Gnomes2169
It was a dry and sunny day when our heroes rode to town. Nomis and Sin were joined by a dwarf by the name of Vinc, a veteran guard from a Duran caravan who was there to provide some muscle should they need it. He'd been open to talk (perhaps a bit too much), and from the conversations he'd had over the three days of your association, it seems like he'd taken the job because he was bored, and thought it would be easy and interesting to keep you two out of trouble. He doesn't seem to be all that interested in the job itself, so perhaps he had been assigned as some king of baby sitter by Sin's superior among the city inspectors.

The wagon driver that had been hired by governor Longview hadn't pushed his animals too hard in the late-summer heat, so it was getting on in the afternoon when the arrived in Sheered Wood, and there was not much traffic on the road as they rode past the town gate. The town had started as a logging village, and the influences on the building style were obvious, with plenty of decorative animal carvings adorning the corners of buildings, and all the carpentry immediately visible in the walls and businesses being of high quality.

A few guards, lazily sitting beside a water barrel and fanning themselves with playing cards, sat at a booth just past the walls, and they stop you for a moment to check the driver's merchandise manifest and business papers. When they get to the papers relating to you, the guard reading them looked up at the three of you and said, "Well now, you lot are the inspectors the governor sent us, huh? The mayor will want to talk to you. If you hurry you should be able to get him while he's in town hall, just across from the park in the center of town. Biggest building we got, you should be able to see the bell tower from here." Handing your letter of introduction back, he tipped his helmet a bit and said, "Good luck to yah, and welcome to Sheered Wood."

Thanking them, your driver gets his mules moving again and looks over his shoulder. "Well lads and lass, I'm going to stop at the tavern over there, goes by the name of the Broken Fletching, but that's about as far as I'm taking you. Thanks for the company on this leg of my journey." A minute later he stops in front of the aforementioned building, which had a sign with a shield and pair of shattered arrows painted on it, and his cart stops again. "If you need anything from me I'll still be hanging around the market square for the next few days, selling my things. Just ask for ol' Moat Thumper's stall, and the locals should be able to direct you to me."
GodEye Galatea
As the afternoon sun dipped low, its scorching heat and damp air only added to Sin's irritation. The sluggish pace of their journey had already worn thin on her patience. Despite her polite requests to the driver for a quicker pace, he seemed to have his reasons for maintaining their current speed.

Yet, as a seasoned guard, Sin had honed her ability to stretch her patience during such trying times. She saw these moments as opportunities to conserve her energy and resources, a skill that had proven invaluable in her line of work.

She was the first to step down from the wagon, her gaze sweeping the surroundings. Despite her dissatisfaction with the service, she maintained her composure and spoke politely, "Thank you for your assistance and letting us know of your wereabouts. We'll reach out if we require your services again."

After a slight bow to the driver, Sin shifted her gaze on the towering structure housing the mayor’s office. She hoped fervently that he was still there; otherwise, waiting furthermore to gain his audience would surely test her patience once more.

She would cast a glance at the others as she waited for them to disembark.
GoggleDog
Nomis, unlike his unfortunate companion, didn't complain much for the weather, or the ride, or the blabbing dwarf. Actually, he didn't seem to have much to say for himself either. Leaving a lot to be desired with his short excuse of communication.

That didn't make the environment, sin, or the dwarf any less annoying, but it was not his problem, others and the weather weren't things in his control for the task at hand.
As he was ready to leave the wagon he found himself amused how Sin, in his view, practically stormed out of it on the first chance she got.
Surprising himself, with time with the dwarf and the guards he found himself glad that Sin was up to take the challenge of conversation. Himself adding only bits here and there.

He stretched once he got out himself, revealing his broad shoulders, his pale skin finally seeing proper sun, he gave himself a pause to take a breath. Most of himself was covered from head to toe with his sand silk, pockets all around the conveniently hidden locations to fetch any small suprise weapons from. On his backpack, he had the rest.
Nomis closed his bronze eyes to not get attacked by the sun's rays. His soft facial features bearing it. ****, it was hot. His long hair in a bun didn't make things any better.
Gnomes2169
Vinc showed a little bit of uncharacteristic haste as he hopped out of the merchant's wagon behind Nomis and Sin, a scarred hand rubbing at his bare, marble-white chin. "Now let's see, bell tower, bell tower... there it is!" Shifting the package that held all of his armor, weapons and travel gear on his back, he made his way towards town hall. "Let's see the mayor, and see if one of you can talk us into some free rooms."

There are a few people still on the streets, including children that ran about between buildings, but the heat keeps the way mostly clear for you. The walk was short, and the shortcut through the park was actually quite pleasant since it includes a pond filled with fish, and after just a few minutes the three of you were in reception room of town hall.

A two floor building, with a three-floor bell tower attached to its western side, Sheered Wood town hall was a  substantial  building for a town this size. Once you were past the heavy doors engraved with wood-stained carvings of oaks, you could see there was a large room meant for town meetings just past the reception desk, at least two small rooms attached to it, and a stairwell on the eastern side leading both up to the second level and down to a basement. The meeting room could easily hold seven hundred spectators and had a sunk-in stage with a podium and seating for town councilors, though right now it was empty aside from a pair of lazy cats snuggling atop the podium.

At the receptionist desk, a sharen woman with bronzed skin and near-black hair sat fanning herself, but when the three of you enter she immediately sits up and closes her fan up. "Oh, visitors! Welcome! What brings you to our town on this...  lovely  summer day?" Her tone is light, and she seems to be genuinely curious despite the strained cheer in her voice. While it was  better  indoors, it was still warm enough that even mild work could leave a person sweating.
GodEye Galatea
Sin remained silent as they made their way to the town hall. It was evident to her companions, these past three days, that she preferred not to engage in idle conversation. However, when discussions turned to their tasks, her voice was the first to chime in.

Sin took the lead, walking briskly ahead of the group. Her swift pace was driven by a desire to escape the scorching heat and reach the cool confines of the town hall quickly. However, more importantly, she was eager for them to meet the mayor without delay, knowing that time was of the essence in their task.

As they entered the meeting hall, Sin took a moment to glance around while maintaining her stride. The sight of two lazy cats atop the podium caught her attention, and she paused to observe them for a moment. However, when the lady in the hall spoke, Sin quickly averted her gaze from the cats and focused her attention on her.

Approaching the receptionist, Sin gracefully removed her hood, revealing her shiny black hair tied in a neat knot. With a respectful bow, she initiated the conversation.

"A pleasant afternoon, madame. I am Sin Qia Graylight," she began with a polite nod. "My companions and I have been dispatched by Governor Longwood. We are here to meet with the town Mayor regarding a critical matter. Your assistance in arranging an audience with his honor would be greatly appreciated."
GoggleDog
Nomis didn't seem to be in too much of a haste. With people in high positions he always suspected that they had already made up the results of any conversation they were in before it had even begun, let alone predicted. If the mayor wanted them to have free rooms, he's already made up his mind.

"Oh, yes, count on me from everyone." He said with his usual flat voice
"But i do find intriguing you don't count yourself in the quest of free lodging." He replied to Vinc. Atleast the heat was good at keeping people distant. As he walked he spent time to see the scenery until they reached the building in question.

Inside he found it oddly pleasing to look at, from the very size of it to it's architecture. Its nothing he wants to see constantly, but a good reminder that there's always something bigger out there. He spent a bit longer of a time looking at the cats, even as the two women spoke.
He could practically hear Frost's voice inside his head, that damn old man.

"Your idea of lovely is unique, Ms."
He said, spending a time looking at the receptionist when he spoke to her.. and then back at the cats. They were far more entertaining. Sin could handle backhand conversations well enough.
Gnomes2169
 
 Originally Posted by GoggleDog 
 "But i do find intriguing you don't count yourself in the quest of free lodging." He replied to Vinc. At least the heat was good at keeping people distant. As he walked he spent time to see the scenery until they reached the building in question. 
 

The dwarf shrugged. "Surprising though it may be, I know I don't make a good first impression. I'm better at scarin' folk then convincing them peaceful-like." Flashing Nomis a harmless grin, the dwarf added, "'Sides, this is supposed to be your mission. Well, you and the lass. I'm just tagging along."


 
 Originally Posted by GoggleDog 
 "Your idea of lovely is unique, Ms."
He said, spending a time looking at the receptionist when he spoke to her.. and then back at the cats. They were far more entertaining. Sin could handle backhand conversations well enough. 
 

"Kari. Mrs. Kari Foreman." Clearly noting his interest in the cats she adds, "And their names are Paws and Claws. I'll let you figure out which one is which."


 
 Originally Posted by GodEye Galatea 
 "A pleasant afternoon, madame. I am Sin Qia Graylight," she began with a polite nod. "My companions and I have been dispatched by Governor Longwood. We are here to meet with the town Mayor regarding a critical matter. Your assistance in arranging an audience with his honor would be greatly appreciated." 
 

"Oh, you're the city inspectors! It's so good to finally meet you!" The forced cheer in her voice vanishes as she perks up a bit more, and she nods. "Mayor Foreman has been expecting you and would be happy to welcome you to the city. His office is upstairs, at the end of the hall. He should just be finishing a meeting with the local smith masters about the recent troubles with iron shipments, what with the Red Fox banditry going on their trade materials are being squeezed, so just make sure you knock before entering." After a moment, she added, "A lot of people will be excited that you are here."

The second level had a short passage at the top of the stairs that opened up into a wide, almost studio-like hallway studded with side rooms and podiums displaying sculptures and plaques with town history and information. One of them displayed a mischievous fox wearing a tricorn hat, with a small plaque calling it 'The Red Fox,' and a short series of podiums that displayed the town at various points in its history.

At the end of this hall there was a pair of thick, oaken double-doors which had a small knocker on it to make sure anyone inside would hear you. The muted sound of voices within the mayors office could also be heard, though the wood made them indistinct.
GodEye Galatea
After offering Mrs. Foreman a courteous bow, Sin proceeded upstairs. Occasionally, she would glance back at her two companions, ensuring they were following suit.

Upon reaching the hallway, Sin took a few moments to admire the decor and architectural details. The intricate designs and craftsmanship fascinated her, as architecture was one of her keen interests.

Sin's gaze lingered on the plaque depicting the Red Fox, her mind delved into the rumors she had heard about him. The stories passed down through word of mouth and the legends that surrounded his name filled her thoughts.

Growing up with tales of the Red Fox, the guard had admired his fame and cunning since childhood. However, as she matured, her perspective shifted. She began to question and analyze the man behind the legends, pondering his actions and character. Her admiration evolved into a complex mix of admiration, curiosity, and a hint of skepticism as she formed her own opinions about this enigmatic and sly individual.
GoggleDog
He raised an eyebrow at Mrs Kari, and then the cats in acknowledgement. Well, he was always willing to take risks. But before that, they had work. He didn't spare any bows for the mayor's wife, leaving to Sin to bow for him aswell.

"At last, our target's face."
He said looking at the plaque fox, in this heat, his humour was as dry as his voice.

As they walked he had seen already enough architecture. Going up to the next floor he glanced at Sin as she looked at them with that look of hidden superiority. Those people were useful if you didn't care about ego. Got everything done for you and gave away all attention to their ass.
Now on the next floor, not caring much about admiration he walked straight and knocked on the door.
GodEye Galatea
Sin regarded Nomis with a serious expression as he attempted his dry humor. She didn't find it amusing nor serious, seeing it more as a frivolous use of resources.

However, she was mildly surprised by his initiative to knock on the door. Sin followed behind him, straightening her Sand Silk attire to appear presentable.
Gnomes2169
Conversation stopped when Nomis knocked, and a few seconds later a barrel-chested thirty-something year old human male opened the door and adjusted a pair of compact spectacles to get a good look at you. The buttons on his dress jacket had been undone, leaving his undershirt exposed to try and help him get through the the heat in the closed-off space of the office, and he had two golden cuff links on his sleeves imprinted with stylized oak trees. Looking between Nomis and Sin he asked, "Can I help you?" His voice was just as solid as the rest of him, and it projected through the hall even though he didn't seem to be yelling.

From the Red Fox statue, Vinc piped in. "These two are here about the problems, sir. City inspectors." And of all things, he saluted the man in the local style.

"Oh." The mayor looked over your dwarven companion for a second, as if trying to place him, but seemed to decide that this  must  be a member of his guard and dismissed him with a, "Well, thank you for showing them in. As you were." To Nomis and Sin he said, "Give me just a moment." Then he closed the door again and you can just barely hear his voice telling his current guests to clear out.

