(ooc: The kobold was killed in my last post)

"They went right this way.", Arthasis pointed in the general direction of were the Kobolds had disappeared into the fog. "You may be able to catch them if you hurry.", he told the one asking for directions. He then turned towards the other guard explaining the situation, "Me and my brave companions were right here when we heard an explosion. Within less than a minute, a group of five kobolds were upon us. It looked like they escorted another, much larger figure down the road, when they suddenly attacked us." He made a dramatic pause and looked at the guard as if he couldn't possibly explain why those creatures would do such a thing. "They screamed 'No witnesses' and only the courageous actions of these people managed to drive them off.", he gestured towards his companions.

[OOC: No worries. I presume this means that Eryn still has his pact slot?]

Eryn's immediate reaction to the crossbow bolt would have been to dive away into cover and then use his own Darkvision to look for the sniper.

Perception roll: 16

[OOC: Later edit: Or at least the direction he went.]

Eryn would also caution people about the newly dead kobold possibly blowing up, especially if he begins to hear a whining sound.

Aeros was caught off-guard as the the bolt came out of nowhere and struck the captive kobold before it could reach Eryn.  Though slightly disappointed that he couldn't question the creature himself, he suspected it probably didn't have the answers they sought and the bolt most likely just accelerated his fate.  Aeros then listens in as Arthasis explains the situation to the Crownsguard thinking lightly to himself He can be little bit flowery when he needs to be and chuckling quietly to himself despite his current predicament. Once he had finished, Aeros moves toward the leader and comments "Yes my new friend here speaks the truth.  It was truly a coincidence that we ran into them though I'm disappointed that we weren't able to stop them all from getting away."  After pausing for a moment, he'll continue with "Do you where they came from?  And why they may have caused all of this havoc?  If so, I'd like to help out if possible before they cause more trouble."

Eryn lets the others do the talking to the guards while he stays well away from the recently killed kobold and continues to scan the surroundings for potential snipers.

As he does this, he will attempt to clean some of the gobbets of flesh off himself using Prestidigitation.

And, if the kobold's corpse doesn't explode, he takes note of what the guards do with the body.

"You can't blame me for wanting to be cautious. It would hardly be much of a adventurous tale, if it ended here, now would it?" she admits, raising a brow before folding her arms across her chest. Menodora silently thanks whatever gods might be listening that she had encountered beings who clearly had more experience with.....the uncertainty and absolute chaos that could come when traversing new places. Or for when random attackers create such a large explosion and then try to murder and her and wandering cohorts. She remains relatively quite as the guards approach and open their line of questioning and their cohorts answer their questions.

"I'd be willing to assist to, if needed," she offers to the group, and the guards. It seems the least she can offer, given she'd been most unhelpful in preventing them from getting away.   

"Aye," a new voice joins them, and the Crownsguardsmen give way to another small figure, this one dressed in the colors of the Watchmaster. This, some of you know, is Watchmaster Bram Gulchswattle - who's late wife is purported to have taken off with a Dragon, of all things, before she ended tragically just outside the city. Now, he looks exhausted - dark circles under his dark eyes, and lines on his face; and a little bit defeated, an air of depression around him. His men keep giving him concerned, wary looks. "They come from Gearhole Prison," he gestures towards the hole in the mountainside. "That big one was Sken Zabriss; we was holdin' her here as a prisoner of war, but I got no clue as to the kobolds." 

He eyes the party, looking you all up and down and taking note of your equipment, your general airs; the dead kobolds. "It's good 'o ye to offer help," he finally says, reaching up to run a hand over his beard. "I'll give 500 gold pieces to whoever is willing to hunt Zabriss down and bring 'er back here, s'well as find out who started this whole mess," he looks around with a scowl before turning back to the party. "I'll give ye 250 up front if ye take me up on the offer here 'an now," he settles on, looking up at you all. 

"I'll accept your offer as I have experience with tracking..." Aeros replies to the Watchmaster "...though I am not sure what my companions would prefer to do..." he continues not wanting to force any of them on this hunt unnecessarily. (He'll give each of them a moment to reply to the gnome's offer.)

After that's been settled, he'll follow up by asking "Can you tell us what you know of this Sken Zabriss?  And if there are any known places in the city she might be headed?" 

"I also will take up your offer," says Eryn, stepping forward. "My name is Eryn Starflower. I am a stranger to this area, but I have a reputation for such things in Port Damali, which is where I hail from."

He then turns and walks over to the kobold's body and removes the lead key he saw earlier and uses his dagger to scrape some of the crimson mud off the kobold's feet.

"Clues perhaps to the whereabouts of your escapees," he says, presenting the two things to the Watchmaster. "This mud? Is it common around here? And this key might also be important."

'Five hundred gold pieces', he thought, for a moment imagining what he could do with the money. Of course he would have to share the payment with the others, and that was a much more sombering thought. Nonetheless, Arthasis deemed it an opportunity to make a few coins without too much trouble, at least he hoped so.

