Ivan slams his shield down onto the floor. He gives a stare to the maid. His hand rests on his belt. His voice hard, and flat.
Aye? Well, it ain't your way, an' likely it will ne'er be your way. Ifn' ye want to threaten me, ye might aught to be thinkin' to do somethin' else. I don't want no trouble, but I ain't leavin' til I least get the list. I kno' ye lot feeling pain, ye lost someone important to the town, an' best ye not forget I considered him a friend of me own too. He takes a breath, and speaks in a gruffer voice.
I lost me entire home an' me family, I be no stranger to loss. Don't mean I don't feel it, just 'cause I don't bawl me eyes out. Ifn' ye cared for the man at all ye would help find whoever killed 'em, ifn' he was no?
Hearing the commotion behind him, Bupkis ran back. "Not fight now!", he pleaded, interposing himself between Ivan and the maid.
"Dwarf dwarf dwarf duuurr durp hammers, dwarrrrrrrrf," mocks the maid, her voice a sneering impersonation of Ivan's broad accent, "nobody can even understand what you are saying you great clanking walrus!"
Risking at Bupkis she moves back to stand protectively in front of Cham.
"you two are of the guard right, Daseem and Menrozzar?”
Daseem replied, "Aye."
"We have the full authority of the guard in this investigation I assume?”
Daseem didn't quite snort, "What authority?" 'It doesn't work that way round here friend.' thought Daseem, 'Trunau's guard have no authority per se over anyone in town beyond that afforded by the weapon in their hand. Of course many people where armed too, so no, they had no authority. Obviously I want to try and help out but the situation, is tense and getting worse with that hulking dwarf sticking his oar in. I understand the anger, what with Cham clamming up like that, but this isn't going to end well. I want to intervene but I just don't have the words...'
"Not fight now!"
Daseem blinked in surprise, that goblin Bupkis, wasn't it? He had more sense than the lot of them.
"Dwarf dwarf dwarf duuurr durp hammers, dwarrrrrrrrf"
Daseem frowned, "That is not helping." he said reasonably. A little uncertainly he added "Cham needs to talk but not like this."
"Aunt Cham ain't got nothing to say to you you pack of no good orc bum sniffing too tall long legged loligaggers! Now get out of here and stop bothering' her, or we will show you how we cut folk down to a proper height in the Ramblehouse!"
Ivan merely stares at the maid, a his face scrunched in a scowl.
I'm sure Kurst will be quite happy ta hear ye were interferin' with an investigation involving his brother. I could take what I wanted, naught ye could do bout it, but I ain't that way an' ne'r will be. Ye wanna insult me like that O' a 10 year old child go ahead, rightly don't give a durn cursed stone 'bout yer opinion. I'll be back, with propa' instructions on what Kurst wants done. Ye take care of Cham til then, least ye would be doin' something useful fer once.
Ivan hefts his shield and turns to walk out muttering loud enough to hear.
More durned sense in the goblin than ye lassie.
he then goes to find Rodrik's brother, Kurst
Daseem frowned, this one's mouth was faster than her brains. In truth she was becoming seriously irritating and so for once Daseem found himself able to say the exact thing he wanted, although it came out quieter than he'd have liked, "Jus like you showed that orc-f****r Rodrick eh?"
Daseem studied her reaction thinking, 'If you're the killer, we'll have to use weights to make sure you hang good and proper.'
Menrozzar eyes the rest of Cham’s nieces to see if they have weapons, then shoots a glare at Ivan and Daseem. Shut up, both of you! You’re making the situation worse.
Menrozzar sighs. He probably wouldn't get anything now, but he had to make one more try at doing so. ”I’m sorry. I know she’s had a great shock to her system, but it really is important that we know everything she can tell us. If this was foul play, it could help us catch the killer. If it was suicide, it could help us to find closure for Rodrik’s family. Please tell us what you can?”
"What! And now you are speakin' ill of the dead, you black hearted blaggards! Shameless toot fondlers! Out, out, out! And you ain't his family that much is plain to see from your slanders! Man wrote a poem is all, he had a bit too forgiving' a temperament is all!" The maid rages, and now the hall ways are filling with scowling halflings as voices raise in anger.
Daseem stares at her for a moment before coming to a fast decision, "Naw you didn't do it." Lamely he added, "Sssorry an' all, was jus making sure." Glancing down the hall he noticed the beginnings of a lynch mob, 'Oh just great Daseem, look where your fool mouth has gotten you now! When Tessa hears of this I'm going to get shredded!'
Menrozzar sighed, then said, ”Thank you for your time. If Cham thinks of anything, please send a message to me at the Longhouse. We’ll be going now.”
