"You may want to keep the drow's offer on your table, yet. You may not find my house quite to par with his room here" the man says to Inquisitive. "Also, I may be local, but most of my time is spent in this building nowadays." On the way out, Marvin stops by the bar to get his tankard filled one last time by Maggie. "I'll see you ladies tomorrow. Have a good night." As the gnome calls out to him he turns back "You might as well come with us. We're going to the same place, but-" he gives simple quick directions to the houses.

After finishing his drink, he puts his now empty tankard back in the pocket he pulled it out of when entering the bar earlier in the day. Marvin listens to the conversation between Amy and Inquisitive, but keeps to himself otherwise. "Well, we're here." he points to the house on the right "that's the Ambershadow residency and-" he points to the house on the left "this is our stop. You know, I'm not sure now is the best time. It's awfully late in the night, and they may wish not to be bothered."

Zanibi thanks Marvin for the information.  Then she asks Nyral and Truador, "Do we head with them to check out Elibyn's home.  Or stick with heading to Calda's?"

"Alright then, perhaps we should reconvene at Nyral's room at the Lazy Peacock after all." Inquisitive said to the rest of the investigative team. "We'll meet back there after finishing with what we can accomplish tonight." He said to Zanibi, Truador and Nyral before their ways parted. He then turned to Marvin and Amy again. "Yes, I agree Marvin, Kidra may wish not to be bothered, but this is a murder investigation, three dead so far and there is nothing to suggest this won't continue. Luckily you are with us and can smooth things over if she thinks we're prying too much." He said to Marvin with a quick smile before walking up to Kidra's door, giving it three rapid knocks.

Nyral sighs and accepts that Marvin has his uses as he provides directions to the various places they need to go,  "Ah, useful at last.  Might be hope for you yet Marv."  The drow then looks at Truador and Zanibi and nods.  "We have our directions now Zanibi.  I don't mind the order, what I want to learn at Calda's can wait until we get to it.  Lets go to Elibyn's first then as Truador suggested."  The drow begins to walk with the group which seems to have agreed to move together for now.  It's already clear that the two groups are grouping together.  It doesn't seem like it'll be a particularly long walk to Elibyn's home but as they walk Nyral also seems to form into his assigned group and takes pace next to Truador and Zanibi.

He looks to Zanibi first and asks "Have you been working with Inquisitive long?  He seems an interesting man."

Nyral then looks to the Dragonborn and asks "How did you get caught up in this ordeal?  Personal interest or professional?"

Group 2: Inquisitive, Marvin, and Amy

You knock on the door three times. No one comes and answers the door, so you knock again. The house doesn't even seem to stir, much less anyone inside it. You wait for a few minutes, maybe knocking a few more times, but no one comes up to the door. Just when you're about to turn away, that's when you hear a sharp, shrill scream coming from the cornfields behind the house. There seems to be some sort of commotion within the young corn stalks. The screaming persists, but doesn't seem to leave the cornfield.

"Hurry!" Inquisitive turned and rushed for cornfield, his devils sight helping him to scan the cornfields for signs of movement.
Perception: 3
As he came closer he uttered an infernal word, calling upon his servant Redraziel that invisible flew over to the cornfields with instructions to locate the source of the sound.
Redraziel perception: 5

Amy sprints towards the sound of scream, ssearching for any sign of its source or the cause.

Perception:19

Though you can't see too well through the corn, Inquisitive, you can tell that there's only one person running through the field by the way it moves. Redraziel only confirms your suspicion, and with a bird's eye view you can see a single, black... something running in circles in through the corn.

Amy, you can see a little better, as you shoot in front of Inquisitive and into the corn itself. As you're sprinting through the field, in front of you a single black kobold crosses right in front of you, screaming bloody murder. One second sooner and you would've collided with them. It doesn't seem like anyone's chasing them, either.

Truador looks down at the drow, "A little of both I suppose. Disposing of murderers is both my hobby and my profession." He gives a small smile, "What made you start looking into it? You say you were here on vacation? Have you attended the carnival yet?" As he says the last part, he glances towards the flashing lights in the distance, smile fading as he does so, then back to the drow. That is when he realizes something,"You're called Nyral right? I apologize for not introducing myself earlier, I remember faces more than names, so giving mine doesn't tend to cross my mind. I'm called Truador."

"Amy, be careful." Inquisitive called out, cursing himself under his breath for being old and slow, trying to catch up with the young pink-haired woman in the corn.

New perception if allowed to spot the black kobold: 13 Another roll if Redraziel is allowed to give help action: 17

"Zanibi, if you didn't catch it earlier," she adds her name to the other introductions.

"I've been traveling with Inquisitive for some many months now,"  she replies to Nyral. "Seems there is always another criminal to track down.

As both Inquisitive and Amy take off running Marvin just says "Like I said, someone people tend to avoid" and keeps his current pace as he steps into the cornfield. As Marvin finally catches up to Amy and Inquisitive he nonchalantly hollers "good evening Ms Kidra, do you have a moment for an old friend?"