"Count me in, good sir.", he answered the gnome. "My name is Arthasis and I assure you that this 'Zabriss' or whatever her name is, won't enjoy her freedom for long.", he stated even though he hadn't the slightest idea how to make good on this assertion. He had never tracked anyone down. Back in Port Damali he had underlings for such kind of work.

Although she had very little experience with any of this, it did not mean that she had no interest in trying to help. Not to mention, every little bit of gold helped her continue her adventures. The thrill of adventure. The potential of future inspiration for a story to share. It was a no brainer, if she were being honest. 

"I'll help as well. Menodora Ercanbald, at your service." 

Given that she sprayed the escape prisoner with water, are there any footprints that are visible on the ground that might have been left behind? Perception: 13

"Excellent, excellent," the Watchmaster sighs, a little of the weight lifting from him, though his shoulders remain stooped and that same air of depressive hurt still seems to hover around him. "Well, ye'll be needing this, then," he says, and presents you all with a copper-and-gold badge embossed with the emblem of the Watch. "This here'll let anyone know ye are actin' under my authority," he explains, adding that "it should help ye pry information outta the most stubborn of folk." Here, he glances sideways at Auby, who has followed the commotion and has been watching you all interact with the Watchmaster smugly. At the look, the old ornery gnome huffs and sulks off, scowling. "And yer 250 up front," he adds, pulling a small pouch of gold from his side and carefully counting out the appropriate amount. "I trust ye can divide it up betwixt yerselves."

"As to clues, I'm 'fraid I don't know much, 'specially bout that dirt. I'm afraid I'm no specialist in that," he sighs again, making a face. "We hauled Zabriss in as a war prisoner - she's with the Kryn; a spy of some sort. Them mages from the capital are s'posed to come take 'er off our hands in a week, but now with all this," he gesture widely, an unhappy frown settling over his worn features. He watches Menodora look around, only to find nothing and says, "I'd suggest ye all start there," he turns, pointing towards the smoking hole in the side of the mountain. "Gearhole prison, where we were holdin' Zabriss, a'fore all this." He shakes his head, gesturing for his Guardsmen to spread out and start checking the streets. 

As the Watchmaster spoke his piece, Eryn pocketed the lead key and took a piece of paper from his backpack into which he scrapped the mud from his dagger for future reference. He then accepts his deputy's badge and his share of the proffered coin. [I have also added a variety of items to my equipment list.]

When the party is left to their own devices, he says to the group in general, "A bed would be very welcome at this time, but perhaps we should go to yonder prison right now to see if there are any other clues as to where our escaped prisoner might have gone to ground."

Taking the gold & badge, Aeros nods his thanks to the Watchmaster before replying to him "Thank you for the information, we'll start there (Gearhole Prison) and see what we can find.  We'll let you know if we've found her or have anything concrete."  He'll then wait for the guards to be off before continuing further discussions with the party.  "Yes I believe examining the prison now would be best while the trail is still 'hot'.  Since we know she's not local to Hupperdook, it'll make finding her a little harder but perhaps she mentioned part of her plan to someone left behind?"

Keaton, ever the observer, steps out at this time, before the Watchmaster steps away.  "Excuse me, Watchmaster Gulchswattle.  I was told to meet you on behalf of the Cobalt Soul, but I had just arrived in the city and had not enough time.  There are some documents I was to obtain from you.  When would be a good time for me to come and collect them from you?" 

(And then splitting the timeline, after he leaves)

"I'm sure that there are those to whom she told pieces of the plan, if nothing else, trying to get allies.  Though, truthfully, that does not seem to be much in the way of a problem, as they were able to get their hands on explosives.  That is what I wish to know, primarily."

Taking the badge from the Watchmaster, Arthasis inspected the item for a second before he stowed it away in one of his pockets. He thought it ironic that he would hold a symbol of law enforcement. He chuckled. "Watchmaster, this Zabriss will be brought back to you.", he assured him. "She will have no chance to elude us for long."

Arthasis found it reasonable enough to begin the investigation at the prison from where Zabriss escaped. The others voiced already their willingness to follow this course of action. He turned to them and stated, "Then let's go there now and search the scene of the crime. Maybe we'll find something in her cell that puts us on her trail" 

As the party sets off towards the prison, Eryn asks a general question of the group. "The Watchmaster said this Zabriss was a Kryn spy... Do you think that means she is a drow? It is my understanding that the dark elves rule Xhorhas."

"I am curious about that as well Keaton.  Perhaps she used some kind of spell?"  Turning towards Eryn, "It's certainly possible, but the Kryn have a variety of races within their border as I understand it so it's tough to say without seeing her in person."  Aeros responds to the elf

"You're right.  She did show a penchant for magic already.  That said, we are currently in city that produces the most war-making goods in the Empire.  I wouldn't be surprised if they used mundane explosives here."