Vinc manages to give you a wink and a, "Good luck in there," before the door opens up again and a group of three well dressed middle aged men filed out, each of them bearing the tell-tale builds and scars of a life-long smith. They look you over a bit in passing, curious, before filing down the hallway and mumbling to themselves about what they'd seen. You can hear some chairs being shuffled around, a window opened, and some cabinets being closed before Mayor Foreman's voice calls, "Come in, come in!"

Within, the office was effectively an overly-large manor study. There were shelves with various books and trade manifests cluttering them, a set of three cushioned armchairs, an unlit fireplace, a desk upon which a map of the town and its surrounding area had been laid out, and a small carving station off to the side, which had a few blocks of roughly carved wood just starting to be shaped. It had been warmer in here than outside, so a cool breeze was drifting from the two open windows as all the body heat from the previous petitioners drained out. Gesturing at two of the chairs with a glass of brandy, which had been pulled away from the fireplace and set next to his desk, the Mayor said, "Please, take a seat. I trust you'd like a bit of refreshment after your journey? A bit of brandy or some of the wine from our vineyards?" There were a few bottles on his desk and a pair of glean glasses beside them. If the smiths had taken advantage of the mayor's hospitality, their cups had already been put away.
GodEye Galatea
The human would execute a courteous bow the moment she realized it was the mayor standing before them. This act was ingrained in her, a reflection of her training as a guard to be respectful and deferential to these political figures.

As the smithies passed by, Sin also offered them a slight bow. This time, it was a gesture of respect towards fellow individuals.

She wasted no time once the Mayor extended the invitation to enter. Before taking her seat, she took a moment to scan the interior of the office, noting any details that piqued her interest.

Sin's prim and proper demeanor was evident in her every movement as she gracefully took her seat. It seemed second nature to her, embodying grace and etiquette effortlessly.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Honorable Mayor. However, I must respectfully decline. I do not partake in alcohol, particularly while on duty."
GoggleDog
Unlike all other times, when they met with the mayor he did, to the world's suprise, bow slightly, mimicking whatever Sin has been doing for the duration of this trip. The blacksmiths and anyone else really didn't get the same treatment.
He decided to enter after Sin, she's the one that talks fancy, better have her in the spotlight.

The map was intriguing, so was.. wood carving? Everyone needed a hobby after all.

He almost rolled his eyes to how Sin spoke, but again, it was all part of the disguise. Just how he could hide in the dark, she could hide in plain sight.
Once they were given the okay to sit, he indeed had a seat. There was no flavour to it, the man simply just sat down after a long time of having his ass on wagon.

Also unlike Sin, he had no such weakness to alcohol.
"Some brandy sounds nice." Was the response that came from him.
Gnomes2169
The Mayor poured Nomis a glass and pushed it to the sharen, then put everything else away in a cabinet under his desk. Leaning above that hardwood surface, he studies the town map for a moment and sighs. "Thank you both for coming. I'll get right to it so that you can ask any questions you have and settle in: We've had a problem recently with a bandit calling himself the Red Fox. If you grew up near here, you might have grown up with stories of the original Red Fox and his exploits, but those happened  decades  ago, back when my parents were children. He became kind of a local legend after he disappeared, and there have been people every decade or so that try to emulate him, mostly kids that get caught, spend a night or two in jail and get released to their parent's custody without any real harm done. I'd almost call it an unofficial right of passage at this point, if I weren't the mayor and wasn't in charge of keeping and enforcing the law here." He smirked at that, took a sip of his brandy, and resumed frowning.

"This Red Fox is different. Unlike the others, he doesn't seem to be content to bloodlessly rob from the local nobles and their vaults, and he isn't working alone. He and his band have held people at knife point in the streets, robbed merchants on the road at the outskirts of Sheered Wood, and sometimes leave their victims dead." Another sip, an he sets his glass down. "Surviving witnesses have reported that this band's leader wears a red silk mask, a scarlet cape, and a red tricorn hat like the one you saw on the fox statue in the hall. His men also wear masks, though none of their attire is quite so colorful. My guards haven't had any success with tracking these bandits down, which is why I've posted the bounty and called for help from Longview. I'm hoping you'll be able to make some headway where my men did not."
GodEye Galatea
Sin leaned slightly forward from her seat, "Have there been any recent sightings or encounters with the Red Fox or his band that we should be aware of?"
Gnomes2169
"The most recent one was two, maybe three days ago. A small merchant ship on the river was boarded and burnt. As far as we know, all hands on board were lost. This was to the north, at the edge of our forests, perhaps a day's travel from here." Shaking his head, the Mayor added, "Whoever this group is, they've been smart enough to either sell their ill-gotten goods slowly, or they've found a shady enough merchant to sell to, because we have not noticed any large influxes of materials or valuables in any particular stall. What they sell is just  vanishing,  as far as we can tell."
GoggleDog
As the mayor and sin spoke, he had a sip and two of his newfound alcohol.
Interesting.

"Perhaps they don't plan to sell anything, but gather it up.. sent elsewhere.." he murmured in assumption, not directly bringing it up.

Well, atleast this fox killed nobles, there's something to respect to that. Even went out of his way to design a charlatan costume? Cheers.

"Have you considered a pattern on his attacks? The time to get the information of the shipments and to plan the ambushes must take him a certain amount of time. Let alone figure out if the shipments are of his attention. Other than metals, has he targeted anything else? Are there going to be any new shipments any time soon? And.."
He took a sip
"From the nobles, who haven't been targeted yet? Has he targeted one twice?"
He seemed.. fairly layed out, relaxed but his eyes were sharp. For someone that until this point only made jokes and jabs in the air.. he seemed to understand the difference between free time and duty, despite those two blending more than they should when he's involved.

(“Skullduggery to sus out any hints: 119”)
GodEye Galatea
The guard cast a sidelong glance at Nomis, nodding slowly with a hint of contemplation in her expression.
Gnomes2169
Pointing at Nomis, the mayor said, "We've looked at it, but haven't been able to determine a pattern. They started like the Red Foxes in the past; the first two times he struck he announced his intentions ahead of time with an anonymous paper pasted to the fountain, though  who  he chose was rather strange, now that I think about it." Tapping his glass of brandy, he goes to the map of the town and points at two parts on near-opposite ends of town. "Normally a new Red Fox will try for one of the larger noble houses, the whole point is the spectacle and daring, after all, but this one started with two  minor  houses. The first one was a newly landed aristocratic house on the eastern end of town, and the Fox stole from them bloodlessly. The second was an old family that had fallen from high status when they defaulted on too many loans, without an heir to their name... not only were their valuables taken, but the family line was ended and their property burnt down."

Frowning, he begins pointing at various streets and areas around the town. "Since then, they've stopped following the formula and instead picked victims seemingly at random. Iron carts, merchants staying late in the markets, loggers in the Silvervine plots, fishmongers, people wandering through an alley, the only thing they don't seem interested in is live merchandise, like cattle or chickens. Too pedestrian for them, perhaps?"

"And I haven't heard reports of anyone being hit twice by this new Fox. In fact, since the incident with the Vanderbilts, I haven't gotten a report that he's targeted any nobles  at all.  His crime spree has changed from larceny to banditry, though we don't know exactly why. Any noble houses that could afford to hire more guards have done so and are ready to protect their neighbors, so he might just be going after softer targets?"

 
 Spoiler: Nomis's Skullduggery roll 
From what he's describing, whoever is running this operation is either  extremely  clever and using their random hits to disguise what they are really after... or they're new to this and don't  actually  know what they're doing, and just doing what they are doing to cause general mayhem. There might be other possibilities, but from the information you have, those seem like the most likely situations.
 
GoggleDog
This was... Messy. He expected to be fighting some kid that decided to spare a few people the loans the noblemen hold, but this..
*Or trying to take down competition.* He added to himself as the mayor finished.

"Whoever is doing those operations is smarter than we give him credit for."
And after a second of silence
"Or stupid." He left humour to settle in.

"The animals would be too much bother to handle, to take away, keep, or sell." He got himself to look at the map, trying to find any areas of high activity.
"If they just wanted valuables, two noble families, no matter how minor, would have done the trick. He's after something else. He's preparing something else. Οr acting as a diversion."

In war, they'd do false attacks on a regular basis, you could never keep your enemy from thinking it's safe, or that you're planning something. You had to keep them guessing. But what was his deal? If he wanted more nobles, he'd just go silent for a while and strike again, right?

"I heard you mention of survivors that have witnessed the red fox himself? Where can we find them? What were they carrying? It'd be tough for anyone to be on all ambushes. Unless anyone could wear the mask."

"Where are the rest of the minor royals on the map?"
He asked and asked on top more questions, he was sharp and straight to the point, the man had an odd bruttish attitude to how he spoke, it almost did not fit the rest of his body, but it was carrying it's own charm nonetheless.
In his head he was trying to connect the royal residencies with the attacks around the map. Perhaps there was something there. Even if it was random, it was definitely to have a pattern of thought. Even international chaos could be analysed. But this..
GodEye Galatea
Sin remained silent, allowing the conversation to flow uninterrupted. The guard was in complete agreement with Nomis' questions and conclusions, finding herself aligned with his thoughts and inquiries. In fact, she would have asked the same questions herself. Without a word, she rose and approached the map, her curiosity evident in the way she studied it. She took meticulous mental notes, absorbing every detail while she pondered on how to narrow down this seemingly chaotic puzzle.
Gnomes2169
The mayor nods along with Nomis's observations, but doesn't interrupt. At the first question, though, Mayor Foreman says, "Actually, I'll be letting you ask them about that yourself. I'll be calling an emergency town meeting tomorrow, now that you two are here it won't do to delay the announcement of your arrival. The members of the town council and many of our more active townsfolk will be present, and at least a few of those will have first-hand experiences." Saying that, he tosses back the last of his drink and finally sits in the chair behind his desk.

"As for where the nobles are..." He gestures to the map. "About seventy years ago, there were two greater families that had purchased land here and sold titles and properties to other nobles and their laborers, basically making them the founders of Sheeredwood alongside my family. They didn't get along much to start with, but when the town grew large enough my family was still able to bridge the gaps between them and unify the two neighboring villages into one town. Still, how the town developed was  highly  influenced by that rivalry, and the nobles and other old families still mostly have their properties around the two great houses: Forwins to the south and the Veronas to the north." On the map, there were actually two different colors of ink that displayed the different districts; A red-laced black in the south, and a silver laced grey in the north.

Tapping the center of the northern nobles district, the mayor adds, "The Veronas were actually the primary victims of the original Red Fox, I think mostly because they kept rising to his challenges rather than any kind of personal vendetta, and the current head of their house doesn't enjoy his grandparents being cast as the villains of most of those fables... Kal Verona is probably going to have a few things to say to you." Frowning again, he taps the southern district. "Oddly, both of the noble houses that the current Red Fox attacked were in the Forwins part of town. Most Red Fox mimics go after a Verona-associated house, to keep with tradition, though attempting to rob a Forwin isn't  completely  unheard of..."
GoggleDog
Nomis nodded, this was a messy. All in all, what could the fox want? He went to have a sip, and realised that he run out and let his eyes trail on the map.

"The red fox could very well be a disguise and that alone. I'd also like to know of any new shipments coming your way, tomorrow. This behaviour is bait. Sometimes it's best to bite."
He looked at the half finished wood carving
"We'll have to make our decisions then."
He frowned to himself as a realisation came to his mind..
"Until then, I'll need rooms for me and my companions."
GodEye Galatea
"We deeply appreciate the opportunity to speak at the meeting tomorrow. I'm sure their insights will greatly assist us on this matter.” She nodded at the Mayor.

“But for now," Sin turned to Nomis, exchanging a knowing glance, "He is right. We could use a break."
Gnomes2169
Nomis's request came at just the right time, as the alcohol from the drink was just enough to make him start to feel a bit bubbly. Not  drunk,  but there was certainly a buzz making it a bit harder to concentrate and fuzzing at the edge of his thoughts.

The mayor seemed to be thinking things through himself as the conversation winds down, before blinking at the mention of rooms. "Yes, lodgings, of course! We'll see about arranging you a room in one of the inns tomorrow, at my expense, but tonight you can stay here. We have some rooms on this floor for dignitaries and such, and my wife and the staff make sure they stay in living condition. Will you be needing one room or two?"

 
 Spoiler: Nomis getting buzzed 
Nomis drank a full dose (a shot) of bourbon, and this stuff was brewed  strong.  So after 10 minutes it makes an attack against his Fortitude.

Nomis's Fortitude defense: 88
Bourbon's attack roll (1d100+50): 99, hit!

Nomis has suffered 1 level of exhaustion due to intoxication for 3 hours, at which point the effects of the drink end.
 
