Act II: Penumbra

[Grodech]

"So, if this is ritualistic in nature, would the other bodies be buried someplace similar?" Nirili asks (assuming Viales passed on that info). "Or, maybe its directional. One North, South, East and West of a certain point?"

[Charon]

Viales can roll Arcana to help him answer that question. Timidity also has something to say about that topic, so I'll take Viales' roll then combine the two.

[Cmdr Maxwell]

"I had entertained that notion, and it is plausible. But something about this just doesn't sit well within."

Knowledge Arcana:

[15]+11 = 26
1d20+11:  [

] +11 = 26

The area where the gallows is, is it a well travelled area or is it somewhat out of sight of the main traffic? Basically, was the body buried here so that it could be seen?

[Charon]

North, East, South, West, Viales? Hmph, maybe for druidic rituals. But this is arcana for sure.
It isn't a well trafficked area in general. Obviously on those rare occasions where a hanging is to take place, such a thing is a public event. That's why this is out here, where there is space for people to congregate and good sightlines to the raised platform.
No, you're pretty sure the body being found was an unfortunate slipup for the culprit. This was placed here more as an offering. It's the site that is important and its link to death, specifically the death of people who might have murdered, raped or otherwise committed vile crimes.
You cast your learned eye around the place, follow Timidity's gaze over to the harbour and then across to the southern edge of the town.
Of course, it occurs to you, Setek wouldn't have been hanged here. The south side of Heavensholm is newer. The town initially sprung up on the north bank of the river and expanded across as trade grew.

(Just for clarity, I'm using north and south here referring to the upper and lower sections on the map which I realise doesn't match the compass symbol. I didn't figure out how to change the compass back when I made it so just assume north is up as is usual.)

[Cmdr Maxwell]

Viales contemplates this facet of information. The connotation of this location isn't lost on him. There were three sacrifices so far. One more to complete the circle. How many gallow sites like this in Heavensholm?

"Given the apparent devotion to Setek, where he was hanged would be a most logical location for their...activities."

[Charon]

"Hmm, well we can't find that out because someone stole the Setek file." Timidity growls.

[Cmdr Maxwell]

"We can make a logical deduction. Starting with the oldest gallows on the south bank would be a logical place to start."

OOC: Remind me, how long until the next full moon?

[Charon]

So, Viales assesses the information you have so far. Tegwin believed the girls were going missing on Saturdays. He also said the first went missing just after the full moon. Given that a full moon occurs every 29 to 30 days, this does indeed line up. Saturday night will be the next full moon. You got the note from Garim on Tuesday, left Plenty on Wednesday, arrived in Heavensholm on Thursday, which would make today Friday.
Startled you realise, the full moon... is tomorrow night!

[Grodech]

"Ok, so back across the river to look for old gallows sites along the bank?" Nirili says.

[Charon]

Timidity extends a hand towards the buildings.
"I'd imagine it's long since built over, wherever it was."
Zandorian sidles up to the pair of you.
"If I may suggest... This Setek was probably not the only person hanged prior the new gallows being erected. Can we not simply check backwards through the records from his hanging and find mention of the gallows' location?"

[Grodech]

"Right." Nirili replies "That had crossed my mind as well. We need to hurry."

She turns and starts heading back into town. Another thought occurs to her "Do you think we should be checking graveyards as well?"

[Cmdr Maxwell]

"Indeed, we must hurry." He grimly replies. "It seems we have two viable leads: where he was buried, and where he was hung. As to the former, I would envision that such a heinous individual would not be buried in a communal graveyard. As to the latter, incarceration records may give a clue to the location."

How would criminals of such repute be dealt with back in the day? I would have thought cremation of the remains.

[Charon]

Oho, look at you guys sleuthing. Where he died and where he was buried. It's an interesting premise. Viales is right, criminals were rarely buried in consecrated ground with the good folk. Various other methods were common. Communal pits, being fed to wild beasts or monsters like otyughs. Who knows.

Back at the Hall of Records, you settle down to sift back through the records for clues.
Let's have a round of perception checks to see what you turn up and how long it takes.

[Cmdr Maxwell]

Viales perception:

[5]+9 = 14
1d20+9:  [

] +9 = 14

Timidity perception:

[14]+4 = 18
1d20+4:  [

] +4 = 18

[Grodech]

Nirili:

[9]+14 = 23
1d20+14:  [

] +14 = 23

Zandorain:

[8] = 8
1d20:  [

] = 8

[Charon]

Nirili and Timidity are clearly the scholars in the group.
Zandorian gets sidetracked, reading about the founding of the town's first bordello and the lively antics of its madam. Viales thinks he's onto something but wastes an hour after the difficult to read cursive script leaves him reading about Fezek.
Timidity, however manages to find the location of the previous gallows. The site is now a warehouse on the south bank, which, if the records are up to date, is a warehouse belonging to a local noble, Peralt Gainsborough. It stores the meats from the neighbouring smokehouse he also owns and his fortune is built on the exports of the ham and bacon his family produces.
Meanwhile, Nirili finds another clue. In a set of council minutes, she finds the discussion, post trial, of what to do about Setek's eventual remains. The need for a proper way of disposing of the worst criminals is discussed and future plans drawn up to have a communal graveyard within the chalk mine that can be used for such reprobates, the calcium from the chalk being used to make quicklime to break down the corpses rapidly. In the mean time, Setek's remains were to be disposed of without ceremony, buried under the hut he inhabited in the woods north of here, there to be forgotten as the hut itself was dismantled afterwards, leaving no sign of where his corpse would be. No sign, of course, except these minutes, which cite the hut as being in the shade of the Kraken Tree.

[Cmdr Maxwell]

Tossing the scribed literature with a harumph, Viales turns to Nirili.

"I gather you were more fruitful with your research?"

[Grodech]

Nirili updates the team on what she finds.

"So, the warehouse, the hut in the woods, and possibly a communal grave in the salt mines - sound like three locations to bury bodies. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say the Setek burial site would be the most significant, and likely the one they'd be using tomorrow night."

[Cmdr Maxwell]

"Unless the noble is within this cult, the factory is seemingly a high profile location that not offer much refuge for them. The burial site would be the most definitive location. I suggest we make our way there and ready for a fight."

[Grodech]

"You don't think we should check the others first for the other missing girls?"

ooc -what time of day is it now?

[Charon]

It's about seven thirty pm.

[Grodech]

"Or, maybe we should tell the guard captain our suspicions about where to find the other two missing girls."

[Cmdr Maxwell]

His brow furrows to the point of hiding his eyes, in which emotion and logic wage war within.

"We could, however time is of the essence. The sooner we find the cultists, the sooner we stop them. And if we capture one alive, we can make them tell us where the other girls are. Unless anyone disagrees?"

[Grodech]

"So do you want to head out there now, or go back and rest for the night and set out in the morning?" Nirili asks. "If what we know so far stays to pattern, the last girl will be taken tomorrow."

[Cmdr Maxwell]

"I vote for now."