As the search begins in earnest, and the initial shot of adrenaline wears off, Morgrim realizes the previous night's festivities had taken more toll than he had noticed... He hauls his sorry hungover ass around finding some clues but failing to connect things until others had... When Songan's mentions speaking with the half-Orc he speaks up, mostly to the priest, "I'll go speak with her now... I have no desire to see the captain's body."
Brinya Kelver and Rodrik were engaged to be married, but only a few people, myself included, knew about their relationship. Brinya’s a half-orc. Her heritage doesn’t matter to me, but it does to my father; he's a purist and despises all things orc. This is why Rodrik kept it such a secret. That’s why Rodrik was staying at the Ramblehouse. My father somehow found about the two of them, and he and Rodrik had a falling out over it. My father has forbidden me to even visit her, my once future sister-in-law. If you get the chance, could you check up on her and make sure she’s okay? You can also ask her whether anything seemed strange about Rodrik over the last couple of nights. She has had more contact I think with Rodrik than I have of late. Last night was the first time we had even spoken in over a week due to this fight between him and father.
The high priestess indicates, if asked, that indeed Jagrin left specific instructions that Rodrik's spirit was not to be called or contacted. He wants his son to have the best chance of possibly making it to Pharasma and with luck on to a good afterlife with Erastil. As such, she will not cast Speak with Dead or similar spells on Rodrik.
Assuming Delia arrives in time to assist, and both Leira and Adir at least voice their own observations...
then together you reach a combined Heal check of 25 points, read the spoilers as you wish.
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"Yet more questions are raised... but it seems clear to me now that we can rule out suicide as his cause of death. Could he have been poisoned and had the wrist cut staged? Look at this oil stain around his mouth."
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Morgrim sets off to find this Brinya Kelver but quickly realizes he doesn't really know where he's going... Instead he heads up to Clamor's...
"Morning uncle," he calls out as he draws near, "is Sara around?"
Indeed Sara is around, managing a few of the smiths on a new crossbar hinge for one of the inner gates. After a few moments she breaks free and comes over to Morgrim.
So, you here to try your hand at the hammer today? Your uncle could use a little help, he's been working on that axe head all morning.
Uncle merely grunts and goes back to pounding away at a red hot piece of steel, slowly spreading out with each blow into the rough shape of a double headed tree ax.
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Adir lets out a low whistle. "So, let me get this straight. Rodrik is, err, was, involved with a half-orc lady. His father, Jagrin, not only doesn't approve, but hates anything to do with orcs with a white-hot rage. And said father is in charge of the non-investigation? Nah, that's not suspicious."
"Wait, he bought a hopeknife engraved to himself? Weird."
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Adir peers over the body with everyone. "Well, it's safe to say that he didn't slit his own wrists. Both cuts go from left to right. They would normally go in opposite directions." Adir pantomimes the act of slitting both wrists to illustrate. "To do it this way, well, it was probably a left-handed person."
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"Agreed. The manner of the cut makes it practically impossible for him to have done it himself. I do not think it wise to make this publicly known yet, though. Rodrik was clearly investigating something and I suspect that something got him killed. We should play our cards close to the chest for now."
"Regarding the hopeknife, is it possible his betrothed had Rodrik commission it while she provided the money in order to avoid drawing attention to their relationship?"
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"It certainly is possible, just peculiar. But, we'll probably know more after Morgrim talks to the smiths. Seems like we have plenty of people to try to talk to about all this."
"No, if I ever settle into a forge it won't be the day after a Vowin- all the bangin's too much for my head today..." Morgrim answers with a wry grin, "I actually need to ask you something privately..."
Stepping a bit farther from his uncle and the others, and speaking in hushed tones, he asks, "What's this business about Rodrick getting a new hopeknife?"
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"It certainly is possible, just peculiar. But, we'll probably know more after Morgrim talks to the smiths. Seems like we have plenty of people to try to talk to about all this."
