or have noticed. Anything suspicious at all is fine."

[Alaina]

"My groceries?" The woman looked confused at Dmitri. "They're home? As I said, I saw the murder take place when I was on my way home, groceries in hand then. This was yesterday." While the woman seemed confused about the question the man was asking, she then seemed to think a bit on it before saying, "though, now that you mention it, I remember that she also had groceries of some sort with her as well. I had seen her once or twice during my own trip and I guess we just happened to be going the same way home."

 

The man, pacing in his own thoughts, suddenly jumped as he heard the voice call out to him. "Ah!" Looking at Ajalon, up and down, he seemed to stare curiously at the man's face before saying, "of course I'm worried! Nervous! Down right stressed! Who couldn't be with these murders about the town? One by one oh the humanity, they've been dropping like flies! Well, like elves...It's not really oh the humanity then, is it? I'm unsure!  But that's just what the government wants you to think! Lulling you into a false sense of security, then wham! They'll get you!" The guards looked at the man with a confused expression but didn't seem to pay him much mind beyond that. "You have a strange face tall man." The pacing man seemed to have a unique train of thought. 

 

Lavaya tipped her cap to the woman as she made her way to the sleeping man. Being jostled awake, the man shook his head, grumbling and grunting a bit before looking up at the woman looming before him. "Something suspicious? Yeah, I see a woman wearing a strange mask in my face.That's plenty suspicious right?" He waved Reina off. "I don't got much to say on this case of yours. Someone died. The end. Now if you'll excuse me," uncooperative, the man seemed ready to go back to sleep and ignore Reina. 

[Mr. Hyde]

 

"My groceries?" The woman looked confused at Dmitri. "They're home? As I said, I saw the murder take place when I was on my way home, groceries in hand then. This was yesterday. Though, now that you mention it, I remember that she also had groceries of some sort with her as well. I had seen her once or twice during my own trip and I guess we just happened to be going the same way home."

 

Although it was strange the woman had returned to the crime scene without her groceries, Dmitri bowed his head.

 

"Thank you for all your help.  I believe that info will help us."  As he walked away, he motioned for the other two to join him.  Once they rallied, Dmitri would speak up.  "I believe I have a lead.  The victim was seen leaving the grocery store earlier yesterday.  I imagine if we go asking around there, maybe we'll figure out if she was being followed.  Maybe get some details on the murderer's appearance.  Anything we could get to further the case an inkling would be great."  For not being a detective, playing one sure was rather fun.  He turned to the crime scene, realizing he shouldn't really be having fun in this circumstance.  Dmitri then made his way to Lavaya, and cleared his throat.  

 

"I think we can find more eyewitnesses in the market.  That's where the victim had come from before she was slain, according to testimony from that woman over there."  He proclaimed rather confidently.  

[VCR_CAT]

Ajalon

 

Almost as soon as Ajalon had even begun speaking to the pacing man, he had broken into a near-mad tirade. "Of course I'm worried! Nervous! Down right stressed! Who couldn't be with these murders about the town? One by one oh the humanity, they've been dropping like flies! Well, like elves...It's not really oh the humanity then, is it? I'm unsure! But that's just what the government wants you to think! Lulling you into a false sense of security, then wham! They'll get you!" Had Ajalon had eyelids, they would had blinked a few times at this response. "You have a strange face tall man." And at that, the man continued with his pacing.

 

"Oh! I apologize if my appearance has caused you discomfort. My master said my face was designed to be like that of a scarab, he said it is a noble creature though I have not met one myself!" Ajalon replied politely, but continued to think about what the man had said earlier. "Though I must ask about something, if that is okay. I have been to many villages, and some were in grave danger with many of their people dying. So far this city seems much safer than the smallest villages. Is it that those people do not stress because they are used to danger, or do the people here forget what it is like to live like that?"

