Arvien suggested on and off that the party should go to Bloodhaven Estate and search the area. Ralom and Angus agreed while Seglun and Drovic were unsure. Arvien then when and sat in a corner of the Guard Headquarters with her head in her hands. Grunyar and Ozzie further spurred the party toward heading for Bloodhaven Estate so at last the party headed there, Arvien trailing behind.
At the coach house in the rear of the Estate the group saw a two story building, windows on the second floor street side, which were barred. A heavy portcullis was the only entryway. The entire estate was surrounded by a 15 foot tall stone wall, topped by spikes. Drovic turned into a Wren and flew around the estate, trying to keep out of the way of Summergale who also was providing a flyover. Dirk clambered through the bars of the portcullis into the tunnel. At the gate Seglun can see a large iron-banded, solid double door at the far end of the tunnel. On the right and left sides of the tunnel are single doors leading into the coach house. Dirk crawled under the right side door. Drovic spied several workers on the grounds of the estate, tending bushes, trees or working in the garden. The Estate house was a massive affair raised above the ground. Stairs led up to several doorways. Seglun examined the wall, but it would be hard to climb, smooth sides everywhere. Drovic decided to fly into the tunnel where he quickly found the portcullis mechanism. Turning back to his Elven self, he pushed the bar up and the portcullis started to rise. Seglun crawled under immediately and headed to the massive doors at the rear of the tunnel. She had no luck in even moving the doors at all. Angus entered and headed to the right hand door which led into a stable. Two coal-black horses were in stalls. Shelves and hooks on the walls held a variety of equipment necessary to maintain the horses and a carriage. Angus could see the horses were in prime condition, their hooves shod with care and skill. Try as he might he could not open a window leading into the estate grounds. The left side door opened and a middle aged man clad in hunters garb. He asked what business the party had here at the estate. Ozzie and Ralom stated that Inspector Logan had told the party to meet them at the estate. The man servant had no idea what the party was talking about. He blocked the door that he exited and would let no one past. Seglun was continuing to try and open the double doors and the man servant told him to stop. "You have to wait here, or better, outside the coach house for Inspector Logan. Angus saw several of the yard staff start to line up between the coach house and the manor. He counted tens of these "gardeners." Ralom and Ozzie kept up the pretense of meeting the Inspector but the servant was having none of it. He told the party they must leave. Grunyar started to lower his crossbow, when Arvien rousing from her languor intervened. "We must have misunderstood the Inspector," she stated. "Maybe we were to meet him elsewhere. He had said that he came here earlier for a domestic issue." The servant replied that the Inspector was here about Edmund's son, Nelson. Apparently there was an issue with Sir Bleygas Smythe. The servant opened the door and backed into an area that looked like a kitchen to Angus as he tried to push his way past unsuccessfully. Arvien convinced the group to follow her out of the coach house. Outside the party decided to head for the Smythe manor.
Most of the party was sorely confused by the identity of Inspector Logan, the man they saw with the torn cloak, the woman who attacked Ralom last evening and in general who was who. Arvien explained on the way to the Smythe manor that anyone could be a doppelganger, and any doppelganger could have been anyone. So the Inspector Logan who was with them at the murder scene last night may not be the same doppelganger as the one they had killed outside the guardhouse. In fact the torn cloak man could have been the doppelganger who was Inspector Logan at any other time or the one the guards knew as Logan. By this time Ralom and Seglun's heads were spinning, trying to follow the explanation.
At the Smythe manor house as servant answered the door and Arvien explained that the party was here on Inspector Logan's request and asked to see Sir Bleygas. The butler fetched the master, who came to the door. He did not invite the party into his house but was polite in answering their questions. Yes he had approached the guard about the actions and attention that Nelson Bloodsworth was paying to his daughter Alicia. It seems as though Nelson is a little "around the bend" and his attention was concerning and completely unwanted. Alicia and her mother were staying at his wife's parents household for present. "All I want is for this young man to stop acting like he is courting, or worse, my child." The party agreed to look into the matter further, with Logan's approval of course.
Convinced that Bloodhaven manor was the key here the group headed back to scout where they could place themselves to spy any one leaving the estate tonight. While headed there, Ralom cast detect evil on the party, hoping that no one was a possible doppelganger, a la Baru and Varrid. Unfortunately he saw that Grunyar and Ozzie were evil, this was new they had never shown up before. Recalling that those two had followed Logan to the Bloodhaven Estate, it was now clear -- don't split up the party. As they traveled along Ralom talked secretly to each other party member informing them of the "evilness" of Grunyar and Ozzie.
