and how did he die exactly? It may help identify the killer
Kurst will look at the knife again, "This was not Rodrik's knife? That is very odd. Maybe Brinya Kelver will know more. She stays at the boarding house west of the Commons"
In response to Agna, "It appears he bled to death. I don't believe he killed himself. Either way it is not a noble way to die. My brother deserved better."
"It was the knife he had in his hand when we found the body. I thought it was Rodrik's knife. I had no idea that it wasn't his knife. I too am puzzled why Rodrik would have another knife made." Kurst shakes his head in disbelief of all that has taken place. "You should talk to Brinya and our friend Omast. Omast has been like an uncle to us. Rodrik would often go out on patrols with Omast. Maybe they found something."
Haskyll just continues to listen in on the conversation.
"Brinya Kelver is staying in the boarding house west of the Commons. Omast Frum can typically be found around the South Towers Now I don't know this Urnsul. You will need to ask the smithy about that," Kurst will respond as best he can to the inquiry knowing it may help solve Rodrik's murder.
When the party visits Brinya Kelver. She is in a sad state, "We were to be married. Even though he would not stand up to his father, I still loved him." When the party shows Brinya the Hopeknife 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.”
What was the engraving on yours that you gave to Rodrik?
"It simply says 'My Love'," Brinya begins to weep. "Rodrik said something was going on, but he needed more proof. Did you find his journal? I know he kept one, but I don't know where it is at. I assumed it would have been with him."
his journal? Anga looks at the others. Ah don't remember that.
"Well this is strange. Why did he ordererd a new hopeknife made. You have no idea, he never told you something about what... was going on?"
I have seen no journal, where might he have kept it if not with him?
Brinya will look at the big human "I don't know anyone named Urnsul." She will then look down, "It is all my fault. I was so angry with him. He lost the hopeknife I gave him. I told him he had to find it. That was just two days ago. Now he is dead." She begins to cry again. But then she straightens up, "Rodrik had been spending a lot of time at the Sanctuary. I guess he found solace in Iomedae. He may have left the journal there."
Anga sighs
back to the god botherers.
Ragnir snort good-naturedly at Anga. "Mind yer manners about god botherers, lass. Lest ye find one tha' don' be botherin' a'tall." He leans just a bit forward so his holy symbol dangles from its chain around his neck.
Anga looks flustered for a moment as she remembered who she was with.
Oh, ah don't mean you. Ragnir. Dwarf clerics are good in mah books. It's just the preachy, self righteous human, or worse Elven, ones I've encountered. There's priests, and then there's PRIESTS, if you take mah meaning. Dwarves just get the job done. Still the gnomes ones are fun.
She thinks for a moment, and then says
Not that you can't be fun if ye wanted to be. Ah mean...oh there ah go, putting mah foot in mah mouth. Lets go see the temple before ah do it some more
Well, in that case. Haskyll grins at Agna I guess we will have remain in agreement.
Shall we go see Iomedae's sanctuary
AS they head off to the temple all those left behind can hear is is Anga saying
You're laughing. It's nay funny
Ah but of course it isn't funny Anga.
While trying and failing to keep a grin off of his face.
" 'course i'tis lass. If ye can't be laughin' at yerself, ye gots no business laughin' at others." Ragnir grins at the wizard. "Now let's go meet n'talk ta some PRIESTS."
At the Sanctuary you met the young Cleric Tyari Varvatos before. She will know nothing about Rodrik's journal. But she does recall Rodrik meeting with Katrezra, a Half-Orc that stays at the Sanctuary. He met Katrezra many times over the last several weeks. "I overheard them talk about ghost, and the hopeknife, half-orcs and white swords, but I don't know what all this means. Oddly Katrezra left yesterday morning. His bed was made, so I think he left on his own. He never leaves Sanctuary though. This is his refuge. He is somewhat crippled, so he is likely still in town. He has prophetic visions. Maybe he saw something."