Menrozzar stood up from his kneel, caught Daseem’s eye, and jerked his head to get him to leave.
Once they were out of the Ramblehouse, he turned to Daseem and quietly said, ”What were you thinking? When Kurst said Rodrik’s relationship wasn’t well-known, that meant we should keep it quiet. And by accusing her maid of the crime you managed to turn the entire staff against us! We probably won’t learn anything about why she felt guilty now.”
Walking away, he said, ”Between you and that Dwarf, we’ll be lucky to learn anything.”
Edgar walks down stairs just in time to see the dwarf and the halfling maid at each other’s throats tensions in this town were always high but this is crazy
As the bulk of the party leaves Edgar will approach Cham and the halfling maid, falling to one knee with his head hnging low, ”My dears please allow me to apologize for my cohorts comments and actions, it was unbefitting a member of the guard, nevermind the tragedy that has occurred. I can only offer that blood is boiling this room as much right outside and the comments were better left unsaid on both sides. Know I will be personnaly leading the investigation to find out the truth of what happened,” he says trying to calm the two ladies, “I have been gone too long this town but I still remember Cham’s Ramblehouse and will take great care to ensure that your reputation, both as a leader in the town and as a business owner, remains untarnished. he adds attempting to comfort Cham as best he can.
Cham looks up at Edgar, dries her eyes and places a hand on the maid's shoulder, "Calm down darlin' I will talk to him, you catch more halflings with honey and all that. Making such a fuss isn't good for any of us... I just... Well I maybe made a mistake, but I never thought..."
”hindsight is a terrible thing madame, but we cannot faut ourselves for every little thing that lead up to the tragedy.” he says kindly with a warm smile, ”go on Cham, I just want to find the truth...and anything you can tell me would only serve to ensure justice to Rodrik’s memory. ”
Cham sighs rises, and fetches the register from behind the desk in the entry hall, "Yesterday morning I rented a room to a man who refused to leave his name... He gave me a handful of gold for the privilege, said he would be gone before sunrise. I didn't know anything like this was going to happen!"
The ledger shows a single room rented after Rodrik's reservations, notable in that unlike every other listing it has no name.
”And there’s no reason to think it would have. Now this man, he was human? Did he have any notable features? Perhaps a beard, or scar to look for? You’re already being so helpful to the investigation...” he says trying to pull more information without pressing to hard.
”would it be too much to ask to see the room this man rented? Under your staffs supervision if it would put you at greater ease.”
"He was just another human, you big folk all look alike from a proper height... Not fat, but not thin, not tall, but not normal, short brown hair, a bit bland, ummm, regular clothes? Not rich, not poor... But, yes I can show you his room."
Cham wiping at her tear stained face leads you to a room around the corner from Rodrik's. Opening the door she reveals a shabby room similar to the one Rodrik occupied with a narrow bed, that is made up with crisp hospital corners and does not look to have been slept in, and a writing desk identical to the one in Rodrik's room.
As they approach the room Edgar says, ”Thank you so much for what you have told me, it appears the man was as clandestine as the room; there may yet be clues though” he says as him and Edwin begin to thoroughly search the room.
Edwin conducts a thorough investigation of the room and finds nothing... Save for a cleverly hidden secret draw beneath the normal draw in the writing desk. By applying a little pressure the base of the draw pops out revealing a letter.
Daseem sighed inwardly at Menrozzar, thinking bitterly, 'If only I could explain this properly. Isn't it obvious?! Cham knows something and clammed up and then that Maid started mouthing off, obstructing justice! I mean she was inciting that Dwarf to riot with talk like that. You'd have thought a halfing had died the way she was going on. I found her reaction damn suspicious. Perhaps it was ill-advised, but I've seen what a choice bit of hazing can do. If she'd done it, there's no way she'd just fess-up but in the heat of the moment somebody with a guilty conscience might admit more than they intend... Anyway I think we can rule her out, although somebody needs to get her away from Cham so she can be questioned without histrionics.'
Daseem struggled to phrase this before giving up and replying lamely, "Thought she might be involved. Was wrong."
Edgar’s face turns to surprise at Edwin’s discovery as he hands it to him and Edgar reads it over. ”Cham my dear do all of your guests desks have such secret compartments?” he asks,”either way, we officially have evidence for a murder, and our first suspect.” he says as he shows her the letter. Melira...who are you?
Cham covers her mouth and sobs again, "So it was him! But how could..? Rodrik was a powerful warrior but it did not even look like there was a struggle? Oh, and yes, all the desk have trick draws for those in the know."
