Zeenon -- all though you look mightily, there doesn't seem to be much in the sheriff's office that allows you to do any sort of cleaning. In fact, as you go through most of city hall, you notice a pretty fine layer of dust over everything. You know for sure that Whiskers would be appalled by the level of uncleanliness discovered here.

Peace, as you describe the situation in the jail as delicately as possible, the mayor looks to Samuel in alarm. The human shrugs. "I ain't done nothing, Mayor. Y'all been here with me for the last bit. Whatever happened, I ain't had no part of it." He motions to the others. "Annys, you an' Keaton kin go on yer breaks. Dad, head up on upstairs fer a bit. I'll grab ye "

As the other occupants of the tavern leave, Mayor Duskwalker, who had been fidgeting the whole time, almost explodes. "Godsdamnit, Samuel! I told you you and your boys were inflaming this situation. What happened, Mr. Peace? Did they get the shifter chief?  By Arawai, the Wardens will have my head."

Samuel reacts much more coolly. He looks you over and says. "Not so fast, Beiro. I think our intrepid correspondent here ain't necessarily talking about that shifter. I seen that look before. Who's dead?"

Just because you weren't there, doesn't mean you weren't responsible.  I suspect that despite your cool demeanor, you are more responsible for this than you claim.  Peace is careful not to voice these thoughts, but they have been nagging him for this entire conversation.

"Your intuition is sound...  We refused to allow the shifter to be killed without the due process owed him.  We can't have rule by angry mob, right?  Once we explained that they would not be allowed access to the chief, three individuals attacked us, an older halfling woman, a human man, and another individual, all wearing masks.  We defended ourselves.  We managed to knock out and restrain two of them... but our warforged...  Well, it doesn't respond to our voice commands, only our employer's.  Thus, not our calls to restrain the attackers.  It killed one of the attackers.  I do not know who the individual was.  The other two attackers are battered and restrained, but will be okay.  The shifter also is okay."

In the Farmer's Hearth

Mayor Duskwalker sighsd and mops his forehead with a hankerchief. "This town owes you and your colleagues much, my friend. It would have been a disaster for us if those vigilantes were able to dispense whatever they consider 'justice' to the shifter chief before the Wardens arrived." He thinks for a second. "As for who they are....hmm. The human could be one of a dozen, but the halfling sounds like Maurine's mother Maegrace. She was always one of the hotheads. And that would explain why Maurine abandoned her post."

The whole time, Peace, Samuel watches you carefully while sipping his ale. "Now, Mayor. Even if'n it was Maegrace, that don't mean the militia was involved. I made it very clear to my people that we are to let the Wardens do things their way, fer now. I even did an interview with that gnome feller to try and get the message out to the other militias. If'n she and some of the others did this, we all ain't involved. Hells, Bilick has more right than anyone to be after Beard, but he sat right in here with us, din't he?"

The mayor sighs and shakes his head. "So much bloodshed. I'll head over there now and try to identify who it was. And I'll need to let the Wardens know too. You know, Samuel -- sometimes, I don't wonder if you don't have something there. We never had anything like this happen when we had a sheriff and deputies actually in town. The Wardens aren't here when we need them, and they aren't even much use for the farmers anymore. Folks here know how to work the land."

In the Jail

The tense atmosphere is broken by the arrival of three figures dressed in heavy brown cloaks -- all three are humanoids, and two of the forms are clearly feminine. The third is heavier and has a crow perched on his shoulder. The lead one pulls her hood back and  you see a strikingly beautiful elf woman, her nearly pure white hair in a single braid.Her violet eyes sparkle with an intelligence, but also a certain wisdom that seems to indicate she is MUCH older than she appears. She looks all of you in alarm and shock. "What has happened here? Which among you has killed this man?"

You hear another voice -- not coming from any of the cloaked figures. Its a deep throaty warble, and it seems to be coming from the crow. "It was the warforged, Sister Wynrora, but I sense there is more to the story than we are seeing, judging by the masks and weapons on the floor. I suggest we ask the woman. She appears to be at least somewhat familiar with our ways. At least one among them has the stench of the archfey upon them as well."

The elven woman nods. "Perceptive as always, Brother Cable. Well, sister? Can you speak truth to what happened here?" She looks directly at Rowan, coming almost uncomfortably close to the young photographer.

Korvash breaks from his meditation upon the arrival of the three figures. "And you must be the Wardens?" he asks.

Peace remembers seeing faces much like the one Samuel is wearing right now.  That's the face of a man who is watching an enemy to make the first move.  Can I get an Insight check on him? 5

"Right...  Where can we find this gnome.  I may also want to talk to him, once we clear up everything at the Jail.  Samuel, I'm glad that you are taking this seriously.  It would be a shame for everyone to be getting mixed messages.  You'll be publicly denouncing those who are trying to take things into their own hands, I'm sure, right?"