"You said a mouthful there. I still think we should be as gushed about this as possible though. We don't want to end up like Rodrik."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Leira observes the stained oil on Rodrik's lips and tries to identify it.
After hearing to Tyari Varvatos Leira makes a religious observance.
"If I am correct, Erastil condemns those who suicide to the Hell. Jargin might be calmer if he knows it was a murder and loosen his order not to let use necromancy spells over his son."
Leira nods at Adir observation "Indeed, I agree he could not do those cuts by himself. I don't grasp though why do you think the murderer is left handed."
The girl goes deep into some thoughts "There are so many open research areas we can go now. Most relevant things are finding Katreza to know more about Rodrik investigation, and Brinya Kelver for if she is ok and what does she knows about all this."
To Brantos Calderon she asks "Did Katreza or Rodrik told you something about half-orcs visiting Trunau? What did they told you about their research? Something about ghosts? And... you said Katreza had a painful past. Did he ever detailed it to you?" the girl finally adds "What about his visions, have he ever explained any of them to you? Did he had any of them recently?"
Adir faces Leira. "Hold out your hand, please. So if we assume your arm is that of a body in front of me or that I'm standing over, and I cut your wrist..." Adir, using his right hand, drags his finger across her wrist from his left to his right. "That's a normal cutting or slashing motion. Going the other way is more stabbing or thrusting. Because both of his cuts go the other way, starting on his left," Adir demonstrates again, this time using his left hand, "...that's why I think that. But, it's just a guess."
"And because they both go left to right, it's not likely that he did it himself, 'cause you have to switch hands. And, you don't cut so deep, or you won't have the strength to cut the other wrist or neck. But, I'm sure you remember that from your ceremony. Sorry, just thinkin' out loud."
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"Yes, that is part of Erastil's worship...those who commit suicide are condemned to Avernus, the first circle of Hell. He may be worried that, if his 'suicide' becomes widely known, it will only make his fate in the afterlife that much more certain."
"And I think you're right, Adir. It's impossible for one person to cut both wrists going the same direction without some serious acrobatics that a person taking their own life would have no time for."
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..Snooping around Songan finds a scrap of paper previously unnoticed beneath the bed. It appears to be some kind of receipt...
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The clang of metal on metal rings out of the smithy as the workers busy themselves, each working on various projects for the head smith. The heat from the forge fills the stifling smithy with a hot mugginess, normal for the half-Shoanti woman but less so for others. Sara leads you aside, Morgrim and Groin, into a small office that is quieter, less smoggy, taking the offered receipt for inspection. Waving a hand, she offers you a seat on a pair of tall stools.
Sara begins leafing through a ledger on her desk, mentioning she keeps a detailed registry of customers and their orders. The registry confirms that Rodrik commissioned a new blade a week before his death. She did the preliminary work on the knife, then handed it off to one of her apprentices, whom she assumed finished the blade properly. I guess it doesn’t matter so much anymore, she says, but I wonder where it went—it must be around here somewhere.
She excuses herself to make a quick search of the shop floor for the blade. After a few minutes searching for the knife, Sara comes up empty-handed. I’ll bet that clumsy oaf Urnsul put it somewhere before she up and quit the other day; it’s hard to get good help. I’ll let you know if I find the blade. I'm sure Kurst will want it, even if his father does not respect good half-orc steel,
As the rest of the group leaves the Sanctuary, they gather in the courtyard to discuss their next moves out of earshot of the Iomedaen clergy. The group fails to notice until too late, the sound of the gate slamming shut and the low growl of three small wolves rising in volume.
Before you, three young wolves are standing on shaky legs. Strips of loose cording lay around the ground below them. The sounds of running feet echo outside the walled courtyard.