GodEye Galatea
"Three rooms, if that's not too much trouble. The dwarf is with us," Sin requested.
Gnomes2169
He blinked again and said, "Ah. I thought he wasn't familiar... we have enough rooms, and one for the guards of dignitaries as well. I'll make sure to tell my wife we'll have guests, and we'll make sure there's food for you at dinner. Now," Standing up, he gestured for Nomis and Sin to follow him and he said, "Let me show you to your rooms tonight, so that you have a chance to unpack and relax."

With that, he leads you into the hall and two doors down from his office. When he spots Vinc, he points at the dwarf and says, "You. I'll want to talk with you as well. Your room tonight is at the end of the hallway, first door past the stairs on the right." When the guard nods assent and moves to his bunk, the Mayor says to the two of you, "And for you, these two rooms are yours. No keys, but there is a deadbolt that can be slid if you desire privacy, and a bell string beside the bed if you need a servant for anything."

Seeing Vinc already leaving the guard bunk room, Mayor Foreman nods to you and says, "I'll give you some time alone. Excuse me." With that, he steps away from you and gestures for the dwarf to join him in his office.
GoggleDog
He exchanged glance with Sin, and suddenly he felt something.. yes..he knew what it was. The drink.
Nomis tried to keep his focus, he really did. But all in failure. Silently glad Sin took the lead he followed to see themselves to their rooms.
Huh... He felt he needed to inform the Mayor that the dwarf holds more of a babysitter role but decided his mind would not comprehend any more talk from someone with more money than fingers. Once the mayor was out of the picture, he rubbed his temple.

He closed his eyes, opened them, looked at Sin.. and with full certainty started making steps to a general direction, there was still a task at hand he had not done.

His mind clear, he knew what he had missed.
GodEye Galatea
Sin's glance lingered at Vinc with a certain depth until he entered the mayor's office, sensing that something was off about how the Mayor treated the dwarf. Once the door closed behind Vinc, Sin turned to Nomis, her gaze holding the same depth.

"As intricate as it may appear, I dare say this boils down to a mere 'family dispute' case. Would you care to share your assessments?"
GoggleDog
Having made a considerable distance now, he turned to face her

"Best case scenario, it's drama between the families. Worst case scenario, we're not getting damn paid. Whatever the case, you can handle them tomorrow, can't you?"
He sighed, he seemed.. tired? Did he really get tired from the talk or perhaps the hints of his alcoholism came fourth?
"I'm off to challenge the Fae themselves." He said as he started making his way back to the cats.
GodEye Galatea
The guard's expression nearly faltered at Nomis's response, but she managed to maintain her stoic facade. Vinc had been unwaveringly pragmatic during their three-day journey, emphasizing his motivation purely for financial gain rather than commitment to the mission. Now, Nomis was exhibiting a similar lack of enthusiasm.

She had hoped for a more in-depth discussion about the mission's details and plans, but the Sharen seemed disinterested.

"Very well," she acknowledged, slightly bowing at him, concealing the disappointment she felt.
Gnomes2169
Nomis makes his way downstairs, all of his equipment still on his back, and he gets a glance from Kari. While she raised an eyebrow at the rogue, she still gave him a knowing smile a second later and pointed at the meeting room stage. The cats have not moved yet, though the last bits of sunlight are just starting to slip from the podium they were napping upon. One cat is a tuxido kitty, black furred with white spots, while the other is a patchwork tabby of varying shades of brown, with ripples of black making waves through their fluff.

Sin, on the other hand, is left to make herself at home in the diplomat's chambers. While the bedroom wasn't lavish, it was still reasonably large for a single person, and somewhat 'cozy' looking. A single down bed large enough for two people was pressed against the back wall, just under a curtain-shrouded window, and a fur-lined quilted blanket covered it. There was a chest, a wash-basin and a mirror on the left wall, a closet and dresser across from that, and in a corner near the door was a small desk and stool for writing.
GodEye Galatea
The guard quickly assessed the room. Sin was not particularly picky, yet she preferred spacious areas with minimalist aesthetics. Despite its condition, she paid it no mind. After all, she knew her place, now and as always.

She admired the room. It was a step up from the guards' barracks, which were typically cramped and utilitarian. More importantly, she wanted to be alone above all else.

Closing the door behind her, she made her way to the bed and tested its comfort. The invitingly soft mattress tempted her to sit and relax, which she did. Soon enough, the bed enticed her to lay down.

 Why not? 

The long journey with her supposed ‘companions’ had been tedious and feeling the weight of exhaustion in her body, she longed to rest. Amidst the temptation, Sin couldn't allow herself to do so just yet. The thought of unfinished tasks weighed on her mind, urging her to keep moving rather than succumb to the comfort of rest.

Swiftly, she set aside items she deemed unnecessary and packed her bag lightly. With haste, she left the room before changing her mind. Descending the stairs, she spotted Nomis with the cats. After acknowledging the mayor's wife with a bow, she let her gaze linger on him as she headed for the exit.
GoggleDog
Nomis gives a knowing glance at Kari, as naturally dramatic as he ever was. There was no time to put his staff away, there was a cat to pat. Entering the hall he kept his silence as he approached them.

Nomis analysed the cats, and in his confusing decides to head pat the tuxido kitty.

 
 Spoiler 
Nomis rolls 44 to pet a *****
 
Gnomes2169
((Nomis))
The tuxedo cat was an absolute angel and not only allowed the sharen to pet them, but leaned that black and white face into his hand to ensure that he really gave this kitty proper cheek and chin rubs.  The tabby cat answered the mystery of which one was Claws, however, when they reached over, grabbed Nomis's petting hand with sharp little talons and ushered his hand to their fluffy self instead. Perhaps both of them were actually social critters, and Claws was just a bit  aggressively  handsy. No real damage was being done, fortunately, but Nomis wasn't going anywhere until he either satisfied the kittens or paid the price for his insolence via murder mitts.

((Sin))
The center of town is finally starting to cool down, and a few of the townsfolk have started coming out. Being at the apparent heart of the industrial district of Sheeredwood, the main buildings around are home to carpenters, smiths and trade offices, all arranged around the park she'd passed through to reach the mayor. The one non-business related building (other than town hall) seems to be a guard house, given a patrol had just entered it. A few people notice her, and nod politely while passing by on the street, but no one pays her any special attention that she can see.
GodEye Galatea
Sin reciprocated the salutations to those who greeted her. Years of working as a guard had ingrained this act into her routine. Perhaps it was due to constant interactions with people in her line of work, or maybe it stemmed from past experiences.

Observing the patrols of guards, she decided to head in that direction. Guards often had valuable information. Although the mayor had mentioned that his guards were handling the situation, Sin was aware that approaching them might not be the best idea. Nevertheless, she saw it as an opportunity that could potentially lead to valuable leads or insights.
GoggleDog
He- oh. Oh. I see what is going on."
He spoke to the cats, as he continued to obediently pet his new masters.
How long would he have to stay? How many years? Well, he cannot stay for that long, not until his business is over.

"Excellent. I will need that hand back, sooner or later. Claws, Paws."
 He spoke with the same voice he always has, even to the cats, as if they by themselves were people.

"She liked cats. Are you a couple? Well, if you're siblings that'd be unfortunate now." He made a shy attempt of letting go.
Gnomes2169
((Nomis))
"They aren't siblings." The mayor's wife told him, walking over to stand beside him. "Paws was my cat when I moved to this town, and a year after he brought a wet, grumpy kitten home with him out of the rain." Closing a small ledger that she handed to an aid, and waving a few others off with a, "Don't you have somewhere else to be?" she said to the sharen investigator, "So, you met with Erick. Good. I trust he was able to give you the big picture and I've been sending runners to convene the town council tomorrow, which I'm sure he'll want. You'll also be staying with us tonight, I presume?"

Stepping up behind the podium, Kari set her hands on the sides of the wooden surface and said, "My husband is good at keeping a story in mind, but leaves the finer details and gathering of resources to me. If you or your partner have any questions or requests while you stay here, please, feel free to ask."

The cats seem content with the offerings given to them and allow Nomis to reclaim his hand with only light scratching... for now. Having been woken up at this point, Claws stands with a stretch and hops from the podium, and Paws follows the tabby a second later.

((Sin))
Her wandering brought her to the guard post, a compact three-level building that had all of its windows opened at that moment. From her experience in the city, the top two levels would be for lodging, so that guards who were on duty but not out on patrol had a place to bunk could sleep and practice whatever hobbies they wanted, while the first floor would be home to the Captain's office, a small holding cell, the mess hall and racks to store equipment. It wasn't really a place where the guards would live, unless they were particularly hard on cash at the moment, and it wouldn't have space for all of the guards in this district, but it would comfortably house each shift until their replacements reported for duty.

Normally, the central guard station (like this one) would also hold the offices for local investigators, but from what Governor Longview had told her this town didn't have any dedicated inspectors, relying on their guards and freelance detectives (as she was acting at the moment) instead. Apparently, large criminal operations just weren't common enough to justify the expense of that department.

The patrol that she had seen walk into the guard post was taking off their equipment for the day when she came in. A group of three had split off to begin playing a game of cards in the corner, another one (still wearing his breastplate) stirred a large pot inside of a wood-fire stove, and the other three were polishing their boots and armor. It was the members of the last group that faced Sin when she entered the room. A hard-faced woman with streaks of white in her auburn hair and a few lines around her mouth spoke up, "What's your business here, stranger?" Her tone carried with it a measure of authority, and from the knots on her shirt sleeve she was the sergeant of this patrol.
GodEye Galatea
Sin entered the guard post with a confident stride. She posed professionally yet approachable. She greeted the guards with a respectful nod before turning her gaze to the hard-faced woman.

"Greetings," Sin began, her tone polite yet determined. "I'm Sin Graylight, a freelance detective currently investigating the activities of the Red Fox. I was hoping to speak with you to gather any information or leads your patrol may have encountered regarding the Red Fox."
GoggleDog
Nomis observed the cat couple as she spoke, before finally looking at her, now that the deities were satisfied and the retrieval of his hand certain.
"Yes, your husband has offered us some of the rooms to stay for the time being."
And after a pause
"I will admit, it's the finer details that I would like to know. The fox purposely makes chaos, there must be something else in his mind." He said
"What type of merchandise they've targeted more, where they were meant to go, who was to take them and pass them on to the final destination, what they'd be used for.."
Nomis rubbed his temple with his tattooed hand, he hated thinking, he was never good at it.
"Do you have records of the fox's attacks? Sightings?"
He asked, before letting a smile escape him
"I imagine there's whole stacks of ledgers." While it was meant as a joke, with his attitude it'd take a sense of humour to notice.
Gnomes2169
((Nomis))
"If it isn't worth filing in a ledger, than is it truly a report?" The mayor's wife asked, giving the sharen investigator a wry smile in return. Oh gods, she had an  administrator's  sense of humor. "Most of them are in my short-hand, though, and almost completely illegible to normal folk, so I'll make copies translating them for you and have them delivered to wherever you make your home for the duration of this case. I should have them to you within three days." She nodded, tapping her pointer finger and pinky of her left hand on the podium, and sighed. "Is there any other information you think you might need?"

((Sin))
The woman frowned at your statement, looking over Sin a bit, and then shrugged. "Huh, you're the one the captain talked about? Well about time the governor actually sent someone." Folding her arms, she leaned back on the bench and noted, "Been waiting almost a month for the blue bloods to take us seriously. You'll want to talk to Captain Kindly, most likely. He won't be in his office, though. Late enough in the day he's either still on his last round, or he's gone home, like he usually does at day's end."
GodEye Galatea
Sin took a moment to assess the sergeant's attitude, and it didn't appear to align with her intentions. With a subtle yet intentional exhale, she prepared herself for another round of diplomacy. While she didn't particularly enjoy these formalities, she understood their importance in her line of work, often compensating for the aspects that she lacked. It was a skill ingrained in her.

With a rare, albeit somewhat forced, smile, Sin addressed the sergeant. "It would be nice to speak with the captain, but I truly believe that conversing with someone as experienced and knowledgeable as you would be invaluable. I highly regard your firsthand insights and expertise about this matter." She glanced around discreetly before continuing, Perhaps after your duty, we could find a more private setting to discuss matters further. How about we grab a drink together? I'll be happy to cover the expenses.”

 
 Spoiler: Negotiation Roll 
Sin [Negotiation] Roll Result : 111
 
GoggleDog
The Fae be damned. She had an administrator's humour.
"Three days? That is enough time for another attack and two. Maybe I *would* like to give my chances on it after all. I've had experience with that gibberish."
He seemed.. odd, in a sense. Not many actions out of him as he spoke, just standing there, with all his equipment intact, as if there was a separate brain for actions. Finally, he placed his hand on his chin.
"Information on the families. How have their relationships been? Any recent drama.. I have heard royal families are more stubborn than corpses." He eyed the administrator,
Gnomes2169
((Sin))
The sergeant frowns a bit at first, turning her head to look at the other guards who were watching this conversation by this point, and then she lets out a long, purposeful sigh. "Well, I suppose I could let you buy me a drink and show you over to Blister's." The other guards nod and get back to whatever they were doing before at this, and a note of barely perceived tension fades away. "My rotation just finished, so if you give me a few minutes to grab a bite and make sure these fools don't burn the place down, I'll be good to go."