[Alaina]

The man gave the strange golem a confused look as he said, "I have no idea what a scarab is, but it does not sound delicious." As Ajalon the asked the man about the living standards about the area, the strange responded, "ah yes! The safety! Or lack there of what with all this deathhhhh." There was a slight pause after he emphasized this word. "But yes, the city of Prunus is more safe than your common slap dash splash pash fash wash town because it has a branch of the government located in it. And so people feel safe since big tree is always watching! Except when they aren't, like yesterday! Turning a blind eye to crime! Or maybe turning to many eyes at it! Or some half opened eyes in its general direction?" The man seemed to be confusing himself. "Also Prunus is located to a number of the people's people, guilds! And they do the most dangerous stuff you can think of. Like investigating murders! So, between Sort of watching Big Tree and all the workers unions about, Prunus is a stranger to danger!" 

 

When Dmitri had made his way back to Luvaya, detailing his findings, the girl seemed to have a smile on her face as she said, "well, far be it from me to dictate where you go. If your gut is telling you that the market is where to go then follow it, Junior Detective." Looking over to the other two, she said, "but, don't feel the need to wait up for the others, after all, they have their own instincts to listen to."

 

[spoiler=OOC]

Strike 1 for Mitcher

 

Also Hyde, I know you said that he did this after the group reconvened, but to not keep you waiting it's fine for him to go directly to Luvaya about this while the others keep doing their own investigation. You can wait, if you want, but I wouldn't do it for more than a round. If you want to go ahead then I'll edit the post to include the description of the marketplace. Also, as Luvaya said, just because Dmitri has his own lead, Drew and Mitcher don't feel rushed to finish your current interactions, or anything else you want to do in this current scene.

 

[Mr. Hyde]

 

 Dmitri had waited quite a long while, although his guild mates had never reconvened with him.  Instead, he had solemnly reported to Luvaya.  

 

"Well, far be it from me to dictate where you go. If your gut is telling you that the market is where to go then follow it, Junior Detective.  But, don't feel the need to wait up for the others, after all, they have their own instincts to listen to."

 

Looking at the others, who still were partaking in investigating the crime scene, Dmitri nodded.  

 

"I guess I have no choice.  We must collect every ounce of evidence we can.  When they report to you, tell them my whereabouts.  If trouble happens, I'll make sure everyone is alerted with a special signal."  And with that, Dmitri made his way towards the market, where both the victim and eyewitness had come from.  It could have been either one of them who ended up as an outline on the pavement, but the elven girl was chosen.  Was it out of hatred towards a certain kind, or just a coincidence.  It was up to Dmitri to determine that.  

[VCR_CAT]

Ajalon

 

Ajalon observed the man ramble on and on over the state of the city and its own sense of safety. The more they listened to the rambling, the more the words began to swiftly roll over their head and an entire list of disconnections began to be made. In all reality, the more Ajalon listened to the man, the more confused they became. But maybe that's what it took to solving a murder? Finding all the questions and answering them? The man had stopped talking, and as Ajalon thought over what he was saying and processed all of that information, they had realized they were staring at the man quietly and took note of his discomfort.

 

"Ah, I must apologize, I was thinking about what you said," Ajalon said, and something came to mind. The man had spoke a lot about people feeling safe here, but a murder required someone to be a murderer. So if they felt safe, then people here rarely felt the want or need to kill each other, so why would this occur? "Actually, could you answer for me one more question? I was wondering why this person was killed, possibly who had done it. You said people feel safe here, so if they feel safe then this sort of thing must not happen often." Ajalon could overhear some other questions coming from the others in the area, and had another idea. "Oh! Maybe you saw what happened! Maybe that could help?"

[Alaina]

The man seemed to be counting his fingers for some reason as Ajalon began to think about the case to himself, only to look back as the golem continued to ask him questions. "Aha! That's just the mystery isn't it!? Or is it the obvious truth!? Quite the conundrum, I'd say." The man nodded his head, before saying, "but if you ask me, it's because a town is only as safe as it's big brother is. Or, what it's big brother is, rather! And the big brother of Big Tree doesn't have wings! Or pointy ears, for that matter. The pointy eared winged people have their own big brother for a reason on a different continent for a reason, after all! I haven't the faintest idea who did it. Maybe it was you?! Or was it me!? No, it wasn't me. And it couldn't have been you. They were much shorter."

