Sanctuary's white walls stand out in the dim light of evening. Beyond the church, a white sword painted on the rock face almost seems to echo the one on top of the cathedral. The paint reflects every bit of remaining light, allowing the symbol to be quite visible.
Within the main hall of the church is the high priestess, Tyari Varvatos.
"Milady" , " I am happy to see you! There are strange things going on in Trunau. First poor Rodrik is murdered by a mysterious stranger, and it's made to look like suicide. And now someone has brought wolves into the town and released them. We put them down, but Zepfina was bitten and may now be sick!"
"Can you or one of the priestesses look at her?" .
"We are looking for Katrezra. We think Rodrik's death was connected to something he was investigating, and we think Katrezra can give us a little more information. Do you know what he was looking into?"
"Do you know anything about the sword grafitti that has been appearing around town? Sergeant Frum thinks Rodrik was concerned about it." Quietly "although I guess he's not the most reliable source."
Tyari shakes her head and tsks.
"Zigil, I'm surprised at you. Why have you not healed your friend?"
The priestess puts a hand on the symbol of Iomedae she wears, which glows for a moment as all in the group feel a warm glow and any wounds heal.
"I'm unable to do anything about a disease tonight, but I could try to help tomorrow for a donation to the church of 150 gold. That's including a discount for being a friend of Zigil's."
"Katrezra isn't here. He left early this morning, and hasn't returned. He cannot have gone far, due to his infirmities, but he isn't usually gone this long. Strange that he would disappear on the day of Rodrik's death, the two were great friends."
"I don't know who has been making those marks around town, but they have nothing to do with the church, and were certainly not made by anyone here."
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"Thank you, Tyari. We understand that that Rodrik's body is here. Is there any way we can see it please? Like Master, Mistress, Zigil says, we suspect fout play and are trying to gather evidence."
"Thank you for the healing, Mistress Tyari. You are very kind." Zigil has an embarrassed look on her face.
"Did Katrezra say where he was going? Is there anyone else who might know where he's gone?"
"Brantos dealt with Katrezra more than I did, but he said he didn't know where Katrezra was either."
"I assume you have some sort of authorization to check the body?"
After glancing at the writ the party got from Kurst, Tyari leads the group to the basement where Rodrik's body is stored. A quick examination confirms that his wrists were cut, and that was likely the cause of death.
and
to determine whether there are any signs of a fight before the wrist slash. Also to determine whether there might be any other markings, discolorations, or anything else of interest on or about the body. Without doing anything desecrational.
It's a bit difficult to tell, due to Rodrik's physical activities as a leader of the militia (including several contests from the festival the day before) - he has several bruises in various stages of healing. However, there are no marks on the arms which would indicate that they were held down, or bruising about the head or neck, or anything of that sort.
"Hmph looks dead sure enough. Poor lad."
Suddenly recalling something from earlier: "That's odd. When I asked Brantos where Katrezra was, he said
"That is not my place to say, Zigil. As you know, I follow the priestess in all things."
"It sounds like he knows, but he thinks you do not want him to tell us. Can you ask him to be more forthcoming with us?"
"And do you have his hopeknife? We want to be sure it's really his. Brinya said that Rodrik lost it weeks ago."
"You should probably check with Rodrik's family for the hopeknife."
"I imagine that Brantos was referring to Katrezra's disappearance, but we can check."
Tyari accompanies the group to locate Brantos, and the paladin confirms that he was merely referring to the fact that Katrezra had left without notice.
"We will check with Kurst for the hopeknife, then. Eldan had suggested meeting up with Rodrik's patrol earlier. I still think that's a good idea."
I think we should stay together to play it safe.
"And we can all get to know each other better. Go team!"
"I agree with Giles, we should stay together for the time being. We may be stirring up a hornets nest with what we are doing. I don't have a preference where we stay as long as I can get a warm meal and a quiet bed."
Ziggy will help to arrange rooms at Sanctuary if she can or if not and if we're still with Tyari I'll ask her if she can help us to arrange Rooms.
