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As you return to your table, two things happen. First, desert arrives: a large bowl of sweet turnip porridge is set for Bort, while various fruits is cut and pealed for everyone else.
Tyrion starts to dig into the fresh fruit, when he hears the commotion. He looks up to see if Trin is okay and out of danger. Assuming so, he remains seated and tries some fruit. He's seen this kind of brawl many times. He just shakes his head, takes a swig from his mug, and continues with dessert as if nothing abnormal is going on.
The dining area becomes chaos after a few moments. Quite a few people evacuate from the area, trying to avoid the fight. Several people leave the tavern. Delma grows pale, and immediately excuses herself, saying she needs to get the Sheriff.
Bort decides to try to calm things down, but gets a chair thrown at him for his trouble (which he thankfully ducks away from).
A random glass mug flies toward Trin. Thankfully, Darr saw the glass mug coming and pulls Trin aside just in time.
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After a minute, Delma comes back following a portly man in his mid 30s. With the sound of a whistle, the barfight ends.
"What in blazes happened here?" he says scanning the room. "You people," he says pointing at the barroom brawlers, "lets go over here so we can have a private word. Delma, if you will excuse me, I'll use this side room and figure out who needs to pay up for your damages." He gathers the farmers involved and takes them to the back.
Bort takes a hancerchiff from his pocket and wipes some sweat off his brow. "Well then, that was somewhat interesting. Well then, how about some dessert!
Thankfully, your table was relatively untouched during the fight. Bort geleefully begins digging into his turnip porridge. "Hey Delma, tell your Ms Kasillan fine work as normal. The porridge is really, really great today!"
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Watching the brawl unfold, Mandoo wasn't sure if this type of activity was a standard part of each evening's entertainment at the Feedmill. One look at Delma's worried face and quick exit told him that this was not the case.
As Mandoo had been engrossed in his conversation with Delma, he had not seen what started the brawl. Based on his limited personal experience with such bar fights, he suspected that a good amount of alcohol consumption was involved.
With Delma being somewhat occupied with the aftermath of the brawl, Mandoo decides to let her deal with things and trots back to their table. He helps himself to a big bowl of the porridge and starts wolfing it down.
Between bites, he says to no one in particular, "Brawl not common," munch, munch, "How start?", munch, munch, burp, "Sorry", munch munch, "porridge good", munch munch.
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Tyrion, still sitting at the table enjoying his fresh fruit, casually glances up as the sheriff hauls some farmers away. He didn't seem to be bothered by the noise of the brawl and barely notices that it ended. He returns to his dessert and finishes the last few bites.
Between bites, he says to no one in particular, "Brawl not common," munch, munch, "How start?", munch, munch, burp, "Sorry", munch munch, "porridge good", munch munch.
Tyrion responds, "Actually, this type of thing happens all too often." With surprising clarity, he continues, "I saw the whole thing. One of the farmers got up suddenly, and poor Trin bumped into him. Barely. Unfortunately, it caused him to spill his drink. All hell broke loose after that." After a short pause, "Shame about his drink."
Turning to Darr, "Nicely done pulling Trin aside. That mug just missed her."
To those wondering how he could know all this, he sets down his drink and volunteers, "It's in my nature to be perceptive. I try not to miss too much."
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Mandoo finishes his bowl of porridge in a new world record and washes it down with a gulp from his mug. "Bort was right, that was some excellent porridge", he thinks.
Mandoo picks at the cut fruit, wondering if there was any more of that porridge left in the kitchen. He'd been so distracted by Delma sitting next to him that he'd not taken full advantage of the dinner she'd brought to the table. Mandoo is still a little hungry and starts working his way through whatever leftovers of the meal remain on the table.
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Lizzo was enjoying his ale, and looking forward to a hot bowl of the local turnip soup when he noticed the brawl breaking out. Being the only Iruxi in sight, he feels it’s wise to continue sipping his ale. He calmly watches from the table, keeping a keen eye to make sure it doesn’t get out of hand.
When the porridge arrives, he dives in and quickly finishes his first bowl. He says to Bort:
”Thank you for the recommendation. Thisss wasss even better than your’sss!”
He noticed a few winces with his last comment, and quickly realized the implications. ”Sssorry Bort, your sssoup wasss very good.”
Once Bort has his back to him though, he slips in an order for another ale and bowl of that delicious porridge.
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Darr makes sure that Trin is okay. "Are you okay? I am sorry if I pulled you too hard." Darr does a pats Trin's arm that he pulled. He gets the chair was sitting in, places it upright and offers it back to Trin.
"I haven't seen a bar brawl myself but from the stories I have heard, what master Tyrion said is true". He walks back to his seat and enjoys more of his honey wine with some of the fruit.
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Mandoo polishes off the last of the seed cake, "Mmmm, not bad." He then casually checks the others at the table. Seeing that no one seems particularly interested in the remains of the roasted turnips, he starts in on them before anyone changes their minds.