The woman turns her unsettling gaze onto Korvash now, and looks at him with big violet eyes. "We are. I am Sister Wynrora, and I am acting as spiritual leader of the Wolfwood Druids while our leader recuperates." She gestures to the male,  who pulls his hood down, revealing himself as a serene looking Kalashtar, the combination of a human body and a quori dream spirit. "I am Brother Halkhad, and I am the agricultural advisor to this community, though they do not call upon my services as much as they once did."

The crow speaks next "I am Brother Cable, and yes, I am a crow. I believe humanoids call my kind 'awakened.' My colleague Sister Frances and I are here to take the shifter Beard to Greenheart to be judged by the Archdruid Oalian. It appears that others will need to be judged by his Eminence, yes. But whom, I wonder?"

He flutters closer to Zeenon, perching on a desk near the big warforged and cocking his head, examining him.

At the Farmer's Hearth, Samuel runs a hand through his long black hair. "Course I take it seriously, mister. This place is my home. I fought for it during the war, which is more'n I can say for any o' them Wardens. My pa grew up here. So did his pa. Beiro here knew our family since we arrived here, what was it? Two hundred years? I'll talk to my people if'n I need to. As fer the little feller whose a reporter, too -- either he's in the Wolfwood looking at the crime scene, or up on top o' the Wolf's Paw trying to get one of the Vadalis boys ta speak ta him,"

A flicker of annoyance passes over the Mayor's face. "Gods damnit, Samuel. I told you that Caldeen d'Vadalis and his party are not to be disturbed. He's here to get away from people, not to  get poked and prodded by busybodies. Errr...no offence. Look, that gnome stays here at Samuel's place. I'm sure you can find him buying scores of drinks here in the evening if you stick around long enough. No need in bothering one of the leading lights in the Reaches on his vacation, eh?" Changing the subject, the mayor adds  "Shall we head over to the jail, Mr. Peace? I admit I am quite anxious to see who was the unfortunate one to cross paths with your warforged."

Peace only

As the crow flies toward Zeenon, the warforged recoils a little. "Korvash say Zeenon not an old boy no more," the construct says to the bird. "Zeenon can't find mop."

"Fabulous.  When will you be telling the militia it is against your wishes to take justice into your own hands?  I think that's very important, given the circumstances.  I know your militia wouldn't want to have any kind of involvement with a vigilante movement.  After all, that would draw further Warden attention to this village, which I could be... invasive.  That wouldn't likely be in the best interests of your people, and I know that you only care about their best interests.  I greatly appreciate your help with this matter." 

Peace does not trust Samuel a single bit, but he wants to try to keep the peace with the strong personalities in the village.  "Mayor, yes, let's go check out the jail.  I am anxious to get this situation back under control as quickly as possible."

Breyten had let the woman's comment about being fey touched go without retort, but the Wardens were here now and they could sense his deal as well. Was it just a deal, he wondered given the fact that he smelled of Arch Fey, had it permanently changed him? He shook his head a bit to shake away the thoughts, it didn't matter, he did what he did and he didn't regret it. 

"Brother Crow..." Breyten said with reverence in his tone, "...with all due respect I am not sure you should sit in judgement of anyone just yet. Terrible things have happened but they are done if Beard here is the one that committed them. Punishing him quicker is not a good counter argument to letting this matter sit to confirm that he is the culprit."

Korvash bows his head in reverence for the Wardens. "Brethren, I would be honored to witness on behalf of Beard at the trial. But remember, like any man on trial, Beard is innocent until proven guilty. Because he is a shifter, and has been framed for murder, does not mean that he should not be given a fair trial."

Samuel drums his fingers against the heavy pine table that he's sitting at. "Your concern is noted. Mayor, perhaps we can arrange for a town meeting? Maybe tomorrow, so'n people from the community can make all their concerns known."

The mayor nods thoughtfully. "Not the worst idea, Samuel. I'll think about it. Shall we go, Mr. Peace?"

Meanwhile, in the jail, Brother Cable the crow studies Zeenon closely. "Fascinating. Which of you is Korvash? I believe you have hurt this warforged's feelings. I have not thought such a thing was possible, but I myself have not met one of these creatures before. The Archdruid Oalian would be fascinated by you, I think."

He now flutters over towards Breyten, perching on a a wooden beam slightly above the human. "You and your friend misunderstand. We have no intention of trying him ourselves or rushing to some hasty judgement, especially due to the severity of his crimes. An attack on one Warden is an attack on us all, and the number of attacks indicate a threat to all of us. He will be transported to Greenhaven and he will receive a fair hearing before the Archdruid Oalian himself. If he is found guilty, then he will receive punishment. "

He flaps down next to the halfling woman. "As will you and your friend if what I believe happened here is accurate. Taking a life to defend one who is helpless, while regrettable is not a crime. Even I, before my awakening, was aware of this."

It is this point that Mayor Duskwalker and Peace reenter the jail. The kalashtar druid, Halkhad, turns to him immediately. "Mr. Mayor -- you had informed us that the shifter Beard would be secure here. We found quite the scene here when we arrived. We had...discussed some of the difficulties you faced in town before. I assume this is related to the anti-Aundair militia led by the tavernkeeper?"

