General disclaimer: I own nothing, even Maiyn generally decides her own path.

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The Tanner

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"And you're sure you'll do everything you can to make sure he gets some sort of home?" asked Nalia.

The Helmite Priest she was addressing nodded to her pleasantly, but when he saw Coran approach the young woman his eyes lit up in relief. Faraji waved happily to the fighter, flapping around a piece of sweetmeat that he'd been given to keep him quiet.

"What a vexing man," sighed Nalia as the priest led the little beggar boy to the other side of the temple. "Do you know what he said when we first came in?"

"I have no idea," admitted Coran, slightly amused.

"He said we should go to a Temple of Ilmater!" she snorted. "That the followers of the Crying God would see to him."

"I assume you did not accept that as an answer," ventured the elf.

"Certainly not! As we spoke to him, a man came in and handed over a pouch full of coins and left without a word. One of the younger clergymen said his name was Reynald de Chatillon and -- you'll find this interesting -- that he was a former paladin of the Order of the Radiant Heart."

Coran's eyebrow rose. "One of Anarg's men?"

"Seems so," replied Nalia with a slight shrug. "He comes often, at least twice a tenday, and drops off what coin he can spare. They don't know where he gets it or how he comes by it, but the High Watcher is uncomfortable accepting it. So far it has all been put to one side, as they're not willing to risk using ill-gotten gains from ventures that Helm would disapprove of."

Coran nodded as he watched Faraji sit down on one of the benches, his legs swinging slightly as he looked around with a bored expression. "You think he's trying to make amends with his God now he's Fallen?"

"If he is, he's going about it the wrong way," noted Nalia dryly. "I had a pretty good look at him, though -- I'm sure I'd be able to recognise him again if we came across him again."

"Good," smiled Coran, shifting his gaze to the young girl. "You know, I've just had an idea."

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Ajantis strode into the Order's stables, looking around with a puzzled expression. He'd not been expecting any visitors, and he didn't recognise the name that had been given to him by the messenger boy. Regardless, dutifully as always, he made sure his armour was spotlessly clean, his stance was proud but welcoming, and he attempted to remember to smile as he surveyed his surroundings for his guest. He almost didn't notice the grubby little boy that approached him and tugged at the metal gauntlet on his hand.

"Hey, mister -- I'm Faraji, sir."

Ajantis looked down to see a wild expanse of brown curls flopping messily around a rather messy head. Two piercing blue eyes gazed back up at him solemnly.

"Ah, I er," the paladin stuttered. He cleared his throat. "Hello, young Faraji. What can I do for you?"

"Mister Coran sent me to see you, sir," the boy said, speaking slowly and carefully as if trying to make as good an impression as possible. "He said I should see if you had anythin' in the way of employment to offer me, 'cause the Helmite priests didn't really want me stayin' with 'em."

Ajantis smiled slightly and patted the boy lightly on the arm. "Well, I'm afraid that we have enough stablehands here already, my boy," he said apologetically, noting the downcast expression on Faraji's face. "But, if you really do wish to have a responsible job, I think I know exactly the role for you."

"You do, sir?"

"Why, yes," beamed Ajantis. "How would you like to take up a position as messenger and errand boy at my estate? It won't be much initially, but when my good Lady Bethany and I wed, I am sure there will be all manner of duties that you could take over as your own, and it would mean we have to rely less on using our neighbours own attendants."

Faraji's mouth gaped open slightly. "You... you mean it? Really?"

The paladin laughed. "Yes, I do, boy! Come now -- I shall show you where I live, and introduce you to Aime. My good Lady shall be away from the city for a while longer as family matters have been holding her up -- we shall use the time until her return as your trial, and if you settle in well, the position will be yours in earnest. What say you?"

"Th-thank you!" exclaimed Faraji delightedly. "I'll do my best!"

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"(This is a stupendous waste of time.)" muttered Edwin as the group made their way down a small alley between two poorly repaired homes in the search of a man they knew only as 'Old Rampah'. The Red Wizard's nose was wrinkled almost continuously as he looked at their surroundings with deep distaste. The others ignored him.