"The turnips are not half bad in this town," he thinks as he drops another into his mouth. "Much better than the ones they used to serve us at the Grand Lodge." Licking his fingers, he looks up to see Darr comforting Trin and providing her with a chair to sit in. He had been a little distracted by Delma earlier and had not really taken much notice of Trin. He looks at her more closely now to judge her condition.
He notices the scar on Trin's cheek and wonders how she acquired it? The thought momentarily transports him back to that fateful day many years ago when he got his own scars; the sudden appearance of the demon horde; the flash of the explosion; the final scream of his father; the thousands of razor-sharp slivers cutting across his body. He shuts his eyes and shakes his head to clear it of these unwelcome memories.
Mandoo smiles at Trin to put her at ease, and indicating her scar asks, "How Trin get scar?"
He notices the scar on Trin's cheek and wonders how she acquired it? The thought momentarily transports him back to that fateful day many years ago when he got his own scars; the sudden appearance of the demon horde; the flash of the explosion; the final scream of his father; the thousands of razor-sharp slivers cutting across his body. He shuts his eyes and shakes his head to clear it of these unwelcome memories.
Mandoo smiles at Trin to put her at ease, and indicating her scar asks, "How Trin get scar?"
Trin doesn't seem overly distraught.
"Oh, this?" she says tracing the line. I got this maybe three years ago? Another barroom brawl. Farmer Thomas decided to use the silverwhare instead of his fists. After he did that, well, the rest of the hall came down on him pretty hard. Sheriff had him arrested and he had to face the magistrate. The brawls here is pretty much the only excitement in my own life really...
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As Bort scarfs down his porrage, he tells a story. "Ah, have I ever told you about the adventure I had near the waters of Lake Encarthan?" See, my boat was set upon by a mighty storm and the ship capsized. He has a coughing fit for a moment. "Excuse me. I guess I'm having a bit of indigestion. Anyway, the sea waves were 15 foot monster waves, and when the waves took me, he coughs a bit more, I managed to grab one of the treasured lockboxes. I woke up in front of Pharasma, about to be judged. *cough* Alas, she couldn't judge my fate because her hair was being tussled by the storm winds that brought me before her. I didn't wanta be inconsiderate, so I found a silver comb in the lockbox that I gave to her. She was pretty happy for the gift. She used the comb to tame her hair, and *cough, cough* she was so happy that she returned me and my crew to the shores of the lake, alive and well."
It is suddenly very apparent that he is in severe distress, as the coughing returns, and his face begins to turn purple. He drops his silverware to the floor. The coughing ceases, and he begins to clutch his throat.
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Tyrion listens to Bort's story and is alarmed when he starts hearing Bort cough. Tyrion doesn't hear the end of the story because he's suddenly very worried about Bort's condition.
Tyrion jumps up from his chair and rushes to Bort's side and attempts to diagnose the problem. "Hang in there, big guy. Let's get you fixed up."
Based on what he determines, Tyrion does what he can to aid.
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It is suddenly very apparent that he is in severe distress, as the coughing returns, and his face begins to turn purple. He drops his silverware to the floor. The coughing ceases, and he begins to clutch his throat.
When Bort clutches at his throat and stops breathing, Mando is reminded of the time that his master Ajit started choking during one of their meals. When Ajit realized what was happening to him, he calmly directed Mandoo to slap him hard on the back as he bent over. Mandoo was surprised when a small bone fragment flew out of Ajit's mouth.
Mandoo therefore suspects that Bort didn't chew one of his beets properly before swallowing. "Bort choking?", he says without a lot of certainty.
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained," thinks Mandoo as he moves in behind Bort. He bends Bort over at the waist and gives him a stiff slap on the back to see if that dislodges whatever is stuck in his throat.
Mandoo looks at Bort and finding that he is still not breathing, shakes his head, declaring, "Bort not choking," with a little more certainty.
His medical knowledge exhausted, Mandoo steps back from Bort and lets someone else have a shot at treating him.
Tyrion listens to Bort's story and is alarmed when he starts hearing Bort cough. Tyrion doesn't hear the end of the story because he's suddenly very worried about Bort's condition.
Tyrion jumps up from his chair and rushes to Bort's side and attempts to diagnose the problem. "Hang in there, big guy. Let's get you fixed up."
Based on what he determines, Tyrion does what he can to aid.
Bort is not choking on anything; his windpipe has swollen shut, and you hear a rumble from his guts. You suspect he has been poisoned.
Despite Tyrion's best attempt to help Bort, the unfortunate Dwarf's eyes roll into his head and he begins to froth in the mouth. Mere moments thereafter, he collapses onto the table and dies.
You hear several women scream at Bort's death.
"What in blazes is going on here?" Sheriff Rolth Garley says as he returns from the back room. "Oh, my... he says after seeing Bort's purple body. He looks toward your party. "Any of you want to explain what just happened? he says with all seriousness.
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"What in blazes is going on here?" Sheriff Rolth Garley says as he returns from the back room. "Oh, my... he says after seeing Bort's purple body. He looks toward your party. "Any of you want to explain what just happened? he says with all seriousness.
