Umm... this is turning into a very busy week after all... let's see if I have time to post at least something...
RE: NPC list. Definitely useful. I *could* certainly update such a thing on the front page. But it'd have to be very bare bones indeed, or I might end up giving you hints that you might otherwise have missed. Or one of you could do the updating, and I'd just link your file on the campaign page - that way, everything you end up writing down is something you, the players, know... or think you know (remember, NPCs might be lying to you, or they themselves might not know the truth even if they present their version to you as the real thing).
RE: Graff and Sarfina Pendrong. They were the owners of the inn indeed... perhaps I wrote that a bit unclearly "...Phin could see the owners chatting jovially with some of their regular customers - Graff and Sarfina Pendrong, a middle-aged married pair..." Phin did catch my meaning, as she sought the pair out later and complemented them on having a nice tavern.
RE: what to ask the 'angry baker'. Well, I know what you might ask him, but I'm not telling! But I guess one thing at least was that you were told the angry man's wife may or may not have had something going on with your dead man before he lost his life.
Her brow furrowing, Alua asked, "What needs to be replaced?"
"Oh. I heard someone took apart their janitor. You know, the Warforged? I imagine it'd be quite expensive to buy a new one," the customer said, clearly not rating that bit of news to the same level of interest as the murder of a real person.
"I need no sleep. It should be me." The 'forged turned to Erix, "You are welcome to come along, but I suggest you bring a pillow. I'll wake you if there is something to punch." He then turned to Phin, "Or you. Makes little difference to me."
Phin grinned up at Daryl, "Done! I will gladly sleep while you keep watch on things."
Her brow furrowing, Alua asked, "What needs to be replaced?""Oh. I heard someone took apart their janitor. You know, the Warforged? I imagine it'd be quite expensive to buy a new one," the customer said, clearly not rating that bit of news to the same level of interest as the murder of a real person.
Phin gasped, truthfully surprised and horrified. They murdered Drummer too? I wonder if Corlina knows." I hope that he wasn't targeted because I was talking to him last night. If only he had told me what he was going to before being called away...
Phin gasped, truthfully surprised and horrified. They murdered Drummer too? I wonder if Corlina knows." I hope that he wasn't targeted because I was talking to him last night. If only he had told me what he was going to before being called away...
"Oh, don't be silly, dear. You can't kill something that didn't live in the first place," the customer - an older matron - said kindly, in the tone one might use to a little child that yes, she was quite confident that the sun was going to appear again tomorrow even though it just dropped off the edge of horizon. Behind the woman's back, the baker's wife sighed quietly and made quick hand gestures to nod and play along. "That... Drummer, they called it? It was made. So it was a thing. And things break. Its people who die."
"Poor old Borgo, though," Elea said, trying to shift the conversation to less dangerous ground. "He was always quite the gentledwarf, never hurt anyone. He'll be missed, mark my words. Isn't that right, dear?"
The man in the kitchen grunted - apparently he hadn't been quite as oblivious to the conversation as he had tried to show. "I sure won't," he growled, but then added reluctantly, as if each word was torn from his throat. "But I guess the little hairball made a passable meat pie in his time."
Alua took out her notebook and added the new information, in case it was connected. Flipping through the pages, she moved to Sebastian's side and said, "Once Drummer had to sit on the baker to calm him down. And he didn't like Borgo."
Putting her book away, she asked, "Should we go to the Bluebird right away, so we can see the crime scenes there before the bodies are taken away?"
Alua took out her notebook and added the new information, in case it was connected. Flipping through the pages, she moved to Sebastian's side and said, "Once Drummer had to sit on the baker to calm him down. And he didn't like Borgo."
Putting her book away, she asked, "Should we go to the Bluebird right away, so we can see the crime scenes there before the bodies are taken away?"
Sebastian nodded at Alua and gestured with his hand as if he was writing down something. He hoped the girl had good sense of writing these things down. Two days and three people murdered was not a coincidence.
As much as he wanted to rush to the Bluebird, they were already here and they may as well ask the baker a few questions.
Sebastian politely asked to see the grumpy man.
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OOC: if he agrees to see us, Sebastian will ask the following:
When was the last time you saw Svan?
