Yes, let's go see Rod's body. Could he have been compelled to kill himself with magic? Is there a way to tell that from his body?
There is, but only if you get there right after.
The walk over to Sanctuary is quiet. While people are reeling from the death of Rodrick, this is Trunau, and as far as they know it's a suicide.
When you arrive, a somber matron Tyari greets you. "Alas, I suspcted someone would visit. Are you looking into Rodrick's death?"
"We be, High Priestess. Kurst asked us ta look into tha matter while he deals with... well, family stuff," Vael's tone remains somber and serious. "Ken ye direct us ta Rodrik's remains? We'll be respectful and quick, I promise."
She nods with a second bow to Doxon, "Yes, absolutely." She brings you down to the morgue. Still recent, he's garbed in his night clothes. The cause of death seems obvious, both his wrists are slashed. The young cleric of Iomedae leaves you to it.
What now intrepid investigators?
Ushyle examines the body, but cannot help being reminded who lies on the bier before them, and turns away quickly.
Ushyle concludes that the man died because of the slashes on his list.
Raen again tries to see beyond the physical, to feel out any lingering magic. She's getting better at it.
"Do you have his hopeknife? The one that was found in his hand?" Raen has always been a little distrustful of the Iomedeans, and continues scanning the body rather than meet Tyari's eye.
Once Tyari is out of sight, Raen says quietly, "We should check his pockets. He may even have some hidden in the lining of his tunic."
Vael spends a few careful moments studying the body.
Tulia peeks from Vael's shoulder.
But, of course, human anatomy is beyond her.
Once Tyari is out of sight, Raen says quietly, "We should check his pockets. He may even have some hidden in the lining of his tunic."
Ushyle nods and searches the body.
She hands you the knife, still wrapped in a cloth.
There was no magic in Rodrick's room either. Cause of death is definitely exsanguination at the wrists.
...But that's when you notice something odd.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Tyari confirms that this is the hopeknife. The hopeknife itself is of standard make. The blood is still dried on it. It looks exactly like the hopeknife presented to Ruby just a few hours ago.
Raen finds nothing in the pockets, nor any magic, but Ushyle notices a faint smell of something oily near the body's face.
Craft (Alchemy) or Wisdom check to identify the smell.
"Oily, did you say?" Raen frowns. She leans in to inspect.
"Learnin' why will be tha hardest part," Vael takes in the new revelation. "Good work, Raen and Whistle Pig."
With a final look over the body he adds, "We shou' speak with Sara Morninghawk. She may be able ta describe tha person who ordered tha hopeknife. Unless thar's more ta be found here?"
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Raen did check his pockets and came up empty. So far you're the only one in the room (Tyari left you be.)
Spending time in Sanctuary chatting, examining the body, et cetera takes some time
It's early afternoon (though it is the month of Neth, so there's little daylight left. By now you have a lot of leads. Jut tell me where.
Ushule frowns as well. We should refrain from sharing our findings just yet, he says, since we suspect what but do not yet know who, and perhaps more importantly why.
"Did we place the time of death? A poison such as this would not keep one asleep forever." Raen chews her lip in thought. "Rodrik did have a lot to drink last night."
She appears lost in thought for a moment. "We should check on Ruby, and perhaps Halgra too. I don't like that he's carrying her hopeknife, and his own is nowhere to be found."
"I think Brinya should be our next visit. Kurst asked us to keep her safe."
Time of death is sometime later last night.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Time of death is sometime later last night.
"I think Brinya should be our next visit. Kurst asked us to keep her safe."
Ushyle nods. That seems prudent.
"Right, good thinkin'. Let's go and see Brinya.
You opt to head towards the hostel in order to talk to Brinya. The quieter-than-normal town is finishing up for the day when a scream shatters the mourning quiet.
You hustle around the corner just in time to see a trio of rabid wolves! Somehow in the middle of town?!
The others scatter leaving you to deal with threat.
Round 1:
Raen: Go
Vael: Go
Wolves: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Hamilton:
Ushyle: TBD
Seeing the threat of the wolves, Vael opts to bolster the strength of his allies. He stands in place and begins a low, guttural drone. His eyes turn a solid black, and after a few seconds an invisible burst of energy flows from him. It washes over his allies, raising their morale.
He then pulls out a warhammer. "I dinnae expect ta use this."
Raen steps backward in surprise. An image of Agrit flashes through her mind, the dwarf's determined expression showing her the way to evoke pure force from the world. She has only cast this spell a few times before -- but the memory sticks.