The scrawny wolves shake their heads and coats, glancing uncertainly from each other then towards your group, baring their teeth and snarling louder. The largest wolf lets out a howling cry, his bloodshot eyes weeping crusty red tears that echo the scabrous wounds covering it's pelt. The wolves seem to take perverse grins in seeing not one but two cat foes before them, as they spread out, preparing to attack.
In the above rolls, groupings would be as follows:
Group 1 - Tuzak, Leira, and Wolf 1
Group 2 - Songan, Jace, Adir, Delia, and Wolves 2 & 3
Group 1 is up, 36 hours on the action clock starting now.
A bit surprised about her own instinct, Leira reacts drawing her already loaded crossbow and shots at the first wolf.
"Wild wolves! How did they got here?!"
Leira's shot takes the lead wolf square in the throat, cutting off it's howl. The beast is looking quite unsteady on it's feet, the bold knocking it back a few inches.
"Did he by chance say why he needed a new hopeknife?" Morgrim asks, "It seems like replacin the one from your Vowin would be kind of a big deal? And, if he ordered it himself why that inscription?"
Sara considers her answer carefully, then speaks. I do not believe the blade was to replace his own hopeknife, though he did not have his when he visited. He did not share what his need was, but he was certain of what he wanted in the weapon. His knife had a very distinctive scabbard, and was empty when he showed it to me. He specified the new blade needed to fit that same scabbard, and he was quite specific in how he wanted the new blade fashioned, from pommel to tip, handle and all according to his requirements. I created the knife blank specifically to meet those needs, and trusted Urnsul to complete the finer detail work. I will have the coal boys search the shop once the days work is done, they will find it here somewhere.
"Sara, I'd just as soon leave you outta this business entirely, I know a lotta folk here don't take kindly to your heritage," Morgrim offers, "but if it comes out later that there were details you were keepin secret it's not gonna look good to those folks... are you sure there's nothin else I should know?"
"The hopeknife he was found with, the one that killed him, was a blank... it wasn't the one from his Vowin, and it definitely wasn't what he ordered- no engravin, not of masterwork... but maybe the unfinished one you're looking for... Is it possible Urnsul's wrapped up in this someway?"
Sara explains that Urnsul was a new young half-orc apprentice she took on a few weeks ago, but the woman went missing the day of Ruby’s hopeknife ceremony. Urnsul was a recent arrival to Trunau, and I took pity on her when she explained her tragic story. Where she is now I cannot say. She took a room at the Ramblehouse, with friends she said. As for holding anything back, what are you suggesting? Rodrik ordered that the knife not be of high quality, it had to exactly match a certain set of criteria, right down to the engraving.
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Hackles start to rise on the usually amiable, even slightly goofy, sloth's back, and a deep hiss emanates from him. He rushes at the nearest wolf, striking out with one of his front claws.
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Tuzak swings out at the wounded wolf, missing as the creature stumbles back. The wolf snarls and snaps at Tuzak, , it's jaws falling short of sloth's neck.
Group 2 is next, 36 hour clock ticking.
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To Leira's question, Adir gruffly says, "No accident." He draws his club and shield and moves toward the wolf that Tuzak is attacking, trying to get opposite of the angry sloth. "Careful, buddy."
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"Someone's trying to off us like Rodrik!" Songan adds to Adir's statement, then will draw his longsword and, if possible, move to flank one of the wolves with an ally. If flanking is not possible, he will simply move forward with his sword ready, though stay far enough away not to provoke an attack from one of the odd-looking animals. "What's wrong with them? Are they sick?" he asks aloud.
The wolves do indeed appear to be sick.
Delia, like Leira, draws her bow and takes aim at one of the wolves. , catching the beast as it prepares to snap at Adir with an arrow for nearly stopping the beast instantly.
Jace moves in to attack the third wolf, flanked by Songan, with a , narrowly missing the beast.
Wolf 2 snarls and snaps at Adir with a but misses, it's attack off due to the arrow in it's shoulder.
