Delia nods at Groin's insight about the guard reports and whistle to Jace as she begins moving. "No time like the present." The young woman starts walking towards Kurst's post.
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Songan heads off with the others, clearly in agreement and happy to have a plan again. As they walk, he looks over to Delia. "For my part, I also find your company agreeable... and that goes for you all. It is nice to be among those who are more willing to see me as an equal despite being an outsider."
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Adir is also agreeable to notifying Kurst and will go along.
"You're always welcome in my book, kitty" Morgrim teases.
Leira follows the party, she seems a bit grim and does not talk in the whole trip.
She keeps holding his hand up, like trying to stop the Sun rays Oh, my what is going on with my eyes, this Sun is so painful. No others seem to notice. I would like there is an eclipse today.
Your band makes their way across the upper quarter to the Longhouse, where Kurst was staying and where most of the militia activities are managed.
You arrive just as Kurst and two junior officers leave the building, heading somewhere in a hurry. As you flag him down, Kurst tells the men to continue on, that he will catch up momentarily. Once alone he asks, Have you word, what news do you have on my brother's death?
I am on my way now to a meeting with my father, Chief Defender Halgra, and the militia's officers. My father is pushing for me to step up and take leadership of my brother's unit immediately. Kurst motions you a few feet away from the entrance to the Longhouse. I can discuss the matter here, we can talk in the street as I go, or we can meet later. Things have been extremely hectic today. Sergeant Frum has gone missing, no one has seen him since he was first on the scene at Rodrik's room. There was a new white cross painted last night, this one on a watchtower of all places. Gesturing behind you, he points to the South Tower, visible from nearly all of Trunau. A nearly 20' long white sword/cross is painted on the side, facing to the south-west. Someone robbed one of the Barterstone stalls early this morning, roughing up the shop owner. Another foods storage cellar was vandalized, and all this on top of my brother's death. It is too much, too soon. I can't seem to even catch my breath. Now my father pushing to make me his second. Kurst pauses, hanging his head. I'm sorry. I have put too much on you, this is my burden, my responsibility. I know you are doing all you can, I appreciate it, truly I do. What is it you need to tell me?
"That's not good..." Morgrim says out loud without thinking... "they may be using that as a sign for others... letting them know it's time..."
Delia's blood runs cold at hearing the location of the new tagging. "Sir, we believe there may be an attack on Trunau in the making. We located Twisted Nail graffiti in the Ramblehouse made with the same substance as all the markings around town. I fear these "random" markings may have a more sinister, hidden meaning to them, but we do not know what yet. The orcish graffiti was made by a group of half-orcs staying in the Ramblehouse. We also located evidence that indicates Captain Grath's murder may have been at the hands of a conspirator working inside Trunau to aide in this attack..." She takes a breath. "Sir, there are enemies within the walls. Someone let loose several diseased wolves upon us near The Sanctuary. Clearly someone has noticed our investigation and does not like the path we are taking. I think Captain Grath may have even been investigating the same people, which is why he was murdered."
Kurst turns momentarily white as Delia bluntly delivers the group's news. He quickly recovers, stating Sergeant Frum has been in charge of the graffiti investigation for the past week or so. He has the most current information about their locations and what efforts have been done to counter them. Nothing in the graffiti we have seen suggests the Twisted Nails, or any other orc tribe. Find Frum and he can fill you in on everything he has discovered to date, compare it to the information you have.
He pauses a moment, then continues. Rodrik often kept his personal investigations close to the vest, keeping notes in one of his journals as he went, organizing his thoughts. He kept counsel with only a few people, myself, Omast, one or two others around town but he always kept their identities secret, to avoid the risk of reprisals. His most recent journal was not in his things at the Ramblehouse, nor back in his rooms at the Longhouse. He either had it on him, or gave it to his latest confidant. Have you spoken with Brinya, did she have it, did you give her my love and condolences? I'm sure she is taking Rod's death as hard as I.