Do you know who he owed money to?
Do you anyone who might want to kill him?
Did you like Svan?
Did Svan buy any bakery items or had them delivered?
Are there any other bakeries that Svan frquented?
The baker objected quite vocally of having his work interrupted, but after a while - if only to silence the people who were asking all those questions and weren't even buying anything while doing so! - he allowed himself to be lured to the very threshold of the kitchen, his domain.
Sebastian asked his questions and Kroga answered, growing more sullen by every question. When had he last seem Svan? A week ago, perhaps more? Twice that at least since he had done more than grunted a greeting in passing. Did he know about Svan's reputed dept? Well, the art dealer hadn't owed Kroga any money, since he never parted with his products on a promise of money at some later, unspecified date. If he had owed money to someone else, that was his business. Or, rather, had been. Did he know anyone who might have wished the man ill? No, nor had he been particularly interested in following idle gossip. Did Kroga himself like Svan? Well, since the man hadn't owed him money, and had frequented his shop occasionally, it wasn't like he hated him any more than he did any other random passerby. Has Svan ordered deliveries? Kroga's shop didn't do those, so no, and if the man had had business in any other bakery - of which there were several even in this district, and uncountable others still within walking distance, Kroga was again quite uninterested.
You do note, however, that the baker's wife shows no particular reaction to you discussing her reputed secret lover in front of her husband, with the exception of what you take as genuine remorse of a good man who died before his time.
By the way, I will be taking you back to the inn and crime scenes 2 and 3 tomorrow, if time permits. You can ask some questions here by backposting, but if you intend to do something more physical, now's the time to tell me.
While Sebastian questioned Kroga, Phin's stomach once more rumbled loudly. She moved over to Elea and pointed at a sticky, flaky looking pastry and said, "I'll take that one, please." The elf pulled out a few coins she had earned in tips last night at the Bluebird. It wasn't enough to help Sebastian or pay her rent but it was enough for a pastry.
Seeing the baker thoroughly occupied with answering his own questions, the rogue took the opportunity to speak with Elea. "I played at the Bluebird last night and that's where I heard some of the sordid details of Svans murder from patrons there." Phin leaned in a bit and lowered her voice, "Surprisingly, your name was mentioned...as an associate of Svans. How well did you know him?"
"Surprisingly, your name was mentioned...as an associate of Svans. How well did you know him?"
"Oh, that thing? Well... it's a bit embarrassing, but..." Elea said, leaning closer so she could lower her voice, while her husband was busy with Sebastian. "I like to paint, a bit. Well, doodle, really. But Mr. ir'Kilmansor was always so supportive of my hobby. He did a lot for aspiring artists, you know, even took one of my paintings to find a buyer for! As if anyone'd ever pay for something like that! Still, it was nice to have some urge me to keep painting, and he always loved to chat about art and other artists. Quite unlike some people."
Alua was leaning back and forth between both conversations, trying to write down notes from both. Surprised that the baker's wife fancied herself an artist, she said, "Did you ever see hi collection? Did you have a piece in it? What do you like to paint?"
Turn 010 - Murders and Dismantlings
Game on!
Action 1:
“I wanted to, but never had a chance – never will, now,” Elea said wistfully. “I
doubt he ever put my piece on display – I think he was just being nice to me,
saying he would. A landscape, it was – that’s what I mostly paint. I just love the
sight of these towers reaching into the sky, with clouds racing across the blue
expanse.”
Phin glanced over at Krogo before looking back at Elea, "Does your husband know you paint and that you were meeting with Svans?"
Action 2:
Throat cut in his sleep. No signs of entry that we
could see but, knowing you were on your way, we didn’t look too hard so as not to
destroy any evidence. And then, in the cellars, the Inn’s janitor, Drummer. Brace
yourselves down there – it’s not pretty.”
"Why was Drummer in the cellars? Is that where he stays or was he attacked while working?"
Phin started for the stairs, "I'll see if I can figure out how the killer got in to harm Borgo. I'll also look for anything odd in his room. I'd also like to speak with the Pendrong's if they're available. They'd be able to provide info about Borgo and Drummer's habits and schedules."