The other guards seem to be ignoring Sin, now, though not in a rude way. They just don't seem worried about the investigator-in-training, and are going about doing what they need (or want, in the case of the gamblers) to do.

((Nomis))
"Fortunately, we don't have any royals in this town. Our noble families are all aristocratic merchants rather than people who's bloodlines were 'blessed' with rulership by the gods. It's good old fashioned trade rivalries and land ownership that they feuded over back in the founding times." Kari said, reaching into a chest pocket of her shirt to pull out a small note pad. "It would be better to ask my husband or the families themselves about that, however. They know the relationships and heritages better than an outsider like me. I run the  numbers. "

With that, she slapped her note pad down on the podium, took hold of the platform, and spun it so that it faced the sharen investigator. Apparently someone had installed a swivel system in the podium's base, probably so a speaker could switch between addressing the audience or the people seated in the councilor's seats, and it spun nearly  silently.  "As for my shorthand, this is how I notated business expenses and merchant dues last month. Tell me if you can make any sense of that."

 
 Spoiler: The notebook 
Chis 9 4/  6  L, F(i), Che 60/ Ced 400/ Wal 300
Vin Ferm, De
Mar 6 6/  2  Ot, Op(r), Fe 260/ Qua 10/ Au 50/ Ag 120
Thu 3 5/  5  Ot, P, Var, Ar: NW
etc...
 
GodEye Galatea
"Of course!" Sin replied politely. "Please, take your time."

As she waited for the sergeant to finish, Sin continued to observe the inside of the post. Her attention briefly turned to the guards playing cards in the corner, but her curiosity quickly faded when she realized they were just playing the bland version. She swiftly shifted her focus, continuing to observe the other guards and the post itself, looking for clues or anything that might pique her interest.

 
 Spoiler: Perception Roll 
Sin [Perception] Roll Result : 114
 
GoggleDog
He opened the notebook, fully believing whatever was inside he'd manage to read it, how worst could it be from his?

It was far more horrific than he ever imagined.
There was a good one second pause from him and then he slowly took his eyes off the pages, directing themselves at her.

"You are a different beast all together."

And placed the book down, copying her own motions to send it to her direction via podium.
"I cannot imagine anything else necessary that won't be addressed tomorrow, with numbers, that is. I stand impressed, defeated, and in need of learning patience."
Gnomes2169
((Sin))
One thing that stood out under closer scrutiny is just how  new  everything seems to be in here. The floor and furniture only have minor scuffing, the equipment doesn't have the wear that Sin might have expected from well-used spears and truncheons, and their boots and coats are only lightly scuffed. The walls, stove and window frames, by contrast, are weathered, as if they hadn't been refurbished since the post's construction.

Wearing much more casual clothing, the sergeant straps her short sword back on her side and nods to the investigator. "Right. I'll see you lot later. Everyone listen to corporal Tims," There was some groaning and complaining about that, but it seemed lighthearted in nature, "and make sure you lock the door behind you this time. Inspector Sin, follow me." With that she marched from the building and turned to head to the northern end of town.

Once you're outside and a little ways down the street, she turned her head to look over her shoulder back at Sin and said, "Thanks for the excuse to get away from them. Someone  should  talk to you lot, but when an outsider bumps in on another officer's territory... well, you know how it is. Gotta save face and all that."

((Nomis))
She smiles, tapping parts of her notebook to explain, "It's more simple than it seems. The first three letters are an abbreviation of the business owner's family name, the first number is their reported profits for the period, the two numbers beside that are how many of their current tariffs they've paid and what they owed for the period, with the letters after that determining if they've underpaid, overpaid or have fully paid. Everything else is material business inputs, broken down into how many of each material they've purchased, minus any universal inputs such as coal, crates or water..." She closed the notebook. "But it'll be faster for me to write all of that out instead of making you go through translating it yourself. Again, three days. I'll make sure to include family major outstanding debts and loans that we know of, and which families those debts and loans are owed to."

Looking over his shoulder, Kari told Nomis, "It looks like my staff is almost ready to serve dinner." And she tucked her notebook away. At one of the doors, a few well-dressed butlers were wheeling a dish-laden cart into one of the rooms next to the reception desk. "Let's not keep them waiting." She said, gesturing for him to take the lead.
GoggleDog
Ηe held at her a look of uncertainty as she spoke...and spoke...and spoke about her book, it's not that he made an expression, it was that he simply stared..but somehow just a bit differently, before smiling faintly. By the cursed Fae.. He always thought that, despite that he did like reading and writing, he'd need none of it as a mercenary, and now here he was.
"Lords.." he murmured. A thought transcended him that perhaps Sin could read it for them, if he didn't find any paculiarities.. would she? It didn't matter. Things tended to blow up around him, the Fox will make himself appear.
"Yes, I could do that." He said to her as he lifted himself, food would help with his..other problem.. his head atleast didn't ring.
"I'll go leave my equipment."
He lifted his bag as an indicator
"In my rush, i kept it on. It was quite a bit of importance." He stated, perhaps they would be kept waiting.
GodEye Galatea
Sin sighed at her discoveries. It dawned on her that the equipment might be new or simply underused. The lack of signs of usage was evident, contrasting sharply with the well-used state of the cooking equipment. It seemed the kitchen saw more action than the armory.

She bid the other guards a respectful farewell before following the sergeant outside. She matched the sergeant's pace, walking side by side.

As the sergeant spoke, Sin listened attentively, a polite but slightly forced smile gracing her face. "You’re absolutely correct. As a fellow guard, I completely understand your position."

 "However, sometimes, that same pride can prevent us from reaching our objectives. Wouldn't you agree?" She glanced sideways at the sergeant.
Gnomes2169
((Nomis))


 
 Originally Posted by GoggleDog 
 "In my rush, i kept it on. It was quite a bit of importance." He stated, perhaps they would be kept waiting. 
 

Kari nodded and waved him on. "Go ahead, we will save you a spot." Having dismissed him, she made her way over to the dining room.

Upstairs, Nomis found himself alone among the historical gallery. A servant had walked past him on the way down and mentioned that dinner would be served soon, but other than that there didn't seem to be anyone else around. Mayor Foreman's meeting with Vinc was still going on, with voices raised just enough to be heard indistinctly through the office door, so they might be occupied for a while.

((Sin))


 
 Originally Posted by GodEye Galatea 
  "However, sometimes, that same pride can prevent us from reaching our objectives. Wouldn't you agree?" She glanced sideways at the sergeant. 
 

The sergeant grunted a bit, then nodded in agreement. "As I said, someone who knows their hands from their arse needed to talk to you. I'm sure the captain will help some, once you get to him, but he's more of an administrator than a boots on the ground officer these days." She hesitated for a moment before adding, "Also, his last name isn't Kindly, we just call him that because he  isn't.  A it of playful ribbing on our part. Don't call him that if you want to get along. His actual family name is Arnestad. Captain Kal Arnestad. My name's Neva, by the way."

Having made her proper introductions, the sergeant became quiet as she made her way around a crowd that was lined up to enter a tavern with named "The Blistering Flame," and just kept walking  past  it. Once past the people who could overhear she turned her head to Sin and asked, "So, what can I tell you, inspector Sin?"
GoggleDog
Gratitude. He thought, it would feel good to sit on something royally comfy after being on a bandwagon all day long and eat something that didn't resemblance soldier rations.
He only glanced at the servant, without saying a word and was about to leave his stuff, until.. they were still talking?

Maybe it was the alcohol, or that he has learnt to not trust anyone that smiled too much, or that he was actually curious to what they were saying but didn't wish to interact with the dwarf's antics more than necessary, or all of the above.. He, carefully walked towards the door, from the side of it and movee himself to listen.

107 for stealth
72 for perception
GodEye Galatea
"Thank you for the heads-up, Neva. It's good to know what to expect. I'll be sure to address him properly."

She silently yet confidently followed Neva through the crowd, her eyes darting from left to right, scanning the surroundings. Being in unfamiliar territory, Sin's observant nature took over as she absorbed every detail, intent on gathering as much information as possible.

“Your straightforwardness is refreshing and exactly what I need to get to the bottom of this.” Sin said, curling her lips.

“So, tell me, what’s your take on the Red Fox situation? Any insights or hunches you think might help us?"
Gnomes2169
((Nomis))
The enforcer-in-training was silent and didn't trip over anything as he made his way over to the door and leaned in. No servants came up to ask him just 'h-what he did he think he was doing???,' so Nomis was able to stand and listen to his heart's content. Unfortunately, the thick wood of the door muffled everything Vinc's reasonable and calm voice was saying into a soothing yet indistinct rumble. The mayor's voice, on the other hand, was suitably loud enough to make out his words with enough work.

"- month, and Longview finally sends his own... Don't care who you actually... So what changed? ... Those damned feuds have been buried for thirty years! Surely there's no... What, he doesn't trust me to send word myself if I can't handle some rebels?" There was a period where both of their voices were too low to make out, then the mayor says, "Fine! I can't overrule the governor, but I don't have to  like  it." Then the voices were too low to make out again. It's been around 5 minutes of snooping by this point, and from the tones coming from the room the conversation wasn't likely to become an argument again anytime soon.


 

((Sin))
From Sin's quick observation, the crowd going into the tavern was relaxed and somewhat well-off, and the establishment itself was actually quite well furbished and a bit busy. It wasn't a  snobby  bar, but probably hosted a limited selection of expensive drinks to go with the more affordable ones, and even the common drinks might be a bit up-charged compared to the same ones in a more stab happy dive-bar. It was also certainly the place that the sergeant had said Sin was  taking  her to get drinks, what with it being the "Blistering Flame" and Neva saying she was taking the inspector to a place called "Blister's," and yet the two were walking past it instead of inside.

Neva grunted at Sin's comments and question, saying, "Direct and simple works best in situations like this, I've found. Inspectors and bounty hunters, you lot are persistent and will figure everything out eventually anyway. Or just cause me headaches with your shenanigans while getting nothing done." Waving that off, the sergeant said, "But you're a guard yourself. You know that there's a...  difference  when there are crimes being committed by locals and when they're being done by outsiders. Just something in the way perps move through the city, who they pick off, that kind of thing. We haven't been able to get much on these bandits, but they don't  feel  like outsiders. They know the streets too well, know patrol routes, that kind of thing. Thing is, we didn't  have  any criminal masterminds or anything before this Fox showed up."

She frowned, glancing over her shoulders and stopping when she didn't see anyone else on the street or anyone listening at the windows. "Haven't had anyone in the shadier side of business drop hints at who's been causing trouble either. They don't usually talk to guards, but in a situation like this... well, a Mister Johnston stopped me on the street with a message for the captain that it isn't them." She grunted and added, "It's hard to know for certain, of course, but we're pretty sure that one or two of  their  boys have been hit as well, and that business on their end hasn't been smooth since the Fox showed up."
GodEye Galatea
The inspector’s eyes narrowed as they passed the bar. Neva must be up to something. Still, she calmly went along, as if she didn’t mind.

“You could’ve mentioned it if you weren’t keen on my proposal,” Sin said, glancing at the bar.

“But I do appreciate our pace now,” she added, her voice reassuring. “Can you tell me more about this Mr. Johnston?”
GoggleDog
Nomis after a few moments took some steps back, speechless. What did he gain from that? Another headache. Without anything further, he went to his room, let his bag but kept his sword belt and his handbow, those two had their own rightful place on his person.

*Feuds* he thought, and remembered the talk he and Sin had before separating ways. Fae be piled up and set on fire upside down for eternity...
Atleast they would get paid.

Eventually after gathering up his thoughts, he left and went on his way, seems like he did keep people waiting.
Gnomes2169
((Sin))
The sergeant gives a grin to the investigator that can only be described as 'default,' stares into the middle distance, and says, "Yeah. It was a good enough excuse to go out, and there's good drink and furnishing at Blister's, but... Ol' Frank's nephew has gotten it into his head that he's the next Fisher." Fisher had been a bard who's baudy satirical songs were still barroom staples almost two centuries since his death. "Frank doesn't have the heart to crush the lad's dreams, so he's the nightly entertainment... I'm sure an in-tune instrument accompanied by a skillful tone will grace the bar eventually, but that lad wouldn't be able to find one if they walked up and stabbed him."