Wolf 3, confused by the pair of targets, snaps at Songan, it's closing around the catfolk's calf for . The beast's saliva burns in the wound while the creature then tries to pull the bard off his feet with a but seems too weak to do so.
Wolf 1 and 2 are nearly dead, wolf 3 uninjured.
Adir and Tuzak flank wolf 1.
Jace and Songan flank wolf 3.
Group 1 - Tuzak, Leira, and Wolf 1
Group 2 - Songan, Jace, Adir, Delia, and Wolves 2 & 3
Group 1 is up, 36 hours on the action clock starting now.
"Thanks, Sara," Morgrim says preparing to leave, "I'll get outta your hair. Do you have any idea where I might find Brinya Kelvar right now?"
Leira reloads her crossbow, then shots at the same wolf again "Caution! Bolt!" stepping to one side to have a better angle yet trying not to hit her companions.
Sara looks to Morgrim, eyes narrowing suspiciously. What business do you have with Brinya, or any other half-orc in this matter? Do you think to link her to Rodrik's death. She would never cause him harm. He was a friend to many half-orcs in town, she in particular. He was not as hateful as his father, and we all knew that.
Leira's sidestep at the moment the wolf jinked left to avoid Tuzak caused the bolt to miss, the tip narrowly shaving a few hairs from the rabid dog's tail.
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Tuzak strikes out against the wolf with both of his claws this time.
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"Sara," Morgrim replies with a frown, "you know me, and you know I've never spoken a word against you or your kind. You treat my uncle good and I've got no want to see you or Brinya, or anyone else gettin blame they don't deserve. There's some things about his death that don't add up and we're just tryin to piece it together..."
Round 2 Continued)
Tuzak seems to be experiencing a reluctance to maul the feral seeming wolf, and both blows come within inches but miss the creatures dirty, matted and scabrous pelt. Wolf 1 responds to the aggressions by lashing out with a toothy snarl, trying to strike at Adir, strangle fearing the larger human more so than a fellow animal foe. The wolf at Adir, missing as the druid easily spots the strike and feints away from it.
Wolf 1 and 2 are nearly dead, wolf 3 uninjured.
Adir and Tuzak flank wolf 1.
Jace and Songan flank wolf 3.
Group 1 - Tuzak, Leira, and Wolf 1
Group 2 - Songan, Jace, Adir, Delia, and Wolves 2 & 3
Group 2 is up, 36 hours on the action clock starting now.
Sara sees the dwarf's reaction to her rebuff, and tries again to find the cause of these questions. Morgrim, I do know, even trust, both your uncle and yourself, but as you are fond of saying, you have not sworn the Vow to Trunau, so your loyalties remain your own. In that, combined with the apathy many others feel towards my kind, I must be protective of those of whom I name friends. Speak plainly if you would, are you investigating Rodrik's suicide? By what authority do you do so? Is there more to this than we have been allowed to believe? Why would you have suspicions of one such as Brinya? Suspicions of me, of my smiths? Why should a simple knife be such a concern?
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This time, Adir disguises the swing of his club behind his shield.
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"The fact that my loyalties remain my own, as you say, is a big part of why I'm investigatin..." Morgrim says in a half-mumble, "officially there is no investigation- suicide... case closed... by order of the Patrol Leader... someone close to Rodrick, and with some sway, asked me and a few others to look into things and it turns out that there're some big questions. The knife used to end his life weren't his hopeknife... it mighta been the unfinished one you started... and he didn't make the third cut you're all taught to make..."
Morgrim sighs, knowing he's probably already said more than Kurst would prefer. "I don't think you had anything to do with the knife endin up with him, I didn't even think it was the knife you were makin until you described the blank you turned over... I asked about the smith 'cause now I'm tryin to figure how it got to his deathbed... And, I don't think Brinya did anything wrong but I got reason to think she might know something about where he'd been and what he'd been up to lately. I just wanna ask her if she knows anything that might be useful in figurin out what really happened, that's all."