Dot in here
Hooray!
Since we arent doing the first part I am having to improvise a bit for the background.
You have travelled to the town of Bloodmarch for a not so happy occassion. A friend of yours from when you were young, Rodrick, has passed away. Not only has he passed but it looks like he was murdered. As you travel to Bloodmarch to offer condolonces to his sister, Kurst, you think back to the times when you were young and played and grew up together.
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Lady De Qill rode into the town of Bloodmarch the town had changed a bit in the 20 odd years from her leaving. Human perturbations where like that, shifting and moving as if the wind blow them. Elfin towns took longer to grow so. Most of the key buildings however where still here they used to be. As she rode slowly past them she looks to see if she know any of the faces around her. to see if any recognised her. The old butcher was the 1st to duff his large white cap, nodding back she went past. A few more show they recognised her, or at least the uniform. But none talked. So there seemed to be a sober air around her. Well let that be, she can talk to them later.
As her hours plodded on her mind went back to her time here before.
Back then she had been order to hunt a criminal come spy. To get information she had taken on the roll of local school teacher.
What had started as a few weeks investigation had turned into a whole summer of classes and nothing more. The local children to her surprise seemed to like the disciplinarian elf. Most of all two siblings, Rodrick and Kurst's who she had grown very fond of.She had liked her time teaching and to this day thought it would be nice retirement to teach young one. But to soon the criminal/spy had been found, sadly not by her and not in Bloodmarch. Her teaching days ended, but not the friendships made. Most of all of all with Rodrick and Kurst. They had kept in touch with letters telling her about this adventure, hearts broken, pranks played, dance danced and growing from children to young adults. Over the years she had visited now and then but like the letters such things had become less and less frequently.
So it had come as shock when one of the blue and hired rider handed her a formally sealed letter. It was a letter form Kurst, stating that Rodrick was dead, That had upset her a little, but what had focused her mind was a line is Kurst’s letter, right at the end.
'so dear teacher I wish you can come and say a final farewell to my poor deceased brother Rodrick, I know you will bring comfort, wisdom, and your other gift with you. I hope your here soon. Kurst'
She had packed her things there and then. Now here she was, and with a pull on the rains outside the house of Kurst’s family.
Lady Alya De Qill, Royal Warranted Investigator, Dismounting in her full uniform she tied up her ride and pulling off the saddle bags walked to the main door and knocked. She waited to see who would greet her.
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A young man around 20 walks into town wearing a loose cloak and very light leather armor. The dirty backpack on his back, the worn boots and the ready crossbow at his belt show that he was prepared for a long walk.
Kioshi thinks about the past. He is still quite shocked that his old friend Rodrick has passed away. To face his sister Kurst will be hard. Although he does not know how their relationship has developed over the years, Kioshi knows very well what a difficult road one has to walk when a sibling ... or a mother leaves this world.
But at least Kioshi still has a brother and two sisters ... he shakes off the thought that something might happen to them. A reality he might face in the future as life in the Pathfinder Society is dangerous - but what drew Kioshi to the Scarab Sages also drew his siblings to this road of knowledge, adventure and silly politics.
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The sun is just coming up over the horizon when a young dwarven woman turns the corner around the crest of a hill and catches her first glimpse of the town of Bloodmarch. The town is quiet enough for a frontier town settled in the middle of Belkzen, but Begrilda remembers from her last visit that its residents were strong, brave, and fiercely independent.
As she plods along toward the town, she recalls the beauty of their temple to Iomedae in particular. She had traveled to Bloodmarch only once before, when her abbess sent her on a joint pilgrimage with the acolytes of Absalom's other dwarven temples and shrines to carry the good will of the dwarves and their gods throughout that part of Avistan. Was that really 19 years ago?!
She had made a few friends along the way, but few of them stuck out in her mind as much as Kurst. Kurst had been so very kind to Begrilda, despite her...unfortunate physical appearance. And through Kurst, of course, Begrilda had met Rodrick, the town's golden child. She had liked Rodrick well enough, it was impossible not to, but her heart always went out to Kurst in particular, living in the elder sibling's shadow.
Now Begrilda returns to Bloodmarch after nearly two decades, this time to join her friend in mourning the loss of the hero of the town. This would be a much less joyous return than Begrilda had hoped to make, but it was her duty to be there for her friend, no matter what.
