Chapter 3 - Fresh Air

[Chris1234]

The four red marks remind Sue of the pressure marks left by a squid or octopus but the locations are very symmetrical. Perhaps an intelligent cephalopod with four tentacles?

[Chris1234]

Sue knows that the Watch's response time in Castle Ward is the fastest of all the Wards, so the the trio leave the five corpses behind and continue on 'to the meet'.

In the deep shadow at the rear of the God Catcher is a simple hire-cab: an enclosed cab for two, single-axled and drawn by a single horse. The driver-for-hire sits atop the whole afair. The cab's dark curtains are closed.

The group are still some distance* away when the city's bells announce the hour. Any moment now the coach may pull away!

What next?

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*Forty foot

[Nocturno]

Sue will hustle.(Dash if he can move quickly without looking too conspicuous.)
If the carriage starts to pull away he will loudly say the shopkeepers name.

[counterkid]

Woody follows Sue.

[Squirrellord]

Jim walks to the latest corpse, bends down and retrieves the padded bag.
"They could have been after us for any number of reasons I suppose.. though it is odd that we should get attacked here and now." Turning to Sue he asks "Do we report this? How complicated would that make matters? I'm not suggesting we hide from the fact we killed these.. thieves. Your call. Involve the watch or guard (police) or handle this somewhat more discreetly?"

Since Jim is the one who recovered the padded bag, Jim will walk the 40ft to the carriage with the bag and say the shopkeepers name to the curtains.
(Jims speed is 45 ft)

[Chris1234]

Sue, followed by Woody, hussle towards the cab. Both are still fifteen foot away when overtaken by Jim who, clutching the padded bag, reaches the cab and talks to the curtains.

The curtains part briefly and then the door opens a foot or so. Sue and Woody can't see inside the cab but Jim sees a tall figure whose face and body are enshrouded in a purple hooded cloak. The leather-gloved hand lets go of the door and gestures for the padded bag to be placed on the floor of the cab. Jim notes the hand, posture and gesture suggest an agile, self-confident female, probably used to being obeyed..

If Jim complies, the hand disappears into the voluminous cloak and then tosses a black velvet pouch to Jim and the cloaked head nods a silent, 'Thank you.'

Regardless of Jim's compliance or otherwise, the cloaked figure's other hand, still concealed and by the sound of it probably holding something, knocks twice on the cab wall. The driver makes a clicking nose with his mouth and flicks his whip. The horse springs into life and the cab takes off as the cab door closes.

The 'peep-peep' sound from somewhere behind the group announce the Watch's discovery of five mysterious corpses.

What next?

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The black velvet pouch 'chinks' as if containing coins.
Unless Jim made a deliberate effort to retain the padded bag, it has been effectively delivered.
The cab moves at a fair pace. Jim could keep up easily enough but his companions would have to dash.

[Nocturno]

"Sorry Jim. I was focused on the search and the task at hand. No reason to alert anyone. They seem to have found them. And we should not get involved. My larger campaign is still sanctioned by the 'Watch."

Sue starts to think.

"Now to find some cultists robes."

[Squirrellord]

Jim accepts the black velvet pouch and tucks it away while backing away from the carriage and returns to his friends. (Does Jim notice any specific or peculiar identifying details about the carriage?)

With the others Jim inquires "Cultists robes?" as he continues walking, hopefully leading the others in a direction away from the recent.. complication.

[Chris1234]

Jim studyies the single-axled carriage as irt pulls away and notices that the driver wears a cap under the hooded cloak (which has a a silvery lining) and that the cab is stencilled with discreet bronze lettering "FCC237". The monk sucessfully leads his companions away from the crime scene.

======
Black velvet pouch added to the Loot thead.

[Nocturno]

"Aye, those extra ingredients the 'keep, uh Skeemo, was looking for. Radiance of a celestial Cloak of a Cultist or tears of a murderer. One, was a requirement for getting the Disguise Potion quickly. All 3 gets us a bonus."

As they continue walking in some direction.

"I figure we can get the tears from the Bounty, we are to catch for setting up the meeting with Skeemo. We are bound to find a cultist up to no good, so we can confiscate his cloak, and I think we know a Celestial we could convince to giving us some radiance."

[Chris1234]

The trio are clear of the crime scene but have been on the go for about seventeen hours.

What next?

[Squirrellord]

"I wonder what kind of radiance we would collect from him." Jim muses
"Let's get someplace out of the way, check out what the tip from the mystery buyer is, and settle on if we go after the bounty or search for cultists. Perhaps find a meal.."

[counterkid]

"We should also get some rest after that meal Jim."

[Chris1234]

Where will the brave adventurers seek a meal? Yawning Portal? Copper Cup? Some other Inn or tavern? Street vendors?

[counterkid]

Let's do a street vendor.