Doxon's display of martial prowess is impressive. Both picks connect to swiftly, and with extreme finality, bring the wolves down.
Out of combat.
The first thing to stand out is how quickly the wolves bled out. The animals aren’t rabid as they initially seemed, but have in fact been poisoned! What poison they've been affected with is beyond the halfling's knowledge.
The people around you alternate between hurrying by and giving you literal pats on the backs. By now the sun is beginning to set. You've got time enough to seek out Brinya still tonight.
Ham gathers up the wolves and will bring them to be skinned.
Let's get these somewhere to store, then go see Brinya.
Hamilton brings the wolf bodies to the tanner, but the tanner won't accept them. "There's something wrong with their blood. Everyhting is leaking everywhere. It's ruined the hides. Erastil it's like their blood is made of water!" With the poison-use growing more disconcerting, the party heads towards the common house.
-----------------------------
Brinya is easy to find. Though most of the rooms here are common areas, Brinya is left alone by most. As you approach you can see that you've caught her in an unenviable state, her face wracked with grief and stained by hours of tears. She looks up through eyes heavy with tears, "Yes?"
Speaking quietly, Vael says, "I ken this nae be tha best time for ye, but I think what we're here for be important ta ye."
"Kurst has asked us ta look into what happened with Rodrik. We were hopin' ye'd be able ta answer a few questions for us. Tha first, and most important, question be: how be ye?"
Brinya pulls it together for a moment at least, "You're here because you know we're a couple I assume. We've been seeing each other for months, and Rodrik finally proposed to me using his mother’s ring. Rodrik was careful to keep the relationship hidden from his father, who wouldn’t approve of our love. I'll never be the same. Never. How can I help you?"
"We're tryin' ta git our heads wrapped around tha details, and I be sure I dinna ken Rodrik as well as ye do. How was he tha last few days? Anythin' interestin' that he'd been up ta? Did he have any problems with people? And does tha name Melira mean anythin' ta ye?"
"Who poisons a wolf?" Raen shakes her head. "And who let them in? Perhaps we can follow their trail..."
***
Raen gives Brinya some space to breathe and perhaps answer Vael's questions. Then she chimes in with her own. "Do you know how Rodrik's father found out?" she asks, as kindly as she can.
"I grudgingly respected my beloved’s wishes for privacy, though his cowardice inspired no shortage of annoyance as well, and was a source of contention between us. It didn’t help that lately he'd became preoccupied with some sort of investigation, what he called “his greatest work” —the details of which he refused to share with me. To make matters even worse, Rodrik’s father, Jagrin, did finally find out about the our relationship, but I don't know how. He repudiated his son for betrothing himself to a “filthy half-orc.” MY love was good with people. You knew him, he didn't give anyone a hard time if he didn't have to. And no, I've never heard of this name.
"Hmm..." Raen frowns and looks to others. "Can you make out the tracks?"
***
"He was a great man, indeed," Raen agrees. "'His greatest work?' Can you tell us anything about his investigation? Anything at all? Who he spoke with, where he went?"
"He told me next to nothing about it. He was oddly secretive about it. I know that he made a few trips to Sanctuary during the course of his "work" and even a few trips outside the walls. Sorry, I know it's not much."
You manage to follow the tracks to a woodshed nearby. Inside it looks liek the wolves were laying down (you'd assume they were sleeping, but it's been a weird ride so far.) Unfortunately there are no tracks leading IN to the shed...
His greatest work...maybe another of his poems? Ushyle offers quietly. He has shown no reaction to the ugly words Jagrin used about Brinya, almost as though he's used to hearing them.
It's a communal shed unfortunately. There's nothing else to see apparently, much the same as how the killer mysteriously entered and exited the room where Rodrick died.
@Ushyle: "Maybe. I don't know. I can't believe he's gone. GONE! My beloved...."
Did he have an office or someplace he would have kept notes?