"Over there," said Valygar quietly, nodding in the direction of an older man who was huddled under the overhand of a dilapidated looking house. He was holding something in his arms, almost cradling it, it seemed. Coran headed over.

"Who's dat?" snapped the man as they approached, instantly springing up into a defensive position, his narrow eyes peering at them suspiciously. "Who's eyein' old Rampah? What sa want? Get orf!" He paused and backed away slightly with a knowing look. "Aegisfield send you? Didn't he? I ain't stole nothing!"

"Easy, friend," soothed Coran. The man stared at the elf; he was wearing threadbare old clothes and his white hair was hanging wildly over his shoulders. It looked as if he hadn't eaten much recently. "I just want to ask you something about the local murders."

"I ain't done it!" shrieked Rampah. "Wasn't me! I swears! You ain't takin' me in to no guardhouse! Walls are bad!"

"We're not from the guards," interjected Nalia quietly. "We just want to ask you a few things."

The beggar man looked at her oddly. "Not from the guards?" She shook her head. "Ok, then I talk to you," he continued, still seeming suspicious. "They treat me bad sometimes, but I just wants to sleep. What you want?"

"Tell me what you know of the murders here," smiled Coran.

"Nothin'. Not a thing."

Edwin sighed loudly.

"Nothing?" Coran frowned slightly. "Not a thing? The guard thought you might."

"Nope, nothin'."

"Enough!" came the Red Wizard's voice as he pushed his way through to the front of the group. "Don't play games with us!" he snarled at the beggar who visibly shrank away from him. "Tell us what you know, or face the wrath of an incredibly annoyed arch-mage!"

Coran glared at Edwin, but the wizard ignored everyone and kept his steely glaze on Rampah. The beggar began to tremble.

"Don't know nothing!" he exclaimed almost desperately. "Guards kept us away. They know all I know. That's it."

"I'm getting impatient," warned Edwin.

"I... I got this from nearby!" Rampah waved around whatever he was holding, but Coran couldn't catch a proper glimpse of it before it was tucked away behind his back again. With amazing courage, the man drew himself up and stood off against the Red Wizard. "You want? You gotta buy. I found it, right near a body. It's mine, so you gotta pay. You pay... a hundred gold. Yeah, a hundred."

Edwin snorted. "Give it to me, or you will join the dead quite soon."

"Edwin!" Nalia shoved him to the side and reached into her own pouch, drawing out a handful of coins. "Here... have this -- will it do?"

Rampah peered at her offer, then snatched at it greedily, throwing his former prize at her. She caught it and then held it as far away from her body as possible as she tried to work out what it was. The beggar noticed her puzzled expression.

"IT'S NOT HUMAN FLESH!" he shouted. "Don't you think it is, because it's not! It's leather, but it's not human flesh, I tell you! Them bodies be flayed and have none, but this ain't theirs!"

"Well, that's a relief," the girl muttered, passing it over to Coran. The elf studied it for a few moments before extending it to Edwin.

"I have no desire to touch... that," said the wizard haughtily.

"You don't know what it is?" asked Nalia innocently.

Edwin glared at her. "Do you?" he shot back.

"I'm not the one who goes on about how wonderful I am," she pointed out.

"Talk to the buyer that sells!" called Rampah, dancing away with his hands jingling with his newly acquired wealth. "He can help, and he stands by the woman who grows like a flower!"

"That was helpful," murmured Valygar, taking his turn to examine the object. "This is some sort of hide, but I don't know what of. I've never seen anything like it before."

"Then we'll have to do what Rampah suggested," sighed Coran, accepting their prize back and turning to return to the main part of the district. "Let's find this seller."

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The rest of the day was spent locating the seller that Rampah spoke of. Conveniently enough, he was conversing with a young lady called Rose, whom Lieutenant Aegisfield had mentioned, and both of them led to a series of surprising revelations.

"So, this hide is elephant hide?" asked Coran, clarifying. The merchant -- a portly, middle-aged man with rosy cheeks and a wide smile -- nodded. "And the smell was similar to this oak bark?" The young girl nodded, her made-up face almost a rainbow of colours.

"Who uses oak bark?" asked Nalia with a frown.