 

The man looked around, his eyes darting from place to place as he leaned in closer. "I didn't see the killer, but I saw the woman before she died, and the crowd did not have a man of your stature in it! And another thing! I saw the woman's body  but I saw neither flash of silver nor steel before then! Perhaps it was magic steel! Or invisible silver! Which would still be magic...hmmm. Well, I haven't the faintest. But don't tell anyone I told you that. Everybody is watching." The man gave one more nod, before he started to back away from Ajalon making "woo-ing" noises as he did. 

 

After Dmitri told Luvaya to tell the others, the girl merely gave a tip of her hat to him, and said, "but of course. Happy investigating." 

 

Dmitri, after parting and walking for a few blocks would find himself in a market place. It was a bustling place, with all different kinds of people making their way about, getting whatever they needed. There were a few stands placed up here and there, one being a rather large produce stand that seemed to be multiple stands put together instead of just one owned by a single person, and a few places to get lunch, like a killer sandwich stand. There were a few buildings that also seemed to be busy as well, or at least open for business. On this market road, there was a blacksmith, a tailor, a trinket shop and a butcher shop. 

 

[spoiler=OOC]

Mitcher has hit strike 2. 

Feel free to explore, Hyde. 

Drew, the crazy man has now left, but you can feel free to talk to any of the other NPCs around if you so choose. If not, then assume Luvaya will tell Ajalon where Dmitri went.

 

 

[Mr. Hyde]

 

Dmitri nodded, as he left the scene of the crime to go investigate the trade yard.  His guild mates would surely be doing investigations of their own while he was away.  When he arrived, the place was as busy as could be.  A lot of hustle and bustle from people on their way home from wherever they had just been, doing business in a quick and hectic fashion.  Dmitri sighed.  Getting info on one specific person would be extremely difficult in an environment like this...but perhaps a murderer would stand out in a crowd such as this.  There were at least four different shops that stood above the rest, for some unbeknownst reason.  His eyes were ushered towards one in particular, the blacksmith.  He walked into the building, and tried to find someone who operated the store.  

 

"Hello, my name is Geo.  I'm with the guild of Cherry Heart investigating a murder that happened recently.  I was wondering if there was anyone here willing to answer a few questions."  

[Alaina]

As Dmitri made his way into the blacksmith shop, he would be able to notice that of all the shops that were in this district it seemed to be the least busy of them all, only a few customers coming in and out. The building itself wasn't all that large, and once Dmitri was inside he'd be able to see that it was actually just one large room that contained a stone desk at the front and a forge behind that. The change in temperature was incredibly apparent, being far hotter inside, as the fires of the forge were well and going. There appeared to be only one worker there, a young woman with black hair who despite the heat seemed to be covered fully, wielding a hammer as she went about her business. As she heard Dmitri enter, she simply shouted, "welcome! How may I help you?!" 

 

She didn't seem to pay much mind to Dmitri as he talked merely repeating what he said, "alright. Geo. Got it. Cherry Heart. Got it. Investigating a murder. Alright alright....Wait." The girl stopped pounding the metal as she looked and faced the man. "Well uh, I don't really make tools for "investigating" murders here and I'm busy anyway. But, if you place an order, don't get in the way of my customers and don't mind the sound or heat then sure, ask away." The woman went back to work on her current project. 

 

[spoiler=OOC]

Drew is at strike 1. 

Mitcher is at strike 3 and both by my own rulings and his own will is ejected from the quest.

Carry on.  

 

 

[Mr. Hyde]

 

 "Well uh, I don't really make tools for "investigating" murders here and I'm busy anyway. But, if you place an order, don't get in the way of my customers and don't mind the sound or heat then sure, ask away."