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"It should be noted that we have no doubt that Rodrik was murdered. Both his wrists were cut in the same direction which would be practically impossible with suicide. The hopeknife you have us isn't his, but a cheap knockoff. He had already secretly traded knives with Brinya. In addition, we found a stain around his mouth that might have indicated poisoning. Leira, were you able to identify it? I believe Delia also found a note in a hidden drawer in room at the inn with ominous overtones. It made reference to a patrol captain who wouldn't be an issue for much longer."
"Brinya didn't have his journal but she suggested that someone, we suspect Katrezra, may've been privy to some information that Rodrik had been gathering in the investigation he was conducting."
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It is a far step from a local murder to an impending invasion by orcs and half-orc saboteurs. I agree that what you have found is alarming, and we need to take steps to protect everyone, but you must continue with the investigation. More information is needed Kurst waves for a nearby trooper, waiting for him to approach.
A middle aged man, a friend of Leira's father approaches, snapping to attention. I have decided that we need to show the town we are still in control, that they are safe even though my brother is gone. Have second watch extend their shift for two hours today, then send word for third shift to report one hour early, and to run one hour later as well. Starting tomorrow, all shifts are to extend rounds by two hours, adding two to three volunteers per rotation as available. The training troop came back last night from patrol. Have them take up duty with the town detail in the morning, it would be good to have the alert stands checked out a little earlier than planned. Winter is nearly over, and the bonfires have not been maintained as they need have been. Tell Patrol Sergeant Myers I am postponing his patrol for three days, he and his men are to report for duty divided between Ivory Hall and the Longhouse. Kurst turns back to you. It will be good to shake everyone up a little, the extra duties should snap everyone out of their grief.
After the trooper departs, he adds in a lower tone, Find out what you can, as quickly as you can. I will work within the ranks as much as possible to increase our alert status without being too obvious, but if there is something more going on, please hurry. If my father thinks there is an orc or half-orc plot in Trunau, without any tangible proof, he could try to strike first, against any half-orc available and not just the guilty. Halgra would not stand for it of course, she would oppose him, and split the militia along loyalty lines. This would divide us at a time we need to stand together the most. If father sways his friends on the council that Halgra's judgment towards half-orcs is biased, she could lose her position, at least temporarily. Most of the half-orcs in Trunau are here either because they are family to her, related to tribes she has favored over the years, or she has allowed to live here vouch-safe through her immigration reforms. They have proven themselves, but in war memory runs short while hatred runs deep.
Satisfied with Kurst's precautions, Adir agrees quickly. "There is wisdom in your words. We will do what we can."
"We will do our best Kurst." once the conversation is done Leira addresses the others "Thus, is anybody willing to check with the Barterstones merchants now? Perhaps we should talk also with Rashad Durngon. I have heard he has been employing people to build an irrigation channel. It might be that the half-orc labourers were employed there. What do you think guys? I say check with the merchants until it is time of going back to the smith meeting."
Delia nods to Kurst. "Yes, sir. We shall step lightly." She gives a smart salute (in whatever fashion is appropriate for Trunau), but seems to want to say more. Hesitantly she opens her mouth to speak. "Captain, perhaps we should try to find a way to either cover up or find a magical way to remove the markings?"
"That's not a bad idea..." Morgrim chimes in, "are there any flags or tapestries you could get hung up, Kurst, to cover the symbols in case they're some kinda symbol?"
Turning his attention back to his companions he adds, "we gotta get movin... We got an appointment to keep..."
Kurst thinks a moment, then comments about covering the markings. Sergeant Frum was tasked to do just that thing, but I have not seen him since this morning at the Ramblehouse. I do not know for certain how far his investigations and observations have progressed. I know the markings in the Arena were covered over with a layer of sand; no one at the festival realized the place had been vandalized. I also heard a rumor that they had marked the Hopespring, but Silvermane grew a layer of moss over the markings. Leaning in close, It is said even his magic could not remove the stain, but I have no confirmation of that.