Phin glanced over at Krogo before looking back at Elea, "Does your husband know you paint and that you were meeting with Svans?"
"Well, one can hardly hide the paint and canvas from someone who lives in the same house, you know? So yes, he knows, and allows me my hobbies even though he doesn't understand why I bother," Elea sighed, shaking her head. "And about Svans... I can have my own friends, and I don't need or ask permission from anyone."
"Why was Drummer in the cellars? Is that where he stays or was he attacked while working?"
"Both, possibly," Viduk grunted.
Phin started for the stairs, "I'll see if I can figure out how the killer got in to harm Borgo. I'll also look for anything odd in his room. I'd also like to speak with the Pendrong's if they're available. They'd be able to provide info about Borgo and Drummer's habits and schedules."
"Oh, they'll be available all right," the Sergeant said, nodding his head at the crowd of people under watchful eyes of the Watchmen. "And they'll remain available for the time being. Not a soul among them saw or heard anything, if you can believe it, but they do all stick to that story so perhaps there is something to it after all, despite the... well, again, once you get in the basement you'll see for yourself."
"What do you want me to do, Boss?" Erix asked Sebastian "Seems like the Guards have security well in hand. I could have a look at the walls outside, see if it looks like anyone came in or out that way."
Alua looked at the waiting people. Taking out her notebook, she asked Viduk, "Is there a place where I can talk to people privately? And after I've spoken to them, can they be taken somewhere away from the people still waiting?"
Seated in the (room), Alua smiled pleasantly at the first person to be escorted in. "Good morning! I'm Alua Riversong. I'm helping the Watch, taking notes, and the like. Can you tell me what you remember about last night and this morning?"
This is fine by me, but do note it'll take you quite a while to talk with everyone... the owners, their son and daughter, the 5 maids, and 15 guests who happened to stay overnight. So if you start now, you won't be around to examine the crime scenes or the bodies, and we have still to hear anything at all from Sebastian and Daryl.
There is a roof - the Inn was located at the top floors of a tower, so from the Oakbridge disrtict level it sort of looks like a two-storey building if you don't look down (the cellar is one level beneath the district "ground" level) ;^) Borgo's room was on the second floor, so foortop is just above it.
To Viduk, she said, "While you get a room ready, I'll quickly take a look at poor Mr. Delborde."
To the waiting people, she said, "Thank you so much for your patience. I'll be with you very soon. Know that you're helping us greatly, even if you don't think you have anything to add. I'll be back in a moment."
She followed Phin upstairs, and looked around, trying not to touch anything important.
Once the elf gave her the nod, Alua moved forward and carefully examined the dwarf, looking for signs of a struggle on his body, and trying to determine cause of death.
Sebastian was glad that the Watch had leaned on them for these crimes.
He nodded to the sergeant, "We'll take over here but please keep the premises secured."
The investigator then gathered his crew, "We do the same thing we did with the first body. Alua, let someone else interview people for now; I need your medical expertise."
He looked at Erix, "Stick close. Whoever is doing this will not like us snooping around."
He turned to Daen and Daryl, "You two can be very helpful with the 'forged. Let's go take a look at the deceased and see what we can find."
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OOC: inspect both bodies
Right, thank you. If it's OK with you I'll take the lot of you to Borgo's room first, after which Alua can busy herself with the interviews and Erix goes outside to inspect the walls and the roof while the rest go see Drummer's room.
I'll post tomorrow morning (my time), so if you want the first step done differently, now is the time to mention it.
The room of Borgo Delborde was pretty crowded with so many people seeking access. Sebastian and Alua were the first two to enter, while the others hovered outside in the hallway. The room was small, containing only a small table set in front of its single window to catch some natural light, with a high-backed chair before it, a smaller side table with a mirror and a wash basin, and a large wardrobe for storing personal items and changes of clothes in. And, of course, the bed, on which the body of the dwarven cook laid almost peacefully, if one ignored his slit throat and the bloody pillow on the ground next to the bed, which the killer had likely used to control the red spray from the wound.