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Murdered? Thorur thinks to himself. After all the time spent trying to teach that kid to handle himself in a fight, Rodrick is murdered?
Well now, I think the town constable will be glad to see me again and let me join the investigation. After all, I was sent there to train the locals at his request. I will make sure whoever is involved does not get away this.
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No one came to the door. She waited some more then thoughts to herself.
Well if they are not here I know where they may be if something is afoot.
She walked back down the steps and to her mount. Placing her saddle bag back on. she mounted and road the few streets to the towns constable office. She needed to do this any how to let him know a warranted Investigator was in town, Unofficially but here never the less. As she road up she spied someone at least knew. Thorur Grundur A trainer of local law informant and someone she had meet before. She had heard he had been sent here to train the local militia but that was some time ago, had he stayed. Humm
As she pulled up she called out to him.
"Greetings, Thorur Grundur, it's good to see you again, I would have thought you had finished drilling the locals by now?"
Getting off her horse, and walking up to him. She stopped and straitened her uniform while looked down at the powerfully built dwarf. They would have looked an odd pair to any looking on. The 6 foot plus willow thin elf and the shorter stone block like form of the dwarf. Him looking ready for battle as always, her looking like she had just come from a council meeting.
In a lower voice she asked.
"Or are you here for the same reasons I am Thorur, something not right about a resent death?"
She waiting to see what he said.
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Kioshi sees the lean Elven woman leave the front doors of Kurst's house and ride away just before Kioshi arrived at Kurst's home.
Her appearance clearly showed that she was used to noble houses and definitely was not from around here. Something about her seemed familiar though.
Kioshi never really lived in Bloodmarch but stayed here only for a couple of weeks with his uncle Xiao and his siblings a couple of years ago. They had all befriended with Rodrick and Kurst but had to leave them sooner than they wanted.
Interestingly, the tales that Rodrick and Kurst had told Kioshi and his siblings about the Pathfinders were some of the first tales he had heard about this organization ... and in these tales three characters were the heroes seeking adventure and a life on the road: The charming dwarven lady Begrilda Hammerhild, the sometimes grumpy dwarven priest Thorur Grundur and the noble elven lady Alya De Qill.
These stories were some of the first seeds that at some point grew into the desire to join the Pathfinder Society.
And the lady that just left Kurst's house could definitely be Lady De Quill.
What a coincidence that two Pathfinders are now in town - especially given the fact that the conversation he had overheard in a tavern just a day ago seemed to indicate that Rodrick was murdered.
Kioshi thinks about the fact that he was really lucky to be only a day away from Bloodmarch - otherwise he would not have been able to be here so fast.
"This is probably fate ... how else could the events of the last couple of days be explained?" Kioshi asks himself.
"I will represent my siblings at the funeral and support my fellow Pathfinder lady De Qill in the investigation!"
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She came back to Thorur.
"I am glad your here Thorur, should things get violent I know you will know what to do."
She says placing her bags down.
"I'm unofficially here but thinking of not letting the locals know that. Best they think for now I'm here under orders, help motivate minds if you know what I mean."
She takes out her not pad and talks and writes at same time.
"So see the constable get what facts he has, meet family find out more, got to funeral, see who comes, talk to locals find out whats being said around here. Can you think of anything more?"
She asks him
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Turns her had and looks Kioshi' Katsu up and down.
He's not local, so whose this, there was young mage I was told off who fits this lads description, lets see.
"That may or may not be the case young human but lets find out who we are talking to shall we. How bout you tell us your name and how you know the pathfinders and we will see if you are right."
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Kioshi starts smiling "Hello! Kioshi Katsu is my name! I am a Pathfinder and a childhood acquaintance of Kurst and poor Rodrick. I do not know weather or not I am correct but I heard stories from Kurst and Rodrick about Pathfinder heroes with whom they shared memories and experiences that helped them to grow personally ... and I thought these heroes might be you!"
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"Now now, Lady de Qill, there's no need to be so suspicious!" Begrilda calls out affably as she comes upon the group just a moment after Kioshi. "Young Kioshi here just knows when he sees a group of heavily armed and well provisioned folks standing in front of the constabulary, they must be adventurers of some sort, and Pathfinders in particular! After all, the normal type of adventurers would be at the tavern, wouldn't they?"