In answer to Sin's question, Neva frowns in recollection and says, "Not an overly-tall fellow. He did that thing where they hide their faces under a hood and wear a cloak, but his accent weren't 'natural' to him. Like he'd heard common folk talking and was trying to dumb himself down and emulate it. Had some good quality boots on, and there was a pin holding the collar of his cloak closed, don't remember what it looked like exactly because I didn't get a proper view of it, but I think it was some kind of jumping fish or flying bird? Didn't get much else, these kinds of people take a lot of effort to disguise themselves around coppers like you and me, after all."

((Nomis))
If the people in this town could hear the sharen investigator's thoughts, they would be quite flustered at his  creative  methods at cursing, and if the archfey really  could  read his thoughts his soul might be in a bit of trouble... but fortunately, there was no fey-worshiping telepath around to hear his blasphemy (or at least, none that cared), so he was home free to think whatever he wanted as he finally unpacks and gets ready for the evening meal.

In the dining hall, the fact that he kept the handbow gets a few glances from the help and the governor's wife, but no one questions it when he takes his seat. The room itself isn't much larger than the governor's office upstairs -though, to be fair, that didn't mean it was small. There were three separate doors leading into the room, one which connected to the entryway, another the meeting hall, and a third that likely led to the bell tower if basic architecture was to be believed. The main dining table itself was a rectangle large enough to hold a dozen occupants, there was a small corner table for aids (or, perhaps, children) to sit at that had four chairs tucked into the northern corner of the room, and there was still room for people to walk behind each chair with a cart or tray if necessary.

At the moment, there weren't that many people present. Five spots were laid out; One at the head of the table for the mayor, to the right of which sat Kari, one more on her side, and two chairs opposite. The evening meal seemed to be a light thing, just some bread, cheese and a vegetable potato soup already served out. The mayor's wife has not started eating yet, instead she sits with her laced-together hands held up in front of her and her head bowed down to lightly press against them, either in prayer or meditation. After giving him a subtle nod of recognition, she closes her eyes and returns to her pre-meal ritual.
GodEye Galatea
Sin gazed intently at the tavern, her eyes devoid of emotion as they locked onto the establishment while she thought for her next move. While at it, she felt a sense of relief knowing that things had worked out in her favor, given that she only had three gold coins remaining and couldn't afford to pay for their drinks. However, she didn't let her satisfaction show, her face remained stoic.

Shifting slightly, Sin turned her attention to Neva. "Do you have any information on any connections or affiliations that this 'Mr. Johnston' might have?" she finally inquired.

"And," she continued, holding her chin in thought, "would it be possible to arrange a meeting with him?"
GoggleDog
If the people in this town could hear his thoughts, he'd be more than happy to say that that was a thing more so from his wife, rather than him. And if she was here she'd be happy to explain the whole procedure of the insult put to practice.

Nomis, despite his bluntness was not daft of his actions, not too much, atleast. He ignored the glances as he usually did, but held his gaze for a second to kari as she glaned too, and got his seat opposite to hers.

He didn't start eating yet, some still hidden tact remained of the man, apparently. Instead, for a long moment he stared at the tattoo of his hand, a blossomed red rose which completely contrasted the rest of his pale skin.
He realised that while he did held some tact, it was not enough to hold his silence, hiding the memories of a distant past, of a different man away.

"Does Sin happen to have left any indication of where she left off to?"
Gnomes2169
((Sin))


 
 Originally Posted by GodEye Galatea 
 Shifting slightly, Sin turned her attention to Neva. "Do you have any information on any connections or affiliations that this 'Mr. Johnston' might have?" she finally inquired.

"And," she continued, holding her chin in thought, "would it be possible to arrange a meeting with him?" 
 

The guard lifts an eyebrow and gives an amused grunt. "Aye, sure, he told me where he lived, invited me to dinner, gave me a pat on the bum and slipped a business card in my pocket before he absconded without another word." Scathing sarcasm done with, Neva shakes her head and tells Sin, "He didn't tell me much beyond saying it wasn't one of them, so there isn't much I can help you with on that front. That said, there  is  a bit of good news... if you folks are effective enough, they'll probably arrange a meeting with  you  instead."

Pulling a flask out of one of the pouches on her belt, the guard cautioned, "You're already trying to track one elusive criminal, don't try to track down the whole criminal underground while you're at it."


((Nomis))


 
 Originally Posted by GoggleDog 
 "Does Sin happen to have left any indication of where she left off to?" 
 

Kari opened an eye to look at him, smirked, then closed her eye and said, "I was hoping she'd mentioned something to you. Last my staff knew, she was walking towards the central district guard garrison."

The main dining room door opened a moment later and a tired-looking Mayor Foreman, followed by a moderately miffed Vinc, finally joined the two sharen. The Mayor took his place at the head of the table, Vinc took the chair next to Nomis, and the two almost sighed in unison as they sat. After muttering a quick prayer to Fein, the Mayor looked at Nomis and said, "Good on you to join us, Nomis. Do you know if your other traveling companion will as well, or...?"

His wife chimed in, saying, "It seems Sin has decided to go for a walk, dear. Perhaps she'll join us later."

He frowned, but grunted his acknowledgement and nodded his acceptance. "Well alright, then. No need to wait on her in that case..." With that he started to eat, and Nomis was no longer bound by even his rudimentary knowledge of propriety.
GoggleDog
He perked a brow at that. So the guard went to the garrison.. makes sense. And it was for the best, they may know something more. And besides, guards found mercenaries like him.. difficult. He can't say he didn't do the same in the army.
Perhaps she'd get something out of it.

He was about to reply with, *Well, I wouldn't know, her Majesty is quite peculiar about her whereabouts for a mere peasant as myself, for you see-* but the door opened before he could truly flesh out even half of his wit.

He looked at the mayor and vinc sharply, he would have to pull that man somewhere to understand the context, but now was not the time.
Nomis just kind of stared down the mayor's remark of him. Little did that man know that Nomis was not in any way capable of affording his own for the time being.

He looked at his baby sitter, the dwarf, and got a faint smile, yet his words flat as he knew by now
"That's one mood to contrast the morning one."
With that in mind, he started to eat, no prayer or oath holding the man back. He'd eat just a bit faster than most, but oddly enough for his reputation not much noise came from him.
GodEye Galatea
“Fair point,” Sin responded, sealing off the conversation to avoid revealing any more of her intentions. She noted that, though both she and the sergeant were guards, they each had their own methods. “Could you arrange a meeting with the captain for me? I would appreciate that very much.”

She cast a cautious glance around, scanning the surroundings. “And how about you? Who do you think the Red Fox might be? What's his objective?”
Gnomes2169
((Sin))
"You'll be meeting the Captain whenever the mayor holds his town meeting, now that you've arrived, but I'll try to put in a good word for you. As for my opinion..." She rubbed at her chin, then said, "I don't trust the word of the criminal representative. Even if the Fox isn't one of theirs, they  must  be helping them somehow."

Taking a sip from her flask, Neva leans back and asks, "Anything else you want to ask me tonight, inspector?"

((Nomis))
The meal passes mostly without incident, though the mayor natters on about little factoids about the town and its history*, while his wife chimes in once in a while to correct some exaggerated numbers. For the first time in his life, Vinc seems to not want to talk and shares in the investigator's silence, seemingly more concerned with his food than he is with anything else at the moment. All in all, Nomis is able to eat his food and talk  exactly  as much or as little he desires.

 
 Spoiler: OoC 
*If you wanted to try to catch anything that might be important/ to remember what the mayor is telling you, go ahead and make a Civil Lore roll. Otherwise, I'm not going to go into super detailed details here.

Cliffnotes are: This town was once two separate logging villages built in the same county plot because the Forwins and Veronas refused to let go of their halves of the land. The Foreman family was assigned to oversee and keep the peace/ make a buffer between them, which is why the mayor is the mayor. The northern village/ half of town (founded by the Veronas) does both logging and agriculture (notably, they own and operate the local vineyard), while the southern village/ half of town (founded by the Forwins) also does logging but adds in mining, coal production and metal refinery (notably, they have the most smiths). The Foreman family has been in charge of providing for the law and guards, but also branched out to create more fine carpentry jobs, and most of the statues, public furniture and various building decorations were actually the current mayor's idea/ pet projects.
 
GodEye Galatea
"That would be all for now.” Sin said, bringing their conversation to a close.

“Thank you for your time, Neva. Your insights have been invaluable."

With a respectful nod and a traditional guard's salute, Sin turned on her heel and began making her way back to the manor.

The summer breeze accompanied her as she walked, her mind busy piecing together the new information she had gathered. Yet, deep down, she questioned whether she had made the most of her approach, feeling a gnawing sense that the time spent might not yield the desired results.

As the setting sun bathed her in its reddish glow, Sin's dull gray eyes remained untouched by its warmth, as if the light couldn't reach the depths of her thoughts.

The mission was far from over, and she could feel time slipping through her fingers. She had to give it her all, or risk being swallowed by the encroaching shadows of failure, again.
GoggleDog
Nomis ate and he listened, and asked. While at first his interest wasn't so evident as he'd focus on his silent meal with vinc, the more the mayor and his wife spoke the more he found himself asking questions about things, various plot holes in the story, and all in all, anything that was enough to make him raise an eyebrow, which to be fair, is a lot of things in life.

"Well, odd you chose your arch nemesis for practice but I assume it's no different from making a sketch of one and throwing knifes at it." He said, remembering at their meeting the fox sculpture and his incredible joke.

"What was your family up to before being assigned of taking charge of the place?" He asked

(I rolled 87 for civil lore at some point)
Gnomes2169
((Sin))
Giving a more relaxed salute in return, the sergeant says, "Good luck to you, inspector Sin." Then the two of them went their separate ways.

When she arrives at town hall, the others have been talking and eating for a little while. There's still food for Sin set out on the table next to Kari, and the mayor pauses in his conversation to greet her before answering one of Nomis' questions.

((Nomis, and also Sin now))
Once Sin was settled in, the Mayor returned to the conversation. "Now then, nemesis? No, the original Red Fox wasn't a villain. Beyond just being an icon for the common man pulling one over on the nobles, he was also a major reason why the feud between the Forwins and Veronas ended. The two families started working together to try and catch, or at least stop, him, you see, and nothing brings people together like a common enemy." With a shrug and chuckle he also admits, "He's also the thing that this town is best known for, so there's no harm in leaning into the myths a little bit, is there?"

The second question catches him a little off guard, but the Mayor still answers cheerfully enough. "Well, my family were nobles in the Scadir military, a line of commanders in the standing army, mostly concerned with matters of logistics. My grandparents were sent here with a garrison to keep the potential feud from developing into something more nasty, and to ensure the town grew and remained prosperous. We have succeeded, thus far at least."

 
 Spoiler: Civil Lore roll 
As the conversation went on, Nomis had learned the names of the nobles in charge of each of the founding families and their presumptive heirs:

Kal Verona and Cole Forwin are the current heads of family, and were the ones that officially ended the rivalry between their families when Cole took over the family estate ten years ago. Kal is one of the only people in town that hates all this fascination with the original Red Fox, seeing the actions of the thief as a stain on his family's honor, so he's been one of the major members pushing for this new bandit's capture or execution. Cole comes from a younger family and is more of a shrewd businessman who's greatly expanded his family's fortunes, but while there's plenty of precious metals in the hills the recent lack of iron from trade has hurt his family's prospects since people need more iron tools than they do golden jewelry or silver cups.

Bryce is the heir of the Verona household, and throws his family's weight around, even when it's unwarranted. The Mayor once tossed him in prison for a night because the boy tried to give  him  a command. He seems more than happy to play into the old family rivalries that his father has left behind, but that might just be because he's a bit of a twit.

Seth is the heir to the Forwin household, and takes after his father (or at least pretends to), though there's a certain amount of boyish energy and recklessness that he isn't able to disguise. He's a smart kid, and has already garnered a bit of a reputation for being ruthless in his business dealings, which might be why he's playing into the rivalry with Bryce. The two do  not  get along.
 
GodEye Galatea
Sin normally preferred not to eat, moreso, eat with others, especially when she was this tired. The three-day journey had been grueling, and she could feel the fatigue weighing on her. Still, she decided to join the table, knowing that she needed food to at least replenish her energy and more importantly not wanting to appear rude to her potential sources of information.

After offering warm, respectful greetings and apologies for her tardiness, she went to eat with impeccable table manners. Every movement, from the way she sat to her use of utensils and how she sipped from her glass, exuded elegance. It was a display of simplicity, subtlety, and grace, seeming to flow naturally from her.

As her hosts spoke, the novice inspector remained quiet.
GoggleDog
Nomis found himself remembering once again that he didn't like thinking all that much. It was something he could do, something he could do really well if he had to, but didn't quite speak to him as much as practicing with his weapons and living the moment by taking it away from others.

