Gorrum scans the massive cemetary, tombs and crypts in all directions.
"Big boneyard, big search if we don't ask."
Andrej accepts the pouch with a slight grin, white teeth flashing in his dark beard. "Spaseeba, Pierre. You talk to caretaker, too?"
"Caretaker? Non."
"No, you talk to him now. Ask if we can search here."
As the only member of the party allowed to look out of the wagon returns to the group, the others convince him to speak with the caretaker. The group approaches to find the man washing several shovels and hoes in a large tub beside the door. He turns at their approach, seemingly a bit startled, and squints at them as they grow closer. "Pig noses, but you startled me". "Can't hear as good as I used to". The old but still spry man steps forward holding out his hand. "Gum Brocker's the name". "You don't look familiar". "Are you looking for anyone in particular"?
NOTICE: Success
Gum is pushing something with his foot behind a stool as you approach.
NOTICE: Raise
Gum is pushing a bottle of Gushmouth Red behind the stool with his foot. From hearing the caravan people talking this is the cheapest, most foul ale available anywhere on the planet. You also notice he has the blue nose, and yellow eyes of a frequent drinker.
As he approaches Satinius takes the lead and moves round as he talks to flourish and gain the attention of Gum.
"Is it possible zat you can 'elp one as me? If you can then I may haf a leetle sumting to 'elp wet your....whistle? What do you say?"
Satinius begins to walk a gold coin backwards and forwards across his fingertips. He continues if the man is in agreement.
"Zee Silva and Monsata familees? Someone 'as been playing wiz fire an' stealing from zem. Zat is not so good. From zere graves, I am told. Well Gum mon ami a gold for all you know!"
Hmph. Drunken weakling. And cheap. Andrej's lip curls slightly, but he says nothing and lets Satinius talk. He does, however, take out the badge from Father Dumas so that Gum can see it.
Morven eyes Gum cautiously;
:
:
:
Recognizing the familiar signs of a drunkard the trollkin also leaves the enviable task of communicating with the old sop to Satinius.
Notice
Wild Die
Gorrum remains quiet as Satinius puzzles the caretaker with his unintelligible accent. He cocks his head, trying to see what the old man was trying to hide with his foot.
Gum's eyes widen, and he licks his lips, as he sees the flashing, tumbling gold piece.
"Well now that you mention it, I could share a little info". Gum seems a bit hesitant, then he sees the small symbol of the Corvis Church of Morrow, and relaxes a bit.
"The full names of the deceased were Moira Monsonata, and Kell Sylva". They've both been our guest here for almost 10-years". "The bodies were both taken the same night, exactly 2-weeks ago today". "I remember because I was under the weather that day". "Usually nothing gets by me". "I might be old, but these eyes are still sharp".
"Really, I'm surprised that you're the first to come asking about this". "I reported it like I was supposed to".
Gorrum: Since you stated you're making an effort to see you can read spoiler #2 above.
Zadluzeny Since you're staying back, surveying things at large, you see several yards away a large figure in the uniform of an officer of the City watch, leaning over a grave, hunched down and seemingly deep in thought.
ALL: When you're in a social encounter like this, it's probably a good idea just to make an intimidation or persuasion roll in advance. Might be nothing more to reveal, but could save us time, and move the game along, if there is.
"Did someone pay the attention to sair graves before they abscon-dead? Some thin', how you say?, out of shape perhaps. A visitor casing the graves mais oui?"
Giving the man a chance to jog his own mind and remember Satinius then flicks his wrist. The gold piece spins in the air and curves gracefully towards Gum.
"Bon! Directions please to where they lie. And Ah wander why we hav' no one else investigating here. It is bess to tell us since we 'ave to 'elp zem with the missing. Mon ami if there is more then remember us."
Once the man provides directions, the gun mage scans the graveyard to where he points and eventually notices the city official.
"OOh iz zat, Gum?"
Satinius
How about a couple of persuasion rolls. One for each subject discussed? (NOTE: Without the skill for you it's /1d4-2, and 1d6 WD, Plus 2 to each die for Charisma. These ace just like all trait rolls.)
The bleary eyed Gum seems to be having a few issues with the friendly mage. His words and accent may be a little too unusual.
"Well the Monsonata site is over there". The old man points to an area about 200 yds away under a big Ficus tree. "And the Sylva grave is over there beyond where the Watch Captain is paying his respects". Brocker greedily grabs the coin out of the air, his eyes drifting to his stashed hooch.
"As far as why nobody's investigating...well I guess they're just too busy". "What with Corvis growing like a stink weed, I guess they're more concerned with the living than the dead". "And neither family I suppose is influential enough for it to matter much...especially since they've been playing Stickball with Morrow for 10-years now".
"I thought I saw something the night of the grave robbery, but I'm sure it was just a trick of the moonlight".
"That man over there is Watch Captain , and there's not a finer man in the whole city of Corvis". "He comes without fail several times a week to lament the passing of his dear wife...bless her soul". "Been almost two years now and he's still faithful to the core". "Takes good care of ole Gum as well".
