Quote from Secretfool >>

Mixtli asks what kind of fruit Tandor noticed in both shops and gives a description of the slice of fruit he saw in Kasem's hands.

Tandor pauses for a moment and does not look around. "That sounds like the same. It's called a persimmon," he says quietly. "He was eating it, you say?"

"Well, no I don't think so, as he was chewing. But if that was the fruit, maybe a visit to the spice brothers might be a good next step, before going to wherever you want to go?"

Tandor nods again, "Good idea," he says. Still not looking at the merchant, he says to Mialee, "Actually, Mialee, you've reminded me I wanted to get some peppers to take back, for some recipes I want to try.  If no one has any objections, let's head there and get out of this crazy person's place."

((There are very few merchants about, as the crowd has fled in panic as you calmly discuss your next steps.))

(sorry for the delay, weekend got beyond busy)

After things calm down a bit, Trencher waves everyone over to a nearby area that is a bit away from the crowds.  "Mixtli, you are asking about that fruit, did you see what I did?  That pepper merchant who gave us the tour, Kesem I think his name was, he was watching the fight, and he seemed pretty happy about the whole thing happening!  And then he had some of that weird fruit in his hand, but then it just kinda disappeared."

"Then after the whole lightning thing, I looked back and he was just gone."

Tandor nods.  Finally, a break in the case and confirmation of his suspicion. "I see no reason not to confront him immediately on this attempt to ruin two of his competitors but we wary. He may have some invisible creature at his disposal. Gilbert detected an odd scent at the Kusa's place, and again here, some sort of creature he thinks."

Assuming there is general agreement, Tandor leads the group to the Spice Merchant's stall.

"Well, can we really just accuse him cause of his smirking at the fight?  And a fruit in his hand?"  He shrugs.  "The guards here or whatever might not like that."

At a loss of words he thinks a bit then continues, "Maybe we spy on him.  Though i'm not sure what we'll see him do that'll make him look bad, unless he starts another fire.  You think he has an invisible creature?   Like what?"   Trencher is very intrigued by that thought.

Liber then hears this, and has a look about him.

"Tandor, if we have proof, can we coerce him and bring him to the shopkeeps to confess his crimes?" he starts twirling his quarterstaff.

Tandor considers both Trencher's and Liber's words.  "Yes, we can accuse him. Persimmons at both booths, him watching with a happy smile. This is less about gaining a conviction and more about exposing him, or them. Once we do that, I'm sure the market will impose its own justice. And maybe it's enough if the Kusa and Lamai watch as we accuse him...watch secretly.  Do you think we could arrange that?"

"if we had the right spells, it could work, or you could use me as a distraction. I apologize, but i feel old instincts flaring up again...it's like when my hatcher was killed by the traditionalists ...sorry."

"Or, again; we could leave. Why should we care? 

However, I'll stay you with you guys if you want to go deal with the spice merchants. Maybe some of us distract Aroon while the others talk to his brother, try to investigate further?"

((Consensus plan?))

What do we know about the guards or the people in charge of law in the city?   How well would they take our information we had and investigate or would they not care at all?

((The others in your party would know that mostly runs through the Market Council, as this isn't a city as such, but they have sway/power over who gets to set up where, etc. There was also a job that was floated as something they wanted looked at, but no one has had any direct known contact with the Council to take their temperature on how they'd react to such an accusation.))

"Well, that man is an ass.  If he started a fire in someone's shop, he should be called out.  In my city they would ban him from staying and send him away.  I'm willing to spend a bit of time to see him get what is coming to him."

A charred piece of sign falls nearby, and a scrap of flaming fabric drifts free and settles on the ground before slowly smoldering out.

Mixtli agrees with Tendor to at least start and confront the spice brother.

“We don’t really have anything to go to the authorities with. Fruit? And smirking? We understand but that’s because we’re in the middle. To someone on the outside, it might be suspicious but not damning. I say we get the ladies in place and then confront the jerks,” Tandor says

This area of the market is getting quiet, as those with shops nearby have fled the chaos. There are muffled moans from those injured in the stampede, but trying to be quiet so as not to give away their location.

"I'll find Kusa. Who's coming with me?" the priest of Pelor says.