Ana sighs as she see the halfling move off. Pulling her ack around, she digs through until she finds somethign and pulls it out. Shining up the apple a bit, she moves ove to the halfling.
"Meant no harm, just that you haven't been approaching with the most...likeable attitude. Sorry for that," Ana says, offering him the apple. "I have a lot of siblings, so I kind of grew up correcting them, so...friends?"
"Oh, very well then. Sorry, but I am just not in the habit of explaining my people's whereabouts without knowing why. As it is, Katrezra is not here. I am not sure where he is - he quietly disappeared without telling anyone. And I don't know where he may have gone, although his bed is made and nothing looks out of the ordinary."
"Hmm. High Priestess, I understand your need to protect privacy. The disappearance is poorly timed with Rodriks death happening so soon and them being friends. We really need to know about his life. If you hear from him would you let him know we are looking for him?"
Ana smiles at the halfling, but resists patting him on the head like she does with her relatives. I don't think he'd appreciate that.
I wonder where Katezra would be, though. He rarely leaves without notice. And it does seem a little coincidential in timing, Ana thinks. "We...we also came to see...Rodick. We wanted to see if he really...died by blade or not. A recent event makes us think otherwise."
"Of course, I will tell him. Roderick is down in the basement, I will take you to see him. We have no reason to believe there was foul play, but perhaps you will see something."
"The two of them were friends, I am sure. I overheard them chatting more than once, muttering about ghosts, half-orcs, hopeknives, and white swords. You know, Katrezra claims to have visions. I can’t vouch for their prophetic accuracy, but I do believe they are more than just hallucinations."
She leads you down where you can examine the body. Rodrik appears to have died of blood loss after slitting his own wrists.
Ana takes a deep breath as she sees his body. Don't freak out now, she tells herself. Forcing herself forward, she quickly examines the body, not wanting to linger long.
Somer enters with the others. Casts a quick detect magic and steps back out of the way. If anyone was watching him they would understand that he was clearly out of his depth.
Well this is real. I think once I look for magical interference I am going to step outside and wait. Maybe not the best day to forgo more normal ration of wine.
"Hmm. Any signs that he was restrained?" asks Tamrick. "The wounds could've been inflicted on him... or he could've been mind-controlled... or maybe someone put him in a horrible position and he did commit suicide, but because of something that someone else made him do, which caused him to be so ashamed that he took his own life rather than continue to be blackmailed or manipulated."
not really knowing Rodrik Derrik will assist in looking him over but remain silent.
Adrasteia and Derrik concur, a poison could have been involved. Asking the priestess to check, she casts a spell and confirms it - poison!
The poison used was oil of taggit.
There are no signs that he was restrained, though.
"Oil of taggit. Potent poison. Must be drunk or eaten, but knocks you right out for a few hours."
"Poison," Ana murmurs, a spark of anger starting. "Do you know how hard it is to craft or of anyone who makes it here?"
"What! You're saying he was poisoned!" Balmir whispers harshly to the group, a scowl on his face. "So there is something sinister going on here, on here." He looks at the priestess, "Did you know this?"
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Mouser looks surprised at the mention of poison, despite their emerging thoughts something sinister might have happened.
"That explains much--he was knocked out, someone came in and cut his wrists, then he died. But it actually brings up a whole lot more. Is this some kind of lover's quarrel? Likely not, I think. Someone trying to take out a patrol captain to weaken the town's defenses? Could that be tied to the strange symbols on the walls? I wonder if the town is in danger given his position."
"No, this is news to me. We didn't even think to check for poison. Who would do this."
Somer having heard the pronouncement of poison reengages with the group.
"Who would do this is the big question."
Considering this for a moment.
"This is a small community. I think we should keep this to ourselves for the time being. Sowing suspicion will not help us find the answer."
"High Priestess can you help us keep this quiet."
"Yes, I agree. This could cause immediate rumors and panic. But it means you must get to the bottom of this quickly. And feel free to come back, if you have need of the services of our temple."
"Are there others here that are new not including myself? Do new people come to Trunau all the time or is it rare to have new blood come into the city?"
Derrik tries to keep from showing that he is on guard.
"Of course something like this happens when I arrive to town."
"Well, it is a small town to be sure, and in a dangerous land, but there are visitors here from time to time. Mostly traders, looking to profit from the uniqueness of this place."
"Making this kind of poison requires some degree of alchemical training. Not the sort of thing you just whip up in the kitchen. But definitely would be... say... the kind of thing that could also have been made by someone who makes an indelible alchemical paint that's used to make giant marks on the walls that could be seen from outside the town as a signal," says Tam with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
"But, the only enemies that Trunau has is orcs, and trust me, orcs don't do stuff like this. They charge straight into battle and don't spare a glance to the left or right," Ana says. I can't believe I'm about to say this, Ana thinks, taking a deep breatah. "This leaves too many questions. Let's find Brinya and see if she knows anything. High Priestess, do you know where they took the belongings he had at the time?"
"They are here still. Do you seek something in particular?"
