(“…Mama, mama, what is murder?”
“……it’s when someone kills someone else.”
“Like when the militia killed the zom-bies?”
“No! No, honey, it’s only murder if you kill a person.”)
They do eventually make a purchase, the child’s mother narrating prices as they do, and head out of the shop.
I look to them as they leave. I’m… not very… happy with how the stranger handled it.
Then, I turn towards Serian. And wait. For her to say anything.
“In that case, I will search for the blacksmith to talk with his daughter.”
Arius then walks away somewhat in the direction to the blacksmith, but not directly.
You (and anyone else accompanying you, if that describes anyone) can track down Leta Flintbeard easily; in the absence of other leads, she’s been trying to conduct as many interviews as she can, but so far it doesn’t seem like she’s having much luck. (By now, most people seem to have headed out into the fields to plant, or else remained in the village if they have business there, but she’s currently in the village rather than interrogating the planters, currently speaking to an elderly woman.)
She doesn’t entirely drop appearances once the customer has left, but you do see something shift in her expression.
“Are you alright?”
(you can do that, where do you actually want to head?)
Wanderer confers the information found by the group’s investigation so far to her.
“…And I believe that these two people are worth questioning, if nothing else. I don’t know where they live, but it may be helpful to team up to both know that and have an effective questioning.”
(this isn’t part of the actual game system, but I’m “flipping a coin” on my own to see if Canary can even try to keep her composure.)
@discobot roll 1d2
1
((To the blacksmith. In case anyone follows him, I just want to have Arius ask around where that is, so he could pretend as if he’d never been there before.))
((In case any NPC whom he asks gets confused why Arius would ask something he ought to already know, he will say it’s because his memory has gotten worse as of late and feign ignorance on knowing the blacksmith to whoever might be following him.))
((If nobody follows Arius, then he’d forgo the spiel and just go directly to his destination once he confirms that nobody is tailing him.))
“Yes!” I lie.
“I’m just a little concerned.” I lie.
“I really don’t like how he went about it. I was trying to bring it up better.” I lie.
“I’m sorry for troubling you. And bothering customers.”
She nods. “That seems reasonable to me. I can see about rounding up a group in case things turn violent again, but in the meantime…”
She describes the location of each of their houses. “And Kamilla might be at the forge, but it’s right nearby.”
You’re able to make it back to the forge without too much trouble (…possibly with delays, depending on whether anyone declares their character to be following you). Based on the sounds coming from inside, it’s still in use (unsurprisingly, considering that it’s only been a few hours since dawn). Vin is outside, looking at the wood you brought back in the cart earlier that day.
“We can check both. I have a slight hunch that heading to Kamilla first will be more fruitful based off discussion I heard about her family’s history.”
She takes a deep, slow breath before responding. “You don’t need to apologize to me. Better not to let the killer go free, I suppose, even if it means some uncomfortable questions.”
“Vin,” I say with a slight sense of urgency. “I need to talk with your sister. Where is Kamilla?”
“Though my hunches have bit me in the bum several times today so who knows how much worth that has? Still…” Wanderer trails off before realizing that yes, he is indeed speaking to a militia member.
I smile.
My shoulders quiver and my legs feel like they’ve become nothing but sticks I can barely lean on, just waiting to collapse.
I put my left hand on my knee to try and boost myself forward.
I begin to walk out.
He jabs his thumb at the forge. “She’s in there with Dad!”
I enter the forge.
((The following sentence is said under the assumption that there is nothing amiss within the forge; assuming Arius isn’t interrupting anything beyond smithing work.))
“Sten, I need to ask you something. Do you know where Kamilla was last night?”