Tyrion, standing over Bort, shakes his head and closes Bort's eyelids. He looks up to the Sheriff, "Appears his windpipe was swollen shut. While it could have been an allergic reaction, it's more likely he was poisoned." He carefully looks around the table and points to Bort's bowl of porridge. "The only thing he ate that we didn't have was that porridge.". He pauses and then looks to Mandoo and Lizzo. "Wait ... didn't the two of you have some too? How do you feel?" Tyrion studies Mandoo and Lizzo carefully and waits for their responses.
Tyrion, standing over Bort, shakes his head and closes Bort's eyelids. He looks up to the Sheriff, "Appears his windpipe was swollen shut. While it could have been an allergic reaction, it's more likely he was poisoned." He carefully looks around the table and points to Bort's bowl of porridge. "The only thing he ate that we didn't have was that porridge.". He pauses and then looks to Mandoo and Lizzo. "Wait ... didn't the two of you have some too? How do you feel?" Tyrion studies Mandoo and Lizzo carefully and waits for their responses.
"What in blazes is going on here?" Sheriff Rolth Garley says as he returns from the back room. "Oh, my... he says after seeing Bort's purple body. He looks toward your party. "Any of you want to explain what just happened? he says with all seriousness.
Tyrion waits in nervous anticipation, but nothing happens to Mandoo and Lizzo.
"Well, who are you people, and what is your relation to my good friend Bort here?
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Bort is not choking on anything; his windpipe has swollen shut, and you hear a rumble from his guts. You suspect he has been poisoned.
Mandoo is a little surprised at finding out that Bort was poisoned. He could have sworn the dwarf was choking; he was getting all ready to slap him on the back to clear things up. He's glad he didn't now. "Probably would have made things worse," he thinks to himself, then looking down at the poor dead dwarf. "Or maybe not. Hard to see how things could be much worse for Bort right now."
He carefully looks around the table and points to Bort's bowl of porridge. "The only thing he ate that we didn't have was that porridge.". He pauses and then looks to Mandoo and Lizzo. "Wait ... didn't the two of you have some too? How do you feel?" Tyrion studies Mandoo and Lizzo carefully and waits for their responses.
Mandoo frowns for a couple of seconds before the import of Tyrion's words sinks in.
Mandoo takes a moment to double-check the current condition of his body. He's feeling a little full of the excellent turnips, and a fraction slowed by the drink that Delma recommended, but otherwise fine. "Mandoo feel fine." he replies. "Not choking.". He pauses, "Not choking yet," he amends.
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Tyrion waits in nervous anticipation, but nothing happens to Mandoo and Lizzo.
"Well, who are you people, and what is your relation to my good friend Bort here?
Mandoo knows from much experience that his trying to explain things to strangers, especially agitated strangers, rarely results a positive outcome. He remains quiet, hoping that one of the others answers. Perhaps that strange Quecksworth fellow; he seems to be good with words.
He looks around for gnome. "Where did the he get to?"
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Mandoo furrows his brow in concentration, trying to remember the events of earlier in the evening. He remembers Trin taking their order and then returning with their drinks. He vividly remembers Delma joining them at the table and his following her back to the bar. He remembers the brawl breaking out, interrupting his conversation with Delma. He remembers returning to the table after the brawl to find that dessert had been served and Bort eating his porridge.
He leans over and sniffs the remains of Bort's porridge.
Mandoo turns to Tyrion, "Maybe not porridge. Maybe drink poisoned." He looks around for Bort's drink.
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"Gods! I leave to use the restroom and the was a fight and now a death?!" Kaneda stumbles from the restrooms to where the party is and takes a knee. "We should find who did this and make them pay for their crime."
Kaneda stands and turns to the sheriff "Is there anyone you know that may have held a grudge against Bort?"
"Gods! I leave to use the restroom and the was a fight and now a death?!" Kaneda stumbles from the restrooms to where the party is and takes a knee. "We should find who did this and make them pay for their crime."
"Indeed." notes Quecksworth, who had been waiting patiently outside the restroom to tend to their cleanliness after the warrior was finished.
Kaneda stands and turns to the sheriff "Is there anyone you know that may have held a grudge against Bort?"
"Or other Pathfinders?" asks the gnome with some obvious concern.
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At the sight of Bort's poisoning, Lizzo slowly realizes the implications with his soup. He drops the spoon in shock, as Tyrion tries to revive Bort.
After a few unsettling minutes, Lizzo doesn't notice anything different, and seems to be ok. He decides to down what remains in the bowl quickly, figuring two bowls vs one and a half won't make much of a difference to the poison.
He can't let Bort's favorite go to waste, and it looks like we've got a mystery to solve....
"While you were gone, this local authority figure asked who we are. Would you care to handle the introductions?"
"Oh? Why yes, of course, Master Tyrion." Quecksworth replies, just beginning to gain his orientation.
Turning toward the sheriff, the gnome bows and says, "I am Quecksworth of the Pathfinder Society." He gestures to the halfling. "Master Tyrion, here--devotee of Cayden Cailean--is one of the Society's agents as well."