Straitening up, glancing at the shadows forming with the lowering sun, he ends with, Well, the hour is waning, and I am late for my father's meeting. If any of you are heading to the Barterstones, you better make a rush of it. I can speed you through the gates as far as Ivory Hall. After that you are on your own.
Kurst then moves to hurry after the other soldiers and his meeting with the town's officials.
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After Kurst has sad his piece and hurried off after the other soldiers, Songan looks back to the others.
"Though I am loathe to encourage after what happened the first time, it seems that our best option here is to split up again and have some of us go to the Barterstones and the others go to the meet with Morninghawk."
"Sure, we need to press on to get all the pieces on place before whatever is going on definitely triggers. I will be glad to visit the Barterstones together Songan."
If no one in the group says against it again Leira starts walking towards the out market.
"My vote is Morninghawk."
"Ok, so Groin wants to go to Morninghawk. I also definitely think we need to attend the meeting. But we have to decide if we are splitting or we all are going to the Morninghawk." Leira looks at Songan and the way to the merchants "From what Morgrim said it seems Sara wants a quite meeting. Perhaps a small group can help on that while the others visit the merchants."
"It seems we are deciding if splitting, I say yes, and I am going to the merchants. What do you all want? Groin? You are going to Sara, but, do you want to split?"
"I think those who already met with Sara should go there, maybe one other. No need for surprises. I don't mind, if it comes down to it."
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The group splits up as they reach the lower quarter. Agreeing to meet again by the main gate, the teams part and make for their respective destinations.
Groin and his associates arrive at Clamor a few minutes later. The shop is nearly closed for the day, a few late workers are being hurried on their way. Sara is there and asks you to wait in her office as she finishes closing for the day. About 10 minutes later, she asks you to accompany her into a back office, where you find another half-orc waiting for you. Katrezra
This is Katrezra, it seems you have been looking for him. He in turn has been expecting you. I trust you will keep his presence here a secret. I will leave you to talk, but I will be just outside. The powerfully built half-orc grasps the aged one by the shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze, then steps out of the backroom and closes the door behind her.
Near the end of the conversation, Katrezra gives you Rodrik’s journal in the hopes that it will help them clear up the circumstances of his death and suggests they investigate the Plague House.
Leira leads the others quickly to the main gate, intent upon reaching the Barterstones before many of the stalls have closed. The guards spend a few minutes looking everyone over before finally giving permission to exit the town and the group rushes on to the 'stones.
Once there, many stalls are indeed closing down for the day, though enough are open to spy the workers and laborers who have been toiling for the day. While there are a few half-orcs about, most of them are familiar to those native to Trunau, people who have lived here for many months if not years. There do not seem to be any new faces.
Inquiries of a few of the shop owners indicates that no one is aware of a group of half-orc laborers coming into the Barterstones, whether large or small, and none know of any new workers being hired on recently.
Questions about Farmer Durngon indicate he has nearly given up on his quest to hire workers to dig his irrigation ditch. E's 'ad no luck getting shovels, picks, 'er mauls ta digs wit, so 'es alookin' ta 'as 'is oxen does tha laborin'. I solds 'im a sea-plow ta digs wit, an old anchor me paw 'ad. Theys gonna pull tha' an breaks tha grounds up but good. 'E ain't 'ad a nibble on 'is offerin' ta 'ire folks, not even anys 'alf-orcs. Taint seen muches of thems rounds 'ere anysways, ceptin ol' Daktani, 'es usually bouts once a weeks 'er so, sellin odd bits wats 'es "founds" round town.
A few excerpts from Rodrik's journal...
Leira feels glad about her company but the excitement of the investigation makes her focus on the important.
The girl profits the opportunity in the gates to ask the guards "Have you seen Sargeant Omast Frum recently?" and then "Has anyone abandoned the town during the night or early during the morning? Any half-orc or blonde man by any chance?"
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Once at the Barterstones, seeing there is not much information about the half-orcs she starts asking also about Melira and Urnsul "Does the name Melira tells you anything? Have you seen a blacksmither half-orc name Urnsul? Any blonde looking foreigner man around?"
