Ilbryn walks with the group, taking in his surroundings while he moves.
Karola breaks off, investigating whichever clue she notices...
Custos remains quiet, the thought of the man's sexual orientation not even registering in the warforged's mind. Such a detail was not intrinsic to one's martial and tactical capability, though it did provide insight to possible tactical complications if paired with less reasonable sorts.
As the priest began to head out, Custos would follow behind with his heavy steps. Each step he took was solid and sure as they made their way to depart from the academy.
"Priest, did you see anything else unusual about them? Perhaps there was some identifying traits, such as a limp or unusual hand color. Was any of their weapons unique or unusual? Were they of a strange race, perhaps?" The metal man would ask as they made their way out.
The priest answers as he leads you to the tombs of the dead. "One of them limped, that's for sure. An old war wound probably from the Last War. Another had a tattoo on his hand, in fact all of them had the same tattoo except their warforged. He had the same tattoo painted on the back of his right hand. The tattoo was one of a snake coiling around a skull."
Karola breaks off, investigating whichever clue she notices...
Fortunately, her perception is good, for she finds a piece of red cloth dropped by one of their quarry. This had a representation of the same tattoo on it. A calling card perhaps.
"Which leg was the one that caused him to limp?"
"The right leg," he explained. It was only a few minutes away on foot, and the cloaked priest opened the door to his reliquary and ossuary. "We used to raise the dead in these catacombs, and some are still waiting to be activated. The thefts took place in the ossuary, however."
The ossuary is a macabre building made out of the bones and skulls of the departed. Around the ossuary were several enclaves that housed bones. Some of them are empty, empty of their bones.
"It looks a little bit queesy, doesn't it?" said the priest. "Only in this ossuary are the dead are allowed to rest. The catacombs below are used for different purposes."
Garra tries to keep an eye out for anything important, but she can't deny the uneasiness she feels as she enters the macabre chambers. She sticks close to Custos, one hand always touching the warforged's arm or back.
Ilbryn seems at no particular unease compared to the others, and admires the ossuary walls as an architect would admire a finely-built structure.
"A bit of a waste of bones, and a little ostentatious, I think. Like making a building out of gold."
Custos would listen in carefully as the priest explained himself, each detail being noted upon. The tattoo upon the right hand, a serpent circling a skull, a calling card perhaps? Why would one leave such a possible risk though when divination magic could track them with it?
Taking the piece of fabric, Custos runs it between his fabric.
"That does not make sense with the Band of Shadow's reason for being. They steal the dead to prevent their reanimation for war. To steal the dead that are purposefully left to rest? That does not make sense..."
The Warforged would turn and smile at the young woman who stayed close, Custos seemingly unbothered by the dead.
"Do not be rude, my friend. All sentient species tend to honor their dead in one manner or another." He said before thinking quietly to himself. "How would I honor another Warforged?"
To distract himself, Custos begins to quickly look over the scene for any other clues.
Custos would listen in carefully as the priest explained himself, each detail being noted upon. The tattoo upon the right hand, a serpent circling a skull, a calling card perhaps? Why would one leave such a possible risk though when divination magic could track them with it?
Taking the piece of fabric, Custos runs it between his fabric.
[dice=Kn: Local]1d20 + 6
The fabric is shimmerweave, so it can't be homespun.
To distract himself, Custos begins to quickly look over the scene for any other clues.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 6 + 4
You find a dagger that's out of place, not a ceremonial one, but one that is more like a dirk. Used for stabbing. You also find a piece of rotting flesh, a ring, and a comb.
Garra looks up at Custos and replies, "I know, but I still don't find this any less creepy."
"This is bizarre," Karola says, casting 'Detect Magic' over each of the items in turn... "Any ideas?"
Detect Magic works like a charm on the ring. The ring, made of simple gold, glows blue with hints of abjuration magic. The other items are all normal.
"Hmm, I can call upon the spirits to provide answers, if they know any. It is costly in terms of my own energies so I hesitate to speak with them when our own eyes may suffice. If you think we need to ask them, I will ask them, however."
Meanwhile, Ilbryn has other things on his mind.
Ilbryn tries to think of the many pieces before him and if they may fit into any prophecy he knows of. The Band of Shadows, a bone-lined crypt, dead bodies missing, symbology of the theives, etc.
"Can't on of you magicky types cast a spell and tell who was the last person to use that or something," Garra asks.