"As are Masters Tetsuo, Gahgan, Mandoo, and Lizzo; each is a Pathfinder and, as proven most recently, a scourge to bloodseekers." he continues, gesturing to each of the party members. "As for departed Master Bort, may Pharasma rest his soul, he was not only once a Pathfinder, but also a teller of extraordinary tales. The former I have learned by trusted word of mouth and the latter by careful listening of ear."
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Mandoo is a little relieved to see the return of Kaneda and Quecksworth, and is not disappointed by the strange gnome's eloquence in dealing with the sheriff. If it had been up to Mandoo, he would probably have said something like "We Pathfinders," and left it at that.
While Quecksworth is doing the talking, Mando scans the room to see if anyone is behaving suspiciously. He is particularly interested in the whereabouts of Trin and Delma.
Trin, he's not sure about; her interest in the party may have been genuine, or perhaps merely a pretext to join them at the table for some other reason. He also remembers Tyrion mentioning that Trin had been the trigger for the start of the brawl, which could have been an accident, or not.
As for Delma, he's only concerned about how she's taking the situation. Not well, he suspects.
The sheriff raises his eyebrows for a moment, then says, "All right then. You are pathfinders," noting the symbol of the open road that some of you display. "Hey Tamli, is what they claim true?"
"Yeah." the half orc says, fighting back tears. "Far as I was told by Bort. We picked them up about two days ago as a favor to one of Bort's friends from his old days as an adventurer.
The sheriff nods. He then goes and yanks a piece of tablecloth from another table, and drapes it over the body. [b]"How about you folks move away from the table there for a moment, and head on to the back of the inn for a bit, so I can talk to Bort's crew for a bit. I'll see you in a few minutes. Don't go anywhere."
The sheriff comes to you after a while, looking troubled. He asks you questions about what you were doing, what your purpose of being with the caravan, etc.
Eventually, he says,
"I heard you tried to help Bort when he got sick, and besides you guys hardly knew him. Now I can't be certain, but I doubt you fellas are responsible. So I'm going to take a chance here. I'm way out of my league here.
"In this town, it has no crime. I don't do much here other than settle disputes over livestock and break up the occasional drunken brawl. There hasn't been a real crime or theft in years. Everyone gets along pretty well here; like good neighbors. So I could really, really use your help here. I heard that one of you was an investigator in the past. I would really, really appreciate it if you could help me figure out who done it.
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Tyrion nods to Sheriff Garley when he mentions he's hoping for an investigator, "I spent time as a private investigator, if that counts. My background is in detective work."
He scans the room carefully to see who's still in the tavern and to make sure their table is untouched. He continues, "We would need access to Bort's body and his remaining bowl and mug to determine how he was poisoned. We'd also need to speak with the kitchen staff as well as Delma and Trin, who spent time at our table this evening." Tyrion's mismatched eyes shift warily around the room to make sure no one is eavesdropping, and adds in a lower voice, "My primary concern, if we help with this investigation, is how willing can we expect the locals to be to speak with outsiders like us?"
People are still in the tavern, but you notice that people are filtering out and going home.
Tyrion nods to Sheriff Garley when he mentions he's hoping for an investigator, "I spent time as a private investigator, if that counts. My background is in detective work."
He scans the room carefully to see who's still in the tavern and to make sure their table is untouched. He continues, "We would need access to Bort's body and his remaining bowl and mug to determine how he was poisoned. We'd also need to speak with the kitchen staff as well as Delma and Trin, who spent time at our table this evening." Tyrion's mismatched eyes shift warily around the room to make sure no one is eavesdropping, and adds in a lower voice, "My primary concern, if we help with this investigation, is how willing can we expect the locals to be to speak with outsiders like us?"
The sheriff nods. All right. I told everyone to go home and leave the crime scene. I doubt the townsfolk are going anywhere anyways. I primarily suspect the caravan members anyways. They have the most to gain with Bort's death afterall.
As far as the locals go, some of them won't mind talking to you at all. Caravans are pretty much the only window to the wider world after all. There might be a few people around who would probably be a little downright unfriendly, but those people are thankfully a minority around here.
Mandoo has a thought. He turns to the others and in a low voice asks, "Mandoo not here when porridge come. Who bring porridge?"
You recall a male server named Kolnral served the porridge to Bort.
People to talk to:
Amora Kasillan - The cook of Freedmill
Delma Fulst - Daughter of the Mayor & proprietor of Freedmill
Edra Wythe - Stablehand of Freedmill
Flonk - The bard performing near your table
Kolnral Brannak - Male Human server of Freedmill
Trin Sathern - Female human server of Freedmill
Cooky - Very old Elf Merchant caravan's resident cook
Glunda Grapeleaf - Gnome druid caravan teamster
Olf Redfren - Male Human Caravan Teamster
Ulf Redfren - Male Human Caravan Teamster
Tamli Grent - Female Half-orc and second in command of the caravan.
Other unidentified farmers & townsfolk - You'll need to talk to someone to identify them.
Physical Items
Porridge - Recall Knowledge craft (alchemy) or medicine to identify poison.
"If I may, inspect the...er, murder weapon, if you will?" Quecksworth asks, looking to the sheriff before reaching for the bowl.