When Durngon talks Leira looks clued at both Songan and Delia. Once they have left she asks "Have you understood any word from him? What did he said about Daktani? Should we go look for him?"
Groin looks at the aged half-orc for a moment, then slowly offers his hand. "Thank you for sharing this with us, old timer."
"Куски встанет на свои места."
"Thank you, Master Katrezra. This is incredibly helpful. I'm sorry that you lost your friend. But you showed much wisdom in both acquiring the journal and in leaving Sanctuary. I hope that we can resolve this mystery soon now."
Adir will fill in the details regarding the Plague House.
"Master Katrezra, did Rodrik tell you about the mysterious white swords that have been painted on several buildings throughout town We believe that half-orc members of the Twisted Nail tribe are putting them up. Does that give any clarity to your visions?'
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"Says here," Morgrim adds, looking up from the journal, "that you tried talkin him outta investigatin 2 days ago... why's that?"
Have you seen Sargeant Omast Frum recently? and then Has anyone abandoned the town during the night or early during the morning? Any half-orc or blonde man by any chance?
The guard looks around hesitantly, then in confidence whispers to you, He took Captain Grath's death hard. My girl says he's been at the Killin' Grounds all day, wallowing out his sorrows in a bottle. But we haven't seen anyone leaving out for good today, half-orc, blonde, or otherwise, just the usual folks heading to the 'stones.
Does the name Melira tells you anything? Have you seen a blacksmither half-orc name Urnsul? Any blonde looking foreigner man around?
No one recognizes the name of Melira. One young man does know Urnsul, but says he has not seen her in a few days. She works at the Clamor, you should stop in there and ask Mistress Morninghawk about her, one of her newer smithy's she is.
[dice=Knowledge History]1d20 + 2
As for Flood Trolls, these tall, gangly giants have thick hides of mottled blue; protruding yellowed canines; narrow slits for eyes; and large, powerful hands that end in wicked claws. Flood trolls are monstrous nomads—wandering hunters who follow the herds of game and pay close attention to humanoids' travel patterns. They are cunning by necessity, since they are smaller than their brethren and must often surprise their prey to earn their meals. While not afraid to pounce on their victims once they can catch them, most flood trolls prefer to use stealth tactics and crude traps to put prospective victims in hazardous situations before attempting an ambush. It is rare for them to travel this far south of the Flood Road, at anytime of the year. To do so while winter is still covering the area is stranger still. They have similar abilities to others of their ilk, longer arms, tough hides, regenerative capabilities, etc. though they are smaller and overall weaker than most true trolls.
"Says here," Morgrim adds, looking up from the journal, "that you tried talkin him outta investigatin 2 days ago... why's that?"
Katrezra looks downcast, ashamed of himself. My dreams were becoming more frequent, more pronounced, but no less vague. They haunted my waking hours. I begged Rodrik not to continue, I feared something dark stirred deep beneath Trunau, that his investigation might speed it awakening. I feared for him, and I feared for myself. My cowardice clouded my mind, and for that I was blind to what was to come. Had I his courage, maybe I would have foreseen this and been able to warn him, to protect him.
Adir will fill in the details regarding the Plague House.
Together you and Groin may piece together the info on the Plague House.
"Master Katrezra, did Rodrik tell you about the mysterious white swords that have been painted on several buildings throughout town We believe that half-orc members of the Twisted Nail tribe are putting them up. Does that give any clarity to your visions?'
The half-orc shakes his head, Alas no, that I do not recognize. While I see many symbols and portents in these dreams, all are vague and shadowed, though I feel sure I have not seen a twisted nail in any of my dreams. What I most often see though is a heart, torn and bloody, twisted and misshapen upon a spike, one that turns from bloody and beating, to one dried and dessicated, then to one blowing away into dust and ash, leaving a glowing red stone to stare back at me. It fills me with dread every time it appears, it is the harbinger of something unknown, something dangerous.