He felt a bit surprised by the mayor's reaction to the fox, especially since it's reputation is the one that came back to haunt them as a new one took the old one's place. But again, he felt respect for the fox, too. He'd have even greater respect for the fellow once he helped fill his pockets.
He only looked at Sin to acknowledge her existence and smiled ever so faintly, it was one of those smiles he did that was preparing for another sly joke- yet none came, perhaps he was just smug. And so continued focusing on the mayor.
Nomis frowned at the word of military involvement at first sight, but as the mayor continued he just shook his head in the appearance of disbelief, and perhaps some relief too.
"That must have been quite the suprise for the families, to find suddenly their little feuds and plays taken away by higher command. Was there any resistance? Is there any now?"
Gnomes2169
((Both))
By this point the soup was cooled to room temperature, which was perhaps a bit pleasant for Sin after the last few scorching days. No one interrupted her with questions, as the mayor seems more focused on Nomis at the moment. "My grandmother told me stories about how the leaders of the families had to be dragged into line kicking and screaming at times, but in the time of my father the families and their allies had more or less settled into a bloodess rivalry, and these days Kal an Cole are as thick as thieves. Honestly, I barely have to do anything to keep the peace between them." He shot a glance at Vinc before he said the next part, "Their sons, though, do not get along. Bryce Verona is a headstrong young man, and Seth is perhaps a bit overly ambitious."

"What my husband means is that Bryce Verona is a brash fool, and Seth Forwin is happy to humiliate him if it helps him improve his standing." Kari interrupted, not looking up from the bread she was spreading butter on.

Eric frowned at her and asked, "Dear, please. Could you try to be a bit more diplomatic?"

"Better to be accurate than political with people that aren't politicians, dear. Besides, am I wrong?" When he didn't contradict her, she turned her attention back to Nomis. "The heirs to the families famously do not get along, and there are plenty of youths among the minor nobles around them that are happy to play into that rivalry if they think it will earn them favor. Thus far, Seth seems to come out on top in their public confrontations. He's smarter and more patient. He'll make a good member of the town council one day."
GodEye Galatea
The cooled potato soup didn't appeal to her. It tasted like yesterday's leftovers. Sin was meticulous about her meals, preferring this kind of soup hot but also recognizing that serving hot dishes in scorching weather wasn’t ideal. Still, she ate it without a word, aware she had neither the time nor the right to be picky. She always made a point of knowing her place when  on duty .

Remaining silent, she continued eating with grace. Her attention was fixed on the conversation around her. Her eyes followed each speaker, a subtle but clear display of interest and respect. She kept taking mental notes and quietly assessed each point, piecing together information she deemed important for their current mission.
GoggleDog
Did Kari realise he was starting to zone out? No matter, finally, after being played like a fiddle from every person he's spoken to to this day, someone speaks! A sly smile of amusement forming on him between the two, before focusing on Kari with his usual attitude.

Well, blue blooded or not, it seems stupid rivalries in everyone with power.
"I appreciate the.. accuracy. I should have warned, Politician work had never been the best of my proficiencies."
After taking one more taste of their dinner, he realised he was almost done with it.
"So, what you're saying is that young people take upon themselves the role of youth with slices of it's dumbness with great pride." He said, as if it was a profound quote. Something that contrasted with... If his youthful face was any indication, that man couldn't be older than 25 himself. Perhaps even younger?
Gnomes2169
Kari lifted an eyebrow at the young sharen that was hardly older than some of those 'youths' they were talking about. "Well, something like that." She said, leaning back so the household staff could take her bowl and plate.

The mayor, after a few seconds of silence pass and the dishes of everyone who was done had been cleared away, chimes back in. "Well, Inspector Sin, was there anything that  you  wanted to know?" From the tone, it sounded like he was ready to call it a day, but still willing to answer one more question if she had one.
GodEye Galatea
Sin made sure there was no food left in her mouth before responding, delicately wiping her lips clean with the napkin. "For now, I have no further questions," she replied respectfully.

Glancing at her plate, which still held some food, she subtly indicated that she had finished eating, observing the unspoken cues of the meal’s conclusion.
GoggleDog
Νοmis, with that in mind, held himself from smirking to the responses of what he said, only one so slight faint escaping. He got up himself and prepared his leave.
He stopped mid way and looked at Sin "Once you're done with anything else you'll be doing, knock to my door."
He said, completely missing the so called subtle indications of a finished meal and left the room, completely forgeting to say his thanks and good nights to everyone.
Gnomes2169
Fortunately for Nomis, his host doesn't seem to be in the mood to take offense at his rudeness and instead stands up with a stretch of his own. "Then I believe that we should retire." To Kari he says, "I'll be returning to the study, dear, if you would care to join me." With a bid farewell to both investigators, the mayor and his wife part ways with Nomis and Sin and leave them alone for the rest of the night.
GoggleDog
Nomis went to his room, checked his stuff to make sure it was all there, and kind of.. just rested besides the bed, using it to hold his back, with his sack of staff next to it. He was taking everything out and re asserting it. Amongst it all was more knifes, arrows, smoke bombs, a grappling hook and.. playing cards? An astral deck, it seems old and like it has seen some action.

He sat on his floor cleaning his equipment and preparing it for the days to come as he awaited for Sin. Who knows, maybe she'd even come in the first minute of his unpacking.
GodEye Galatea
The young Sharen investigator was right. Within moments, he heard a knock on his door. Sin didn’t hesitate. She went straight to it, her steps purposeful and determined, as if letting no time go to waste. There were a few important matters she needed to discuss with Nomis, and one of them was his behavior.
GoggleDog
The young investigator sat motionless for one second after he heard the door, and then continued to clean his equipment, the way a soldier would. Those weapons were his life, and he'd depend on them with it when the time came, and it always does. So a thorough operation on them wasn't only an obligation, but a must.

"The door is open. Come." He said, with his usual tone and lack of tone in his voice.

She'd find Nomis with a raised eyebrow "Took you long enough." He said, with a voice not too unfamiliar to a wall
GodEye Galatea
Sin carefully opened the door and, once inside, closed it behind her without turning around.

"You should've been polite and waited for our hosts to say their farewells first. It's more professional that way," she said, her voice soft and calm, yet there’s an underlying firmness in it.
GoggleDog
In response, Sin got a blank stare from her coworker.
"What proves our professionalism is our results, not our tea parties." He explained, and shrugged the subject away.

"Kari will have the info of all the targeted subjects, supplies, and destinations in three days time. We may be staying here far longer than we thought."
And after a pause of hesitation
"But that approach will most likely lead to a dead end. I'm certain the town has looked into everything that we are currently doing and found nothing."
GodEye Galatea
Like Nomis, Sin brushed off the subject with a shallow sigh. What could she expect in terms of professionalism from a mere mercenary? It felt like a waste of time to address it further.

"Looked into it, but they might be turning a blind eye," sliding her hand unintentionally over the hilt of her sword by her partner's approach to their mission. “Earlier, I spoke with a guard who mentioned that this Red Fox is intimately familiar with the town's layout. They know patrol routes, key locations, and even the guards' routines.” Pausing for a moment, she added, “Apparently, a person named ‘Mr. Johnston,’ who appears to be connected to a criminal group, is also involved with them.”

“I would like to review the information Kari will provide. It might be crucial in narrowing down this investigation. I'll urge her to expedite the process. Three days is far too long to wait.” Her hand tightened on the hilt of her sword as she glanced out the windows.
GoggleDog
There was a pause from Nomis, before getting up and checking the door to make sure that walls indeed held no ears
(57 perception)

Afterwards, he looked back at her and the grip of her blade, but gave no comment.
"You're more than welcome to try. If the rest of the investigation goes with our current pace, we may have to put up residence."

"Foreman is in charge of the troops and their organising." He grunted
"If they're so familiar and so influencial to pull people from outside in his parade.."
"The best way to lure away suspicion is to play one of the victims." He flatly said, looking outside aswell.

"Mr Johnson. I imagine contact with him would be difficult to make."
GodEye Galatea
The female investigator raised an eyebrow slightly as Nomis moved toward the door. While she acknowledged it might be acceptable to check, she found it unnecessary.

“Indeed, it will be,” she concurred. “Even the guards can’t seem to get a grasp on him or the criminal group he’s involved with. However, it’s also worth considering that the Red Fox might be allied with these criminals. They may not be competing at all but instead teaming up.”

She slowly looked up at Nomis. “How do you propose we execute this ‘luring’ strategy?”
Gnomes2169
While Nomis could hear some movement from staff in the house, Nomis didn't notice any of it lingering around his door. He would also know, thanks to Frost's training, that "Mr. Johnson" is more of a title than a name among the criminal underground, used by people who wanted to remain anonymous while still functioning as an intermediary or mediator between various groups.
GoggleDog
" If the mastermind is an insider who knows the ins and outs of the guards and all the right places to avoid... chances are we'll see him tomorrow, in the meeting. So that plan of luring them would work only if he wanted to."
He sighed,
"That, is, if it's one of the "royals" we'll be seeing."

"Originally, I wished us to lure him in by hiding in the supplies they often steal, but it seems they really but take anything."
He snorted at that
"So until our girl is done, we can't have a conclusive plan."
He considered, and a faint smirk appeared
"But, process of elimination is a wonderful thing, if you can stomach taking any wagon we can find."
At this point he had went back to his sit on the floor among his weaponry

"If our target is at the town meeting, chances are whatever we plan with them either fails or succeeds. Only because they wanted it to. Maybe his true goals are to undermine the mayor's authority and of the houses if it's not supplies he seeks." He shrugged

"Working with hypotheticals is a pain. I can practically feel my brain wrinkling."
GodEye Galatea
Sin’s eyes narrowed at Nomis' response. Had she overestimated him? She had expected something more innovative, a suggestion with a higher chance of success. But what she heard was common, uninspired and unassured. She watched him as he sat down, she reminded herself that he was likely as exhausted as she was and they still had a few information at hand. Perhaps it was too early to judge.

"I appreciate your insights, Inspector. Our best move for now is to wait," she said, maintaining a diplomatic tone.

“The night is getting late, and we both need rest. I must bid you farewell now.”

With that, Sin turned and headed toward the door.
GoggleDog
He stared for a second after she spoke.. diplomatically. Did he overestimate her based on her fancy wording? She merely stated the obvious and a criminal's alias.. Well, he does that too, so it was only fair. He shrugged mentally.

"I was under the illusion that the night came just in time."
He flatly stated, and took out his weathered deck of astral cards
"Up for a game of Elconin?"
GodEye Galatea
She glanced back at him sideways. She had played those kinds of card games before, to pass the time or when she felt she had to, but she didn't really enjoy them. They lacked the challenge and excitement she craved. She did like cards, though, especially the 'special' astral deck she aimed to own someday.

Considering her colleague’s known capacity, she felt it would just be a waste of time to play with him. “We'll have to save this for another time. Goodnight.”

With those final words, Sin left the room.
Gnomes2169
Sin left Nomis to play with himself, and her way back to her room was uneventful. The night also passed undisturbed, and our heroes awaken to a brand new day. The early morning was a good deal less hot than the previous day, but already it was promising to be a bit warmer than most people would find comfortable. Outside of town hall, the streets were just starting to fill with people. Night shift for the town guard was turning in, and some of the more dedicated craftsmen were making their ways to their places of business.

Inside town hall, there was a bit of bustling coming from the floor below you as the staff begins preparing for the meeting scheduled for this morning. They also drop small trays with breakfast off in front of Sin and Nomis' rooms, knocking before they announce that the food was there, but otherwise seem content to leave the pair of investigators alone.
GodEye Galatea
Sin was already in the halls, punctual but not overly so—she didn’t relish waiting.

The novice inspector appeared well-prepared, clean and fresh as the new day. Her hair was neatly tied in its usual knot, and her sand silk attire was immaculate, though a closer look revealed traces of dirt from their travels. Her boots were polished to a shine, and her sword hung at her side, ready and confident, just like her demeanor.

However, her face seemed a bit dull, as if she’s lacking something–coffee. Today's breakfast wasn't very satisfying. Sure the sausages and fruits were nice but the lack of coffee was quite unforgivable. She can’t even call it  breakfast . The barracks where she had previously worked as a guard served better meals. And that’s because they serve unlimited coffee.

She had already made a round of the statues, scrutinizing each one meticulously. She likely had their details committed to memory. When she reached the figure of the Red Fox, she paused, her gaze penetrating as her mind churned over their mission. Sometimes, in moments like this, she felt as if she could almost see the future, and in it, she could not see failure–only success.

