NOVEL NEXT Chapter 100 - … who is the one we are looking for?
Now, how are they going to handle this, I wonder? There are many ways to get additional information, while the initial information that they should have right now is enough to sling around some suspicions, but nothing concrete.
A moment of trepidation is all that passes before Nathan steadies himself and opens his mouth to speak.
“In your professional opinion, where did the murder weapon come from?”
“Ah, that has been of interest to me as well. I assumed they managed to somehow smuggle it onto the property, but there are detection magic enchantments in place that would have informed the guards of something suspicious being smuggled, and there was no sign of any sharp objects or things that could be used to facilitate stab wounds entering the property that day.
Most likely, it was cooking or gardening equipment that has been appropriated and repurposed. However, the use of gardening equipment sharp enough for the kinds of wounds the victim suffered is highly unlikely, as nothing has been found to be missing or damaged in a way that implies tampering, and on its own, there is no tool in the gardeners care that qualifies. Therefore, the kitchen is the most likely point of origin for a mundane weapon.
If it is a magically summoned or created weapon, that would be a different story, but no traces of magic have been found on site to suggest that, only some mild traces of illusion magic, likely the bard’s handiwork.”
That answer causes thoughtful murmuring amongst the party, and gradually, the mist still lingering on the outskirts retreats from the top in a circular pattern, slowly but noticeably. Nathan makes the observation first, which is of little surprise based on his proximity to the phenomenon in question.
“Uhmm, everyone! It looks like we only have limited time, the mist is disappearing slowly!” he shouts out.
In the rules as established, that is not a question, so he didn’t waste one at least. I was kind of expecting that to happen, truth be told, but it increases their chances to get somewhere that it didn't. Good on them!
That exclamation does get them to focus though. After a brief consultation, Nathan, having knelt down at the front of the stage to participate, nods again and returns to his position in front of the mirror, where his “mirror image” is waiting impatiently.
“What time would someone be most likely to be able to smuggle a weapon lifted from the kitchen into the gardens without being noticed by the guards?”
The second question is asked, and the mirror image tilts their head thoughtfully.
“Well… the timing of the murder, as it were, is quite a while after the last guard rotation that connects the main building to the gardens. They would have to have spent at least two hours outside in the gardens with the weapon if they did indeed use that opportunity to slip a weapon out.”
That answer gets them murmuring again, but not long, with the threat of the diminishing mist, accelerated by the sprite’s growing impatience, hanging over them.
Nathan makes ready to ask the third and final question, and steps in front of the mirror once more.
“Do you know anything about the circlet the victim wore at the event?”
“Nothing, I am afraid. It suited her well though. But now that you mention it, she was not wearing it any more when her body was found. She probably returned it before her stroll through the gardens, I imagine?”
With that, the mists swirl again, and under my approval, the doppelganger retreats behind the stage again, out of sight of the audience. Very good answers. This should give them something to think about.
Ellie announces, after one of the invisible sprites conveyed it to her via illusion, the number of “corrupted” answers.
“There was one answer that got twisted. Hope this information helps you find the culprit.”