”even a man as powerful as Rodrik could be felled by a decent sneak while sleeping, especially if he had been drinking at the party.”’ seems strange there was nothing in Rodrik’s desk though ”Cham, was Rodrik staying here every night? And did he ever bring any personal items? His desk is completely empty...” he asks the innkeep.
this is getting out of hand. I know Rodrik didn’t kill himself and I bet whoever wrote this letter is the culprit. I need to round up ‘Team Ruby’ and show them this letter.
Bupkis helped Edgar search the mystery guest's room. When they discovered the note, he asked "What it say?" When the note was read out, he asked those present, "Who Melira? Man wrote note — if kill Rodrik, why?"
As Cham resumed crying, Bupkis said, "Not Cham fault; bad person!" He pointed at the note as he said the last part.
Menrozzar sighed. ”She was angry because Ivan riled her up, not because she was hiding something. He showed a complete lack of empathy, and then he was outright rude. The militia doesn’t have the authority to force people to answer questions, and you don’t deal with distraught people by being angry and rude. Had he kept his mouth shut, we might have gotten somewhere. We aren’t going to solve this by accusing people of murder.”
Upon returning to Rodrik's room the body has been removed and a couple of halfling maids are industriously scrubbing at the bloodstains which remain.
Cham gives Bupkis a somewhat sickly, but appreciative smile, frowns and turns to Edgar, "You might sneak up on someone and cut one wrist, but how do you cut both without him waking or even seeming to struggle? Whenever I used... I mean that seems like it would be pretty difficult."
whenever you used to what? Edgar thought but it was probably not a good idea to press to much. ”it’s possible he was poisoned, or magic may have even been used... the wrist wounds could be entirely fabricated to point to a false cause of death... Edgar says rubbing his chin thoughtfully, ”Edwin, uh...bupkis lets go meet up with the others and share these clues, I think we should speak to Rodriks betrothed and head on over to Clamour to see what we can find out about the reciept.” he says.
Edgar returns to his knee to meet Chams eye level again, taking her hands in his he says, “you have been most helpful in this investigation madam, one last time I pray previous slights can be forgotten and never spoken again when next you see my cohorts; I intend to seek the same of Ivan and Daseem. For now we must leave but rest assured we will get to the bottom of this tragedy.” before standing up and heading out the door to look for Ivan, Daseem, Menrozzar, and Scrabbler.
"It is fine with me, but you might want to tell your surlier friends to steer clear of the girls for a while," Cham says sounding somewhat absent minded as she stares at the bloody rag one of the maids is wringing out into a bucket of sudsy water.
”Thank you for the advice” he says as he nods his head on his way out, he adds ”you should have a cup of tea an relax in front of a warm fire” with a smile.
”Scrabbler, do you know where the rest of ‘Team Ruby’ was headed?” he asks, eyes squinted, trying to see through the dense fog.
"Maybe they go Longhouse?" Bupkis suggested; he knew that was where the militia barracks were. "On way, check Clamor, could be there."
”oh no, wait... your not Scrabbler, your bupkis; My apologies for the mistake,” Edgar says, embarrassed at the mistake, ”That’s a good idea, lets head to the Longhouse and if we don’t see them we can double back to Clamor, I’ll let you guide the way, this fog is too dense for me right now and it makes me nervous.” he says fingers wandering to one of his obsidian starknives almost subconsciously. I might have been gone for 10 years, but I still know this fog is dangerous...Orcs could be at the gate and we wouldn’t know until it was too late. he thought as he had a shiver and buttoned his cloak for warmth.
Ivan arrives at the Longhouse sodden, to find a solemn mood, a few men sit around tending to their equipment in the common room and a fire blazes to keep away the chill. By the looks of things these are the night shift, likely only still up because of the dire news.
Before they enter the longhouse Edgar looks down to Bupkis, ”Stay close friend. Without Rodrik these men may not be as amicable to you as before.” he says before walking in. Edgar looks around the longhouse for Menrozzar, Ivan, or even Kurst.
Ivan looks around, Sorry to bother ye, but has anyone of ye seen Kurst? Or know where he is at the moment?
Menrozzar arrives at the Longhouse, and, seeing Ivan, says, "Ah, Ivan, there you are. I didn't get a chance to examine the room. Did you find any clues there?"
Once Edgar arrives shortly thereafter, he says, "Edgar, come over here. Did you examine Rodrik's room and find any clues?"
An old exhausted looking guard looks up from rebraiding a leather thong around the hilt of his longsword, "Captain Kurst will be fetching his brother's body to the Sanctuary, so either there or at the Ramblehouse."
Ivan gives a nod of his head. Thank ye lad.