Brinya begins to wax at length about his beautiful poems (which initially attracted her to him), and about how Rodrik was always writing something. "He kept a journal as well, and the entries he wrote up to his final night might provide insight into his murder. Unfortunately, I have no idea where the journal might be. Obviously, there’s his room in the Ramblehouse, but Rodrik also frequently went to Trunau’s Sanctuary with his writing. Rodrik said he had a “thoughtful muse” there, but he never elaborated. I have always just assumed my love was finding solace in devotion to Iomedae, but now I wonder if there really was someone at the church— someone who might know more about what happened to Rodrik, or worse, betrayed him..."
|
WP thanks the half-orc and shoos the rest of the group out of the room (unless they have other questions to ask)
"It's getting late and I have missed 2nd lunch and 1st dinner. Let us eat and ponder what we know. Tomorrow may shed new light on this puzzle." Pig thinks for a moment. "Sanctuary should be our first stop tomorrow."
We took the hope knife.
No. This stranger's note says he's looking for something and that there was a militia captain poking his nose in. Brinya is a distraction. Rod was killed because he got too close to whatever it is that is being searched for. We need to pursue. Sanctuary right away. We get his journal and retrace his steps. That will lead us to something missing or simply amiss.
Vael places a hand on Brinya's shoulder. "We'll git ta tha bottom of this." He sighs and adds, "His spirit has been disconnected from its body. I ken tell ye that it's easy ta find reassurance when someone be right beside us. It's what connects us as creatures of light and goodness. But a spirit be real too, and nae less present in it's own way. And that means that Rodrik be still with ye. Cherish that, and dinna forget it."
He gives her shoulder a squeeze, then falls silent. To the group he says, "I think we've done all we ken for today. We shou' rest and continue tomorrow."
Brinya gives a tearful thanks and farewell. She practically begs you to return if you have more questions.
The Ramblehouse is uncomfortably quiet. Cham has dinner ready for you, on the house. "I've set up extra rooms for the others. They'r eon the house too. I just thought you guys might want to stay together to talk everything over. Don't feel obligated."
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Ushyle has been quiet since returning from the visit to Brinya.
He leans forward to Ham as the meal is served and Cham scuttles away. I believe you are correct that Brinya is an unfortunate thread in this, he says as he absently takes a biscuit.
The half-orc has dark circles under his eyes and is clearly quite tired himself, but his tone is resolute. I, too, feel that a rest is yet incautious. After our meal, we should pay another visit to the Sanctuary. We have missed some key element there.
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"Ye're right, of course. It'll be off hours, but for this Tyari will open tha doors," Vael downs a mug of ale in one quick pull, and makes ready to leave. "Come on, Whistle Pig. Ye've got food and drink in ye now, but our duty nae be yet done. And dinna worry about light. Tulia will shine tha way, like a-"
"Please Vael, don't make that 'canary in a coal mine' analogy," Tulia interrupts. "You're not old enough for your father's jokes. And besides, the canary dies. I'll have none of that."
"Was there a particular time of day that Rodrik went to Sanctuary?" Once Brinya has answered, Raen urges her to contact the group (and only the group) if she notices something suspicious or fears for her safety. "We will protect you."
***
After picking at her dinner, Raen pens a quick letter to Agrit to explain her continuing absence from the shop. "Cham, could you get this to Councillor Staginsdar? Thanks. And thanks for the hospitality!"
Turning to the others, she nods her agreement. "Sanctuary should not wait. The night is young. Let us be fresh for tomorrow, though."
"Was there a particular time of day that Rodrik went to Sanctuary?" Once Brinya has answered, Raen urges her to contact the group (and only the group) if she notices something suspicious or fears for her safety. "We will protect you."
***
After picking at her dinner, Raen pens a quick letter to Agrit to explain her continuing absence from the shop. "Change, could you get this to Councillor Staginsdar? Thanks. And thanks for the hospitality!"
Turning to the others, she nods her agreement. "Sanctuary should not wait. The night is young. Let us be fresh for tomorrow, though."[/b]
Just a look around. The book could be with a person, but likely Rod has it stashed somewhere. I doubt he'd want to limit his own access to his work.