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Mandoo is worried about Delma, and seeing that the others have control of the crime scene, excuses himself with a "Mando talk to Delma", and goes to seek her out.
Coming up to Delma, Mandoo tries to assess her state of mind. He's hoping to convince himself that Delma was not involved and then recruit her to help them track down the culprit.
Looking at her with concern, he moves in close and asks, "How Delma doing?"
"Poor Bort dead; poisoned; sad day." Then indicating himself and the other pathfinders, states with a sense of conviction, "We find killer. Delma help?"
"Bort good person. Delma know who want Bort dead?"
"Know anyone dislike Bort?"
"Poison strong and fast; know what kind?"
"Know someone who know poisons?"
"Know of poisons in Feedmill? in town?"
"Mandoo think poison in porridge. I eat porridge, but still not dead. Not know why. Want to see kitchen. Want to talk to porridge cook. Is ok?"
"Porridge very good. Who make porridge?"
"How porridge made?"
"Who put porridge in bowl?"
"Bowl sit in kitchen long time?"
"Any poisons in kitchen?"
"Heard Kolnral serve porridge. Kolnral good person?"
"Someone help Kolnral with porridge?"
"Anything happen on way to table?
"See anything strange after serving porridge?
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Tyrion joins Quecksworth in examining the porridge bowl for any trace of poison.
After examining the bowl, Tyrion thinks back to an earlier conversation he had with Cooky:
After you ask Cooky for the recipe, the Glunda, the gnome teamster, groans. Cooky yells out, "What? Ya want my recipe? Eh, why not." he grins. "First, Ya got ta have very specific mushrooms here. The locals call'em deathcaps, but that's a big lie. See, there is an easy way to get rid of the toxins..." He continues for a long while sprouting all sorts of obvious misinformation to you, telling that to "purge the venom from the deathcaps, you have to "squeeze them as tight as possible until they scream in agony so that they give up, and that the best way to char meat is to plunge it directly into an open fire.
He surveys the room to find Cooky. He wants to ask if there might be any similarities to the toxic mushrooms mentioned earlier compared with the toxins in this turnip porridge.
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Darr goes to Tamli and talks to her.
"Hey, are you okay? If you need to talk to someone about Bort's passing, I'm here. We'll get to the bottom of this. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"
"How well does the town know Bort?"
"Did anyone have any grudges toward Bort?"
"Did Bort have any interesting deliveries that could put a target on him?"
"Cooky talked about some deadly mushrooms that the locals use. Do you know where we can find some of them?"
Mandoo is worried about Delma, and seeing that the others have control of the crime scene, excuses himself with a "Mando talk to Delma", and goes to seek her out.
"Its strange. One moment, he was his usual cheery, bosterous self. A few moments later, he is dead," Delma says as Mandoo approaches her.
Looking at her with concern, he moves in close and asks, "How Delma doing?"
Tears form in Delma's eyes. Not great. No, not at all. Horible even. I always looked forward when Bort came around, you know? Everyone here did. Even the usual drunks and the troublemakers interacted with him relatively cordially.
"Poison strong and fast; know what kind?"
"Sorry, I don't know anything about poisons at all.
"Know someone who know poisons?"
"I don't know of anyone who knows how to brew poisons. Maybe Lawren Kent? He is one of the patrons who comes by to visit really often. I hear he used to be an adventurer.
"Know of poisons in Feedmill? in town?"
"No."
"Mandoo think poison in porridge. I eat porridge, but still not dead. Not know why. Want to see kitchen. Want to talk to porridge cook. Is ok?"
Well, yeah, you can search the kitchen. I already sent Amora home though. Sheriff said that I had to close up shop for the time being.[/b]
Delma wipes away a tear. "The members of the caravan are upstairs if you want to talk to them, and the Sheriff moved Bort's body upstars into the cellar. Anything else you want to talk about Mandoo? I think I want to go home. Is there anything else?"
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"If I may, inspect the...er, murder weapon, if you will?" Quecksworth asks, looking to the sheriff before reaching for the bowl.
Tyrion joins Quecksworth in examining the porridge bowl for any trace of poison.
You head back inside, as the last of the patrons leave the tavern. The only person inside is a somewhat shocked Delma, who seems to be in shock, staring at where Bort's covered corpse once was.
Quecksworth and Tyrion begin by taking a look at the soup. Thankfully, after smelling a rather sweet smell from the leftover soup Boris ingested, Tyrion recognizes a rather uncommon and dangerous poison: Violet Breath. After injestion, it the poison disrupts muscle smooth muscle tissue and rupturing blood vessels, causing the victim's skin color to become purple as blood gets closer to the skin. Victims die from internal bleeding or suffication from swelling of the lyranx.