"Some people use it in medicinal preparations," remarked Valygar thoughtfully.

"Saner people would use it to produce a cork for their finest bottles of wine," muttered Edwin.

"The tanner'd use a lot of it," interrupted the trader. "It's good stuff, rich in tannin."

"The tanner?" asked Coran. He stared at the hide. "Would he work with this material, too?"

"I can't say for certain," stated the merchant. "There's a circus in town that might be where it came from; I've never heard of much demand for anything that exotic, though."

"Rejiek Hidesman's shop is just down the road a bit," said Rose softly. "On the left, just past the Five Flagons."

Coran smiled at her. "Rejiek is the local tanner?"

She nodded. "Best one in Athkatla, so they say. A lot of his competition tends to find they can't stay in business too long because his work is so sought after that they can't get enough orders to keep them afloat."

"And what is he like?" asked Valygar.

Rose frowned slightly. "I haven't had many dealings with him," she said slowly. "He's known as a respectable businessman, goes out of town a lot to ensure he gets the best supplies. He's always polite and courteous when you pass him in the street, though."

"Tends to keep to himself," added the merchant. "Came from somewhere in the north when he was a young lad and single-handedly built up his business through hard work and determination."

Coran nodded. "Well, thank you for your help," he smiled. "It has given us a lot to think about and work with."

"Good luck!" exclaimed Rose. "Anything you can do to help would be appreciated by me and the other girls -- the streets aren't safe at the best of times, but recently it's become even more dangerous for us."

"Come back if you need any supplies," grinned the seller. "I'm here most days, and business has been slow with the attacks. I might be able to extend a discount or two until this whole matter is solved."

"We might hold you to that," noted the elf, leading his friends away towards the Five Flagons Playhouse. They weren't far from it at all, and before long they found the tannery. It was a fairly large building, overlooking the river that ran beneath the whole district. Various skins and hides hung inside the windows on display and the same smell as Rose had identified gently wafted from the slightly open door at the side of the structure. A large sign hung out from the side of the wall naming it as the Hidesman's Tannery. Coran gently pushed the door open and stepped into the dim interior with his companions close behind.

A lithe man looked up from his work at one of the many tables in the place as they entered. He wore a simple leather apron that covered his shirt and trousers, and a small but sharp knife was in his right hand as he carefully shaped the skin he was working with. His hair looked oily, greased back from his face and behind his ears, and his dark eyes regarded them almost critically.

"I'm sorry, I'm closed at the moment," he said pleasantly enough. "Come back when I have replenished my stock."

"My apologies," said Coran amiably. "Might I ask you a few questions about the local murders?"

The tanner seemed to tense slightly, but his facial expression remained the same. "The guards have already canvassed the neighbourhood, so if you want anything, go talk to them," he said quietly. "I don't know who or what you are, so I'm not talking to you."

"We are just looking for some assistance," said Nalia. "We found some things that are confusing us, and we were wondering if you'd have any ideas on where they'd have come from or what they'd have been doing there."

"And what things would they be?" asked Rejiek with narrowed eyes.

"Well, one of the beggars found this piece of skin," said Coran, pulling it from his pack. "We've had it identified as elephant hide, though why someone would have had that, we've no idea."

"Oak bark was also scented at the vicinity of the murders," said Valygar quietly. "You obviously have a use for it yourself, and we wondered if-"

"I am afraid I cannot help you," interrupted the tanner sharply. "As I said, the guard have already been here. I suggest you go and ask them what you wish to know."

"Well, well, well," came Edwin's soft tone as the wizard stepped forward slightly, approaching Rejiek and pointing behind him. "What is that hanging upon your wall? Correct me is I am mistaken, but is that not elephant hide? (And the great Edwin Odesseiron is never wrong.)"

"What are you implying... friend?" asked Rejiek.

"You are not my friend," stated the Red Wizard calmly. "And I am implying nothing. I am merely stating that you seem to be in possession of our two strongest clues, which would mean that all evidence points to you as the murderer."

Slowly the tanner placed his knife down on the bench and removed his leather gloves. A smile spread across his face, but it was cold and mirthless and the group instinctively moved closer together as Rejiek left his workbench and sauntered across the room.