The pair of you quickly establish two things. One, that the cut throat was the obvious cause of death and the only real wound on the body - it looked like a textbook example of a killing blow, likely made with a curved light blade, with no signs that the dwarf had put up any kind of a fight and had not even trashed overmuch as death claimed him before he could wake up. And two, that as Sebastian carefully lifted Borgo's nightshirt a small strip of skin had been removed from the dwarf's chest.
While Alua and Sebastian focused their attention on the body and its immediate vicinity, Phin and Erix turned their eyes on the rest of the room, trying not to step on anyone's toes. The room itself appeared remarkably undisturbed - the Watchmen had dutifully checked to see that the killer hadn't stayed behind to hide in the wardrobe but other than that, there was little of interest in the room. At the window, however, the pair found something. First - scratch marks on the simple latch in the window. Someone had opened it from the outside, teasing it aside with a sharp blade. Second, then Erix opened the window and thrust his head through, he could see several minute marks on the plaster that suggested climbing tools had recently bit into the wall - likely the means of entry and exit for the murdered. Third, on the windowsill, traces of a white powder familiar from the previous crime scene.
Phin had a sinking feeling in her stomach as they caught sight of the white powder on the windowsill. "Same killer. That's not good."
She looked over at Erix, "Do you want to collect the powder or should I?"
When Erix mentioned the use of climbing tools she motioned upwards, "We definitely need to check out the roof now."
Sharp, thin, slightly curved... very likely, but it's just not possible to be 100% sure.
Sebastian shook his head and agreed with Phin, "Yes, same killer it would seem. We need to establish a connection between the victims so we have some sort of motive. Revenge for some past sin?"
He turned to Alua, "The patch of skin removed, was it from the same place? Was it the same size? Is it a trophy of sorts?"
He spoke out loud but looked at Erix, "I'm thinking the patch of skin was some sort of marking or tattoo. The only thing that comes to mind is a gang organization or an elite military unit. Don't they share tattoos and the like?"
Alua carefully turned the corpse over and checked the back of his neck, to rule out a similar stabbing.
Checking her notes, she compared the size of victim one's flensing, and checked it against the dwarf's.
"Was Mr. Delborde married? Or have family here? They might be able to answer if he had a mark or a tattoo."
Alua carefully turned the corpse over and checked the back of his neck, to rule out a similar stabbing.
Checking her notes, she compared the size of victim one's flensing, and checked it against the dwarf's.
"Was Mr. Delborde married? Or have family here? They might be able to answer if he had a mark or a tattoo."
Svans' alleged lover was the angry baker's wife, but when questioned she did provide an alternative explanation why she had been seen in Svans' company, and you thought she spoke the truth about it. SO as far as you know, Svans did not have a lover.
And you don't know if Borgo was married, but nothing in his room here suggests he might have been. A single bed, no female clothes in the wardrobe... could have been divorced, of course.
And yes, the piece of removed skin was about the same size as in Svans' case.
"I'll collect it. Might as well do something with all these vials I've been carrying around." Erix answered, remarkably cheery for a man so close to a murder scene.
"Makes sense we both go up. If we're lucky he might have bled on something, or left a boot print. Don't suppose you know if it rained last night?"
"Size doesn't help much. Neither does position. If they were in a unit they probably got matching tattoos."
So, anything else you want to do in Borgo's room, or are you heading for the other crime scene? And are Erix and Phin going for the roof, and Alua doing the interviews? That'd leave Sebastian and Daryl to see what happened to Drummer.
Speaking of Daryl... are you still with us? Haven't heard from you in a week now.
I'm thinking the patch of skin was some sort of marking or tattoo. The only thing that comes to mind is a gang organization or an elite military unit. Don't they share tattoos and the like?"
Phin turned from the window to look at their boss, "Was the skin taken from the exact same part of the chest? Maybe where the skin was removed from is just as important as what was removed?"
"Makes sense we both go up. If we're lucky he might have bled on something, or left a boot print. Don't suppose you know if it rained last night?"
Phin shrugged, "Not that I know of but rain rarely makes it to the lower levels." Wanting to put off seeing what was done to Drummer, the rogue was more than happy to check out the roof before the cellars. "Let's check out the roof then."
Nope, everything there in there was in plain sight, except the clues the killer left behind.
@Sebastian - tell Alua what to do next. Accompany you to Drummer to take notes and make sketches, or talk to the possible witnesses.