Footsteps from below caught her attention. They made her cast a long, sideways glance at the stairs. The meeting was starting. She wondered if they would gather any crucial information. Steeling herself, she prepared for another round of dialogue—tasks she didn’t enjoy but found herself continually facing. Could this be her fate? A thought slipped in but she immediately dismissed as she didn’t believe in such things as destiny.

Sin sighed. She wished he was here to manage these affairs for her, allowing her to concentrate on more pressing matters. Nonetheless, she understood that this was her decision, and she was committed to seeing it through.
GoggleDog
Nomis indeed ended up playing with himself twice, and somehow losing, so in a way he still won.

Next day he felt like it was any other. A different type of bed each day, each night, as long as it was soft and enclosed enough to watch out for one direction, the man was fulfilled.

Hell, he even raised an eyebrow at the breakfast, with no coffee. She shook his head, took the plate inside, and checked again his equipment before eating.
Today's meeting would reveal the players of the stage. And if it's a whole town meeting and the red fox operation is an insider, messengers of his would be there. No matter the plan, they'd know. If it's someone highly regarded, say, of their not-royalty, then the very information they'd get could be flawed and misguided.
But there was another possible plot, that the enemy would strike. If they wanted a target, what's best than in this meeting? He sighed and after finishing his meal got up.

Atleast back in the battlefield, things were simple. Infiltration operations he could get, assassinations made simple, elegant, yet brute.. sense. Somehow being mercenary meant you had to psychoanalysis people and kill them too.
And with no respect, too! He came to the realisation that while an assassin would get respect and some profound name.. mercenaries, who did the same job and more, got no such glory. Funny thing that, actually. Not that he cared, all cares died where they first grew, the battlefield. But it had it's uses. A guard was expected to act in protocol, but a man like him was expected to break your nose first and ask questions after a broken hand extra.

The man got all the necessary weaponry, which meant all of it, and left his room. As he walked the hallway he saw sin look at those sculptures, and shrugged. He decided to continue on the hallway to meet their dwarven companion.
GodEye Galatea
The creak of a door opening caught Sin's attention, making her turn towards the source of the sound. It was Nomis, emerging from his room and already striding past her. She parted her lips to offer a greeting but quickly closed them again as he brushed by without acknowledgment. She pressed her lips into a thin line and returned to what she was doing, silently reminding herself that her companion was not known for his manners.
Gnomes2169
((Sin))
While Nomis mostly ignored Sin, the head butler, who had just stepped out from the mayor's office, did not. Holding an arm folded in front of him, he nodded to the investigator and asked, "Lady Sin, I see you have taken interest in the dioramas made my Lord Foreman. Is there anything I can help you with today?"

((Nomis))
Nomis, meanwhile, steps into the garrison at the top of the stairs and sees two house guards playing dice with the dwarf. Vinc was sitting back and running a whetstone along his short sword while one of the guards tossed, but there wasn't any threat to the action. Somehow, Vinc made preparing for violence just something... natural. When Nomis stepped into the room, his companion looked up without pausing in his preparations, and even tossed another half coin into the pool on the table while he said, "Well, good morning, lad. Sleep well last night?"
GoggleDog
"I sleep well any night that I happen to sleep through."
He mostly ignored the sharpened blade, it was merely logical to prepare, he did his own in his room. His view set on the dice. Only then did he tilt his head.
"Well, did you get to recover from your talk with Foreman?"
GodEye Galatea
Sin greeted the butler with a composed and courteous attitude. “They are very interesting. I have enjoyed looking at them,” she remarked. She paused, considering how the butler might assist her further. “Perhaps you can tell me where I can find the mayor’s wife? I hope to speak with her before the meeting.”
Gnomes2169
((Nomis))
Vinc loses the current toss of the dice and grunts, putting his blade away and pulling out a brace of daggers to begin working on them. "Ah, the mayor just wanted to know if I was with you, lad, and asked after my credentials. When you get to my age... well, actually, you won't, but two hundred and sixty two years gives you a lot of credentials to go over."

((Sin))
The butler gives her a pleasant grin and says, "Of course, inspector. My masters expected that you will want to go over what you will say to the assembly today. Please, come with me." He doesn't lead Sin very far, taking her to a doorway at the end of the hall besides the mayor's office with a quill and open ledger carved artistically upon its oaken surface. After ringing the bell, he opens the door and bows to let Sin in.

Inside the room were piles and piles of books, some stacked on a desk, others lining the shelves of this compact office space. There was enough space for two people to talk in between all of the clutter, one sitting at the desk and one standing across from them, and not much more than that. Working diligently, Kari looked up from the ledger and page that she was currently working on and said, "Ah, inspector Sin! Please, come in. Sorry there isn't a chair for you, but... well, the records room doesn't have much space. I was hoping you'd stop by today before town hall, I'm sure we have much to discuss."
GoggleDog
That gave him a pause, lies were always annoying little things, that's why he has to decided to give up on them. It was far too much trouble to remember all of them.
"You... were practically audible from outside. If it was about credentials there must be some very heated topics among two hundred and sixty two year olds."

He let a moment pass to get a sharper glimpse of Vync
"If it affects in any way our investigation, Sin and I have to know about it."
GodEye Galatea
Sin exchanged polite salutations with the butler before stepping inside.

"A pleasant day, Kari. Standing is no trouble. Guards are used to it." She took a moment to survey the records room, noting the details before continuing. "Inspector Nomis mentioned you have information that could assist our investigation."
Gnomes2169
((Nomis))
Vinc doesn't visibly react to Nomis' implied accusation, tossing another half-coin into the betting pool, and the dwarf grunts. "Don't worry, lad. Governor Longview simply gave me a few...  extra  duties. This town is large and growing quickly. No one wants things to... escalate." He glanced  very  pointedly at the two guards playing dice with him, then back to the inspector. "But I'm still here to help. Trust me, no one wants you to succeed more than me or the Governor."

((Sin))
Kari nodded, not saying anything about the inspector's informal use of her name but still giving Sin a curious look, and she gestures at a stack of books and loose papers and says, "Yes. That's exactly what I am doing right now. Was there something else you wanted me to make note of, beyond the shipments targeted, family tensions and major material discrepancies?"
GodEye Galatea
Sin paused for a moment, glancing away from Kari as she gathered her thoughts. “If you could also include any debts owed between the houses, it would be greatly appreciated.”

"And…" she took a deep breath before continuing, "if we could expedite the process, that would be wonderful. Inspector Nomis mentioned you needed three days for this. I’m more than willing to assist to speed things up if needed."

 
 Spoiler: Civil Lore Roll 
Sin [Negotiation] Roll Result : 12
 
GoggleDog
Nomis stared at the dwarf. And mentally sighed. He considered heavily pushing further, but came to the conclusion that the dwarf was, atleast, partially being truthful, and that further politics between the mayor and Longview were of no interest to the investigator. Vinc, on top of that, seemed like a person you don't push, even kindly, for anything.

"I can believe that. Well, i am left in the hopes that your talks with the mayor don't affect us, like you say. I'd rather not have trouble even discussing with our *employer* for being considered Longview's undermining of his authority, which would deter our job some."
Gnomes2169
((Sin))
The mayor's wife frowned as she considered the questions, tapping the end of the pen she'd been using to write her reports, and she said, "For your first request, yes, I can make inroads to the families and their book keepers. That will take some time, though, as those are mostly private debts, so they aren't filed with us and most families are...  reluctant  to divulge such potentially damaging information without some pressure. Politics, in other words." She added that last explanation with a shrug. "For your second request, three days  is  the expedited rate, as I want to separate out the things that are normal from the potential anomalies, and I have both myself and my staff going through records to find testimonials from reputed eyewitnesses to compile for you. If you have any experience with either topic, then feel free to lend a hand! But after the meeting today, I don't doubt that you'll have plenty of avenues to pursue, and things much more exciting than administrative paperwork to pour over." Setting her pen back to her paper to add another line of annotation, she adds, "Don't worry. No one is expecting you to solve this case by the afternoon, inspector."

 
 Spoiler: OoC 
If you wanted to help go through documentation or testimonials, you can certainly do so! However, each effective 'block' will require 4 hours of reading and a Difficult level Civil Lore roll (So DV [0], or civil lore with a 0 point bonus/ penalty). If you succeed on a roll, it will knock 1 day off of your waiting time (so 1 success would mean you get the report tomorrow, while 2 would get you it by the end of the day today). Things  will  keep happening while you're being a nerd, however, and any long-term interruptions (like the town hall happening in 5 hours) will reset any of your current deciphering and study sessions (so you have enough time to make 1 roll right now, but if you tried to make a second you would have to drop it and restart later so that you could attend the meeting).
 


((Nomis))
Vinc won his next toss of the dice and audibly sighed as an echo of the investigator's mental exhaustion. "Oh, we've already had our discussion, lad. Mayor Foreman knows that he has the Governor's  full  support, regardless of what happens." Noticing how intent the house guards were listening in now, so much so that they were barely paying attention as he took the half coins that had been tossed in the betting pool, Vinc asked them, "Isn't there somewhere you layabouts are supposed to be?"

The two looked at each other, the taller of the pair shrugged, and then they glanced back at Vinc. "You sure you aren't going to give us a chance to win our money back? Poor sport, mate."

"Mmmm, no. I think I like the way it clinks inside of my pockets too much." The dwarf hummed as he, very purposefully, dropped each half coin into his pouch. When he was done, he sheathed one of his newly sharpened knives... and left his hand on the hilt as he asked, "Now, weren't you two going to patrol the grounds?" Sharing a glance, the house guards collected their truncheons, put on the steel caps that served as their helmets, and nodded to Nomis as they made their way out. Once they were gone, and the door to the guard lodge closed securely behind them, Vinc let go of the knife and leaned back in his chair. "There is one thing you should know though, lad, though I'd hoped to talk to you about this only if worst began coming to worst. While I suspect that this is not the case, and that the governor's rumor monger is simply inflating the rivalry between the house heirs too much,  if  things develop and begin to spiral in a... revolutionary way, I have two Duran flares in my pack. On blue, one red. I also have a writ that I can give to you in order to requisition the Duran trade depot for another pair, should something happen to me and my things." At this point, the veteran guard paused to gauge Nomis' reaction.
GoggleDog
Nomis merely noted the guards nods towards him as Vync proved enough to get them running with their tails under their legs. While Vync was coming to the end of his revelations only then did Nomis realis his slightly open mouth from his suprise.
Truly, the man just said what he wanted? No tricks, no bluffs? And it was of that magnum of importance?
Trying to get back his focus and rebalance his footing and eyes, he finally opened his mouth ready to speak..
And finally sighed audibly and got himself the sit where the guards were.

"That's quite the heavy weight you entrust on to us. Better to know of it now. After we'll be thankfully out of the city for our search, I'll inform Sin." He finally managed to say, and then raised an eyebrow
"I had started growing the idea mercenaries were not to be trusted. To tell me..*that* so clearly is more than a suprise. If there's an ounce of truth in the rumours..with our presence here things could turn ugly with the right ingredients."
Another war. Another battlefield. He quoted in his mind.
Gnomes2169
The veteran guard grunted, reaching into his pack to find something while he said, "I've been in cities and towns on the edge of rebellion, lad. I'm not worrying about this one, the smell of it isn't right. Not enough tension, not enough fear. But here." Handing Nomis a small scroll tube from his pack, the dwarf said, "This is the writ, in case my instincts are wrong and everything gets touched by the moon's shadow. Bring this to the Duran trading post and they'll give you a new flare, take the blue if the mayor is still in control of the town but facing resistance, and the red if rebels have overthrown him. The post has a Rifleman, munitions expert and a trio of Duran caravan guards, so you shouldn't need to worry about it falling before you can get there. Those lads and lasses have enough firepower to flatten three blocks of this town and everyone knows it." It's common knowledge that only an idiot or a cell of assassins would attempt to take over a Duran trading post by force, for exactly that reason.

"It'll still be dangerous, though, so I'll tell you this as well: The governor is offering hazard pay that triples the reward being offered by the mayor for that Fox job. So if worst comes to worst..." He gives a shrug. "Well, there's money in being a brave merc, every once in a while."
GoggleDog
"Armed muscle and it's benefits."
He quoted, and after a pause he sighed
"I wouldn't know of cities and the right smell of rebellions, my life was one of trenches." He said, picking the tube and carefully placing it securely in one of his inner pockets.
Cities, in actuality, were somehow always an odd concept to his thoughts. It was not that in the army there weren't times to visit them or even stay in them, it was a more personal vendetta towards them originating from his conception.
"I hope that elder nose of yours is right. It would be too bothersome anyways if it was proven otherwise." Which was, somehow, in his gut instincts a further reason to expect it. Things always tended to explode around him.