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"Did they find a hopeknife?" asks Tam. "Or any notes or documents?"
To Mouser and Ana he says, "I think Ana is also right, the orcs have help from someone on the inside. The evidence inclines in that direction."
"Did he not lose his hope knife, is that not what the receipt was indicating? You think that Orcs set this up? As Ana said it seems much to complex for them."
Derrik again waits as he doesn't want to intrude on those who knew Rodrik much better.
"Might I have a word high Priestess?"
He will move off to the side with the High Priestess.
"Since I am new to Trunau I was wondering if I might be able to stay here for a bit, once I find some suitable work with the Militia I will find a place of my own. Milani has directed me here to learn from the people of this village about their defensive techniques."
Kind of talking to himself and kind of to whoever is closest.
"While the average orc would not come up with a complicated plan there are those among them that would."
Pausing to pull his thought together.
"While not common orcs can be magic users and strategists."
I cannot believe one of my neighbors could be responsible.
"Sure, his hopeknife was there. Here, I can get it for you."
Stepping aside, and being approached by Derrik, she nods. "Lastwallers stick together. Yes, you are welcome here."
"Here is the knife."
She hands it to you.
"I didn't say it had to be an orc... just someone on the inside. Anyone could be working with them for some personal reason. Could be someone very smart. Someone who knows how to make poison and alchemical dye. Someone who wants to see the orcs get into Trunau for some reason... rational or otherwise. Spurned lover who wants to see the orcs destroy everyone who rejected him? Failed businessman trying to cover his losses by getting the orcs to attack the town so nobody will ever know? Could be any number of things."
"Bah! Orcs! I've been fighting orcs forever. They don't act like this at all." Balmir's mood is turning more and more dark as the events seem to reveal themselves. "And you know, I'm a dwarf of action. I don't really like just sitting around here jabbering. Either there's an enemy or there isn't. Let's go find out, find out." Of course, Balmir doesn't really have any idea how he's going to find out.
"We don't have anyone to fight, yet, Balmir," Ana says, trying to calm the dwarf. "We still have three potential people to question, so let's go ask them what they know. Is it alright if we take this with us?" Ana asks, turning to the High Priestess and holding up the hopeknife.
"Please, feel free to come visit us if you have further questions or need the services of our temple priests."
"Of those left I would like to speak with the smith before the girlfriend. The more complete a picture we have before the girlfriend the better I would think."
"I would like to know if the receipt was to have this knife engraved or for another knife."
"This is a very interesting issue, I am glad that I arrived in time to help with this. I came here to learn how Trunau defends itself from the Orc menace and this is a prime example for me."
Balmir shrugs off Ana's attempts to calm him down. "This? This isn't how we protect ourselves from orcs. This is how we stand around doing nothing." Balmir's anger seems to come from a deeper source. The events remind him too much of the family he lost.
"Balmir I understand your frustration but at this moment there is little to nothing for us to fight short of running into the woods looking for orcs."
"Steel is key in protecting the town but information can double or triple the force of our steel. You don't strike a foe on the breastplate but on the joint. The investigation can show us the joints in an attack."
It is getting dark, and may be considered a little late to be calling on anyone yet tonight.
The receipt was for this knife, to be made and engraved with "For Rodrick, my love."
Ana sighs as they step outside. "It's rather late. The smith will be closed for sure, and by the time we track either of them down, they won't appreciate questions. How about we reconvene at the Ramblehouse in the morning? Our heads might be clearer then as well."
Besides, Ana silently adds. I've had as much about this as I can take, and I'm not eager to see her anyway.
"That sounds like a plan. The attack of the wolves worries me a bit, it feels we might have been targeted. My home is modest but anyone who needs a place to stay, please feel free."
A break from this will be a good thing. I am not going to go for wine, just home to sleep and study. I do not have the abilities I once have and may need to work them back.
Balmir still scowls at the rest of the group but what they say makes sense. Slowly his irritation and frustration fades. "Sorry, sorry about my attitude earlier. I just find this so frustrating. And it really hits too close to home. I think I'm going to head back to the barracks and I'll meet you all at the Ramblehouse in the morning."
Tam sprinkles some dust on his journal, blows it, then closes it carefully. "All right, we convene on the morrow."
"I will meet you all at the Ramble house on the morrow."
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Mouser raises an eyebrow. "Wait, someone sicked a pack of wolves on us earlier, and you lot think it would be a good idea to split up now?"
The halfling shrugs. "I'm lucky and will get out alive, but I don't fancy investigating your murder tomorrow. Anyway, if everyone else wants to split up, that's fine, but just know you won't have my protection."
"what do you suggest we do Mr. Mouser? I am granted a place here under the protection of the High Priestess. I Will stay with you if you would like to offer protection in numbers."
"I live in the Ivory Hall with my family. My mother wouldn't let anything happen there," Ana says confidently. "Besides, this is Trunau. I refuse to be cowed down by anyone that would threaten us within these walls," Ana proudly announces, puffing out her chest.
"Of course, if you're so worried about me, you could come along," Ana adds at the end.