A year after the loss of Trunau’s old church, missionaries from the church of Iomedae arrived and began constructing a new house of worship to honor their goddess and minister to the people of Trunau—this time wisely building it inside the town’s walls. The new sanctuary houses half a dozen clerics and paladins who, in addition to helping with the town’s defense, staff a large prayer hall and a hall of respite where the wounded can be tended after battle. Though some citizen look askance at the Iomedaeans—all of whom still officially claim allegiance to Lastwall, and see their presence here as helping maintaining diplomatic ties with the outpost until the border can be expanded once more—no one is willing to actually turn away such hardworking and valuable residents, especially as they refuse to serve in any governmental capacity.
The current matron of the sanctuary is a young cleric named Tyari Varvatos, the younger sister of the Second Sword Knight of the Sancta Iomedae in Vigil. Speculation abounds as to why she toils here in Trunau instead of alongside her prominent sister, with most presuming she’s out to create her own name rather than live in her sister’s shadow. Her staunchest ally is an errant paladin named Brantos Calderon Iomedae 4), formerly stationed at Castle Firrine, who forsook his post to pledge his blade (and, rumormongers claim, his heart) to the resolute young cleric who toils on this harsh frontier.
The sanctuary’s longest-standing resident (and patient) is a gnarled old half-orc named Katrezra who raised among the Empty Hand tribe, he suffers from a terrible affliction of the lungs and weeping sores on his face and arms, gained when his jealous chieftain sent him to the Brimstone Haruspex to experience painful visions of the future. Fed up with the barbarity of the orcs, he managed to convince Halgra to grant him sanctuary, and has since found rebirth in the light of Iomedae, and proven his loyalty time and again on the town’s walls. He still occasionally has visions, and though many write them off as hallucinations or attention grabbing.
Ham leads the way to the prayer hall first. What's the room like?
With eyes quickly tiring, the party makes the short trip over to Sanctuary. This time you happen to notice something. Besides the sizeable white sword representing Iomedae’s own holy sword that juts from the roof of the temple, a thick white cross or sword has been painted on the rock face behind the Sanctuary.
The room is almost empty at this point. It's a large hall, technically nondenominational, but Iomedae's trappings are the most visible. It's lone inhabitant, a nameless boy sees the wolf slayers and runs to fetch someone.
A moment later Tyari Varvatos emerges. "Back again? I hear you had a strange run in today. My thanks for your bravery. What can I do for you at this hour?"
Flashback
As the party is about to leave, a thought pops into Ushyle's head and he turns to face Brinya again. Back in Rodrik's room, we found a receipt of purchase. He had requested a new hopeknife. Do you know anything about it?
Ham averts his eyes and he stammers a bit upon seeing Tyari. He's clearly blushing.
Um... Ha... Lady. With your permission... Yeah...
Ham nods and he makes his way to the white painted cross to investigate. As he's walking away, he says--audibly, to himself--*so stupid*
Flashback
Brinya asks to see the knife found with the body. She's clearly aware that there's something wrong. Her face suddenly grows sober. “That’s not Rodrik’s hopeknife,” she says levelly after examining the knife, “because his hopeknife was mine. At least, it used to be. When we got engaged, we traded hopeknives to symbolize our union, and had Sara Morninghawk engrave them with our love notes.” Pulling at her heavy silver necklace, Brinya reveals her own hopeknife dangling from the chain. “See? This was Rodrik’s hopeknife. It says, ‘For Brinya, my love.’ I don’t know where that hopeknife came from, but it’s not Rodrik’s. It’s not the knife I grew up with.”
Vael chuckles, not at all because of Hamilton's behaviour. Definitely not because of that.
"Sorry ta disturb ye at this hour, High Priestess. We're still workin' on helpin' Kurst out, and wanted ta ask a couple more questions. Tha first question be around Rodrik. He'd been makin' regular visits ta Sanctuary. Do ye ken what for?"
