Giantkiller (Inactive)

Game Master Daniel Penfold 351

Tyari takes you to Katreza's room, it is empty and the bed has been neatly made. On the floor under the bed there is a thinly traced chalk outline of a hawk

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Derrick looks around the room carefully. Making sure to check even the smallest of things that may seem out of place or strange. He has been silent up to now, Rodrik had been all but a brother to him. He knew this had been no suicide, not Rodrik. He would find out who did this, and when he did, there would be hell to pay.

Priestess, could you perhaps detect if poison had been used on Rodrik? Would it still be detectable? Or would you give us permission to look over the body as well? Rodrik was a brother to me, and I am positive this was not his own doing.

I have checked and no poison was used. It would still be detectable if it was in his system

Tyari takes you into the chamber where Rodrik's body is kept. He appears to have died of blood loss after slitting his wrists

Does Sid know if the hawk has any significance?

19 knowledge local if I need a roll.

The hawk is the symbol of the Morninghawk Fine Steel company

Kohl looks at the body and shakes his head. "Such a shame." When the others are done looking at the room and the body, he says, "It appears we should head to the blacksmith next. Although this seems a little convenient. Almost like we're being directed toward this Morninghawk."

Are you heading there then or somewhere else. It is now starting to get late in the afternoon.

"We've still got some light. Let's head over there before it gets too late."

You head from Sanctuary towards the blacksmith. You are about halfway there when you hear a growling from some bushes. Suddenly 3 wolves appear about 10 feet away from you, preparing to attack.

Sid your action

Sid runs behind the obviously stronger folks in the group, draw a daggar and trembles.

Working on the map stuff but I won't delay the fight any longer.

Map test.

The wolves spring forward to attack.

Rydell your action

fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Rydell returns the wolf's kindness with a deft strike of his bladed staff.

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Rydell your blade decapitates the wolf attacking you.

Dolgrym your action.

The dwarf swings his staff at the wolf threatening him.

Attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

—————

Possible Crit Attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

"Ahhh. G...g...ggget them."

Kohl manages to remain standing after the wolf's attack. He draws his morningstar and swings it around to slam into the torso of the wolf.
morningstar: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Knowledge Nature : 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Sid trys to figure out why wolves are attacking.

If there are any left sid move around to get a clear shot. Sid forms a magic fist and punches at the wolf.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 151d4 ⇒ 3 ranged touch attack.

Dolgrym you swing your staff and brain the wolf, killing it by crushing its skull.

All the wolves are now dead

What next?

"Rydell, would rabbit wolves be important information for the militia, city guard and the rangers?"

"I would say, yes," he says to Sid. Kohl looks down at his wound and then at the dead wolves. And then back at his wound. "Ugh. Not much to be done about it now." He pours some water on the wound and casts a healing spell.
clw: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
"Let's find this smith first though."

”Wow. Healing magic it's been a while...

Yes, let's go to the smith. If we see some city guard along the way we can have them pass on the message."

Rydell ponders for a moment. That depends, if they managed to wonder in here without an issue, it would likely be of use letting someone know that somebody wasn't watching the gate properly. And if they were brought in by someone... yeah. Probably best to at least let the militia know. Before that, I'm going to try and retrace the wolves steps. See where they came from.

Can I take 10 for a 16 to follow the wolves tracks?

You trace the wolves' tracks to a side street where you find an abandoned cart with 3 large cages on them, it appears as if someone deliberately brought them into town and then released them.

Sid pulls a page out of his journal writes what has happened and puts it in Gallant's mouth.

"You know what to do.'

Gallant runs off to tell deliver the note to the militia saying:

"There has been an attack on the city. Rabbid wolves have been snuck in and released. We have dispatched 3. Sweep the town and watch the surrounding areas for more.

Sid, the rat person who helped with tax collection that one time.

Gallant goes off to find a member of the militia while keeping to the shadows.

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Gallant heads off to the Longhouse where the guards are often found.

Meanwhile the rest of you head to Clamor the smithy. Clamor is a squat, cramped building in the western corner of the town. The smith Sara Morninghawk is there hammering away at a helmet.

”Sara, did you hear about what happened with Rodrick? We’ve been sent to investigate for anything fishy. Did he meet with you recently? Anything out of the normal during your meeting?”

I last saw him a week before he died. He commissioned a new blade from me. I did the preliminary work and then handed it to one of my apprentices. I guess it doesn't matter so much anymore. I bet that clumsy oaf Urnsul put it somewhere before she up and quit the other day; it's hard to get good help. I'll let you know if I find the blade.

”Tell us more about this Urnsul? How long did she work for you? Do you trust her? Where does she live in town?”