 

A woman of true business.  There was something Dmitri respected about it, but at the same time, he was a little hesitant to loosen money from his wallet.  But one had to spend money, to earn money.  And if he wanted his questions answered, he was going to have to put his money where his quest was.  Dmitri put an order in for one steel dagger, and leaned on the counter as close to the steelworker as possible.  The heat was quite intense, and his brow started to sweat, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle.  

 

"As I said, I'm here currently investigating the murder of a young elven woman not far from here.  There has been a growing number of these murders, all with the same method.  We believe these women might have been cut open by a exquisitely sharp bladed weapon.  I was wondering if you had sold any sort of weapon to an individual you would deem...odd?  Of course, if you have, I'm sure there won't be any consequences of them purchasing it from here."  

[VCR_CAT]

Ajalon

 

Once Ajalon asked her questions, the man turned back to the golem and exclaimed, "Aha! That's just the mystery isn't it!? Or is it the obvious truth!? Quite the conundrum, I'd say." The man nodded his head, before saying, "but if you ask me, it's because a town is only as safe as its big brother is. Or, what its big brother is, rather! And the big brother of Big Tree doesn't have wings! Or pointy ears, for that matter. The pointy eared winged people have their own big brother for a reason on a different continent for a reason, after all! I haven't the faintest idea who did it. Maybe it was you?! Or was it me!? No, it wasn't me. And it couldn't have been you. They were much shorter."

The man looked around, his eyes darting from place to place as he leaned in closer. "I didn't see the killer, but I saw the woman before she died, and the crowd did not have a man of your stature in it! And another thing! I saw the woman's body  but I saw neither flash of silver nor steel before then! Perhaps it was magic steel! Or invisible silver! Which would still be magic...hmmm. Well, I haven't the faintest. But don't tell anyone I told you that. Everybody is watching." The man gave one more nod, before he started to back away from Ajalon making strange noises as he did so.

 

Ajalon thought for a moment, at first more confused than when they had begun to ask questions, but those last few statements did answer some questions. The man claimed to not see any blades or knives, and Ajalon had come to know those as the primary means that a person would maybe kill another person. Maybe the blade was concealed? The more Ajalon thought about the issue, the more their head began to hurt from the confusion. They needed someone who knew more about this, and turned to see where their guildmates were.

 

Just as Ajalon turned around to look, they caught sight of the tails of Dmitri's coat as he made his way away from the crime scene. "Ah!" Ajalon started, intent on getting his attention but was ultimately too late. They followed where he had gone, but the further they got from the crime scene the thicker the crowds became, and the thicker the crowds became the harder it was to keep track of the guildmate.

 

Eventually, turning down a street, Ajalon finally heard Dmitri's voice coming from a blacksmith's shop and turned to see the guildmate talking to blacksmith. They couldn't heard much of the conversation, but the words "exquisitely sharp blade" caught their magical golem ears. Ajalon entered the blacksmith's shop and was about to express these findings, but saw that Dmitri and the blacksmith were already in the middle of a discussion and fell silent from fear of being rude and interrupting.

[Alaina]

The woman continued to hammer away at the piece of metal before her, saying, "odd individuals? Buddy I don't know if you realize where you're at. This is the city of adventurers, I get weirdos here all the time." She gave a brief pause as she heard the door open again, seeing the large masked man with two swords walk into her shop. Giving a short gesture, she said, "case in point." Going back to her smith work, the woman continued, "honestly I'd be more concerned if the person buying from me wasn't a bit odd. But, let's see." Her pace slowed as she thought a bit.

 

With a resounding smash on the metal as her expression lit up she said, "oh yeah, if you're looking for someone who cuts things with sharp blades and is bit uh, on the eccentric side you can probably check out the butcher across the street. He's a pretty frequent customer," her expression soured a bit as she said, "but treats his blades like crap." She smashed her hammer harder on her current project. "I swear that man goes through blades faster than I do a bushel of apples." The girl then looked back to Geo asking, "well, anything more? Oh, and hello there customer, what can I get for you today?" She turned towards Ajalon, asking this. 

