She giggles. “I’m not the one actually employed by the Watch, so that doesn’t really matter to me. I will repeat my earlier questions: what’s going on here? Who’s had access to this crime scene?”
He notes that the guard completely avoids talking about if he assisted but was not part of the cult.
“You were distinctly unsurprised when we found nothing down here. Eyes darting around the room, putting on a performance. Do you not know more about what’s happened than you let on? Did you assist in a cover up of the evidence?”
“Oh, of course, you came in late.” He’s being condescending and wants you to know it. “The crime scene was locked, and we had deduced that the cultists must have had a lockpicker among them.”
(He’s still bluffing about being able to zone of truth here)
Drakor looked around at the group, confused, even more so when he realized that his hand was on his greataxe.
He quickly moved his hand to a less threatening position - when did it get there? He didn’t remember reaching for it. Maybe it was something somebody had said?
In any case, a greataxe was a terrible choice here. Warhammer and dueling dagger was optimal.
Strange. This whole situation was strange. He had been certain the guard was truthful.
“Of course not. I am an officer of the law, after all.”
(something in his demeanor seems to have shifted; he’s started treating this like it’s some kind of… game?)
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“IS EVERYTHING ALRIGHT IN THERE?” shouts the voice of the younger guard, from outside the cellar.
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(well, you could try asking this guy what he knows about those, but you might be limited by, well, his knowledge. Or you could ask about other experiences he’s had with the baron, or that people in his village have had?)
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I tilt my head anxiously. “Do you have… any other stories of the baron? Or does- anyone else here?”
“Oh, yes, of course!” Paprika opens the door back up to let the younger guard back in. “We just had a few questions for your more experienced companion. We are expert mystery-solvers, after all. Good news: he doesn’t seem to be a member of the cult.”
Paprika turned to the older guard, eyes twinkling. “Apologies for letting the mood get heavy. So, what god is that you do worship, anyway?” She speaks casually without a hint of accusation.
Before him is someone who is skilled at being annoying.
How can one hope to convince someone who is practiced in selfishness to do the right thing? It is as impossible as defying the ties that bind.
A game? A game has rules. We know, but he has the cards.
Wanderer considers if there is a weakness in his armor that he may exploit.
(what does rika have to do with anything?)
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“I know Varl had some success petitioning him last year, and I think there was something with Mel’s family too… —Mel grew up closer to the baron, she only moved here when she married.”
“Well, of course not! He’s part of the Watch!” says the younger one.
“…Thank you for your. Time. Do you know where I can find them?”
I have to talk to more people.
“I worship all the righteous gods in their proper place,” he says. He pauses. “…I suppose that’s not literally true, I’m sure there are righteous gods up in Tian Xia that I’ve never heard of.”
(your impression is that he sincerely thinks that Tian Xia is north of his current location)
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“They’ll both be out in the fields, but I can point them out to you.” He points out some very distant but still within your line of sight humans.
“…Mhm.”
I try to think of something smart and comforting to say to not just walk off. “I hope you have many days of… weal. Ahead.” That was neither.
I begin to walk to one of the people he pointed out.
Another approach.
“My apologies. I made certain assumptions regarding mal intent when you repeatedly suggested what seemed to me at the time to be a suicidal endeavor of going to the hospital without support.”
Stop pushing.
“Regarding help, though. An officer of the law would know the threat level associated with those who can cast Gaseous Form, right?”