Midian attempts to read the man, if he is what he appears - a businessman annoyed and defensive due to a second round of interruptions and violations from the church - or if he himself might be hiding something. 

Insight: 6

OOC: I finally learned how to do this from my phone. It’s a bit cumbersome, but do able. 

2nd insight check if the first failed for the experience gain: 6

OOC: Ha. 

The man's frown deepens and he says, "Your badge and uniform indicates that you are from the Temple of Donai, but unless you give me a name and some reason as to why you are here, I am afraid I will not be letting you in."

And at that, he begins to close the door.

“I... I was a personal friend of the deceased. He was my mentor. I was given special instructions to investigate his death. Since examining the body, there has been some new information brought to light. Based on this, I have been asked to return, to re-examine the crime scene, and ask additional questions. My apologies for interrupting your preparations for your work day. I thought it best to do so before business hours.”

Midian attempts Persuasion: 21

"Aah, so you're an Apprentice Seeker," says the man, his frown lifting slightly. "Like that young man with Seeker Lomani, Basil something?"

He then adds, "I am currently serving my tenants their breakfast, so my business hours have already started. However, if you don't mind leaving your weapon at the door, you may come in and have a caf [OOC: Sorendenese equivalent of coffee and quite expensive in Engle] while you wait. When my wife becomes available, I will have time to talk then."

The man then opens the door to allow Midian to enter, and says, "My name is Heracles Damass. And yours is?"

[OOC: Make a straight Wisdom check.]

4

“Of course. No need in a place like this. Truthfully they are mainly to look the part and avoid hassle,” Midian says, relinquishing the rapier but retaining his concealed daggers. “Of course, that wasn’t the case for Harlan, but those were uniquely tragic circumstances.”

11

Wisdom check 

Quote from Izraal1 >>

20

Wisdom check 

[OOC: Midian has heard the name Damass before. It belongs to a famous female seer who runs an establishment in the Mercantile District. She is famous not only because she is good at her craft, but also because she uses a crystal ball, which some say is cursed. Cursed to the extent that Sameena Damass, who was born some thirty or so years ago, inhabits the body of a pre-teenage girl.]

“No relation to the seer Damass, by any chance?” Midian says this trying to sound polite and interested. He takes in the layout of the tavern, once inside, trying to imagine the scuffle that took place inside. 

Quote from Izraal1 >>

“No relation to the seer Damass, by any chance?” Midian says this trying to sound polite and interested. He takes in the layout of the tavern, once inside, trying to imagine the scuffle that took place inside. 

[OOC: Seeker Harlan was killed in one of the private rooms upstairs.]

"My step sister," says Damass, a little taken aback. "You've had business with her with regard to this murder?"

This common room is not like the other taverns that Midian has frequented in the past. For one thing, artworks adorn the walls, which have been painted in a neutral colour of off-white so as to not detract from the paintings. In fact, the establishment has a very genteel air to it, something Midian isn't accustomed to.

Over near the fireplace a couple of people are seated at separate tables eating breakfast. The only other person in the room at the moment is a serving girl who is clearing a third table. Of the two breakfasters, one is an older man, who is ignoring what is going on completely, his attention deep in the pages of a book. The other is a nubian woman in her twenties. She is looking at Midian with a frown upon her face. 

The presence of the dark-skinned woman is a little surprising to Midian as he thought Rhani, the Mithran Glory (i.e., paladin equivalent) was the only nubian in the city. 

"No, I have not consulted your step sister, Heracles. It's just a noteworthy name in this city.  I am Midian Voda, a humble acolyte Seeker, I carry no such notoriety," he says, trying to sound as if it was polite conversation.  "If you think it would be wise to consult with her,  a seer, I might consider doing so, with your blessing, but it's not your sister I came seeking out, but evidently you and your establishment.  I apologize for the redundancy of these questions, but, -" Midian cuts himself, as if seeing the eyes on them for the first time - the frowning nubian woman, the man who might be feigning being absorbed in a book - and adds, "-This is unpleasant subject matter.  Would you prefer to adjourn somewhere else, outside the common room, to discuss this matter?"