[VCR_CAT]

Ajalon

 

Ajalon entered into the smithy, not exactly sure what they expected but the expectations they did have did not extend terribly far past average smithing practices, but was pleased to see their guildmate was, indeed, there. "Case in point," a woman hammering away at a piece of metal announced once Ajalon passed through the threshold of the door. "Honestly I'd be more concerned if the person buying from me wasn't a bit odd. But, let's see." Her pace slowed for a moment, and Ajalon stood there, shifting awkwardly as they wondered what the conversation was about and if it was directed at them.

Soon, however, the blacksmith's eyes lit up. "Oh yeah, if you're looking for someone who cuts things with sharp blades and is bit uh, on the eccentric side you can probably check out the butcher across the street. He's a pretty frequent customer, but treats his blades like crap." She smashed her hammer harder on her current project. "I swear that man goes through blades faster than I do a bushel of apples." The girl then looked back to Geo asking, "well, anything more? Oh, and hello there customer, what can I get for you today?" She turned towards Ajalon, asking this.

 

Ajalon stood quietly for a split second, and then realized the question was directed at them. "Oh! I apologize but my equipment is not made of metallic materials and does not require the skill of a blacksmith. I was actually looking for my colleague regarding the case we are currently working. Sorry to interrupt!" Ajalon thought for a moment, and remembered the blacksmith saying something about a "very sharp blade" and realized that the conversation may have just been about that. "I just finished speaking with the very nervous and peculiar man at the crime scene, and, well, most of what he said was very confusing for me and I'm afraid that I cannot make terribly much sense of what they were speaking of, but, oh! He mentioned that he was there when the crime was committed and said that he distinctly remembers there being no flash of silver or metal, and never saw a blade being used!"

 

Ajalon paused for a moment, realizing how much they were talking. "So, um, that is to say, I think the murderer may have used magic? Or perhaps a more discreet tool?"

[Mr. Hyde]

 

Dmitri wasn't getting anywhere here.  He was being talked in circles...that was until Ajalon arrived.  

 

"I just finished speaking with the very nervous and peculiar man at the crime scene, and, well, most of what he said was very confusing for me and I'm afraid that I cannot make terribly much sense of what they were speaking of, but, oh! He mentioned that he was there when the crime was committed and said that he distinctly remembers there being no flash of silver or metal, and never saw a blade being used!"

 

So that meant...

 

 "So, um, that is to say, I think the murderer may have used magic? Or perhaps a more discreet tool?"

 

The sudden realization made Dmitri smack his head.  Of course it must've been magic!  Some sort of magic that produces a grizzly end product was a dangerous type of magic indeed.  It was certainly something not to be trifled with.  Dmitri nodded at Ajalon.  

 

"I'm not sure if we can totally go by the evidence of a...nervous and peculiar man...but truthfully it's all we have."  Dmitri started to walk out of the smithy, when he turned around to the smith herself.  "I'll be back for that dagger."  And as he concluded his statement, he walked out, waiting for Ajalon to follow.  Once he caught up, Dmitri would explain his thought process.  "Seeing as how we have no other leads besides this place being where the victim was last seen coming from, and that the perp probably uses some sort of slicing magic, we should ask the prominent members of the market what they saw.  We have no other evidence, so I was thinking of asking the butcher next if he saw anyone fascinated with the carving of meat and flesh...of animals of course!"  At least he hoped so.  "Maybe someone who stares at the blood too much, you know?  A psycho fascinated with what he could do to people.  We should split up again.  It'll make this go two times faster."  It would've been three times...but Dmitri was already forgetting why it wouldn't be.  Dmitri pat Ajalon on the head and headed towards the Butcher.  "Good luck!"  He said, waving towards the golem. 

 

As he arrived at the butcher, he opened the door and gave his reporting statement of sorts. 

 

"Hello!  I'm with the guild Cherry Heart investigating a murder that happened not far from here.  Have you seen anyone suspicious roaming around the market place, following people?  Or maybe someone who's interested a little too much in your craft?"