Quote from vassasunstar >>

...

"Orcs have lived in these lands almost as long as we. Usually, they stay to the hills, only troubling others when the snakefolk arise from the deeper swamps. Ever has it been, since the founding of the Kingdom itself. The Silverstars know this. It is what they train for. 

No, unless the tusk hunters or snakes come against us in force, the militia should hold. It is these other troubles that worry me more..."

'As his words trail off, you all arrive at a small sturdy shack, smoke curling from it's tiny chimney and a row of smoked fish hanging on a rack beside the door.'

"Orcs and snakefolk?!?  Maybe I'll volunteer for a turn on the watch and get a good look at these things."

'As they approach the shack, Kestrell glumly sighs and says:'

"Ah.  I think I would rather be fighting a Moorcat...'

'Wazzock places a hand gently on Thurk's shoulder,' "If you'd like one of us to tell the boy... well... perhaps not me, but one of the others... there'd be no shame in it, asking for aid."

Quote from abunny >>

'Wazzock places a hand gently on Thurk's shoulder,' "If you'd like one of us to tell the boy... well... perhaps not me, but one of the others... there'd be no shame in it, asking for aid."'

'Pausing before the door, Thurk nods in acknowledgement of Wazzock's offer but says,'

"My thanks, Wazzock, but this duty is mine. I owe Exbrin this and more. Besides, Jona should hear the news first from someone he knows and... trusts. Give me a few moments please. I will bring him out to you."

'A few minutes later, Thurk emerges from the shack with the young lizardfolk boy you saw at the inn last night. The lad's wet cheeks make his grief clear, but he breathes deeply and steps forward bravely regardless. Thurk hand rests reassuringly upon Jona's right shoulder and you all see the freshly orphaned child clutching a wood and tooth crocodile figurine in hand. With a resolute look to the smith first, the boy turns to you all and says,'

"Umm... Hello. I'm Jona. Th... Thurk said, says I mean, that you want to talk to me?"

'Wazzock reaches a hand out in greeting with a sad smile on her face and speaks gently as she is able,' "Well met young Jona, my name is Wazzock, first I'd like to offer our condolences on your loss. Who's your little friend there?"

"Hello, little one. " Mazin will say as he smiles warmly down at Jona. As the conversation goes on, his smile will slowly changes into a frown as he thinks of what happened to Jona and Exbrin. Mazin will not speak much, but will give Jona a warm smile if the child looks his way. 

Thinking of his in Talonwood, hunting animals to survive, he tries to think as a predator would. 

After a few of the others ask there questions, Mazin will say "Jona, I have a few questions about what happened during the day yesterday. Did you notice anyone strange following Exbrin, or talking to him at some point? Did anything or anyone out of the ordinary catch your attention? Or anything unusual happen to Exbrin before he went out hunting?" 

Edit: Persuasion 6

Quote from abunny >>

'Wazzock reaches a hand out in greeting with a sad smile on her face and speaks gently as she is able,' "Well met young Jona, my name is Wazzock, first I'd like to offer our condolences on your loss. Who's your little friend there?"

'The clearly hesitant boy pauses, again looking to Thurk, before responding quietly, eyes cast at his own feet as clutches the idol of the crocodile,'

"Th... thank you. I don't know what... Ahh, this?  Thurk just gave it to me... he said one of you made it. I haven't named him yet."

Altani pipes in, "It was my friend here Mazin who made the crocodile idol. It is amazing don't you think? If I had tried to make you one it would have looked like a funny looking worm with little stubs for feet" she says good heatedly.

"Maybe you can help Mazin and us out. Did you remember anything strange happening yesterday? Like someone following your dad or someone the talked to?"

Persuasion 9

Alwin just walks over having watch everything and hands his half full cup to the child, his face holding a soft smile "He...re, I know it must be sca...ry with all these people around. Please ta....ke your time in answering their questions or just sip on this."

[OOC] Charisma Check: 11

'Wazzock's face takes on a dark look and she stands up turning on her companions,' "For the sake of all gods please just give the lad some space!" 'She turns back to the boy, crouching low, and speaking gently,' "I know that the grief is still heavy. You don't have to talk to us if you don't want, but if you're feeling up to it and would tell us some about your father, you'll come find us yes?" 

'Kestrell, already far in the back, twitches uncomfortably and tries to hide:'

Stealth: 10

Quote from joe >>

"Hello, little one. " Mazin will say as he smiles warmly down at Jona. As the conversation goes on, his smile will slowly changes into a frown as he thinks of what happened to Jona and Exbrin. Mazin will not speak much, but will give Jona a warm smile if the child looks his way. 

Thinking of his in Talonwood, hunting animals to survive, he tries to think as a predator would. 

After a few of the others ask there questions, Mazin will say "Jona, I have a few questions about what happened during the day yesterday. Did you notice anyone strange following Exbrin, or talking to him at some point? Did anything or anyone out of the ordinary catch your attention? Or anything unusual happen to Exbrin before he went out hunting?" 

Edit: Persuasion 6

'As Mazin's huge furclad form towers above Jona, the hardened warrior looking down as he speaks to the wide-eyed boy in a voice low and deep, the unintentionally intimidating effect is apparent. The lizardfolk child swallows with an audible *gulp* before wordlessly stepping back and behind Thurk's solid form.'

Quote from IAmButADream >>

Altani pipes in, "It was my friend here Mazin who made the crocodile idol. It is amazing don't you think? If I had tried to make you one it would have looked like a funny looking worm with little stubs for feet" she says good heatedly.

