The Trial

[Anodyzed]

Back at the courthouse, the lawyer lets you know the list of charges against Ken:

The first crime the Beast is charged with is the killing of 10 people in Morast, a small hamlet in the Dippelmere Swamp about 8 miles east of Lepidstadt.

The Beast’s second alleged crime is the murder of six children in Hergstag, formerly a small, religious farming community in the Dippelmere Swamp.

The theft of the Statue is the third, and by comparison, the least horrendous of the crimes he is charged with.

[cybersavant]

Keeshraal "Seems to me we need to have a looksee at that swamp. When did these murders occur? All at once?"

[Anodyzed]

Which murders are you asking about? The 10 people in Morast was some time ago.
The six children was more recent but not immediately before the statue theft.

[Demilich]

Kat " We found an unlocked window at the crime scene at the University, along with tracks to and from that window."

Cronus "We should have a look at both of those crime scenes, then we will have a more complete picture of what we are up against."

[cybersavant]

Keeshraal "I agree. Even if a while ago, any witnesses should remember someone like the defendant."

[noozoo]

Chemistry agrees. "I guess we go to the swamp. Is that the same swamp we passed through earlier?"

[Anodyzed]

The lawyer asks, The swamp you passed coming into town from Ravengro? No, the swamp surrounding Morast, a small hamlet in the Dippelmere Swamp about 8 miles east of Lepidstadt. A narrow trail leads from Lepidstadt to the village. The Beast is charged with 10 murders in that hamlet.

[cybersavant]

Keeshraal "Is the whole area a swamp? Is it overly hazardous? Any special precautions we need to take?"

[Anodyzed]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/km0lo8aj1f...irons.png?dl=0

Not exactly a swamp ALL the way, but hard to maneuver.

[Demilich]

Kat "Lets get going, the sooner we look into these crimes, the more time we have to build a case for him."

[cybersavant]

Keeshraal leads the others out, on their way.

[Anodyzed]

Because of the terrain, it takes your group about 4 hours to get to Morast.

Morast, a small hamlet in the Dippelmere Swamp about 8 miles east of Lepidstadt. A narrow trail leads from Lepidstadt to the village. Morast is a miserable collection of 20 or so wattle-and-daub hovels built on stilts above the swamp and connected by soggy wooden boardwalks. The villagers make their livings fishing and occasionally bringing in a blood caiman (a variety of crocodilian with a red-scaled head that is native to the north) to eat or sell.

The swampers of Morast are a curious group. Local rumor claims that somewhere in their somewhat inbred ancestry, they mingled with strange swamp creatures, tainting their blood and marking them with queer countenances. No one knows how or why, but the people of Morast have legendary constitutions—sickness is rare among the swampers, and the villagers live long, healthy lives.

The village elder, Lazne, was called as a star witness by the prosecution for the Beast’s trial.

[noozoo]

When they arrive at the village, Chemistry tries to remain on the driest parts of the boardwalks. She looks for someone and asks them where the village elder, Lazne, is to be found.

She hopes he or she is not already in Lepistadt.

[Anodyzed]

Lazne come to find the 'intruders' into his village.

Lazne is a grizzled,
middle-aged man with dirty gray hair and skin the color of swamp mud. He chews on a foul-smelling swamp weed and punctuates most of his sentences by spitting weed-juice onto the ground. Lazne doesn’t much like “cityfolk and furriners” (by which he means anyone not from Morast, or, to a lesser extent, from Lepidstadt)

To encourage him to talk to you about the incidents here in Morast, everyone make a Diplomacy check. To 'assist' another, you need only make 10 or better.

[noozoo]

Chemistry will put on her best diplomat face for this man, as they need his help. If he is responsive, she also shows a bit (but just a bit) of skin.

Dice Diplomacy:

1d20+13

(13)+13

Total = 26