2. Who dunnit ? Who killed Thunder ?

So the show was finally a grand success, and when performers and crew have a little time, they go and pay respect to Thunder whose body is still where they left hm for his last presence in a show, behind the curtain, wrapped in clothe to avoid the vision of the horrible death he suffered.

The crew i on edge, Thunder dead, Mr Tickle strangely sick with goblin pox, the Kabalis' net destroyed by rats, most artist of this circus are thinking they are doomed or cursed, so they silently turn toward all of you who were able to make the show going and seems to keep a level head in front of adversity.

As the troupe gathers to pay their respects to Thunder, Vespera stands at the forefront, her expression a mix of somber determination and quiet resolve. She takes a moment to survey the faces of her fellow performers and crew members, noting the anxiety and uncertainty that weighs heavily upon them.

"My friends," she begins, her voice carrying a soothing yet authoritative tone, "I understand that we are facing challenges unlike any we've encountered before. The loss of Thunder, the illness of Mr. Tickle, and the sabotage of the Kambalis' net—it's enough to make anyone feel as though the fates are conspiring against us."

"But let us not succumb to despair," she continues, her words ringing with conviction. "We are a family, bound by our shared passion for the art of performance and our dedication to this circus. Together, we have weathered storms before, and together, we will overcome whatever obstacles lie in our path."

Turning her attention to the matter at hand, Vespera's gaze hardens with determination. "As for Thunder's death, we owe it to him—and to ourselves—to seek the truth," she declares. Looking towards her companions, she continued, "We will begin an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his passing. I urge anyone with information or suspicions to come forward. We cannot allow fear or uncertainty to cloud our judgment. Together, we will uncover the truth and ensure that justice is served."

With these words, Vespera sets the tone for the troupe's response to adversity, emphasizing unity, resilience, and the unwavering pursuit of justice. As the investigation unfolds, she remains a steadfast leader, guiding her fellow performers and crew members with a steady hand and a clear sense of purpose.

---

"Well said Vespera. Let's all try to be extra vigilant as we pack up, we don't want any more surprises for the next show." Then he turns his attention to Thunder . . .

Arms folded, Martha nods along to the tiefling woman's speech. She didn't think that fate had anything to do with it at all. No, something tells her that Thunder's nemesis and their old leader of the troupe Mistress Dusklight is involved with their misfortunes.

When the gathered crowd disperses to rest and mourn, she goes off to Gray's side. "Way I see it, we should start by looking for the last person to see the boss alive. Maybe they've a clue that can help us figure it out."

Once the gathering breaks, Gicicero scampers over to Thunder's body. He begins literally sniffing around the dead body. He completely searches the body like any good thief or pickpocket would. He places all the items he finds in a neat and orderly pile next to the body. He starts fully stripping the body, leaving no decency for poor Thunder. Once stripped, he searches the body for any wounds, markings, or anything suspicious.

Everybody looks around to see if anyone comes forward after Vespera speech, but nobody does.

Gray works alongside Gicicero, trying to find the cause of death, or anything else suspicious

All 3, that's why I wrote and. If you had to pick I would have written pick one, or just or instead of and.
You have no clue who or what killed Thunder.

" Killed by snakes. Poisonous Bites. Over a Dozen. " He leaves the body just like that, laying on the floor. "Where snake go from before?" He starts heading to the stands where he last saw the snakes.

Vespera's initial shock at Gicicero's methodical but disrespectful examination of Thunder's body is palpable. She quickly retrieves a cloth to drape over the late ringmaster, preserving his dignity with a gentle touch. Her expression is one of solemn respect as she ensures Thunder is covered, her actions a silent rebuke to Gicicero's lack of decorum.

Turning her attention to the crucial information unearthed by Gicicero, Vespera's mind races. The mention of poisonous bites aligns disturbingly with the viper incident earlier. Determined to follow this lead, she decides to consult Elizia, the circus' resident snake handler and an expert on such reptiles. Elizia's knowledge could prove invaluable in understanding whether the snakes could have been involved in Thunder's death and, if so, how they came to be his undoing.

Approaching Elizia with a mix of urgency and tact, Vespera articulates her concerns with the precision of a seasoned investigator. "Elizia, we've discovered something troubling regarding Thunder's passing. It appears he suffered from multiple snake bites. Given your expertise, could you shed any light on this? Could any of the snakes from your act have been involved, or might someone have used snakes to deliberately harm him?"

---

Gray is at at loss at momentarily silenced. He's never been in a situation where he was able to glean no information at all.

Gray replies "That's an excellent idea. We may also want to talk to the people that found his body"

Pointing out the tracks to the others. "Rat Tracks here." He follows to see where the tracks lead/came from...

"Can someone send word to try to find out if Mistress Dusklight has been up to anything suspicious lately?" Gray calls out to Gicicero "Don't go alone! We can't afford anymore surprises today." Then Gray leaves to talk to some of the other staff about Thunder.

There are way too much rats track to follow anything, you can see up to the back entrance, but outside othe circus it will be impossible to find it, there are so much tracks here that is impossible to see anything else.

As far as contacting Mistress Dusklight, no one here would dare and evn if they would it would take several hours before getting the answer.

"Show's over," Martha says, "so at least we have time now to gather clues." Hearing the name of the circus member that last saw Thunder, she accompanies Gray to have a chat with Sam.

The ratfolk turns around and follows the tracks back to the circus. Long nose to the ground, he tires to find where all the tracks have been. Double-check the gnawed safety net.