"Unfortunately, we do not have the space to accommodate you and all of your companions. I'd recommend trying a boardinghouse if you can. Cham Laringfass can be a bit difficult to those who are not smallfolk."
"Boarding house it is!"
The group make their way back to the boarding house where Tarakona and Eldan reside (also Brinya). After negotiating for the extra lodgers, dividing between the rooms, and setting a watch, the group still manages to get enough sleep to be refreshed in the morning.
if she needs it.
Zigil spends time monitoring Zepfina during the night, and doses her with a helping of garlic and mustard to build up her strength.
Remembering a conversation from before
My inclination is to find Rodrik's patrol and talk to them. Ask them what Rodrik was investigating before his death. And find out if he mentioned anything they found odd.
Next, I would say let's see if Kurst will let us see the knife and have it checked out by the smith.
Finally, regardless, let's see the smith anyway.
The group makes their way over to the Longhouse and leaves word for Kurst and Rodrik's patrol, then goes to break their fast while waiting.
When they return, they're ushered in to see Kurst.
"How can I help you? Has the investigation turned up anything?"
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"This is all just so mysterious! Rodrik lost the hopeknife that Brinya gave him. She still has his because they exchanged them. It's so romantic! But if Rodrik didn't have his hopeknife, maybe he was killed with a fake." Eyes opening a little wider. "Or someone stole it from him to kill him with it later, and make it look like suicide. I bet that's it! Brinya said he lost it while he was on his investigation. I bet he found something out, and he was killed to keep it secret!"
"Oh Kurst, do you still have the knife? Can we see it? It would help so much."
"Oh, and there's more! There was a mysterious stranger at the Ramblehouse when Rodrik was killed. Eldan found out and made Cham tell us. This guest paid in gold and wouldn't give his name! Doesn't that seem strange? He was a brown-haired human, but Cham couldn't describe him any better than that."
"Oh, oh, and we got attacked by wolves! Somebody brought them into town in cages and set them on us! Maybe we're starting to get close!"
"Do you know anything about the sword graffiti around town? Sergeant Frum thinks that Rodrik's spirit can't rest until they're cleaned up. Why would he say that? That's weird!"
Eldan smiles at Zigil's abundant enthusiasm and speaks further, "We mean no disrespect in asking for the knife but Brinya stated that there was a specific phrase etched into the one she had made for Rodrik, of which we have the receipt." Eldan hands it over before continuing, "We also found this note in the room occupied by the human Zigil mentioned. You will see the name 'Melira' at the top but it is not signed. While I am not quiet ready to state there is foul play, it is starting to look like it."
Pausing for breath and to give Kurst a moment to absorb what he has heard, Eldan asks"Do you know anything at all about what your brother was investgating? Or even where we might find his patrol? We need to speak with them and will be speaking to Mistress Morninghawk as well."
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Rodrik jumps at Eldan's appearance for a moment, then settles.
"Sorry. For a moment I thought I saw an orc in the barracks."
He then retrieves a knife and hands it over.
"If you think it will help. Of course, I'll need it back in time for the funeral."
The hopeknife looks unfinished. There is clearly a place where an inscription would go, but the space is blank.
"As far as his patrol, Omast Frum is probably your best lead. The sergeant was usually part of Rodrik's patrol. Though I don't know why he would believe that the graffiti would be connected."
"Also, I've questioned other people who have been on patrol with him, and they've reported nothing unusual from recent sorties. They were all shocked at the thought that Rodrik would take his own life."
"Still, I'll see if I can get a few of them here this afternoon for you."
"It certainly sounds like you have many leads to follow up on."
We will arrange a time with Kurst to meet the patrol, and we'll go visit Sara Morninghawk. Ask about the knives she inscribed for Rodrik and Brinya and show her the knife to see if she recognizes it. Maybe she knows who made it or if she did, maybe she will know who bought it.
"Glad you lot are sorting it out. Makes my head hurt just putting it together."
"Sounds like a good plan as they go."
"Very well then, I will make the arrangements. Good luck."