A rocket of white energy bursts toward the left-most wolf.
Vael boosts the party while Raen draws blood with an arcane missile!
The wolves bound forward, mouthes frothing:
The wounded wone bites at Vael's hip:
The middle one does the same to Doxon:
And the last goes for Whistle Pig's arm:
The wolves are powerful, but they're still young and can't get hold of their targets.
Round 1:
Raen: Bless
Vael: MM
Wolves: ATK
Whistle Pig: Go
Doxon: Go
Hamilton: Go
Ushyle: Go
Blue: 5
IT's VERY rare for wolves to somehow wander into town. You've never heard of it happening. There also seems to be something wrong with these pups. Normally thy'd run away after such an injury.
Whistle Pig drives his blade into the wolf's flank! Th wound nearly drops the wolf and indeed it just wobbles, staggered.
Round 1:
Raen: Bless
Vael: MM
Wolves: ATK
Whistle Pig: Crit!
Doxon: Go
Hamilton: Go
Ushyle: Go
Blue: 5
Red: 9 (Staggered)
Round 1:
Raen: Bless
Vael: MM
Wolves: ATK
Whistle Pig: Crit!
Doxon: Go
Hamilton: Go
Ushyle: Go
Blue: 5
Red: 9 (Staggered)
Ushyle moves up to engage Black, but his conscience nags at him a bit. Wolves in town makes little sense, he thinks to himself, and quickly concludes that this must be a coordinated distraction. Still, they are aggressive, and Trunau must be protected. He opts to deal nonlethal damage.
Thinking too much, he says to himself in frustration. Focus on the job at hand.
Not expecting combat, and overthinking the situation, Ushyle misses by a mile.
Round 1:
Raen: MM
Vael: Bless
Wolves: ATK
Whistle Pig: Crit!
Doxon: Go
Hamilton: Go
Ushyle: Miss
Blue: 5
Red: 9 (Staggered)
As the battle is engaged, all meekness falls away from Doxon's demeanor. Doxon grins as he braces for the wolf's attack, batting aside its shaggy maw when it lunges. He then hustles to the side and pulls out both of his picks and strikes at the wolf.
Doxon's pick cuts across the third wolf's haunch. Spittle flies as the wolf howls in pain.
Round 1:
Raen: MM
Vael: Bless
Wolves: ATK
Whistle Pig: Crit!
Doxon: hit
Hamilton: Go
Ushyle: Miss
Blue: 5
Black: 4
Red: 9 (Staggered)
Actually Rabid or was that color text?
Ham crosses in and tries to finish off the staggered wolf...
Longsword:
Ugh.
The wolves are frothing at the mouth, but confirming rabes is a Heal or Knowledge (Nature) check.
Hamilton too struggles with the unexpected combat and misses with his blade.
Round 1:
Raen: Go
Vael: Go
Wolves: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Blue: 5
Black: 4
Red: 9 (Staggered)
I got one, can I check off turn?
Honest to Iomadae Rabies? Nature:
You know that this isn't rabies, but there's SOMETHING wrong with these wolves. It's not a natural state for them. If given time to examine them peacefully you might be able to figure out what it is...
Round 1:
Raen: Go
Vael: Go
Wolves: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Blue: 5
Black: 4
Red: 9 (Staggered)
Raen has always played a rear support role in the field, and she's pleased this has occurred organically with this team as well. She sends a shimmering light at a wolf's eyes before it can bite at Vael.
Raen knows there's something wrong with these wolves, but can't put her finger on it in the heat of battle. she'd need to examine (via the heal skill.)
Raen's ray of light hits the wolf and it shakes off most of it (Dazzled).
Round 1:
Raen: Ray
Vael: Go
Wolves: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Blue: 5 (Dazzled)
Black: 4
Red: 9 (Staggered)
Vael will take a swing at the wolf that's threatening him. "Git away!"
Vael's warhammer hits home. This wold joins it's other half in being knocked nearly unconscious...
It tries to bite Vael back: the snapping jaws are all the wolf can take and it falls to the dirt, bleeding out.
The least injured of the wolves goes for Doxon: and can't get through the dwarf's defenses.
And the last goes for Whistle Pig: , but the stout halfling pulls himself away. This wolf too succumbs to his wounds.
Shockingly, the last wolf stays to fight.
Round 1:
Raen: Ray
Vael: Hit
Wolves: ATK
Whistle Pig: Go
Doxon: Go
Hamilton: Go
Ushyle: Go
Blue: -1
Black: 4
Red: -1
Doxon swings both pick, hoping to end the fight.