"I see. You have gathered this... er, evidence?" he asked carefully. "And others know of your findings, so it will not stop with your leaving. It's funny, isn't it? A simple piece of leather, and a whiff of tannin. If my leather had not been torn I would not have worn the new armour. No tear would have meant no smell."

"So... you are admitting to being the killer?" asked Coran, slightly surprised. "Why did you do this?"

Rejiek laughed. "I might as well try and explain the sun to the moon. You can't understand! My work must go on -- there is only one place left for my craft to go, and you cannot stand in the way." With that he pushed a table towards them, letting the various instruments and pots of tannin fall to the floor as the group dodged away. He darted down some stairs while they were distracted, and the four companions clambered across the upturned table in their pursuit, heading downstairs.

"You should have run away, little fool!" Rejiek called from across the chamber. "You could not understand! My work must go on!" He turned and virtually leapt downstairs as a ball of flames head towards him from Edwin's hands. The fireball exploded harmlessly at the other side of the room, and Coran extended his hand as Valygar moved to go after him, pointing to something on the floor.

"Traps -- and lots of them," he muttered quietly. "Nalia -- help me disarm them."

The two thieves got working on the assorted snares and eventually they managed to cross the room. The stench was almost overpowering -- it had obviously been where most of the victims had been taken, as various bones and parts of flesh lay littered around the floor with flies crawling all over them. All of the group were relieved to head down further into the darkness to escape the scene, but they stopped as they noticed Rejiek disappearing in a flash of light. Slowly, a robed figure turned to face them, his face shrouded in shadows.

"No, you will have no victory here! Rejiek must work on!" he exclaimed.

"Who are you?" demanded Coran. "Why do you associate with this criminal?"

"He is chosen to work the gift and has escaped your reach," hissed the figure. "He will continue, and your skins will be the final touches! No talk! You will die here -- Vellin Dahn does so command!"

Another flash signalled the teleportation of the mage, Vellin Dahn, and the group cautiously moved forward into the cellar. It opened out into a natural enough cavern that the river flowed past, and a single boat was moored at the end of a small, wooden pier. Several crates were piled up high against the walls, and more barrels were neatly arranged in rows behind the steps.

Nalia's cry of pain was the first sign of their attackers, and Coran turned to see two hooded figures, both brandishing sharp and shining knives. One had stabbed the young girl in the back, causing her to fall to the ground weakly. Edwin immediately brought up a stoneskin around him, just in time to avoid the second attacker's similar strike at him. Valygar and Coran both roared as they charged at them, but the assassins winked out of existence almost immediately.

"Find them!" urged Coran, looking pointedly at Edwin.

Edwin growled something incomprehensible in return, and the elf could only make out the word 'divination' in the middle. Valygar groaned.

"Behind you!" shouted the Red Wizard.

Coran and Valygar spun around to find themselves face to face with two ghasts. One had extended its arm, reaching out to touch Coran. Immediately the elf found himself feeling paralysed, and his body froze to the spot, unable to move. Valygar's katana swung ferociously at the other, felling it quickly with a well placed hit but the cry of pain from the ranger just shortly after suggested that the assassins had made another attack outside the range of Coran's view. He could do nothing but stand there as the ghast reached out and drew its claws along his armour, ripping through the leather easily and raking at his flesh.

Flashes and explosions seemed to be erupting behind him regularly as Edwin went through his entire repertoire, then a flaming arrow shot past Coran's head, hitting the ghast in the head. It recoiled away, trying to escape the burning sensation and the elf watched as Edwin followed it, striking it solidly over and over again with his staff. Valygar appeared by his side, aiding him to fell the foul creature, then they both turned around to their leader and sighed heavily.

"Can you free him up?" asked Valygar.

"I have no spells left. (None worthy of these monkeys, anyway.)" muttered Edwin darkly. "It'll wear off on its own. We'll just have to wait for him. (Simians.)"

Valygar nodded. "Well, I'll see if the assassins had anything of note on them. You can check Nalia's all right."

"Me?" Edwin's face contorted into a picture of abject horror. "Why can't you? You don't hate her."