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After examining the bowl, Tyrion thinks back to an earlier conversation he had with Cooky:
After you ask Cooky for the recipe, the Glunda, the gnome teamster, groans. Cooky yells out, "What? Ya want my recipe? Eh, why not." he grins. "First, Ya got ta have very specific mushrooms here. The locals call'em deathcaps, but that's a big lie. See, there is an easy way to get rid of the toxins..." He continues for a long while sprouting all sorts of obvious misinformation to you, telling that to "purge the venom from the deathcaps, you have to "squeeze them as tight as possible until they scream in agony so that they give up, and that the best way to char meat is to plunge it directly into an open fire.He surveys the room to find Cooky. He wants to ask if there might be any similarities to the toxic mushrooms mentioned earlier compared with the toxins in this turnip porridge.
You find a distressed Cooky in his room he is sharing with the male teamster members of the caravan. Olf and Ulf are also inside, and the two giant ulfen men are clearly crying.
"Tyrion, what do you want? the elf snaps at you. I am kind of mourning for a dear friend at the moment."
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Meanwhile Darr goes knocks on the door of the bedroom of the female caravan members. You find Glunda consoling Tamli within.
"...Gozreth teaches that there is a cycle of life and death. Worthy souls such as Bort will find the afterlife comfortable, and when his soul is ready, Gozreth will allow his soul to be reborn anew." Glunda preaches.
"Hey, are you okay? If you need to talk to someone about Bort's passing, I'm here. We'll get to the bottom of this. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"
Glunda shakes her head.
"How well does the town know Bort?"
"We come here really often, maybe six times a year. When we took up this route a few years back, we wern't well known around town, and people would ask Delma to order things, and we came along at the right time that Delma decided to use our services to order some things people around here could only get in the city. Nowadays though, people came to Bort or I directly if they wanted to order something. We loved staying here because for the most part, people are so friendly."
"Did anyone have any grudges toward Bort?"
"Not that I'm aware of. We at least have cordial relations with everyone in town. How about you Glunda?
"No,"[b] Glunda replies shaking her head. [b]"As far as I know, Bort didn't have any problems with anyone else in town. Though I think that little Trin girl was always a problem. She took too much interest in Bort's tales. You know that I once found them in the woods, with her half naked and Bort giving her some sort of back rub? It wasn't any of my business back then, but you know, I wonder."
"Did Bort have any interesting deliveries that could put a target on him?"
Talmi narrows her eyes. "You think we would be carrying illicit goods?"
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There is a moderate amount of hustle and busle around. Olf and Ulf seem to be slowly setting up a portable while cracking jokes to each other. A female half orc starts yelling at them, telling the two to hurry it up or she’ll dock their pay, which Olf and Ulf immediately comply. Meanwhile, a gnome seems to be tending to the horses, giving them some grain as well as a little bit of sweets.
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Tyrion shares his discovery of Violet Breath with Quecksworth and the other nearby Pathfinders, before heading up to find Cooky.
You find a distressed Cooky in his room he is sharing with the male teamster members of the caravan. Olf and Ulf are also inside, and the two giant ulfen men are clearly crying.
"Tyrion, what do you want? the elf snaps at you. I am kind of mourning for a dear friend at the moment."
Tyrion bows respectfully to the elf. "Even though we didn't know him long, we're all mourning Bort's passing." After a short pause, he adds, "The sheriff asked us to lead the investigation, and I know you'd want to help bring Bort's killer to justice." Tyrion, always suspicious of prying eyes and ears, looks around the room before continuing, "You mentioned toxins earlier, and I was wondering if you're familiar with Violet Breath. All I know is that it's very rare. Do you know where it can be found or how it can be procured? And if not, do you know of anyone on the caravan team, or even any of the locals, that are knowledgeable about poisons and could point us in the right direction?"
Tyrion shares his discovery of Violet Breath with Quecksworth and the other nearby Pathfinders, before heading up to find Cooky.
Tyrion bows respectfully to the elf. "Even though we didn't know him long, we're all mourning Bort's passing." After a short pause, he adds, "The sheriff asked us to lead the investigation, and I know you'd want to help bring Bort's killer to justice." Tyrion, always suspicious of prying eyes and ears, looks around the room before continuing, "You mentioned toxins earlier, and I was wondering if you're familiar with Violet Breath. All I know is that it's very rare. Do you know where it can be found or how it can be procured? And if not, do you know of anyone on the caravan team, or even any of the locals, that are knowledgeable about poisons and could point us in the right direction?"You find a distressed Cooky in his room he is sharing with the male teamster members of the caravan. Olf and Ulf are also inside, and the two giant ulfen men are clearly crying.
"Tyrion, what do you want? the elf snaps at you. I am kind of mourning for a dear friend at the moment."
"Boy," he scowls, "that is the first time I've ever heard of Violet Breath. I'm a cook, not an alchemist! How dare you imply that we would have it out for him! He was the one who rescued me from my own ineptitude back in our adventuring haydays."
One of the forlorn twins, either Olf or Urf, puts a hand on the elf's shoulder, quieting him, then looks at you. "The only alchemist we knew personally was Bort himself. Back in the day, I heard he was quite a Chirurgeon before retiring from the job and starting up our Caravan, and I believe it."
"I remember once last year when both Glunda and Tamli both got really, really sick, the other twin picks up. "They both got feeverish and literally couldn't move. Bort simply broke into his old medicine kit, and when he realized he didn't have all the materials he needed to make proper medicine, he simply broke open our trade goods and took what he needed from there to make the medicine for Glunda and Tamli. He then stayed by their bedside until they recovered enough."
