When Darnic comes back to the kitchen and asks his question, he spots a crow perched on the window nearby. Jana seems to be reading a parchment.

"Nothing much has changed. You'll need to stop by the business office on the floor above and file for a permit, then take it to the Watch." Darnic's mother blinks. Her smile seems uneasy, "Why? You just got back! Already you want to get to work?"

"You'd rather Nic be a bum? Haha, be glad. It's the blood flowing through 'em. We're real go-getters," Cinrad stuffs more food into his gullet. 

Jana suddenly shoots up from her seat. "It seems I am needed for an investigation..." Jana looks from her mother to Darnic, "... and it would appear you are one of the suspects, brother."

"The guards come when they feel like feeding us," the voice croaks and groans. "I'm here for the usual - knowing how to have a good time. Would you mind? I'm sleeping off this massive hangover..."

“Oh, you got into the ol’ family business, eh? I’m proud of you, Jana! You’re really making strides- Wait. Run that by me one more time. Suspected for what?”

"I'll have to ask you to cooperate with me, Darnic," Jana says flatly. She crumples up the paper and shoves it into her pocket. "You are wanted for the murder of some MU professor. It would appear he was murdered last night and you were there along with 3 kithkin-" her eyes flash toward Archy for a brief instant before turning back to her brother. Darnic can notice this, but Archy will need to roll a perception/insight to know if he's been figured out, "and a downed warforged. They are accepting bids, and it seems the house has offered me up. Blood protects blood, isn't that right?"

Darnic sighs, “Host preserve, that’s where this is going, eh.” Darnic takes a seat, and gestures for Jana to continue, “Alright, show me what you’ve learned.”

"I don't believe you are the killer, Darnic," Jana nods to her older brother solemnly, "but the facts of this case don't look that great. They apparently have that warforged up and running again, and it is saying it's with you." She shakes her head, a bit exasperated. "Do you know the two kithkin they have in prison, Darnic? Can you vouch for them? What about that third kithkin... is he on the up and up?"

Darnic nods, “I can confirm the validity of their testimony. Their names are Yrwin and Willie, they’re cousins of Archy. Archy is an old acquaintance of mine from before the crash. I arrived in town late last night. He met with me and brought me to an inn. Willie and Yrwin were exiting the inn and offered me food and shelter at his home. On our way there, we saw a cloaked figure leap over the walls. Following after them, like the troublemaker I am, we came upon the body. I immediately checked for a pulse, but he was dead on our arrival. We then confronted the murderer. They utilized a special type of blade that I encountered during my time... missing. Regardless, I can point out some potential evidence. At the site, Yrwin broke a section of the masonry with a fireball, while I left various gashes along the warforged. I can offer my personal sword for examination.”

(Perception: 3)

Jana listens to Darnic recount his tale. She nods along with her arm folded along her waist propping up her other arm. She holds her chin in thought. Darnic thinks for a moment that she looks just like their father did back when he was an inquisitor. It seems possible that she picked up his sharp memory too as she doesn't seem to attempt taking any notes. Once Darnic is finished, she strokes her chin a few times, "That would be good. First, we need to make it down to the station. If you are right, then we should make our bid soon... before House Medani gets there and steals the job from under us."

It's well known that House Tharashk and House Medani are at economic odds with one another recently. As direct competitors with somewhat similar dragonmarked powers, they will at times have to bid on jobs against one another when it comes to government work. While House Tharashk has seized the initiative when it comes to mercenary work, beating even House Deneith in the number of contracts they are able to acquire, it would appear that, when it comes to the inquisitor work, there is still a heavy preference for those with less monstrous features and bloodlines...

Archy - you don't seem to catch on that Jana is onto your ruse. You still feel the need to be cautious, of course.

“Agreed. The sooner the better.” Darnic tosses her his sword, “Best if you hold onto that, investigator.”

Archy considers slipping his disguise back on, but he doesn't want to reveal his hand though it may be too late for that.