"Did Urnsul know who the dagger was for?"

So, another was involved. Kohl waited to hear the answers to his comrades' questions. I wonder if this Katreza is tied up somehow with Urnsul?

Yeah of course Urnsul knew the knife was for Rodrik. She went missing the day after the hopeknife ceremony. She was a recent arrival to the town. As far as I know she was staying in the Ramblehouse. Look you seem honourable people. I think there's someone you should meet

There's a pause and she comes back with an elderly half orc that she introduces as Katreza

"Why did you leave a drawing to lead us here? Are you scared?"

Rodrik eventually came to me to ask for advice while courting Brinya Kelver. I couldn't help him with his relationship, but we gradually became close friends. I'd been experiencing vivid hallucinations of white swords or crosses, and dreams of the Plague House outside town. When I told him of them, he seemed to think my dreams might help him with his investigation

I don't think even Rodrik knew exactly what he was looking for. He'd run afoul of a flood troll in the Plague House not long ago, and the poor fellow was convinced it wasn't just an isolated incident. He came to see me and I told him that flood trolls are native to Belkzen, but they rarely roam this far south of the Flood Road

Rodrik had plans to go back to the Plague House but I suggested he leave his journal with me. When news of his death reached me in the morning, I knew it must have been foul play, so I fled the Sanctuary, fearful that whoever targeted Rodrik would come after me as well.

”Could you tell us more about this plague house? What is it’s history...where is it located? One way or the other, we 0lan 9n getting to the truth about all this...”

"We would also like to see the journal please."

"On the chance that Urnsul is involved, does he know you're here?"

I have not seen Urnsul, as far as I know she left before I arrived. I have seen visions of the Plague House many times the past few weeks. I believe there is more beneath the ashes of the Burned Church than soot and rubble.

The Plague House or the Burned Church was the original church of Iomedae. When Orc raiders burned the building down about 100 years ago and killed the priests within, the church of Iomedae decided to build a new chapel within the town walls. It became known as the Plague House 50 years ago when Trunau was afflicted with Plague. The authorities hurriedly rebuilt the house and used it for quarantine but a mysterious fire a few days later killed everyone inside.

The journal reads:

How I wish I could divulge my fears and hopes to my beloved Brinya. The risk is too great, of course - I would hate to implicate her in the dire scheme I've only just started to unravel. Not to mention how much I fear her ire over my loss of the hopeknife she gifted me. What a fool I've been these past few weeks.

I still haven't found the hopeknife, and whoever's making the replacement at Clamor is certainly taking her time. Katreza was oddly quiet when I met with him today. When I asked for his thoughts he told me to leave him be, and to give up my foolish investigation altogether. He was so supportive of my mission until now - what could have changed his heart so?

Katreza's visions of the Plague House have been getting more frequent as the days go on. He claims "something wicked" lurks beneath the ashes of the past. I'm fearful of what his strange dreams portend but I must investigate the Plague House ruins once again. Tonight is Ruby's hopeknife ceremony: tomorrow I will search the ashes once more. Katreza has recommended he hold onto my journal for safekeeping, and while I am hesitant to part with my writing for even a moment, I know his logic is sound.

Upon reading the journal, Kohl places his hand on Katreza's shoulder. "It was wise indeed for you to safe-guard his journal, and to hide here. I do not know what evil lurks at this Plague House, but we must investigate." Turning to the group, he says, "Until we can prove otherwise, we should probably assume that Urnsul is involved. Perhaps he deliberately slowed the progress of the hope knife to delay Rodrick's investigation. He may also have been the killer."
He looks to the smith. "Miss Morninghawk. Should Urnsul return, do not endanger yourself confronting him. He may be completely innocent, but he may also have sinister motives."

"It will be before for you both to keep a low profile for the time being."

Be careful if you are investigating the Plague House, my visions say there is something evil there.

”Seems like we have to go stomp out the evil at the Plague House then!”

"What do you know about the evil? Fangs, tentacles, evil magics?"

My visions are not that exact I'm afraid, although I know that the dead do not rest soundly in the Plague House

"Then we'll have to find out the old-fashioned way," Kohl says. "At least we go in with eyes open."

Ok you head towards the Plague House (Map 4 on the maps link). The Plague House's front doors sit three feet above the ground. Charred wooden beams and ash are all that remains of a small porch and stairs that once led to the entrance. The small windows flanking either side of the doorframe are broken, but a large stained glass window dominating the face of the building to the right remains in fine shape, and shows a varicoloured image of Iomedae holding her sword aloft.

”I see two options. First, we can set up a watch and see what kind of guards and such they have here. Maybe find a back door. Or second, we can bust in the front door and go straight ahead...”