"Damn straight!" the old elf confirms. "The caravan lost a lot of money because we couldn't deliver that shipment on time. Bort just waved it off, saying his friends were more important than the money." He burries his head in his hands. "He didn't deserve this fate," the elf says subdued.
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"Boy," he scowls, "that is the first time I've ever heard of Violet Breath. I'm a cook, not an alchemist! How dare you imply that we would have it out for him! He was the one who rescued me from my own ineptitude back in our adventuring haydays."
Tyrion blinks his eyes in surprise, "Oh my. No, you misunderstand. I wasn't implying anything of the kind. From the short time we've been traveling, it's plain to me that you and dear Bort were as close as brothers." He turns to the twins, "Cooky is clearly in good hands. And thank you for the information about Bort's dabbling in alchemy."
Tyrion bows and heads back downstairs to the others.
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"I don't know of anyone who knows how to brew poisons. Maybe Lawren Kent? He is one of the patrons who comes by to visit really often. I hear he used to be an adventurer."
Mandoo makes a mental note of the name. Perhaps this Lawren Kent fellow can be of help in the investigation.
"Well, yeah, you can search the kitchen. I already sent Amora home though. Sheriff said that I had to close up shop for the time being." Delma wipes away a tear. "The members of the caravan are upstairs if you want to talk to them, and the Sheriff moved Bort's body upstars into the cellar. Anything else you want to talk about Mandoo? I think I want to go home. Is there anything else?"
Mandoo, relieved that Delma appears not to be involved, and satisfied that she knows nothing more of immediate use, quietly replies, "Enough for tonight. Delma go home now. But take care; killer still loose."
He is a little disappointed that Ms Kasillan was sent home , but he heads off to the kitchen anyway to see if he can find any clues as to how the porridge was poisoned.
Mandoo returns to the group and updates them on what Delma told him and whatever he discovered in the kitchen, adding "Lawren Kent maybe know something." He then tracks down the sheriff and , asks "Delma mention Lawren Kent. Know where is Lawren?"
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Talmi narrows her eyes. "You think we would be carrying illicit goods?"
Quite the opposite! You could be sending messages intended for VIPs, relics for royalty, or maybe magical items.
Knowing that Glunda may need some emotional support he asks, "If you like, we can do a quick prayer for Bort."
Whether they want to pray or not, Darr will let them be. "Let us know if you have any information." He leaves the room and tells the group what information was given.
"I don't know of anyone who knows how to brew poisons. Maybe Lawren Kent? He is one of the patrons who comes by to visit really often. I hear he used to be an adventurer."Mandoo makes a mental note of the name. Perhaps this Lawren Kent fellow can be of help in the investigation.
"Well, yeah, you can search the kitchen. I already sent Amora home though. Sheriff said that I had to close up shop for the time being." Delma wipes away a tear. "The members of the caravan are upstairs if you want to talk to them, and the Sheriff moved Bort's body upstars into the cellar. Anything else you want to talk about Mandoo? I think I want to go home. Is there anything else?"Mandoo, relieved that Delma appears not to be involved, and satisfied that she knows nothing more of immediate use, quietly replies, "Enough for tonight. Delma go home now. But take care; killer still loose."
He is a little disappointed that Ms Kasillan was sent home , but he heads off to the kitchen anyway to see if he can find any clues as to how the porridge was poisoned.
Mandoo returns to the group and updates them on what Delma told him and whatever he discovered in the kitchen, adding "Lawren Kent maybe know something." He then tracks down the sheriff and , asks "Delma mention Lawren Kent. Know where is Lawren?"
The sheriff, seeming to do very little except observe you as you work, says, "Sir Kent? I know him. He keeps to himself for the most part. Doesn't like to fight all that much. He tends to change the place where he lives on a weekly basis, moving from one abandoned spot to another. Awfully timid for a self proclaimed knight."
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Talmi narrows her eyes. "You think we would be carrying illicit goods?"Quite the opposite! You could be sending messages intended for VIPs, relics for royalty, or maybe magical items.
"Tamari frowns, then looks away, a sour look on her face. I don't think so, but Bort was our leader for a reason. He was a savvy businessman and able negotiator. He was the one who kept our ledger up to date for the most part. He would tell us what to buy in towns, but he did a lot of the shopping himself, especially for high end stuff." He also respected people's right to privacy. People would go to him directly if they demanded privacy, and he would arrange things to ensure that it would happen.
"Guess that responsibility lies with me now."
Knowing that Glunda may need some emotional support he asks, "If you like, we can do a quick prayer for Bort."
"I guess... I guess that would be nice.
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Tyrion follows Mandoo into the kitchen to help look around for traces of the poison. He mumbles something like, "It's more likely that the killer brought the poison with them so they could poison Bort's food at the table, so I don't expect to find anything. But what the hell...."
"Though I think that little Trin girl was always a problem. She took too much interest in Bort's tales. You know that I once found them in the woods, with her half naked and Bort giving her some sort of back rub? It wasn't any of my business back then, but you know, I wonder."