NOTICE:
His eyes drift back to the bottle as he mentions Helstrom taking care of him as well.
Andrej again fails to keep the contempt he feels from his face, but turns towards the Watch captain so that the drunken Gum can't see him. "Satinius. You talk to captain, too? I look at graves."
Notice
Wild die
Gorrum frowns at the man's obvious obsession with the bottle of rotgut on the ground
"Just take a swig already, man. If it'll calm yer nerves, or improve yer memory." the big ogrun rumbles.
"Oh why thank you". "Don't mind if I do...been a really long day and all you know". "Helps to settle the nerves". "Here have a drink with me, only thing better than a stiff drink, is sharing it with someone".
The man dusts off a couple of earthenware mugs, and offers them to the party.
"Bien." Satinius takes a drink and hands the mug on to leave his hands free.
Then he wanders over to the Captain, smiling as he gets closer, checking to make sure that the man is not praying or otherwise busy. Then when an appropriate moment arrives he steps up and introduces himself.
"Hallo mon Capitan. Ar am sorry to bother you 'ere with your wife. But monsieur Gum says you are a man to be trusted. Ar am Satinius in zee employ of the Church to 'elp solve the missing bodies in zis graveyard. Per'aps you may know sumsink? A leetle clue or three?"
Gorrum takes the offered jug and takes a swig.
Smacking his lips, he gives the liquor back to the gravekeeper.
"Alright, how about you show me those graves..."
Diplomacy
Wild die
Satinius
The man rises from his one knee kneeling position with a slight grimace of pain...probably an old injury or something. His intelligent eyes are slightly red from grief, but he fixes you with a warm penetrating glare.
"Satinius you say"? "The name and accent mark you as a man of Ryn". "Names Julian Hellstrom, Captain of the city watch". "He then looks you up and down as if determining you worth. "And what would a man of Ryn be doing working for the Church of Morrow"? "I'm guessing you're new to town"? His eyes then drift to the rest of the party, taking in the group drinking with Brocker". "I got a report of the grave robberies, but unfortunately with all the new people in town, and the coming festivities of the Longest Night, we've not had time to investigate properly". "Good to see Dumas took this on himself". "I don't know much more than the names and locations of the graves myself, but I'd be betting that you'll soon have a better story from ole Gum after about two more mugs of that rotgut". "Whether you choose to believe him or not...well that's another matter". "Now if you'll excuse me I've got to go in for my shift". "If you come up with anything that I can help you with, just ask any guardsman, and they'll get word to me".
Gum has a few more snorts of the vile liquor, and sits down, pulling Gorrum aside, and standing on a pale to whisper his greatest secret in his ear.
Gorrum
"Nobody believes me, but I swear on the finest brandy in Corvis that I saw something more that night". "I heard a noise, and went out to investigate". "The moon was pretty bright that night, and I know I saw a young woman out near the graves". "She took off like a scalded cat when I approached, and I haven't seen her since". "I didn't recognize her, but it was strange to have a young woman alone out among the graves alone at night". "Most don't believe me though...He says eyes trailing to the bottle in hand.
When the party finally investigates the graves, they see nothing unusual. Obviously the graves have been repaired, and any clues would have been covered up by now. Also,since it's been two weeks since the grave robbing, weather, and new growth have helped to cover things. up.
"Thank you for the company, and the spirits". Brocker replies as you leave. "If you find out anything let me know". "Otherwise I hope I don't see you for a long time". The old man then cackles at his own joke, and begins to stagger back towards his cabin.
"Merci Capitan Hellstrom," murmurs the gun mage as the officer leaves.
He returns to the rest with a shrug and explains what little he learnt an how the Captain of the guard while help if they discover anything concrete.
"Zer is meny peeple from out of ze town 'ere for a festival of the Long Night, I sink."
Watching the gravedigger stagger away, Gorrum shakes his head slowly then return to the others
"The rotgut quickened the old man's memory. He saw a young woman at the graves the night they were desecrated"
The morning will leave you with several options, The Gadock Family Farm, The Sunbright Estate, The Eastern Boneyard, and the Fullet Family Farm. If you don't wish any nighttime forays into the city, just let me know and we'll advance to the next morning. If you wish to experience your first night in Corvis...experiencing the city...well...you asked for it :-).
Andrej is not interested in the decadence of the city's night life. Though it affronts his Menite upbringing, he'll accept Dumas' hospitality.
Gorrum has no issues bedding down in the holy temple, taking what ever accomodations are offered.... his rumbling snores soon reverberating through the arched edifice.
Satinius stays with his friends for simplicity's sake.
And in the morning????
"Eastern Boneyard? All same to me."
To the Eastern Boneyards it is.
This pathetic place is where the poor bury their dead. Only the wealthy landowners have family plots inside the city, and the northern graveyard is home to more middle-class occupants. The rest of Corvis inters their dead in this dreary, mucky boneyard a mile outside the eastern city gate. There is no caretaker, and despite volunteer efforts by some of the city's clergy, the place is in terrible disrepair. The stench of death fills the air, and the ground is littered with improvised grave markers, and bone fragments.