"Indeed, that is one of the things I could ask the spirits."
Other than see Ilbryn recollect something, I need some perception checks.
Custos waits patiently, considering his options for what to do next. He listens to the others though, taking whatever little bits of information they offered to try and put things together.
Kut looks around to see if anyone is obviously watch the ossuary.
he also checks the floor for unusual footprints
[dice=Perception]1d20+5
[dice=Knowledge(Local)]1d20+5
Kut looks around to see if anyone is obviously watch the ossuary. perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
he also checks the floor for unusual footprints survival w/track+FE Human+LLV: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
No one is watching the Ossuary at this time, at least from what you can see. There is an ogre's footprint, though.
"We should check the shops that sell shimmerweave next."
Custos nods, a grin coming across his face at Garra's suggestion.
"Indeed, cloth such as this only comes from House Cannith. We'll use that to track an identity and seize them when they are at a disadvantage."
He looks towards the others, nodding towards them.
"Have any of you found anything else of worth? We have a lead on the cloth but more information would be useful. The side with the most knowledge is, statistically, the victor."
"An ogre footprint is uncommon in this parts isn't it? Because there is one here."
"That does seem odd."
"An ogre's footprint?" says the priest. "That is odd. Could belong to the ogre mage I espied."
The priest looks at the footprint for a good long time. "How odd, why would he come in here?"
"Yay, this just keeps getting better and better," Garra mutters from her place by Custos.
"Could you tell us more about this Ogre Mage?"
i roll twice and take better result
**For the GM: spoiler omitted **
The priest replies, "No, I cannot. I didn't know there was an ogre mage in my chapel until now."
"But you said you espied one? doesn't that mean that you met or saw one?"
"Yes, I saw one. Here in Khorvaire, before we made it go back to Sarlona."
"Oh, so it was some time ago? Or recently?"
"Very recently," he says. "A week ago."
"Well, I guess we start looking for ogres and see if any of them can cast magic," Garra says, not sounding too enthused by the idea.
"That sounds like a bundle of fun." Kut doesn't sound like he is being serious as he speaks.
"Do you need anymore help from me?" he asks.
Garra looks to Custos to see what he says.
"As long as you've provided all the help you can in good faith, then I suppose not."
Custos has remained quiet during this time, watching the priest for a moment with unflinching, green eyes. He waited until they were alone and he could look towards the others that had came with him.
"I do not trust the priest. He seems very reticent." The metal man mumbles. He lifts the cloth upwards, nodding towards it. "There are only a few places within Rekkenmark where this quality of cloth can be made. We can gather more information there and track them there. An ogre mage...is a problem but at least is an apparent one. We shall have to track their position down and see whether they are involved with the Band of Shadows or not."
He looks between his comrades, rolling his shoulders for a moment.
"So...where should we go first?"
"The cloth seems like an easier lead to follow. "
"Definitely the cloth," Garra agrees.
After a couple of hours, the group had left the Charnel chapel and found themselves in the industrial district of Rekkenmark. Here, the fabricators' guild dominated. There are shops on every side, showing off their affiliation with House Cannith. The place was a bit grimy, dirty, and dusty. Here, new weapons were made mostly by the casting method; but also glimmerweave, shimmerweave, and other weaves were manufactured here. There was three shimmerweave mills the party could check, and they were all in this district.
Garra, being unusually forthcoming, directs the party to the closest shimmerweave mill to the Charnel House.
"Well, let's work out the most efficient path and follow it."
Custos travels behind Garra as she leads the way, being the large and intimidating presence for the group of cadets if needed. His eyes wander over the various wares that are available and placed outside, looking over them with a curious gaze.
"I wonder, if the creation of my kind was not banned, if we would be sold the same way. Like weapons and tools." The question isn't a derisive or sad comment, more like a merely innocent and rhetorical question. He looks over at the half-elf, nodding slightly. "Yes, let us move quickly and over the most efficient manner." He reaches into his clothing, taking out the evidence that they had on hand.
Ilbryn nods.
There are three Shimmerweave mills, and you are all ten feet away from one of them. (Yes, I'm repeating but I'm backtracking). The first Shimmerweave mill is called Jaxxon's Mill. Going in there, it feels like a sweat shop. But the threads that become shimmerweave (which is made from materials fabricated by the Fabricators' Guild). You see some warforged helping with the making of shimmerweave.
Kut stands by the door, keeping an eye out for trouble while his comrades ask the questions.