He turns to look to menrozzar and Edgar. In a quieter voice he says
Aye, well, no. But I'm not of the mind that Rodrick did this willingly. I'm thinkin' twere some foulplay, though the durned fool of a girl halfling wouldn't let me look into anythin'. That said, don't make no sense how someone could'a cut both his wrists without nary a sign O' a scuffle, he was tough. I'm not fer knowin' bout magic, but, I've heard tales O poisons could force someone inta a deep sleep, an' mayhaps it was a poison what actually killed him. Or maybe they manag'd to incapacitate em' some otha' way fore dealin' the... the lethal blow. Though I couldn't tell nothin' bout it when I looked over the lad... Though I'm not particularly adept at such. I'm thinkin' someone with propa' trainin' or some magic should look inta' it fore he is... Ivan doesn't finish his statement, and a small sign of fatigue seems to set on his face.
Though, I may be lyin' to meself, I didn't know the lad long, an' mayhaps I'm jus' projectin' me own views and values on tha matta'. But it just don't sit right. Don't make no sense why he woulda done this 'imself, not to me anyway.
Ivan stares at the floor for a few seconds.
Edgar sees Menrozzar waving him down with Ivan and hastily heads over there with Edwin and Bupkis.”there you are.” he greets them.
After listening to Ivan Edgar responds, ”I’m of a similar mind. I only knew the man but a few hours yet this doesn’t sit right” he says before glancing around for anyone who might be listening,
And lowering his voice considerably, “and I found some evidence that, at the very least, gives reason to investigate. Perhaps there’s somewhere more private we can discuss it?’’
He returns his voice to normal and adds, “I was able to repair the relationship with Cham and her staff and, in doing so, gained her full cooperation.” he stops there to look at Ivan. He was not trying to chastise the dwarf, more of a pleading tone, ”Cham and her staff have agreed to forget the incident, as long as all involved do as well...” he waits for a response to both items while thinking come on you proud bull head, let bygones be bygones. The last thing Trunau needs after this is a blood feud.
Bupkis followed Edgar into the Longhouse. After listening to Ivan and Edgar's exchange, he chimed in, "What about re-seat? We go Clamor to ask?" He still didn't understand exactly what a receipt was, but knew it had something to do with a Hopeknife and Morninghawk's Fine Steel.
Ivan waves his hand at Edgar. Bah, I hardly care about the prattlin' of a durned wee lassie. Much less one what act's that way. Long as they willin' ta help, and long as none prove to be involved in this mess, won't need ta worry bout me.
”you have my gratitude Ivan.” Edgar says, relieved at the dwarf’s answer.
Edgar looks to Bupkis, ”As I said, we should discuss this in private.” he says with a soft smile to the goblin while putting his finger to his lips to indicate the “shhh” motion and winking at Bupkis.
Scrabbler was utterly confused at this point so he had stayed quiet. There seemed to be a lot going on, lots of people upset, but no one really seemed to know anything.
Least it not just me, the goblin thought.
He tried to make sense of everything he'd seen so far. "Knife-paper say Roderik knife not right knife. Nameless human showed up, then left. Desk had hidey hole with papers of nameless human." He counted off the points on his fingers.
"But what it mean?"
Edgar looks at the other goblin that he only just now noticed, “It means that we don’t know for sure what happened. But we should head to Clamor,” he says as he shows the receipt and the letter to everyone, trying to be discreet.
As they walked back towards Clamor, Bupkis asked for the receipt to be read out again. He listened, and then said, "Bupkis confused. Did paper say Rodrik customer? Why engraving 'For Rodrik, my love'?"
”Those are the questions I hope to have answered by either Morninghawk or this Urusal, the Smith.” Edgar says to the goblin, “the reciept does say that Rodrik purchased the knife. But the inscription points to it being a gift for Rodrick. “
As he shows the letter to those that can read he says, “this was found in a guests room at the Ramblehouse. A guest who checked in last night and left early this morning; gave a bag of gold instead of a name.” he gives them a moment to read it over before adding, “I think this letter alone is evidence enough to investigate the captains death. once we have visited Clamor, I think we should visit the captains betrothed. Unfortunately until we can rule her out she is a suspect. Agreed?”
Aye, but I'm hesitant to trust this letter, why would whoever did this leave it in the room? Its almost as if he had wanted us ta' find it. Either way, we need ta get ta Kurst and Rodrik's body before they, burn it or whatever they are going to do with it. Ivan heads out towards the sanctuary.
Daseem had been keeping a low profile, although he reads the letter when offered and after everyone has seen it he ventures, "I know Sara, I can ask about the knife. She won't be up till morning mind."
"Once we have visited Clamor, I think we should visit the captains betrothed. Unfortunately until we can rule her out she is a suspect. Agreed?"
Daseem nodded, although he was keen for Edgar to do the talking. Folk seemed to react much better to him than many of team ruby.
"Yes, talk Brinya after Clamor," Bupkis agreed.
