Your man was smart also. He found out about peoples trying to do bad things here. He say anything to you?
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"He was investigating something," Brinya responds. "But he wouldn't tell even me. He called it his 'greatest work'."
She shakes her head sadly.
"Poor Roderick... his enthusiasm could take him over sometimes. I don't know what he was doing, but he was keeping a journal. If you didn't find it in his room at the Ramblehouse, I don't know. He did sometimes take his writing to the Trunau Sanctuary. He said he had a 'thoughtful muse' there, but I don't know what he was talking about."
You know about the Trunau Sanctuary. It's a church to Iomedae inside the town walls, which tends to the wounded (especially after a battle or siege). The current matron of the sanctuary is a young cleric named Tyari Varvatos, and her right-hand man is a paladin named Brantos Calderon.
Is there anything else you want to ask Brinya about? (You might want to review the clues you have above.)
Zavier cracks his neck trying to stave off the growing stiffness. Do you know of hope knife?
Hmm. Thank you for your information Brinya. We shall find Roderick's killer and they will not go unpunished. Nilus says and then stands, Brawd following suit
We should go to the Sanctuary. They perhaps have more information.
Zavier nods a bit stiffly towards Brinya and then follows Nilus. This Sanctuary, would it have healer spells?
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You head to Sanctuary, the temple to Iomedae in the northern (lower) part of town.
There, you are met by a brash-looking man, whom Nilus recognizes as the paladin Brantos Calderon. He looks at the group skeptically as it approaches.
"An interesting collection of folk you've chosen to start hanging around with, Nilus," the man says. "What brings you here?"
They are assisting me with an investigation into the death of Roderick Grath. ...did he come here often?
"Interesting isn't the half of it, my friend. I'm Racket. This here's Grok."
Racket gestures down to the pile of rocks that he's riding on.
Zavier most interesting man wherever he go Zavier proclaims proudly.
"I AM GROK."
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The main raises his eyebrows at the responses. Looking back at Nilus, he says, "He came here occasionally. I'm not sure why. You should probably talk to high priestess Varvatos about it."
He nods back into the temple. Nilus knows that he's talking about Tyari Varvatos, the primary priestess of the temple.
Walking into the temple, followed by Braontos you see a young human woman wearing the vestments of Iomedaean clergy. "These folks are looking into Roderick Grath's death," he says. "I told them you knew about why he visited here."
Nodding solemly, the woman says, "Roderik's death is a loss to Trunau. He did come here sometimes, to visit with Katrezra."
Nilus knows a little, but not a lot, about Katrezra. A half-orc oracle, he was raised by orcs and spent some time at the Brimstone Haruspex (which Ratchet and Grok may have heard of), an orchish temple at the caldera of a smoking volcano in the Kodar mountains. Orc mystics there believe that the fumes give them visions of the future. He sought sanctuary in trunau after fleeing the orcs, and has been a guest (and patient) at Sanctuary after he arrived some years ago.
"I don't know what they were talking about when they met, however," she says. "People do sometimes come to consult Katrezra because of the visions he has. I do believe that there is something behind them, and they are more than the ravings of a man exposed to posionous fumes in earlier days."
"Unfortunately, Katrezra is no longer here. He left a few days ago, I do not know why. I don't think he was abducted, for there are no signs of foul play; he left with his room in order and his bed neatly made, as if he were trying to put things in place before taking a journey. I do not know where he has gone. I suppose it's possible he's still in town somewhere. His physical condition means that he cannot walk far, for he is often in pain, and does not move very well."
Aheam.. is funny you bring up not moving very well. I myself have been stiff for a day since being bitten by a wolf. Is possible to have Disease Removed? Will pay for service.
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"But of course," the priestess says. "Come, let me look at you."
She inspects the wounds, and asks Zavier a bit more about his symptoms. "Interesting. Almost certainly the divine grace of Iomedae can remove this taint from your blood, but it doesn't seem like a fully natural disease."
She casts a spell. Although Zavier's dexterity damage does not immediately go away, he can feel the wasting stop, and knows that with rest his reflexes will return.
"When you are able, please make a donation of 180gp to the good works of Iomedae. If you are not able to pay now, that is acceptable; but please do bear the debt in mind."
Racket tosses twenty gold coins into a nearby coffer. "Consider it a down payment. We will return with the rest."
We really must find this Katrezra. Do we have any ideas about where he has went?
Zavier accepts Racket's help Thank you small green thing. Will pay back as he drops 40 gold of his own into the same place. Now we find this oracle man or maybe go to person who find body?
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The priestess nods her ascent. "I fear I do not know where Katrezra has gone, other than I suspect he is still in town somewhere. If you find him, please convey to him that we are worried about him."
You head towards the South Tower of Trunau's inner wall in search of Omast Fraum. You see him slumped against the wall there, two empty tankards discarded by his side, and a half-empty one in his hand. He's slumped against the wall underneath a bit of graffiti, that you realize you've seen here and there elsewhere in town. It's a drawing of a white cross, or a white sword, on the wall above him. (Indeed, it occurs to you that the symbol of Iomedae is a sword.)
"Can't wash it off...." Omast is mumbling, as he takes another drink from his tankard.
Let me know how you proceed.
Nilus approaches the man with an upraised hand Hail friend. We are investigating the death of Roderick Grath, we understand you found the body.
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Omast Fraum looks up at Nilus. "Roderick... that poor, young, magnificent bastard.... Might've been the half-orcs. More of 'em all the time around here... threaten the worthy Trunaueans. He was talkin' to that half-orc oaf who spouts lies and prophecies... the cripple who stays at Sanctuary. Might've been him... poor Roderick."
As he says this he drifts off, looking to the distance-- talking to himself as much as he's answering Nilus.