In a dark alley the party attacked their supposed friends. Ralom cast hold person and Grunyar quit moving but Ozzie returned the attack. Ozzie was no match for the party and quickly fell, turning into the familiar doppelganger form. Ralom applied coup de grace upon Grunyar who also turned into the doppelganger form. Searching to bodies, they found that the creatures each carried a metal weapon, small metal pieces like daggers and tools and small wooded objects like figurines and lutes. It appeared that these could take the form of whatever was needed to mimic the character. Dirk ran off into the alleys and down a sewer grate as the party followed him thinking he would lead them to their fellow dead adventurers. Finding a grate they could open, down the party went to the sewers. The underground tunnel ran north- south and was about 10 feet wide and 20 feet high. The walls were brick and the ceiling arched. Side passages fed into the main tunnel every few feet, these were small5 inch high passages that no character could traverse. The group did not see Dirk anywhere but the started moving north against the current. Along the way at various points they could see connecting tunnels intersecting the main six feet from the ceiling. These tunnels would occasionally cross the main on a rusty bridge. The connecting tunnels were 6 feet high and 3 feet wide. Exploring the sewers they hoped to find a connector or hidden passage under the Bloodhaven Estate but were unsuccessful. After a couple hours exploring the group headed for the Twilight Yawn to prepare for the evening stakeout.
At the Inn they were met by two new townsfolk who hoped to join the search for Bloody Jack. Peg Shewmaker and Shelly Holmes, since the party was down two members they gladly accepted the new help, after Ralom checked for Evil. As the clock struck eleven the party headed for Bloodhaven Estate where they set up watch. There were only a few people on the streets but no one exited the Mansion. Time passed slowly and no bells were heard, strange Drovic was sure that more than an hour had passed. Staying longer the group was very concerned, "Maybe we should head to the Bell Tower Seglun suggested. Just as they started in that direction a figure hurried toward them through the mists, a glowing lantern held high. Its fitful light cast a yellow pool in the thick fog.
"Mariel!" the figure cried in a tearful voice. "Mariel! Where are you?"
As Ralom cast detect evil the figure came closer, Koth Rigsby, proprietor of the Twilight Yawn Lodging House. He held out a trembling hand and spoke in a pleading voice. "Have you seen my wife? I just got home and she's not there. She must have come out to find me because I stayed at the pub so late."
Before anyone could reply, running footsteps were heard. A boy emerged from the mist and tugged at Koth's arm. "Koth!" he exclaimed. "Casey Miles said Mariel came looking for you at the Twin Sons. You must have just missed her in the fog."
Koth and the boy scurried toward the pub, followed by the party. Koth questioned everyone about Mariel. James Williams, one of the twin owners, said that Mariel was indeed at the pub but only stayed long enough to see that Koth had already left. "I assume she went straight home to give you a piece of her mind."
As Koth moved toward the door, it was pushed open from the outside. Framed against the misty street lanterns was a solemn-looking man in unadorned chain mail with a simple leather scabbard and long sword at his side. His straight black hair was long enough to brush against his broad shoulders, and a drooping mustache gave his face a perpetual frown. Pinned to his belt was the badge of office, he was the new Inspector of the Paridon Guard.
"Koth," he said emotionlessly, his eye catching that of the large man. For a moment the inspector's jaw muscles twitch. Whatever he was about to saywas unpleasant for him. "We found Mariel. You'd better come with me."
Stunned, Koth dropped his lantern on the floor. Its clatter was the only sound in the now silent public house. "Nayth, is she...." Koth whispered. "Yes, " answered Nayth. "Just like the others. I'm sorry Koth. It s all my fault. IF I hadn't gone along with the council's stupid plan---"
Koth was overcome by grief and rage. He upended a table, shouted and swore to avenge his wife. Shortly, consumed by rage, a wild-eyed Koth brushed by Nayth and into the mist strewn night.
Inspector Nayth sagged into a chair at a nearby table, head held in his hands. The patrons stayed only long enough to finish their drinks and quietly slipped away.
Arvien asked Nayth what plan are you talking about? "I was ordered by the council to stop the bells from tolling midnight. The councilmen believed that if the clock did not actually strike midnight, no murder would be committed." Nayth explained. "Had Mariel known it was midnight she might have stayed safely indoors," he moaned. Arvien tried to assure him it was not his fault. Meanwhile Ralom cast his detect evil which found no targets.
"Where is the body?" Seglun queried. "Mariel's body was found in a short alley named Rodney Road, south of here." he answered. The party was ready to head there when Nayth continued "You'll learn nothing new there. I've already completed my investigation of the corpse and I found no clues." Yet the group was still out the door going to the murder scene.
DMs Notes: The party earned 228 XP for the night and now have 17784 XP requiring 5216 to reach 5th level.
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