After she answers that question, he'll continue by asking, "Did Rodrik have a journal on his person? It may have been somethin' he wrote his poems in. Have ye seen it?"
If she notices the awkward looks, she doesn't let on. "I don't know anything about Rodrik keeping a journal, but I did notice the Patrol Captain meeting with Katrezra frequently in recent weeks. I occasionally overheard the two muttering about ghosts, half-orcs, hopeknives, and white swords, but I wasn’t able to parse any of the information into more meaningful details." She thinkgs a bit more before continuing, "Katrezra claims to have visions, and though I can’t vouch for their prophetic accuracy, I do believe they are more than just hallucinations."
"Katrezra disappeared a few nights ago without telling anyone. The half-orc left his bed neatly made, so I doesn’t suspect any foul play, though I must admit it was odd of Katrezra to leave at all. However, I don't think the half-orc seer can’t have gone far, since his crippling condition causes him considerable physical pain and drastically limits his mobility. In addition, I think he would be unlikely to leave Trunau (to return to his orc tribe, for example), since he sought sanctuary in the church long ago, and has become a devout follower of the Inheritor..."
"Well, that'll explain why Katrezra wasn't around when I came callin' recently. If Katrezra comes back, cou' ye let us ken right away?"
Since she mentioned white swords, Vael asks, "I suppose ye saw tha white painted cross on tha rock face behind Sanctuary. When'd that git thar? Our strappin' yeng ranger, Hamilton, has wandered off ta inspect it. Do ye ken Hamilton? Great lad, he be."
Ushyle blinks for what may be the first time all day. Katrezra is gone...? The half-orc's mind whirls a moment as he tries to grasp this new development; it takes a moment before he comes back to himself. That...is unusual indeed.
"I will see that you are given word as soon as I get word of any kind on Katreza. I do know about the graffiti. I noticed it late last week, but I don't know if that's when it was done. I know that Patrol
Sergeant Omast has been trying to clean them up. Poor sod has been working it for a few days, but I don't know that he has had luck cleaning it up. I don't know if you know this, but he was the first patrol to get to Rodrick. I don't know him well, but he was like an uncle to those boys."
The graffiti looks like it mimics the Sword of Iomedae. It would take a Craft (Alchemy) to get a feel for the dye this graffito is made from.
Raen's brow furrows as Hamilton stalks off muttering to himself. She's attractive, yes, but honestly. She turns her attention back to the conversation Vael is having with the priestess.
"Katrezra resided here, did he not? May we take a look at his room?" she asks politely.
You know that he's been in the guard forever, but he's got a reputation for being burned out. That's all.
"You're more than welcomed to look, though I suspect you won't find much."
Tyari leads you to a monk's cell. There's a cot, a washbin and a single shelf. "There's isn't much to see. He lives an aesthetic's life."
The room isn't even big enough for the whole party to enter, and after just a couple of minutes, determine that there are no clues here...
The evening is getting very long...
-Posted with Wayfinder
Doxon will return to his normal room at Ramblehouse for the night.
Looking to Tyari, Vael says, "We needed to check. I appreciate your help. We'll likely be back soon. Again, please let us know when Katrezra returns."
Hearing Whistle Pig's comment, the brewer agrees. "I'll meet you all at the Ramblehouse in the morning," Vael says.
While on the way back to their respective residences, Vael will get an agreed upon time to meet in the morning (let's say 9am?) and a rough plan for the next day (visit Sara Morninghawk's smithy and talk to Urnsul).
"If you'll indulge me one last question of Tyari, Whistle Pig," Raen begs. "Tyari, you said that Katrezra has visions, which you believe to be more than hallucinations. Do you know what Katrezra's last vision was before he left?"
After that, Raen is agreeable to a rest. It has been a long, puzzling day. She intends to stay at the Ramblehouse tonight, just in case, though there she gets little sleep as she turns over the case in her mind...