Svurrl
Svurrl's words were deafening in the silent wagon. The subject of its speech was unclear, and none of the terrified camp followers stepped forward to claim responsibility or explain. All eyes were downcast, sliding away from Svurrl and actively avoiding the body. A few of the assembled gamblers exchange the briefest of glances, checking to see if anyone is willing to speak. [Svurrl Grace+Finesse: Fail] The body distracted Svurrl, and he only caught the most obvious of the significant glances. The human who had advised stillness kept glancing up at a small, almost whispy, Aoul female.
Avercco
Svurrl wasn't Averrco's boss, not by long or short stretch. The leif dropped onto the wagon's platform and pushed inside, scanning the interior quickly. He took in the cooling body, the terrified faces, the half-played card game, and the literal smoking gun with an impartial sweep. [Skill Req, Physician. Brilliance+Finesse: Fail] Fact one: The Kadi was dead, Averrco's secondary eyes let him watch in detail as the body cooled. Postulate one: the pistol on the table was the murder weapon. Postulate two: the killer was one of the people assembled around the table. There were more details that Averrco could infer if he made certain reasonable assumptions, but reasonable assumptions paved the way to unthinkable mistakes.
When Averrco spoke, no one answered. The general address is met with general silence, shifting of feet, and a few glances of mutual terror. [Skill Bonus, Listener. Grace+Finesse: Auto] Avercco could expect and understand fear, revulsion, and even outright terror, but there was something very odd in the stillness of the wagon. Intimidation. These people were afraid to speak, not because of fear of Averrco or Svurrl, but something else.
Joan
Brynd moved towards the center of the camp, skirting in from the side and staying out of the open. He crouched down near the tipped wagon, motion Joan over.
There was a skull at the base of the wagon, nearly all of the flesh stripped away by local wildlife. No nose and a mostly fused jawbone indicates Mutei, and a massive hole in the side of the skull indicates a death by firearm. "Best preserved skull. Bits of another are scattered by the fire. Most of a set of bones are still beneath one of the tent bags. Still a few arrows there as well, stone tipped." Brynd shakes his head and crouches, taking a long look at the dead campsite. "This one believes that marauders shadowed the merchant, waited for the group to camp. The mutei was awake, and they killed him quickly. Arrows to the tents took care of others."
[Wisdom+Grace: Pass] Brynd's events aren't quite right. This camp couldn't have been fully made when the attack hit, no sane driver would leave chattel in harness for the night. The attack would have had to have happened as the camp was being set up or taken down. If the mutei was putting their tack on when he was shot, that could have panicked the chattel easily. Panicked chattel in a partial harness could easily have tipped the wagon and snapped legs in the process.
"This one has heard stories about bandits in these parts," Brynd said, straightening up and dusting off his hands. "Families that get low and lean, can't grow anything in the thin light. They get poor, they get starving, and they run out of options. Pitiable, but easy enough to defend against. Post guards that can all see each other, make it clear that we can't be fought without them losing a lot of folk. Desperate families make good killers, but they don't like sacrifice much." Brynd's last words are soft, and there's a note of profound remorse in his voice.
Lora and Mudren
Lora's directions to Mudren were short and to the point. He took the ground and she took to the air, splitting off from Joan and Brynd and heading towards the rocky outcropping that had sheltered the earlier fire.
[Mudren Grace+Speed: Pass] Mudren moved fast through the undgrowth, surprisingly silent in his altered form. The ramshackle accouterments he wore as armor still managed to blend in with the spare scenery. Mudren was an odd creature, but very good at what he did. He reached the outcropping by a circuitous route that left him completely concealed, getting the first good look at the site. The ground was pounded flat, and a well used circle of heavy stones sits in the center. There's a thick coat of ash in the firepit, and the topmost layer is soaked with water. A single tent is propped against the rocks, and set of very basic cookware is scattered by the fire. Tracks, faint bootscuffs, mark a trail leading towards the trees that Lora had pointed out.
Lora circled in the air, cutting tight patterns above Mudren before spinning off to check out the treeline. It was more difficult to see in the lower air, things blur by faster. [Lora Strength+Brillaince: Fail] Details distort and scanning for anything more than movement becomes difficult. If there is still someone down there, they aren't moving.