"Unfortunately, Tyari says, “I have no more insight into your investigation. Iomedae’s light shines on those who seek the truth, however, and you are always welcome at this Sanctuary should you need healing or other assistance from the church.”
Another seemlingly dead end.
"Thank ya for your kind offer, father. Well we better find that Katrezra. Slowly I feel like in bloody merry-go-round."
Well, Ulfgard, I was always taught that if life is spinning to fast, take a deep breath, and provide an anchor to stop the spinning.
Haskyll Grins
In other words, lets take things one thing at a time, and run down each lead one at a time
"the dead didn´t give you a journal for safekeeping? Well if not I think we should find that prophet of yours!"
On the way back to Sara Morninghawks.
So Kaos, what do have in mind ?
"We need to ask the lass when the last time she saw the knife was for starters.
"I did the initial work on that hopeknife, then passed it on to Urnsul to do the engraving and finishing touches. That was a week ago. I did not know that the hopeknife had been taken from here," she sighs.
When told that Urnsul was not staying in the boarding house she responds, "I often hire refugees looking for work. Urnsul came into town a couple of weeks ago after escaping the abuse she received from at the hands of Orcs. This is a typical story around here. Orcs don't treat Half-Orcs well. Trunau has become a kind of refuge for many Half-Orcs, myself included. I had no reason to doubt Urnsul's sincerity. But from what you say, it looks like Urnsul may have somehow had a part in Rodrik's death."
"Is there anything else I can help you with? The muscular Half-Orc female looks at the party.
"Any other place he could hide. Or ... who is the man.. or woman in Trunau who knows everything.. for a price?"
Sara Morninghawk will fidget a little then say, "Excuse me for one moment." After a few minutes Sara will return with an elderly feeble Half-Orc. "This is Katrezra," the smithy will make a simple introduction.
Katrezra looks at the party, "I understand you are investigating Rodrik's murder. You may find this useful." The elderly Half-Orc hands Rodrik's Journal over to the party.
Is there any other way I can help your investigation? Sara helps the elderly Half-Orc into a nearby simple wooden chair.
Haskyll takes the Journal.
Thank you, Katrezra. This will come in helpful in solving this murder
aye this will be most useful
"Well a new targe... off to the ashes. But first... aye, what changesd your mind!"
Shouldering his axe once more
Katrezra will begin, “It is no great secret that I was cursed with preternatural visions many years ago, during my time with the Empty Hand. Since I left those savages, many have sought my counsel into matters ranging from the mundane to the dire, but I’m afraid the omens that assault my dreams are nigh indecipherable, even to me, and I have no means of directing them."
He pauses, "“Rodrik originally approached me to ask for advice while courting Brinya Kelver. The love-struck fool—bless his soul—thought I might have some special insights into the traditions of her people or visions of the couple’s everlasting happiness... but come now, do I look like the romantic type?” He smiles wryly, then shakes his head and moves on. “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 with his investigation. I told him about my visions as best I could, but the muse of my nightmares is as abstruse as she is unkind.”
Katrezra will pause for a moment, “To be truthful, I don’t think even Rodrik knew exactly what he was looking for. Rodrik had run afoul of a flood troll in the Plague House not long ago, and the poor fellow was convinced it was not just an isolated incident. He came to me seeking guidance, and his curiosity was piqued by my visions. I told him that flood trolls are native to Belkzen, but they rarely roam this far south of the Flood Road. Since learning of his investigation, though, I have had nightmares unlike any before, and I fear that some greater evil may be at play within Trunau’s walls. I feared for my friend Rodrik.”
"Are flood trolls... intelligent? Did you kill it?"
"Rodrik came across the flood troll, not I. He did not kill it. As to their intelligence, they are not particularly bright," the elderly Half-Orc responds to the Dwarf Ranger.
This doesn't bode well, I think in the morning, we should be looking into the Plague House. To see what we see.