Group 2: Marvin, Amy, Inquisitive

You're able to see Kidra a little now, Inquisitive, if only for a moment or two through the corn stalks. Through Redraziel you're able to see that she's only running around in circles. She comes to a very sudden stop upon hearing her name, and after a few seconds of stillness she creeps out of the corn to where Marvin stands. "Hello, Marvin," she replies, with a blank expression. She looks at Marvin with big, bright orange eyes. The light of the waning moon illuminates her lean build. Though she has on a plain brown tunic, there is nothing plain about her appearance; embedded in her dark scales are bright orange flecks the same color as her firey eyes. Embers in coal. "Why are you here?" She waits patiently and plainly for a response.

Amy gapes at her for a moment with wide eyes. "Are-are you okay, Ms Kidra? That was you screaming a moment ago, right?"

Inquisitive joined the others after a moment, finding his way out of the cornfield again, his eyesight perfectly comfortable with the darkness around them. "Good evening Kidra, excuse us for intruding on you at this hour. I'm Inquisitive and this is Amy, we are friends of Marvin. Perhaps we could walk inside and sit down? We got the impression you were upset about something and we wanted to see that you were alright." The tiefling says in a soft and calm voice.

Persuasion if necessary to calm Kidra down and allow them into her house: 27 Another roll if help action is given by Marvin or Amy: 27

As Nyral listens politely to Truador explain the drow gets the sense the man is a bounty hunter of some kind or maybe a person that desires to be a hero.  Both fine asperations so Nyral nods with a polite smile.  When the questions turn on Nyral he has to think a moment on why he wanted to help, he looks up at the big dragonborn and replies, "I suppose, because people I like got hurt.  Not the ones killed but those who are hurt by grief and loss.  The fact I was asked to look into this at all shows not everyone is as blindly obedient or loyal to the mayor here.  I for one would like a better explanation why they didn't consider it a murder on the first victim given the description of death."  Nyral looks around at the two with him and shrugs. "Anyway, I help my friends, even if I'd rather be enjoying a relaxing evening napping or laying in the warm water of that huge tub in the room I rented.  As to the carnival.  Not yet.  I got my ticket though.  Three days from now is when it's dated."

As Truador and Zanibi introduce themselves more properly Nyral follows suit.  "It is nice to meet you both.  Truador.  Zanibi.  As said, I'm called Nyral.  A drow of many talents, skills, and successes.  Also an ego the size of a dragon."  Nyral gives a polite bow and flourishes his one arm for show.  A smile at the jab at himself but he has worked very hard to build his confidence and at this point he just accepts he comes off as an arrogant jerk sometimes.

As the trio continue to make their way and separate from the other group Nyral follows up on their discussion with Zanibi, "Do you two focus on murder cases then or just general capture of all criminals?"

Nodding Truador answers, "Those left behind are the ones who are most hurt in these circumstances. Nothing can be done to help the dead. We can only avenge them. As for the mayor... I would have to agree with you. He is not a good Alpha. This case should have opened when the first victim was found, not the third. I suppose he could have thought it was a suicide, but I doubt that." Truador liked the drow's reasoning, he wasn't here for a paycheck and he seemed to genuinely care for the victim's families. Both admirable things, which would ensure an honest investigation and the end of a true murderer. "Perhaps we should all purchase tickets for the same day. I would very much like to investigate the place."

The dragonborn smiles as Nyral bows. He wanted to ask about his missing arm, but something gave him the feeling that it was not the polite thing to do. The three of them seemed to be getting along so far, and the last thing he wanted was to raise hackles.

When Nyral speaks to Zanibi, he looks at her expectantly. As far as he knew, Zanibi and Inquisitive were hired by the mayor. He had only come village after hearing about the murders, and had offered his services to the mayor rather than being asked. Thus he was interested to know more about the two. Were they renowned enough for the mayor to ask for them specifically? Or had they offered their services just as he did?

Group 2: Amy, Inquisitive, Marvin

The kobold looks over to the two of you, Amy and Inquisitive, with the same blank expression. “Hello Inquisitive, hello Amy.” She blinks once, not moving. “Nothing’s wrong, it’s just screaming time. But, yeah. Guess we could sit down and chat for a while. I’m all done out here.” She has the same, drawly accent as the Mayor, though she’s not as loud. She takes a stagnant look at her house, standing perfectly still. After about a  minute of silence, she starts walking towards her back porch, not even looking back to see if you all will follow her.

Group 1: Truador, Zanibi, Nyral

As you finish conversing, you arrive at your destination. The house looks lonely, sitting alone with its single tree out in the front and the barrier of police tape and temporary wooden fence that encases the house and yard. The lights are off, and there’s no lamp or other light source nearby. The sounds of crickets singing their midnight songs float through the air, and the very distinct smell of overturned soil drifts lazily about. The front door is open, and there is a single wooden rocking chair, fitted with a red cushion on its seat out on the small front porch next to the door. Sitting right in front of it is a stack of neatly-placed newspapers on the floor, and a few cans of food stand directly next to it.

Inquisitive gave the kobold a curious look, trying to determine if she seemed to be alright, or in shock, or something else...
Insight: 22
As he followed Kidra towards her house Inquisitive glanced over at Amy and Marvin to see their reactions to the kobolds eccentric performance.
He then quickly messaged Redraziel to make a sweep over the cornfield, just to make sure, and then keep watch outside.
Redraziel perception: 17
"It is good to hear nothing is wrong then. We were worried there for a while. This won't take long." Inquisitive said calmly as they walked onto the porch.