He takes another drink from his tankard, realizes that he's drained it, and tosses it aside.
Zavier scratches his head. The drunk man didn't seem like he would be very helpful. What did you see when you found him? What time was it?
"Wake up ya drunk! We need information! Grok, wake him up!"
Grok walks up to the man and, as delicately as a walking rock can, picks up the man.
If he is able to pick up the man, he brings Omast's head up near Racket.
"I'm no orc, you oaf. Now tell us all about when you saw him. Every detail you can manage. It's important.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Tears fills Fraum's eyes. "The poor bastard... I couldn't protect him. There he was, his wrists slit, blood everywhere, soaking into the mattress....."
You get the sense that it's going to be difficult to get much out of him as long as he's stuck in this drunk, self-pitying stupor.
You know that Omast Fraum is a recovering alcoholic. He used to have serious trouble with alcohol, but got himself back together some time ago, and has served on the Patrol. His relationship with the Grath brothers is part of what helped him pull himself out of his alcoholism.
Put the drink away Fraum! Do you wish to find who is responsible for Garth's death! Or will you piss away your time with that pint! Nilus attempts to restore some fire to the man
Zavier harumphs in disgust. Zavier like drink. But never enough to mess with head. Well not after my ma smacked it hard and set me straight. Maybe take him back to room and hold him till his head stops spinning?
"I AM GROK. NOT ORC. YOU GO HOME NOW."
Grok will then carry the drunk man back to his home. (Wherever Nilus tells him that is)
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As a group, you manage to get Omast Fraum back to his home-- Nilus gives you the location. You get him into bed and asleep, and police the place to make sure he doesn't have any alcohol.
He starts snoring. It's clear that he's going to be out for the rest of the night.
It's probably evening by now, so you head back and have some supper at the Ramblehouse.
Overnight, are the three of you going to sleep in your rooms at the ramblehouse, while Nilus sleeps back at his home again?
I need to find way to earn coin soon. Do not like being in debt
Nilus returns home with Brawd. I will see you three in the morning.
"GROK SLEEPY"
"Let's go get some sleep, ya big lug. Perhaps that lady at the inn will still let me sleep there as long as I stay in your room."
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In the middle of the night, in your sleep, all of you are attacked by assassins! Fortunately, none of them have the good sense to attempt a Coup de Grace.
All of you are flat-footed, out of your armor, and prone... and unconscious. Effectively, this means that the assassins have to roll really poorly to miss.
At Nilus' House
At the Ramblehouse
In Zavier's room:
In Grok's and Ratchet's room (where Racket is presumably curled up on the floor on a blanket or some such):
All of you are hit. What's more, the blade was poisoned; everybody make a DC11 Fortitude save.
Suffice to say that wakes you up. All of you are awake, but prone. I will assume you sleep with your weapon in immediate reach; adventurers, after all! (I'm guessing after this you won't all sleep at once, either... so much for being safe in town!)
Hit points:
Racket: 2/9
Grok: 6/13
Nilus: 6/9
Zavier: 9/13
All of you can act now.
Nilus cries out in pain and lashes out with is Hopeknife, while calling Brawd to defend him
Racket grabs his dagger and swipes at his attacker.
Roaring in pain Zavier desperately tries to grab onto his attacker
The attacker was standing next to the head of Zavier's bed so the brawler simply reaches up to wrap his meaty hands against the cowardly assassin's throat.
Grok will full defense and stand. (AC16)
He will then 5 foot step to E7.
Forgot to fort.
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At Nilus' House
Updating for the fact that Nilus' assassin would not have made it into the room: Nilus stands up and opens the door, while Brawd runs out into the hallway and attacks. The wolf only manages to get a mouthful of leather armor, however.
The assassin now attacks Brawd (her first attack) with her liquid blade.
(Never mind, that wasn't a threat anyway.)
Now Brawd needs to make a DC11 Fortitude save.
At the Ramblehouse
Zavier, failing his fortitude save, takes 1 point of Dex damage. (He will need to make a save on his turn for three more rounds; once he makes a save, he's overcome the poison.)
He easily grabs his attacker. She attempts to break free of the grapple:
but does not succeed. (I believe prone actually doesn't affect your CMD.)
Over in the other room, Racket easily recognizes the blades that the assassins are using as liquid blades. These are alchemical items that are stored in a small vial. When opened with a flick of the wrist, the liquid starts to splash out, but very quickly solidifies into a jagged blade. You can mix poison into the vial before you extrude the blade-- which clearly these folks did. (Only one application of the poison applies, however.) The blade lasts for 10 minutes before evaporating.
Racket is also poisoned, and takes 1 Dex damage. (He will need to make the save for three more rounds.) He stabs out at his attacker, but fails to hit.
Grok stands up, provoking an opportunity attack. He is unaffected by the poison.
However, the assassin fails to hit him.
Both assassins, seeing Grok now as the greater threat as he's standing, attack him.
One of them misses, but despite Grok's defensive stance, the one that had previously attacked Racket hits him, doing four more points of damage to the Oread. Grok is in bad shape.
Keeping his hands on the assassins throat Zavier moves to a standing position.
Then he tries to keep a hold of the attacker and squeezes.
Nilus casts Magic Fang on Brawd
Brawd then attempts to eat the assassin miss
Nilus commands Brawd to back off
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Zavier is able to shrug off any further effects from the poison, and keeps his hands around the attacker. As her eyes bug out, Zavier can see that she's staggered. She again tries to break the grapple:
..but again fails to do so.
Brawd fails to resist the poison and takes 1 point of Dexterity damage. After missing a bite against the assassin, Nilus commands Brawd to withdraw, and Brawd does so.