"Maybe you can help Mazin and us out. Did you remember anything strange happening yesterday? Like someone following your dad or someone the talked to?"

Persuasion 9

'His head poking out on the otherside from behind Thurk's back, Jona's still frightened stare seems possibly mixed with other emotions, difficult to read as they are on the suddenly close-mouthed boy's unfamiliar features.'

[OOC] Anyone taking part in the conversation may make an insight check and read the below spoiler with a score of 15 or more:

Quote from Hambergler >>

Alwin just walks over having watch everything and hands his half full cup to the child, his face holding a soft smile "He...re, I know it must be sca...ry with all these people around. Please ta....ke your time in answering their questions or just sip on this."

[OOC] Charisma Check: 11

'Jona's eyes go wide at yet another stranger approaching, this one smiling, but difficult to understand through his stutter and unfamiliar accent. As Alwin holds out the cup of unknown liquid, the boy shrinks back again behind the now frowning smith's back.'

Quote from abunny >>

'Wazzock's face takes on a dark look and she stands up turning on her companions,' "For the sake of all gods please just give the lad some space!" 'She turns back to the boy, crouching low, and speaking gently,' "I know that the grief is still heavy. You don't have to talk to us if you don't want, but if you're feeling up to it and would tell us some about your father, you'll come find us yes?" 

'Thurk nods at Wazzock's exclamation, though the lizardman himself is now frowning with his hands upon his hips. When the seemingly overwhelmed Jona fails to respond to the half-orc, the smith places an arm proactively around the child's shoulder and ushers him back towards the shack's door. After the boy is safely back inside Corsib's home Thurk turns to you all and says with a note of admonition in his deep voice,'

"Attempting this so soon after the lad received news of his father's death may have been iladvised. That poor suggestion is on me. I had hoped that at my prompting, and with your gift in hand, that he might be able to assist in your investigation. I pass no judgement, but maybe you could have been more... delicate in your approach. Regardless, Jona is clearly in no mind to answer your questions now. Perhaps in a few hours or this evening the boy may be more prepared to speak with you, but for now..."

'Thurk looks concerningly back at the shack for a moment, before exhaling deeply as he turns to walk back East, saying,'

"Magistrate Arneu and the Alcalde have asked me to work on something as a matter of urgency, otherwise I would leave the smithy today to assist you with your inquiries, but alas I cannot. Whether you investigate one of the murder scenes or speak with someone around town, I would ask that you drop by my forge before sunset to speak with me. If this is agreeable, I will speak with you then. Farewell until then and may Semuanya guide your hunt!"

'At the mention of his forge, Thurk lifts an arm to indicate a nearby squat stone structure that sits a street removed from the town square.'

'As Thurk walks away, Kestrell calls out:'

"Thurk, what did you think of our bait idea? To use you for bait tonight?"

'Kestrell turns to the others:'

"Should we go check out the ruins or run down to Bullcroak Creek by the peat fields where the first murder happened?"

"Well that could have went better...I had thought I had a way with kids. Maybe only my kin. 

We could as always check Bullcroak Creek before the ruins Kestrell."

Mazin frowns. To Thurk, he says "I did not intend to scare the child. That is unfortunate. I think, next time, only one of us should as the questions, so we don't overwhelm Jona again. I...am not the best with words. I am glad he liked the Crocodile. " 

As Thurk walks away, Mazin thinks on the words that Thurk said as he left. "Would it be worth while to talk to some other people in town first? Perhaps Thurk's sister, the Shaman of the Lizardfolk here. She would know all the victims, and they would have told her if anything was amiss before they were killed. Also, she would be able to spread word among her kind. They should not go out alone at night." 

""That sounds good, let's go find her."

Cinder follows along behind them, feeling Jona’s pain. She asks Thurk,

”The killings, how often have they occurred again? Is it possible that someone else might be killed tonight?”

Quote from KestrellKestrell >>

'As Thurk walks away, Kestrell calls out:'

"Thurk, what did you think of our bait idea? To use you for bait tonight?"

'Kestrell turns to the others:'

"Should we go check out the ruins or run down to Bullcroak Creek by the peat fields where the first murder happened?"

'A clearly surprised Thurk looks back over a scaled and muscled shoulder, replying as he continues on his way,'

"This is the first that I have heard of your plan, but of course I would be willing to be involved. However, I am well known here and it is also known in Ambersilt that... I no longer hunt or fish.  But I would be willing, should you still want me as your lure when you come by my forge this evening."

Quote from joe >>

Mazin frowns. To Thurk, he says "I did not intend to scare the child. That is unfortunate. I think, next time, only one of us should as the questions, so we don't overwhelm Jona again. I...am not the best with words. I am glad he liked the Crocodile. " 

"I know that you did not, Mazin. As I said, it was my error of judgement. He was not ready to speak of it. I am not good with... children. And your totem was well received. As perhaps your second shall be."

[OOC] Anyone who has spoken to Thurk here may make an insight check and read the spoiler with a score of 10 or more:

Quote from ThatOneGuyYouKnow >>

Cinder follows along behind them, feeling Jona’s pain. She asks Thurk,

”The killings, how often have they occurred again? Is it possible that someone else might be killed tonight?”

'Thurk calls out as he enters his functional but well kept smithy, a squat stone and mud daub building,'

"It is possible, though I hope that with your aid we might have seen our last murder. Sergeant Leetha and the Silverstars have all the details of the investigation. I know only that good innocent people are dying and that is must stop!" 

[OOC] Sergeant Leetha provided this info in post 768 and 772.