Quote Originally Posted by EmeraldSky View Post
Change of plans--check the tavern for clues at the scene of the crime.
During the day, it definitely seems the Another Round Tavern isn't nearly as active as it is during the nighttime hours. Right now, you wouldn't even suspect the place ever becomes rowdy and unruly. You can only imagine how Muruna and Vicker feel about having this tavern as a neighbor when they're trying to get some sleep...

As you check out the exterior, it doesn't seem too bad. Sure, there's plenty of broken glass around and you can see Jaxie had to toss out a broken barstool in the dumpster, probably from someone getting the bright idea of using it as a melee weapon during a drunken brawl. Well, at least they didn't get the bright idea of using Pokémon attacks in the middle of a crowded place. But still, the rest of the building seems to be in respectable condition. The wood and stone work is actually quite nice and even though the place seems like it might be a drunken warzone at night, it at least doesn't look like a slum.

When you search behind the dumpster itself, it seems as though there is a small crawl space here. It seems like you're just able to fit, so you decide to check in further.

{Cement Crawl Space: ^Small Pokémon^}

It gets a little tight around the edges but you're able to keep going. It gets pretty dark quickly, but there's still enough like to make your way through. When you get to the end, you find someone seems to have stashed something here. You grab it, take it with you back out into the sunlight, and you're able to get a much better look at it.

It looks like a bloodstained cross, which instantly reminds you of the triangular-shaped object Vicker was reported to have seen carrying around. You're quite convinced the two have something to do with each other...

Item [Bloodstained Cross] has been added to the Team Inventory.

You then decide to search inside to see if anything about Shala's murder might be in here. It's a bit of a longshot considering Shala was only murdered after she left the tavern, but it's worth it to see if anything remains.

Inside, the tavern looks like something dragged out of a movie related to pirates. The interior is made of wood while most of the tables and chairs are wood as well. Inside, it still reeks of alcohol and many fermented drinks. Right now there's really no one around, which gives you some time and liberty to look around to see if anything was left behind.

As you can tell, Jaxie hasn't gotten around to cleaning up from last night. There's plenty of puddles everywhere and all of them smell like something very alcoholic. Considering what you find slathered on the drink menu, there's all kinds of very hard ciders and mixed drinks available that would get just about any Pokémon dizzy and silly in minutes. Still, despite after looking all over the tavern, you don't find anything about Shala or related to the Stalkers. You imagine because of the ruckus and the fact Stalkers usually like to work at night, this isn't a likely place for them to be doing their evil work.

You decide to go slightly beyond the tavern to search the area outside where Shala might have been walking through when she stepped out of the tavern. On the ground, almost unnoticeable, it seems a pewter bowl has fallen here and it doesn't seem like it's been here for very long. You take a closer look, pick it up, and see that it's likely one of the bowls that are given to bird Pokémon patrons so they can drink from them as opposed to using cups or glasses like other Pokémon are given. You wonder if it's the very bowl Shala used last night. As you look around and feel it's very unlikely any other bird Pokémon were out here last night, it could very well be the case.

You decide to take the bowl with you. It doesn't seem to have any trace of Stalker essence on it, but it may be worth holding onto for now.

Item [Pewter Bowl] has been added to the Team Inventory.

It seems as though you've found all there really is to find here. Looking around, you're a bit happy you decided to come now during the peace and quiet, as it seems like the calm before the storm when all of the nightlife ruckus gets unleashed. You definitely feel you've avoided many distractions and disruptions by coming when you did.

You decide to head back with your newly-collected items to report your findings to the rest of the Emissaries.

Lita the Pikachu (S: Electric)
Health: 4/4
Sanity: 4/4
Perk: Science | Learned Abilities: Investigate
Failed Assassinations: 0/2