The mayor shakes his head. "People are afraid, Brother Halkhad. Whoever did this, the shifter or someone else, they are no longer attacking your people alone."

(Before leaving the tavern)  "Ah.  Well, I'd be interested to be there.  I'm sure I'll see you around."

(Before entering the jail) "Mayor, how much do you trust Samuel?  Has he made issues for you?"  

Peace enters the jail with the Mayor and sees the Wardens.  "Wardens.  Greetings."  

Peace as you walk to the jail, the mayor listens to your question and thinks for a moment. "Samuel is...difficult. I've known the family, for, as he said, over 200 years now. He genuinely wants what is best for Havenglen, but his time at war had made him harder. He fought for Breland, as did many of our people here, who chafed under the yoke of Aundair. He disagrees with many of the decisions that the Wardens make on behalf of those who actually fought for the Reaches, but as I'm sure you know, the Wardens kept the peace here while so many of us were at war. I know he is frustrated, but he would not do anything that puts the town at risk.

Inside the jail, the mayor examines the dead body. "The dead one here is Luke Lloyd. The halfling is Maegrace Thorntassle, and the other fellow is Wallace Reid." He sighs heavily. "They're our folks. From Havenglen."

The one who wielded the pitchfork, Wallace, sneers at the mayor. "If you were any sort of friend t' this town, Mayor, you woulda let us in to do this right after they caught him."

Maegrace looks at him. "Shut up, Wallace. Now is not the time."

The third druid, Sister Frances, the only one who has not yet spoken, finally speaks. "Indeed. Now is not the time. All of you will have the opportunity to speak directly to Brother Oalian, and plead your cases. If he judges you to be guilty, you will be dealt with in accordance to the practices of the Wardens of the Wood, as old as Khorvaire itself. The Reaches are our responsibility, Mayor. For anyone to believe we have no interest in justice is the height of folly." She nods at the other Wardens. "Brother Cable and I will return to Greenheart with these three. Sister Wynrora, you will receive Archdruid Oalian's verdict within 48 hours."

The raven, Brother Cable, flutters over to Korvash and Breyten. "We will take your comments in defense of Beard into consideration. And of course, if you find any evidence that may influence Archdruid Oalian's decision, you may take it to Brother Halkhad or Sister Wynrora. They have been investigating the attacks on behalf of us." The two of you aren't sure, but you think the crow may have winked at you.

Peace looks at the scene, wondering what to do now.  "Mayor, how would you like to move forward?  We still have a job to do, but I want to know the best way cause the least trouble."  (So the Wardens took Maegrace and Wallace?)  

Korvash nods his head. "Thank you, Brethren," he tells the druids. After they leave, he turns to the Mayor. "May we see the body of Dain? I think we can figure out what kind of creature killed him if given the opportunity." He then reminds the party, "We have a story to get in within two days. We need to act quickly." After he shares these remarks, he goes back to meditating.

(The Wardens have seized them along with Beard -- there's going to Transport via Plants to the Circle at Greenheart for all three to stand trial but they're still hanging around for a hot second -- if you have any questions, you can try and see if they'll answer. Also, sorry, Korvash -- I was writing this post while you posted yours. This is updated to reflect your post too..)

Mayor Duskwalker looks at you sharply, and you sense his  frustration bubbling over. "I don't know! We have these druids taking away two of our citizens to stand trial, while two others have died in tragic circumstances in the past twenty-four hours. I...just...don't...know. If I were you, I'd just file my story and go home. You have your tragedy, and I'm sure you will sell plenty of newspapers."

Duskwalker pauses, then exhales sharply and rubs his eyes. "Look -- I'm sorry. Nothing like this has ever happened in this town and it makes me think the Wardens aren't good enough anymore. You can see the body -- its at his brother Bilick's farm, pending burial.  I would come with you, but I'm going to arrange that town meeting Samuel suggested for tomorrow. Just...just stay out of trouble until then. And stay away from the Wolf's Paw. Gods, if one of the Vadalis heirs hears about this situation, I shudder to think what they'd do."

The mayor starts to head out the door, followed by the Wardens, Sister Wynrora moving quickly to catch up to the mayor and speak to him as they start to leave the jail.

After they leave, Peace would recount what he learned at the tavern, then say, "I really do not trust Samuel at all.  I suspect he may have been the one to point the militia in here at Beard.  What would you like to do next?  Should we go to see Dain's body, go find the gnome that seems to be stirring everything up, or something else?"

Zeenon moves close to Korvash. "Korvash not tell Whiskers?" it asks in a plaintive tone.

Korvash looks up at Zeenon. "I won't tell him," he assures the warforged. "This will be our little secret." In response to Peace's question, Korvash shrugs his shoulders. "I don't know. What does everyone else think?"

Breyten had stayed silent this entire time, in his mind he took notes of what had happened, but more he just wanted to insure he did not lose his cool again. It always happened when he called on his gift, he could feel the anger just beneath the surface, readily accessible. 

"My votes visiting Dain, we might be able to tell something from his wounds that would point us in the right direction"