Nodding to a well-dressed Sorian woman of about his own age who enters the room from a doorway at the back carrying a steaming metal jug of what smells like caf, Damass says, "Yes, Apprentice Voda, that would perhaps be wise."

Then he points at a table near the entrance and adds, "But first, your sword... It is the Retreat's policy."

Midian removes the rapier and retains his concealed daggers.  "Certainly, here you go.  And I will absolutely take you up on a cup of caf while we speak."  

Damass takes the rapier and deposits it on the table. He then leads the way into a side room, which from the visible evidence is obviously used for games of chance, most notably cards.

"Caf for two, if you please, Lucinda," calls Damass before closing the door.

He gestures for Midian to sit before taking a chair himself and saying, "Now, you said something about new evidence and new questions."

Just as an aside while I am thinking about it, Midian's rapier is unusual for the area and would be made of Gothian steel (Goth being a separate Sorendenese province to the immediate west of Engle in the mountains). Most common metal weapons in the campaign would be made simply of iron, but a rapier requires the strength and flexibility of steel to be so thin, flexible and strong, hence the need for a special material. This would have made it more expensive to purchase and perhaps harder to source, but don't worry about that now. 

As iron is anathema to magic, those magi who do carry weapons, such as Seeker Harlan, would be carrying weapons made of magically strengthened bronze (once again, more expensive than the common iron weapons). As well as not having the effect of draining their magic, bronze weapons also have the advantage of being able to used as special spell foci and carry magic spells in them, which iron and steel weapons can't.

Note: Type of metal a weapon is made of normally doesn't have any effect on its to-hit or damage capabilities, this is just flavouring so that weapons fit in better with the setting.

This lore is scattered all through the World Anvil site, but I thought I should mention it here while I think about it. I have also modified Midian's character sheet to show this.

Recalling the value of the rapier, Midian will add before leaving, "Be sure to take very good care of that blade until it's returned to me.  It is the property of the Seekers of Donai."  He then joins Hercule in the side room, sits down at the table, and answers him. "Yes, there are number of new facts that have caused us to re-open this line of inquiry, with a fresh set of eyes. I am told the murder took place here.  There are indications of other persons of interest who we will need to speak with, possible witnesses, possible suspects.  A blond woman.  A woman with alfaran blood.  Possibly the same person, possibly different.  A woman named Sarina.  This woman, or, these women, need to be located as soon as possible.  I'll need any information you can provide on them, and the attack itself."  

Damass looks slightly dazed at the string of new evidence Midian rattles off, but only reacts to one word.

"Sarina," he echoes. "That is the name of the woman who was renting the room—a Gundian seer. She hasn't been seen since that day. But her hair isn't blonde, it is red like many from her country."

Midian's intent was achieved - a flurry of information to convince the man to open up without dwelling on any of the finer points.  "Renting a room," he repeats.  "Can you elaborate on that?  Do you rent rooms for sleeping, as many taverns double as inns?  Or was this a rented private room, for festivities, a private celebration?  I'll need to see the room, regardless. After caf, of course.  What was this Gundian woman like, and how long was she here for?"  

"We are an inn that is also a tavern," corrects Damass. "We have quite a few long-term visitors, many of them here to visit the School of Occult Studies. Just like the woman Sarina was, I believe. At least that is what she said she was doing. She is quite a powerful magus, so that makes sense, but you'd have to enquire at the School as to whether she actually had business there—"

Damass is interrupted by a quiet knock on the door and the woman carrying the pot of caf before enters with the pot now on a tray along with some quite stylish looking pottery mugs.

"Ahh, Apprentice Midian," says Damass, smiling. "This is my better half, my wife Lucinda. She might be able to help answer some of your questions as well."

The woman smiles and sets the tray down on the table between the two of them.

"Would you like honey to sweeten your caf, Apprentice Midian?" she asks.