Adir adds to Groin's flood troll lore: Flood trolls are not actual trolls in the truest sense of the word. Although flood trolls—like their scrag parents— are distantly related to mountain trolls, the species are distinct. Most humanoid societies, however, are content to simply refer to both scrags and trolls using the umbrella term “troll,” linking the species because of overlapping myths and their similar regenerative abilities.
Scrag mothers birth anywhere from two to six younglings in a single brood, and every brood has a small chance of including a half-scrag—known to many civilized peoples as a flood troll. Scrags with larger broods have a higher chance of producing flood trolls among their young. These runts are invariably smaller and more frail than true scrag younglings, and their growth rate is significantly slower than their non-mutated kin.
This makes them undesirable to their scrag mothers and more likely to be eaten by their stronger siblings. Those flood trolls who aren't simply abandoned to the wilds by their mothers are raised as lesser beings, and live in the shadows of their scrag brothers and sisters. Most flood trolls flee their aggressive broodmates before coming of age, preferring to fend for themselves in the terrors of the wilderness rather than deal with their cruel, savage family members.
Leira looks at Songan frustrated "I don't really know what else to ask around. No one seems to have seen those orc labourers. I bet they have not been doing anything here. Perhaps they just worked during night on their white symbols..."
She looks at Delia looking for new ideas "What do you think any new idea? Perhaps we can go back to the Ramblehouse and ask Cham about Urnsul and Melira. The half-orc was said to have taken house in the inn."
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"I am at a loss, as well...though it might be telling that the number of half-orcs looking for day-labor has dropped so much of late. They may know something is coming that they do not need to be involved with. But that is only speculation at this point."
"Regardless, I doubt there is more to be learned here. We should return to the others. After our first violent encounter I think it is better to stay together."
Leira acknowledges Songan sage words "Yes, you are right, we should better rejoin with the rest and check what have they discovered."
Once on movement she adds "We can check later about Urnsul at the Ramblehouse and the Sargent Omar at the Killin Grounds."
While there are a few half-orcs about, most of them are familiar to those native to Trunau, people who have lived here for many months if not years. There do not seem to be any new faces.
Note that there have not been any "new" half-orc laborers around the Barterstones. The normal residents still work and play as normal, including those that get by as day labor around the Barterstones. There are just not any new folks about, at least not those reportedly day laborers from the Ramblehouse. And as the guards indicated, they did not leave Trunau, so they must be hold up somewhere inside the town.
"Deep beneath Trunau?!?" Morgrim repeats, "why 'beneath' specifically?"
If someone was tunneling in or out of the burnt church that would explain the lights and lack of tracks... That's an unsettling thought... Could that be what Rodrick uncovered...
What I most often see though is a heart, torn and bloody, twisted and misshapen upon a spike, one that turns from bloody and beating, to one dried and dessicated, then to one blowing away into dust and ash, leaving a glowing red stone to stare back at me. It fills me with dread every time it appears, it is the harbinger of something unknown, something dangerous.
"I have no head for such things. Visions and portents!," Adir spits out, frustrated. "What is metaphor and what is literal? Meaning only deciphered after events have taken place. No, it is not your fault, Master Katrezra," he offers soothingly.
"This is much to digest. Perhaps we should take it elsewhere," Adir suggests, trying to be subtle about meeting the others, though he waits on answers to Morgrim's and Groin's questions.
"So Rodrik came across something in the Plague House, something that required his silencing. Maybe the lights folk have seen there at night aren't restless spirits after all." Groin says darkly.
"Deep beneath Trunau?!?" Morgrim repeats, "why 'beneath' specifically?"
In my dreams, things always seemed to rise up from below the dust and ashes. It was never what you saw lying there, it was what was underneath that posed the danger. It always felt like it waited there, under Trunau, whatever it was, or rather is.
Maybe the lights folk have seen there at night aren't restless spirits after all.
No, Rodrik and Brinya met there in secret during the early days of their trist, but Rodrik stopped that after he ran into the flood troll snooping about. He tried a few times to track it afterwards, but always failed to keep it for long. He was convinced more goes on there than meets the eye. I fear that belief cost him his life.