She finally reaches the group and stops beside Kioshi, to whom she offers her hand in greeting. "Hello, my friend. I am Begrilda Hammerhild, priestess of Bolka, Pathfinder of late, and, sadly, a friend of the bereaved." She pulls out a handkerchief and dabs at her eyes to wipe away the tears that had begun to well up.
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One of Alya eyebrows goes up at the sound of Begrilda's voice and she looks around her her.
"As you well know Begrilda I am always suspicious."
Then turning back to Kioshi she says.
"I am indeed lady Alya De Qill and this here is Thorur Grundur, also known as the Hammer buy those he drills or so I have been told. Well meet Kioshi Katsu. And yes we are all pathfinders here I take it then we are all looking into the same troubling rumour, that a sad death was in fact something more. As for an artefact, please tell more Kioshi."
There is a scurry as a woman, a familiar woman rushes up to the group.
I am so happy that you are here and that you were able to make it. [/b[ she says, voice in her throat. It is the sister of the deceased, Kurst. [b] I heard that strangers had arrived and I knew, I just knew that it was some of our old friends, come to pay their respects.
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Lady De Qill focuses on Kurst
"Yes Kurst we as a group are her to help in any way we can and to pay our respects. We just wanted to see the constable to let him know we are not here for trouble. But seeing how your hear, let my say how sorry I am about your brother and to ask how are you holding up?"
She asks,
She gives a strong Okay which sounds like it is about to break.
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Alya slinks her bags over her horse's back and leads it to Kioshi handing him the rains. Alya then moves up Kurst and takes her arm.
"How about we take this off the street Kurst. We can come back here later, lets got to your home and you can tell us all about it in privet."
She helps, leads Kurst back the way she came. Looking over Kurst's head she nods and makes an eye move to the others to follow.
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Begrilda chuckles to herself as Alya takes the lead, Well, I suppose it's better than standing around in the open air. She shrugs and follows along. As they carry on towerd Kurst's home, she moves up beside the young woman and lays a hand on her forearm, "Of course we came to pay our respects to dear Rodrick, but we're here for you and your family as well."
She nods in thanks as she leads the group to her house.
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Getting to the house, Alya says
"Begrilda do you mind taking Kurst into the house while I place my mount in the stables. Thorur would you mind checking the house, if you know what I mean. Kioshi with me, I want to have a word if I may."
She leads her mount and Kioshi around the back, ounce out of sight of Kurst she says to Kioshi.
"Your a smart lad and quick on your feet I can see that, Kioshi said she had been told strangers where in town. I want you to just do a once around the area here. See if anyone is keeping and eye on us, or the house. If you spot anyone don't engage, note who they are and head back into the house."
She winks at him and heads into the house to join the others.
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Kioshi looks at Begrilda and is a little astounded.
He silently tells her:
Kioshi slowly moves away from the group and starts to shadow them and tries to see if anybody suspicious is watching them.
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Getting to the house, Alya says
"Begrilda do you mind taking Kurst into the house while I place my mount in the stables. Thorur would you mind checking the house, if you know what I mean. Kioshi with me, I want to have a word if I may."
"Of course, Alya, I'd be glad to join our friend inside. Kurst, let's head in. Would you like me to make us all some tea? Or perhaps something stronger?" Begrilda sits Kurst down inside the house and immediately begins arranging things for the group--moving chairs around to seat them all, putting the kettle on, unstoppering a bottle of brandy if Kurst needs it--her training in the traditions of housekeeping has evidently stuck quite well.
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As Kioshi moves off Alya walks as if to the house then side steps to a wall.
Then she slips across the road and goes the opposite way around the house then Kioshi. Checking the streets and places where prying eyes would be looking at them as the house. Kioshi was the distraction there to make those spying look at him and not think of her. She moves soundlessly as only and elf can. As she makes her way from street to street, building to building she she tracks his path. Until at last she comes to him and steps out from behind him to say.
"Thank you Kiosh, did you see anything out of the normal?"
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If Lady Alya had seen anything she kept it to herself.