When Darr relays that part of the story, Tyrion raises an eyebrow. "Well, that seems peculiar. And more than a little suspicious. Especially considering that she was at our table for an usual amount of time and had ample opportunity to doctor his porridge. And she was the one who inadvertently started the brawl." Tyrion strokes his beard. "It would be wise to put her near the top of our list of suspects and keep a close eye on her."
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The dining area becomes chaos after a few moments. Quite a few people evacuate from the area, trying to avoid the fight. Several people leave the tavern. Delma grows pale, and immediately excuses herself, saying she needs to get the Sheriff.
Bort decides to try to calm things down, but gets a chair thrown at him for his trouble (which he thankfully ducks away from).
A random glass mug flies toward Trin. Thankfully, Darr saw the glass mug coming and pulls Trin aside just in time.
[fight is broken up by sheriff]
Bort takes a hancerchiff from his pocket and wipes some sweat off his brow. "Well then, that was somewhat interesting. Well then, how about some dessert!
Thankfully, your table was relatively untouched during the fight. Bort geleefully begins digging into his turnip porridge. "Hey Delma, tell your Ms Kasillan fine work as normal. The porridge is really, really great today!"
The sheriff, seeming to do very little except observe you as you work, says, "Sir Kent? I know him. He keeps to himself for the most part. Doesn't like to fight all that much. He tends to change the place where he lives on a weekly basis, moving from one abandoned spot to another. Awfully timid for a self proclaimed knight."
Mandoo confirms, "Sir Kent in Etran's Folly? In abandoned home?"
Mandoo then asks, "Mandoo want talk to Amora and Kolnral. Where they live? Will go talk tonight."
Mandoo turns back to the rest of the pathfinders, "Mando go talk to Amora and Kolnral. Maybe look for Lawren Kent in abandoned buildings. But first get gear." He waits a few seconds for a reaction.
Then turns and heads back to his room to collect his stuff before heading out with whomever wishes to accompany him.
Tyrion follows Mandoo into the kitchen to help look around for traces of the poison. He mumbles something like, "It's more likely that the killer brought the poison with them so they could poison Bort's food at the table, so I don't expect to find anything. But what the hell...."
"Though I think that little Trin girl was always a problem. She took too much interest in Bort's tales. You know that I once found them in the woods, with her half naked and Bort giving her some sort of back rub? It wasn't any of my business back then, but you know, I wonder."When Darr relays that part of the story, Tyrion raises an eyebrow. "Well, that seems peculiar. And more than a little suspicious. Especially considering that she was at our table for an usual amount of time and had ample opportunity to doctor his porridge. And she was the one who inadvertently started the brawl." Tyrion strokes his beard. "It would be wise to put her near the top of our list of suspects and keep a close eye on her."
Tyrion looks around the kitchen, and finds a small alchemical vial in the trash. It is completely empty, but it likely contained the poison: a quick whiff reveals that it used to contain a very sweet & flowery aromatic liquid. If the vial was completely full, it probably had enough poison to kill the dwarf five times over.
Mandoo confirms, "Sir Kent in Etran's Folly? In abandoned home?"
Mandoo then asks, "Mandoo want talk to Amora and Kolnral. Where they live? Will go talk tonight."
Sheriff Garley shrugs. "No clue where Sir Kent is. I can lead you to where Amora is staying at, though I would rather prefer if we do this tomorrow. She lives around the Old Orchard, and I highly doubt anyone is going to go sneaking off in the middle of the night. Its really dangerous after all."
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Tyrion follows Mandoo into the kitchen to help look around for traces of the poison.Tyrion looks around the kitchen, and finds a small alchemical vial in the trash. It is completely empty, but it likely contained the poison: a quick whiff reveals that it used to contain a very sweet & flowery aromatic liquid. If the vial was completely full, it probably had enough poison to kill the dwarf five times over.
Mandoo is surprised that he missed the empty vial when it was so obviously sitting in the trash for just about anyone to see. He kicks himself for his lapse. "Good find Tyrion. Careful with vial. Poison strong." He pauses for a few seconds and you can almost hear the gears clicking in his mind. He turns to Tyrion, "Bowl poisoned in kitchen. Must talk to Amora and Kolnral. Bring vial." He turns and leaves the kitchen to find the sheriff.
Mandoo then asks, "Mandoo want talk to Amora and Kolnral. Where they live? Will go talk tonight."Sheriff Garley shrugs. "No clue where Sir Kent is. I can lead you to where Amora is staying at, though I would rather prefer if we do this tomorrow. She lives around the Old Orchard, and I highly doubt anyone is going to go sneaking off in the middle of the night. Its really dangerous after all."
Mandoo does not think that waiting for morning would be a good idea. The trail was hot and a lot could happen during the night. He looks at Tyrion and beckons him to show the sheriff the vial he found in the kitchen, then turning back to the sheriff, repeats, "Bowl poisoned in kitchen. Must talk to Amora and Kolnral," adding "Now! Before too late." for emphasis.