We will stop by Brinya's on the way to the smithy.
The group returns to Brinya's room at the boarding house. The half-orc has obviously still been crying, but seems more calm today.
"Miss Brinya, we've brought the knife that Rodrik was found with. Do you recognize it?"
We show her the knife.
"That is not Rodrik's hopeknife."
She indicates where the inscription should be.
"As well, the knife I gave him was of better workmanship than this. This one doesn't look like Sara Morninghawk's work."
"This is definitely not the knife I grew up with."
After a brief pause, she asks, "Have you looked at Rodrik's journal? He was always writing his thoughts and poetry in it, but it may also have information about anything he was investigating in it."
When she hears the party has not seen a journal, she adds, "It may be in his room. Although I think he often took it with him to Sanctuary. He once told me he had a 'thoughtful muse' there. Originally, I thought he just meant Iomedae, but recently I thought it more likely he had a confidante there."
"Thank you Brinya." Turning to the party, "Master-iss Zigil, perhaps you should head to Sanctuary to investigate this confidant and journal. I think you may have better results on your own in that. I will take the knife and the reciept and head to Mistress Morninghawk's. We can meet up afterwards."
"Aye, I'll go with Zigil to Sanctuary to snoop around for Rodrik's journal. I reckon it'll help us make sense of this ghastly business."
"Right I'll stick with the wizard and make sure he don't get hisself into no trouble."
Eldan and Giles make their way to the smithy, with Zepfina and Tarakona in tow.
Morninghawk's Fine Steel, commonly known in town as "Clamor", is a squat, cramped building in lower Trunau. The clang of metal on metal makes it obvious why it has it's nickname, and the heat of the forge makes the building stifling.
Sara Morninghawk, the half-orc/half-Shoanti smith, is easy to pick out among her apprentices in the shop.
We'll look for Tyari or Katrezra at Sanctuary. .
As usual, Tyari is available. Katrezra is nowhere to be seen.
"Zigil, how can I help you today? Any luck with your investigation?"
Eldan walks over to Sara Morninghawk, removing his hat and fanning himself in the heat. Speaking up over the ring of hammer on metal, "Excuse me Mistress Morninghawk, I'm sorry to interrupt your work, but I am hoping to ask you some questions about your work and what appears to be some inferior work. Do you have some time for me?" Eldan stands there patiently, looking at Sara, still fanning himself with his hat.
The smith cocks an eyebrow in Eldan's direction.
"Whitecrow, isn't it? My time is very limited. Please be direct."
"Tyari, things are just getting stranger. Brinya says that the dagger that killed Rodrik isn't his. It doesn't even look like it was made by Sara Morninghawk!"
"And Rodrik kept a journal! I'll bet it's full of clues! But we searched his room and it wasn't there! Brinya says it might be here. She said that Rodrik had a secret confidante here! Can you imagine? Do you have any idea who that might be? Where did Rodrik spend most of his time here?"
"Yes, of course, I will endeavour to be as succinct as possible. My companion," gesturing to Giles, "Master Aegidius de Hammo, and others, have been tasked by Captain Kurst to investigate the death of his brother, Captain Rodrik. We have been gathering facts that do not seem to prove suicide, but murder. We have learned from the Captain's love, Mistress Brinya, that he had lost his Hopeknife which she had you make for him and that there was an inscription on it."
Eldan open a pouch at his belt and produces the Hopeknife recovered from Sanctuary, "This is the knife recovered with his body. Can you tell us anything about it? Can you verify making a Hopeknife for Mistress Brinya and was there anything unique about this knife?"
Tyari thinks for a minute.
"Rodrik was pleasant enough with me, but I certainly wouldn't consider myself his confidante. And he didn't have much to do with Brantos. I assume that you were not his confidante. So that only leaves Katrezra."
"Unfortunately, he is still missing."
"I haven't seen any sign of a journal."
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Morninghawk replies, "I'd have to check my records. The knife definitely was made here, but it looks like I started it and gave it to an apprentice to finish. And they failed at that."
"I don't suppose you have a receipt..."