"And you do?" asked the stalker dangerously.

"No, of course not," scoffed Edwin quickly. "I merely mean that you will be going nearer to her anyway, and she knows you more than me. (Yes, that'll do.)"

Valygar gave the mage a distasteful look and moved off without another word, past the still frozen Coran. Edwin watched him go, seeming to forget about the elf's presence.

"(Simians, all of them.)" he muttered to himself. "(Why I am putting myself through this, I do not know. Well I do, and it had better be worth it.)" With one final glare around him, Edwin stalked away behind Coran. The elf waited patiently.

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Nalia assured Coran she was feeling much better as they headed back up through the tannery. The healing potions she'd had in her possession had quite literally saved her life after she'd been backstabbed, and after drinking a few of them, she insisted there was no need to visit a temple to have her checked over.

Valygar made a disturbing discovery underneath the tanner's bed. Coran didn't ask why he'd been looking there in the first place, but Nalia was able to identify the odd looking tunic as being made from human flesh. It had instantly been rolled up in some spare paper and reluctantly taken with them to present to the guard as further proof. Slowly the companions made their way from the building, wandering along the quietening roads as evening fell on the area and the locals headed home quickly to avoid the dangers of the dark. They had initially agreed to head towards the Council buildings, but they were suffering from injuries and sudden fatigue, and it was decided they'd just return to the Seas' Bounty for the night and head over to see the guard in the morning.

A figure looming before them made that unnecessary.

"Ah, it is you," said Aegisfield as he held up his lantern to illuminate their faces better. "I don't suppose you've heard anything about our killer? Not that I want you poking around, but you might have heard the odd thing."

Coran offered a crooked grin as he supported Nalia. "We spoke to many of the people you mentioned before," he said, "and discovered more than we expected."

The lieutenant raised an eyebrow expectantly as Valygar pulled the two skins from his pack and held them out. The guardsman accepted them carefully.

"Tannin was smelt at the scene by the girl named Rose," Coran continued, "And Rampah found that thicker skin near to the bodies. One of the merchants identified it as elephant hide, and the local tanner had more at his home."

Aegisfield blinked. "Rejiek?" he asked in disbelief.

Coran nodded. "His bedroom is full of victims, and that other skin was located under his bed. Human skin, we think you'll find."

The lieutenant flinched slightly and looked at it with distaste. "You have been to the tannery then?" he asked eventually.

"We went to ask if he knew where the elephant hide would have come from," admitted Coran. "As we told him what we'd discovered, Edwin noticed similar hides behind him. He then said something about how his work must not be disturbed and he ran to his cellar. We followed him but he escaped with a wizard, leaving only some assassins and... other guards to deal with us."

"I see," said Aegisfield slowly. "I knew him as a quiet man -- he kept himself to himself, and little was known of him beyond his skills as a tanner. We would never have suspected him." He looked away from the skin he carried and back up to the party. "It sounds like you have performed some excellent work. You have my thanks for this, and you will be well liked around here. We are short on man power for crimes involving the poor."

"We are happy we could help," smiled Nalia.

"Here is a reward for your trouble," said the lieutenant, drawing a pouch from his pocket and handing it to Valygar. "Though it's probably not over yet. I'll have the guard try and spot Rejiek, but who knows what he will do. I thank you again."

The group wished him a good night and continued on their way to the inn. Edwin mumbled about the loss of the human skin before he had a chance to study it, but he quickly stopped when the others gave him strange looks. Nalia retired to her room as soon as they arrived, weak from her recent injuries, and the men sat together to eat before they too made their way to their rooms. They still had the Fallen Paladins to infiltrate, and at some point Coran knew they should visit the circus to see what Quayle needed from them.

He sat down on his bed wearily. He'd been so busy with the recent murder investigation that he'd given little thought to his melancholy mood. He felt better; he was still worried about his former companions, but his old hope had returned about their reunion, and he knew he had to be patient. Things would work out when they were good and ready, and until then there was always a something for them to do. He smiled softly to himself and blew out his candle, lying down as the moonlight from outside poured into his room, casting an eerie glow around his surroundings.