You will probably have to search the graveyard yourselves for the two victims here (Hopless, and Burkett) This would be Notice rolls.
You can all make a general Notice roll as well.
The only sign of discomfort Andrej gives at the stench is another lip curl. He peers around the pauper's graves intently.
"Ug, disgusting. I prefer the other boneyard." Gorrum mutters as he steps carefully around a putrescent burial mound.
Notice check 1
Wild die
Notice check 2
Wild die
General ntoice check
Wild die
The gun mage spends his time avoiding the puddles of who knows what and making sure it never goes who knows where.
He pays no attention to his surroundings and keeps concentrating on keeping his nostrils closed.
"Zis smell!"
Andrej is the first to spot one of the questioned gravesites. The churned earth offers no clues, except for a worn marker with the name "Ham Hopless".
About 10-minutes later Gorrum spots another area of disturbed earth, and points to the marker there..."Sem Burkett". Again no clues are available as the party finishes their search.
Satinius, eyes watering, and kerchief over mouth and nose, only pays attention when the markers are pointed out, and someone needs to read the inscriptions.
As they begin to turn away from the boneyard, content that there is nothing further to be learned here, a twig snaps in the distance, and the three turn at the sound.
A scrawny, dirty man dressed in rags peaks out from behind a stunted mulberry tree, peering at the party.
If you wish to approach the man, tell me how you go about it. (Describe any actions you take when, or before approaching him, then make Persuasion or Intimidation rolls if you use that skill.
The tall trollkin eyes the raggedy man in the distance;
"Looks like an auld jakie... Mind how yease go"
Morven taps the handle of her warclub as she discerns what she can from the scrawny lurkers actions and stance;
:
:
:
Morven
He appears to be a shy, starving vagrent.
(Edited)
Andrej waves to the man without approaching him, or seeming actively hostile (as opposed to just surly). "Hey! You want food?"
The man steps out from behind the bush at the mention of food, and begins to wring his hands, hesitantly approaching the group. "You give food to Eggar"?
The Kossite nods once. "Yes. Have food for Eggar. Maybe not eat here, though." He rummages in his pack for some of his trail rations, producing a piece of venison jerky. "Have question first. You see people looking here--" He points at the disturbed graves. "--few days ago?"
The man greedily shuffles forward and grabs for the food. "Food is good anywhere" , he pants as his nearly toothless mouth begins to gnaw at the food.
"Eggar did sees somebody...but they not see him". "They had no food for Eggar". "She was pretty...no beautiful". "At first Eggar think she is a spirit angel, but then she make noises". "Beautiful girl, dressed in white flowing dress". "Eggar then shyly begins to giggle, and hide his face as thought embarrassed. "I don't know why she want dead body". "They no good to eat".
"Which place closer? We go there next."
Rising from where he was crouching, trying to look less threatening to the wretch, Gorrum "Yes, this stink will stay in my nose permanently if we stay much longer."
As he walks to the edge of the boneyard with Andrej he mutters "Another unreliable sighting of a beautiful girl desacrating graves....these be strange tidings."
"Da. Is this usual thing for city?"
Morven snorts a laugh at Andrej's comment;
"Och aye it is Kosstite. Leastwaiys fen the bampots are deep in their cups! Loads o' drunkards see plenty weirder..."
"Anywhere away from here is good" Santinus agrees with a quick nod, and group heads towards the Sunbright Estate, asking directions as they go. As they get closer to that end of town, the notice more of the city guard, and less of the city stench. After a while even the clamoring and whirring of the hard working steamjacks fades, and the quiet of a wealthy suburban area takes over.
The Sunbright home is a beautiful mansion surrounded by a low wall in the midst of many other such homes in one of the nicer parts of the city. Though there is not much traffic in the streets at this time of day, the party definitely stands out in this environment. The family has hung huge festive banners from the balconies in preparation for the Longest Night Festival a few days from now.
A butler greets the party and shows them into the foyer, then goes to fetch Lord Elger Sunbright, the patriarch of the family.
Knowledge: Local
Success
The Corvis Sunbrights are a rich family directly related to Duke Mordrihn Sunbright II of the Western Midlands.
Knowledge Local: Raise, or Knowledge Nobility: Success.
Elger is technically a baron and a reeve although he has little interest in local politics, and has turned his familyh to unseemly mercantile business.
Lord Elger descends a staircase to where the gang waits, and stops a few steps up the staircase viewing the group. He takes a kerchief from his vest pocket, and holds it to his nose as he addresses the PC's.
"Greetings, and welcome to Sunbright Manor". "I am very short of time, so let's get to the point". "What do you need from me"?
As the party questions the man, they learn that the deceased was named Radnor Sunbright, and that the tomb...on the estate was robbed about three weeks ago.
Pursuasion: Success
The PC's learn that Radnor's expensive marble tomb was damaged in the robbery, and he died of Illness 8 years ago.
Santinus
Persuasion Roll:
, Ace
Satinus will reveal what's behind the Persuasion Spoiler, if nobody else makes it, or wishes to try.