Ssej thinks to himself, Wonder if the other ones killed also had some kind of arrangement, will have to let the others know my thoughts when we are alone.

Matthias nods sympathetically as the son tells the tale. He understood how a person might do whatever they could to prevent the Lottery from claiming them or their loved ones as part of its grisly, useless toll. "Do you know who this official who was taking payment from your father is? Do you know the name?"

“I’m pretty sure it’s Percival Angosin. He’s the clerk down at Council Hall who’s in charge of the Lottery, registering folk, that sort of thing.”

Nazcan looks a little bit concerned, Since this guy runs the Lottery, we could be in it if we talk to him he thinks to himself "Um, I'll sit out talking to him, I have... stuff to take care of" he says awkwardly

Auraani consoles Dainald about his father's loss. "I'm sorry to hear about your father, I'm sure he was only doing what he thought was right for the both of you. Did your father have anyone that might wish harm on him? Do you know of anyone that might have known he was bribing this clerk?"

Variety looks around as the young man explains everything that happened, "I mean no offense, but if your father was doing it, who's to say other businesses weren't doing the same thing." 

Too late, Karl realizes he was tactless. He sheepishly clams up while the others speak in softer words. The signs were there, at least. Perhaps there was a zealot or a jealous citizen targeting those who had outsmarted their ritual murders.

He begins chewing on his lip. There might be a supernatural element to these murders. Perhaps this was an actual act of their frozen goddess.

Dainald denies knowing of any enemies, not in the baking world or otherwise. Until very recently he himself didn’t know of the bribes so he feels his father kept it a secret.

He gifts each of you a fish pie and wishes you gods-speed on finding the perpetrator. “My father didn’t deserve to die the way he did.”

Matthias graciously takes the fish pie, tucking it away for later consumption. "We will do our best to find out what happened," he says to Dainald.

Once they are on their own, Matthias says to the others. "I think we should compile a list of the victims and look for things they had in common. As Variety said, others may have been paying these bribes as well. Perhaps all the victims were...or perhaps they had some other common thread that would help tie the murders together." 

"I wass thnking the ssame thing. Sshould we sstart with this corrupted official and go from there?" Ssej asks.

Auraani nods at Ssej, "We could do that, and there is always the barkeep Grimmet we can talk to as well."

"Correct though I wass thinking of ussing the barkeep ass a way to possibly confirm or deny what the otherss have old us. I have witnessssed over the yearss that people tend to sspeak the truth to thosse who disspensse the alcohol that they normally would not sspeak to thier own family." Ssej laughingly says.

Matthias thinks on what the others have said. "We may want to be careful about letting the official know that we know he's been accepting bribes. I think we might want to have more information first. I'd also like to talk to the sheriff or his clerk to get details on all the victims. Not sure if it's wise, but we could split up, one group going to the sheriff, one going to the barkeep."

((Splitting up is logistically much more feasible in PBP but there’s still the drawback of running into a more deadly encounter))

Those who go back to the Council Hall can find the sheriff and the clerk, Artie, much as they were previously. Youre also aware that the Lottery official, Percival, probably also has an office in this very building. The sheriff would greet you warmly and inquire as to any progress you’ve made in the investigation, and how he can help.

Thinking about how he tripped over his words with the fresh orphan, Karl follows to the Council Hall.  He is more taciturn than usual, keeping an eye out for both their patron's familiar and anyone who looked like a serial killer.

Ssej follows the group, pulling out his fish pie and eating it in one bite. Keeping a look out around him for anyone paying particular attention to the group.

Perception: 11

Ssej, everyone is going about their business, hurrying along if they’re unfortunate enough to have to be outside. No one pays you much mind.

Not quite ready to give up the lead about the bribery, Matthias speaks quietly to the sheriff. "No major breakthroughs yet, but we are learning our way around town a bit and identifying some key people to perhaps follow up with," he says. "As we are all from elsewhere, we have the advantage of being a 'fresh set of eyes' as they say. However, it also means we don't know the victims like you locals do. I thought it would be good to get as much detail on all the victims since the beginning, to see what they might have in common. Unless of course you have already put that sort of dossier together."

The sheriff provides you with a dossier:

1st victim 3 months ago: Aunt Remalda, as she was known to everyone, an old spinster who worked as an official for the city.

2nd victim 2 months ago: Archibald de Burgoise, a self-purported noble who would tell anyone who would listen that he was exiled to Icewind Dale due to causing his family some financial and social embarrassments. He left behind no local family or much of anything else when he died.

3rd victim last month: Warren Rector, human banker who is survived by his wife.

Addresses of all victims provided. All victims found alone, outside, with frontal stab wounds.

When they are able to speak privately, Matthias shares a few thoughts on the roster of victims. 

"A city official was the first to die. Perhaps the old woman found out about the bribes and was taken out before she could turn the man in? And both of the other victims appear to be men of means, ones who could likely afford to bribe the city official to stay out of the lottery. It's just speculation, but it does tie all the deaths to the lottery bribes our young baker friend told us about."