How is everybody doing? I hope you and your families are all staying safe.
Here on the west coast of Canada, most public places are shut down. The kids are on spring break anyway, but it will likely be extended. Grocery stores are pretty empty, but not critically so. So far me and the family are all okay. Thank goodness the weather has finally turned and we're getting sun instead of rain, so we can get outside a lot.
Hope you're all safe and healthy.
Got a case of light sniffles, almost hoping it would be the Big C so this little thing would be enough to get it over and done with, but who can say?
Hoarders are apparently giving up here, since they have seen the shelves are being filled almost faster than they can empty them, so that's nice.
Horribly busy at work... working remotely hasn't been very widespread in our "company", and to now facilitate it, we need to update actual laws on the fly, not just some internal company guidelines, so that's a bit of a job and half.
And Finland is shutting down pretty tightly... bars and restaurants can keep their doors open for now... but apparently many are wondering if it's worth it with so few customers going around. Need to go Google up some new recipes to keep things interesting... trouble is I have always been more of a baker than a cooker.
Reporting from South Carolina, USA.
I actually tested positive for the flu (strain A) yesterday. I had symptoms last Friday but never had any fever. When headache didn't go away yesterday, I went to the doctor and tested positive.
There was a little scare on paper products but things are OK now. I actually had stuff so didn't buy anything extra.
I can work from home most of the time, which is what I am doing now.
Unfortunately, things are going to get a little worse before they get better. I am doing my part and mostly staying inside.
Hang in there! This too shall pass!
Canberra, Australia.
We've cancelled our overseas trip, and my work is focusing on making sure people can work from home.
Supplies are fine, and no-one knows anyone who had it. There's a feeling of fragility though.
Right, you lot... since you are alive (Daryl, I hope you are all right as well...), how about making it crystal clear what you want to do? DO you split up as I suggested from your earlier intentions? Or something else? Would like to move things along a bit...
Alberta, Canada - Me and mine are well. Can't work from home so I've still been going in to work. But everything else I'm involved in has been canceled or moved online for the time being.
I've been avoiding the grocery store but will have to go tomorrow to get vegetables and milk. Not looking forward to it.
Phin's earlier intentions stand. She thinks checking the roof sooner than later would be wise. However, she'll do whatever Sebastian tells the group to do.
Was just checking in to see how you folks are doing. Things are a little crazy here Florida, at least on my side (central, east coast). Tom will have to comment on the other side of the state. We have a lot of spring breakers who are still down here acting like idiots.
Other than that, the kids are home till at least April 15, most likely longer. And my faculty are largely unprepared for teaching online. But thankfully everyone is healthy and I've been slowly stocking up the last month.
Thanks all for the break! It was great to log in, see what was happening in the game with excitement, and not feel guilty. I hope to rejoin you all soon.
Gary
p.s. Jussi, I would love to chat with you more about the working remotely thing. As an IO Psychologist, I've been fascinated by these changes in our work conditions.
Right... with Daen and Sebastian both taking a break, and Daryl vanished, we are down to 50% of players... I guess that means this game is on a break as well, until such a time as people want to play it T_T
p.s. Jussi, I would love to chat with you more about the working remotely thing. As an IO Psychologist, I've been fascinated by these changes in our work conditions.
Send me a PM or a mail whenever you want, Gary.
Right... with Daen and Sebastian both taking a break, and Daryl vanished, we are down to 50% of players... I guess that means this game is on a break as well, until such a time as people want to play it T_T
Hey, I did n't mean to stop the game. I hope the game hasn't stopped because of me.
I will play along if you guys want to continue. I'm just generally feeling 'bleh' about Eberron and the games I was/am GMing/playing.
Oh... I took your post about being bored of Eberron games and the fact that you haven't posted here in-character for a week despite tags from Alua as intention of taking a break from this game as well.
If that is not the case... do you fellows want to keep going with four (five, if Daryl makes a reappearance)? Because I'm game, more so if this is the only game I'm in at the moment.
I’m game to keep going.
Right... in that case, I'll move things along tomorrow, according to the plan, your plan, as I understood it, laid out in my last Saturday's post.