He glanced at the dice before lightly grunting and got up. Dice games were for the ones with still cash in their pockets.
"For now, there's a meeting to attend."
GodEye Galatea
Sin nodded. "I understand the complexities involved, and I want you to know how much we truly appreciate everything you're doing to help us with this investigation. Your efforts don't go unnoticed."

She took a moment to glance around the room before returning her focus to the mayor's wife. "I'd be more than happy to lend a hand, especially if it means speeding up the process. If you could guide me on where to begin, that would be great. And if there are any specific instructions or methods you'd prefer me to follow, I'm more than willing to adapt.”
Gnomes2169
((Nomis))
Your dwarven companion grunted and said, "Well, fair enough lad. Fair enough. You'll still have a few hours before it starts, so do you have anything you're planning to tell them when you give you're big speech?" He paused, then also asked, "You know you're going to be expected to make a speech, right? Nothing big or fancy, just state your name, some qualifications that don't have to hold up to scrutiny, and that should be that."

((Sin))
Kari starts you out with some of the papers she's already gone through, to give you an idea of what dates in her shorthand you'll be looking for in all of those records, and then she digs out another box to hand to you, which is stuffed full of ledgers and small journals.

The going is slow and a bit tedious. Not every journal in a box actually is relevant to your search, and the mayor's wife explains that these are the financial records of families for the past five years, but that her aids are not as meticulous as she'd like them to be about keeping those records in order, so sometimes the modern things end up on the bottom. As an inspector in training, this is something that you were expected to get used to, but hadn't actually been trained in on fully, and oh, but it is a painful process. After four hours of working in the hot, dry supply closet that serves as the records room, you manage to get through two entire crates filled with nothing but clutter, and don't manage to pull out anything that's actually  useful  for Kari to translate.

At least she's able to order snacks and tea during the breaks, so you aren't hungry or thirsty by the time you finish your second crate and she declares, "I don't think you'll have time to get through another stack of ledgers before the meeting. My husband will be downstairs, along with at least the heads of the Forwin and Verona households, if you would like to talk with any of them early. Otherwise, perhaps think about what you'd like to say when it's your turn to speak to the town. I'm certain we'll have a full audience around for you today."
GoggleDog
Nomis was left blank from what he heard and decided to sit back down.
"A speech? Seriously? We might aswell be giving our enemy our biography while we are at it."
The man somehow seemed.. nervous at the prospect, before closing his eyes and shaking his head.
"Sin likes sounding smart, I'm certain she can deal with words with the woodwork." He tried to assure himself and got a hold of the dice to get a feel of the things.
GodEye Galatea
Sin meticulously scanned through the ledgers, her eyes moving over each line with care. For two hours, she poured over the documents, methodically flipping through the pages and scrutinizing every detail. Yet, nothing relevant emerged, and with every passing minute, frustration crept up on her. She struggled to conceal it—her sighs were subtle, almost too controlled, as if she was making a conscious effort not to let them slip out audibly. She bit her lips lightly whenever the irritation threatened to surface, her attempts at staying composed becoming increasingly difficult.

The snacks and hot tea, which should have provided some relief, only made things worse. The warmth of the tea, combined with the already sweltering weather, exacerbated her distress, causing her to sweat even more. She resorted to fanning herself with a piece of unused cardboard, trying in vain to cool down.

When the mayor’s wife finally spoke, Sin saw it as a chance to step away from the overwhelming heat and frustration. She dabbed her forehead with a handkerchief, turning to the mayor’s wife. "I understand. I'll return after the meeting." Rising to her feet, she gave a polite bow. "Thank you for the opportunity. I believe later we’ll find more success than we have now."

Her voice was polite, but underneath it was a quiet frustration. She knew the process would take time, but she wasn’t one to enjoy waiting when things could be done.
Gnomes2169
((Nomis))
The dwarf chuckles at your reaction, shaking his head a bit. "Nah, lad. You don't have to tell them anything revealing. It's a town hall! The people that will be there are nervous, but this is also a large town that's used to getting their problems fixed by authority figures. All they're looking for is your name and to know that you'll solve the problem. Anything else is just gravy..." Picking up the dice he'd been tossing with the guards earlier, Vinc held them up and offered, "Play a few friendly tosses while you think? Don't need to bet anything if you don't want to."

 
 Spoiler: OoC 
If you want to bet with Vinc, he's willing to match any wagers up to 4 gold. Since there would be a bunch of potential tosses, I'd just have you roll 1d100+2*your Luck stat, with a high roll being good and a low one being bad.

Also, let me know how long you're doing stuff in there!
 


((Sin))
The mayor's wife hardly looks up from her notes long enough to nod in acknowledgement that you are leaving, and you leave the records room without incident. Despite how snug and toasty the two of you working in there had been, the second floor gallery that you step out into is both hot and  humid,  so it's certainly worse. Stepping out of the guard room for a breath of fresh air himself, Vinc spots you and nods. "Ah, lass. How was your morning?" He gives you a smile that might be an  attempt  at charm, but... well, Vinc's face seems to be permanently programmed to be at least a little bit ominous, so his grin ends up being a bit off-putting instead.
GodEye Galatea
Sin let out a subtle groan, followed by a soft, barely noticeable sigh as the more humid air wrapped around her like a heavy blanket. She continually dabbed at her face and neck slowly, in a controlled and composed manner which was stopped by her companions' greetings. "Ah, good day, Vinc," she said, pausing briefly as her eyes lingered on him, thoughtfully considering her next words. "It was quite... pleasant. Warm, perhaps, but otherwise, rather nice. And you?”
GoggleDog
Nomis felt the only thing he could do at that was nod along. People, towns, it was all strange. Nomis glanced at the dice and hesitated before taking up the offer. "I find card games just a bit more fond, but it's not too bad to see what kind of Vijnhluck we'll be having."
He starting shaking the dice
"Like, will things explode around me today or will they crumble apart? Wise to know the kind of day." Let the friendly tosses begin
Gnomes2169
((Nomis))
Vinc seems a little disappointed that there aren't any stakes to the rolls as you start, but is still content to gamble a bit in order to pass the time. Your luck seems to be going strong to start with, but as you continue workshopping with Vinc and the second hour rolls around, momentum definitely turns the dwarf's way. All-in-all, it's difficult to make a conclusion about how lucky you are today. Seems like a mixed bag. At the end of the second hour, Vinc tucks his dice away and bids you fairwell, saying that he plans to grab some lunch from the kitchens before the townsfolk become difficult to navigate through.

Once you leave the guard bunkhouse yourself, the sounds of a gathering crowd can be heard coming from the first level. The general murmur is muted, though a few raised voices can be heard once in a while. A maid notices you and lets you know that the mayor is downstairs in the auditorium, while his wife is currently in the filing room with inspector Sin. She also offers you some tea and snacks from the tray she was carrying, which was meant to go to those two but had more than enough for him to sneak a bite if he desired.

((Sin))
Vinc grunts when you mention the heat, and he takes out a handkerchief to dab at the sweat glistening on his his bald head. "Aye, the heat wave we've been suffering still shows no signs of abating. Hopefully we get some rain to break it soon." Glancing downstairs when there was a particularly loud laugh from the crowds gathering there, Vinc frowned and shook his head slightly. "I tossed some dice with our brooding friend earlier, and talked about what he might say to the people downstairs. Didn't make any money, but hey, it was a way to pass the time. Find anything in the paperwork that might be helpful while you snoo-... investigated?" Seems the maid that was bringing you refreshments talked to him, too.
GodEye Galatea
Sin nearly raised an eyebrow upon hearing that her companions had been gambling to "just pass time." The phrase alone grated on her nerves, sparking a flicker of irritation she’d rather not reveal. She had half a mind to reprimand Vinc, but instead, she maintained her calm, letting her gaze linger on him longer than usual.

“Indeed. Rain would certainly help with this heat.” Sin nodded thoughtfully. "As for the records, nothing of significance yet. I had to stop for the meeting, but I believe our continued efforts will yield results later." she said confidently.

"The family heads are already downstairs with the mayor. I’m heading there now to talk to them, hopefully gather some insight or useful leads before things officially start. Would you care to join me? Or would you like me to ask any questions on your behalf? Is there something specific you'd prefer I handle while I’m speaking with them?"
GoggleDog
Nomis bid Vinc farewell- as much as his stick in the butt allowed, and decided to pick up the pace but was stopped at the sudden appearance of a maid and her offerings.

The brooding friend decided to sneak in a bite or two, and some tea. It'd be a shame for it go to waste anyways, and he was not a man to refuse anything that was offered..most of the time.
"I see."
He took a deep breath, taking the information that was conveniently offered and forgeting to say his thanks he started moving downstairs towards the commotion, heading right for the auditorium.
Gnomes2169
((Nomis))
When you go down the stairs, the crowds are mostly made up of minor nobles and their entourages, but you still arrive in time to see the tail end of the Verona delegation walking into the auditorium. Since this is the first wave of people attending this town hall, it isn't particularly difficult for you to follow in their wake.

When you reach the auditorium stage, the mayor is already entertaining people from the town council while the majority of the Verona group break away to sit in the front row. The rest of the benches are mostly empty, though a group from the Forwin estates are already settled in on the opposite side from the Verona family's. A trio of stools that weren't in the room yesterday have been set up beside the council seats, likely for you and your companions to sit in once the meeting starts. The leader of the Verona delegation has taken his seat on the council chairs, and the mayor notices you and gestures for you to join him on the stage. " Ah, Mister Nomis, welcome! Please, there are some people here who would like to meet with you. "

Once you're close enough for courtesy, the mayor introduces you. " Gentlemen, this is Inspector Nomis. Inspector, these are Kal Verona and Cole Forwin, the heads of their respective houses. " Both of them nod to the sharen mercenary as they're introduced.

Kal is a raven-haired man dressed in scarlet silks edged in golden lace. There are mirrored locks of white at the temples of his shoulder-length hair, framing his stern face in a way that, paradoxically, makes him seem more youthful than his fifty years should. " It's good to see Longview finally took the situation seriously enough to send someone. Well met, inspector. " He says, once introduced.

Cole, sitting across the bench from his opposed house head, nods along as well. The leader of the Forwin household is mostly bald, only a few thin wisps of grey hair on an otherwise shining scalp, and he adjusts the spectacles on his nose so he can get a good look at you. Despite being older, there's a wiry muscle that's still visible under his long-sleeved emerald and black silks, and he extends a hand to shake yours while he says, " Indeed, a pleasure to meet you. I'm sure you kids will have this problem solved soon enough. Sorry that the other members of the town council are taking their sweet time in getting here so we can't introduce you, but that gives us a little time to chat. "

" Right. Any questions for us before we get side tracked by the official proceedings, inspector? " Kal chimed in, standing up from his seat so he could come close enough to you and Cole in order to have a regular conversation.

 
 Spoiler: OoC note 
I'm adding color to the dialogue so that it's easier to differentiate who's talking.  Mayor Foreman  is now Indigo,  Kal Verona  is Maroon, and  Core Forwin  is Dark Green
 


((Sin))
The dwarf rubs a hand over his hairless chin at your question, and he shrugs. "Not much for me to ask the big-shots like that, honestly." He admits. "I'll mostly mingle with the lesser aristocrats and the merchant folk, I think. Maybe keep an eye out for who's in attendance and who's suspiciously absent." He advised, before shrugging again and gesturing for you to take the lead down the stairs. "Though I'd assume you know better than I about that, junior inspector Sin."

On the first level, things have definitely picked up by the time Sin has finally extracted herself from all the paperwork and other mind-numbing drudgery. By now, more of the common folk have begun filing in to auditorium, and the Smithing Guild's delegation is among them. One of them, the most well-dressed and the oldest of the bunch, seems to recognize you from the glimpse he'd gotten outside the mayor's office last night and calls, "Inspector! It's good to see you." Gesturing for you to come to him, pausing and drawing some complaints from the lines around him as he does so, the elderly smith says, "Please, join me. I was just having my associates clear a path to the stage, it should make it a bit easier for the two of us to get through the crowd."
GodEye Galatea
“Titles don’t always mean more insight. We’ll rely on each other to make sure nothing slips by unnoticed. I’ll trust your instincts with the crowd.” She offered a nod of acknowledgment to the dwarf before heading down.

Upon reaching the first level, Sin's eyes scanned the crowd, her focus intent on spotting the family heads. Just as she honed in on her targets, a familiar figure drew her attention, her gaze sharpening as if she were onto something.

Recognizing the elderly smith, she quickly adjusted her posture and moved to greet him. “Good to see you too, sir! And thank you for clearing the path," she said, her voice steady yet warm. “I recall seeing you leaving the mayor’s office yesterday. I trust your business went smoothly?”