"I knew we should have gotten out of there. No good deed goes unpunished. If only I hadn't been stabbed by that thing." Archy thinks back on the scene and asks. "When you take down one of those things do they usually drop flying orbs? That thing it dropped could be important too." Archy slips Darnic the note from Yrwin's front door. He can discuss that with his sister if he chooses.

Darnic considers it for a moment and sets the paper on the table, “This also was left at the home of Yrwin, after the murder. I would suggest we send investigators from our own family to look into that.” 

"If you've been here before.. Do you get fed? How often????.." In a matter of seconds Yrwin is clingning to the bars, his knuckles white and his eyes fixed upon the drunkard. 

Willie tries to think of what she can do. Stumped, she looks around the cell for anything of use.

"Good thinking," Jana nods at the paper. "Cinrad, could you please?"

"Sure thing, boss," Cinrad rolls his eyes, but Darnic can tell his twin brother is trying to hide his pride. "I'll get the boys down there."

"Sorry, mama, the reunion is cut short for now."

Archy, you can follow them if you'd like. You can roll stealth to trail them but go unseen. Or you can just accompany them - your call!

Jana will lead Darnic (and Archy) to the station. She catches a Skycoach, flashes her ID toward them, and apparently gets to fly for free. 

Willie, you don't see anything new as you search for answers. It would appear the Watch keeps a fine cage. However, you do hear arguing down the hall. From what you are able to make out, it sounds like someone from the Watch is being talked down to by a Medani House member. They are mostly yelling about 'why did you open up a bid! I'm right here!!!'

Both kithkin see the drunkard slowly sit up, their head in hand. They look to be a Changeling of all people, with pale gray skin and fluffy blue hair. He looks at you, though his features are so feminine its hard to reconcile the fact that an incredibly masculine voice booms from her throat, "Listen fluffy, it's only worse if you keep complaining. Trust me." Finally, after rubbing her eyes several times, she blinks as she takes Willie and Yrwin in, "Woah woah woah, wait a second. Why are some softies like you in jail?" The Changeling's eyes seem to linger on your marks. "Shouldn't you be out there, uh, stepping on grapes or something?"

(Yes, this character is slightly inspired by Doctor Mrs. The Monarch.)

As they're moving out of the building Archy dons his specs. Matrim accompanied the others to the station, and dispenses faux legal advice for their benefit when they discus the case. "There's precedent to have them released based on mishandling of evidence."

"WE WERE FRAMED." Yrwin almost forces his head through the bars.  "You didn't answer my question, it is IMPORTANT, when do we get fed?" Yrwin says the end of his sentence V-E-R-Y S-L-O-W-L-Y. 

"Mishandled evidence..." Jana studies Archy's face. "Seems plausible. I don't handle the legalities of court. I only use my abilities to discern the truth, Mr. Matrim.

"Ahh, we're here," she announces. 

The free members of the party stand before a most imposing square-shaped tower. It looms over you cold and gray with few windows and many gargoyles guarding its high steeples and buttresses. Jana looks to Darnic, "I'll do my best to get your friends out of jail, but if you don't mind, I might outsource the work to you, Darnic."

"Well, breakfast already came and went. So. Probably not for a few hours more...?" The changeling sighs. "If you are just hungry, say so, here-" with a flick of her wrist, she tosses over a small item in packaging. "I was saving it for a snack, but you can have it if it shuts you up."

(A fantasy granola bar - yum!)

"Yrwin is right, we were framed", explains Willie. "Thank you for the bar! What about you, why are you here?" she asks.

Yrwin catches it with one hand and stuffs it into his mouth, forgetting to chew and almost chokes on it. "Bless you .. and thank you!" He coughs up a few grains of the bar. 

"Like I told ya, I'm a filthy drunk," the changeling says exasperatedly. She rolls her eyes, but Willie senses that the changeling might not be telling the whole truth. "And, uh, you're welcome."