"That's good, lets head to the house and see if Begrilda has the tea brewing. You know she will not admit this herself but she is the most wonderful cook along with being a very good healer. Also a word about Thorur, He may come over as grumpy but trust me, if what we do here leads to a fight. It's best to do whatever that dwarf tells you too do, you understand. He's seen and lived through more fights that I dare count. I trust his judgements in combat with my life, you would be wise to do the same."
Then she heads back not waiting to see if Kioshi follows. She knocks on the front door and calls out.
"Thorur its only us, we're letting ourselves in".
She then closes the door behind them and bolts it.
"Well now we can relax for a bit. Lets go see Kurst and see what she has to say."
Lady De Qill comes into the room and takes a seat. From a pouch she lifts out a note pad and pen. Once Begrilda sorts the tea and Thorur is back from checking the house. She picks up her tea cup and asks in a kind way.
"Kurst sweetie how about you tell us all about it."
And she takes a sip of her tea.
As everyone settles down to their tea she begins
I do not know of any other way to say this, but what I say should not be repeated outside of this house. If the populace were to find out why my brother died, well there could be a huge panic. As you know we are a border town and the orcs are always trying to plunder and raid but our town is pretty well defended. However, since we are a border town there are many people here that are transient and even though there is a small group of half-orcs around, they tend to be treated well. Despite this being a border town.
I tell you this to frame why my brother was killed. It appears that he came upon a plot by an unhappy half orc who was aligned with Belzen. This alliance included selling out the town to a raid of orcs meant to plunder and rape and pillage the town. The half orc's name was Gresendelk. Though it cost my brother his life, as he came upon this half orc trying to make plans with an orc, it seems that the plot was stopped. But at what cost? What a terrible cost.
So you see, if the general populace knew about this, it would be bad for the town. Bad for the humans and dwarves and bad for the the half-orcs she says.
The half orc was ultimately stopped but we do not know what happened to the orc she says.
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"Well then we have to the orc and see how their plans are now unfolding without the help of the deceased half-orc Gresendelk. Please Kurst ... concentrate and tell us more about the plan they had and how this town is structured. We need to understand if the attack on the town is an imminent threat!"
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Alya sat taking notes while the others talked. It was best this way her shorthand needed to note down names and events.
"Dear Kioshi, you just said"
She looks at her notes.
"It appears that he came upon a plot by an unhappy half orc who was aligned with Belzen. This alliance included selling out the town to a raid of orcs meant to plunder and rape and pillage the town. The half orc's name was Gresendelk."
Looking back up she goes on.
"That is quite an assertion, and one that would need facts to back up. Which makes me think your brother confided in you about his intentions. Talking over his suppositions. I know you my be unwilling to acknowledge this, possibly because your feeling some guilt over his death. That is fine and normal, we all her have lost love ones and we all feel some guilt over it. You always do, but remember you two probably put on hold an attack that would have cost lives in this town. You where both very brave and did what you felt was needed to save lives. But now we are here and we need you help. So I have to ask some questions if that is alright."
She takes sip of tea and starts.
"Do you know what tipped your brothers suppositions to Gresendelk. Did he start doing odd actions or was it something other. Did your brother suspect something for weeks say or just in the last few days. What we need to know is the sequence of suspicion to action, Specifically on the day of the meeting. How did your brother know to follow him, or had been following him for a while? "
Alya sip some more tea and waits.
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Lady Alya made more notes as Kioshi filled them in.
"So your brother did not tell you why he had suppositions about this half-orc but he gave you the outline off them and what he felt this Gresendelk was up too. Then found himself over his head and... well lets not go into that. As the description of the Orc seen dose sound like Belzen I think we can agree on your suppurations it was him."
She says putting her note book away.
"Well I think we can see the constable for the rest of the information. Kioshi would you mind if we stay here tonight. The Inn is nice and I think some of us will head out to see what the local gossip is. But you may sleep better with us here. At least until after the funeral."
She gets up and looks around.
"We will use his house as our base while we find out what is really going on here and what he orcs are up to."
Gresendelk was killed by the town constable who was aided by the father pastor of the town. However, they let me know what happened because of who was killed. We do not know what might take place. Something may or may not happen and only the three of us, plus you now know what we know she says.