Works for me. Personally I want to see what happened to Drummer, but as Alua is the people-person, I assumed Sebastian would want me doing interviews. I am good with either.
I really appreciate that your setting really allows for this. I'm still hoping to return and post more frequently. I haven't been feeling Daen, but I think that is more on me than that corrupt bastard.
EDIT: PS, just checked in with Daryl, and he's hoping to be able to check back in with the game soon, RL stuff on his side right now.
Action 3:
Phin looked over the edge of the rooftop and down towards Borgo's window. Her forehead wrinkled in thought as she tried to make sense of what they had found so far. "There was evidence of them using climbing tools outside the window but no evidence of their use up here." She looked around the wall and their feet, "There's nothing to tie a rope off to here."
She looked at Erix, "Do you think they climbed up from the ground rather than climbing down from the roof? I guess if they climbed down then there had to be someone up here supporting them." Phin's eyes twinkled somewhat as she asked, "Think you're strong enough to support me and lower me down on a rope?"
Actually there is something of a platform running along the Inn's bottom floor, to provide access to the stables.
Romantic partner - not that anyone knew. Shirtless... that seems reasonable, considering he worked in the kitchen and with the ovens. So yes, a couple of the staff do recall seeing something tattoo-like on his chest but they weren't interested enough to pay it too much attention and thus recall details.
Erix made a whistle of indrawn breath "I don't know Aunty. Have you been cutting back on the muffins? If so, I reckon I'd be okay."
Humour aside, Erix made sure he was securely planted before he risked lowering Phin. The weight wasn't much of an issue - he could lift Phin's weight with one arm - but a wet roof was not the safest of platforms when a slip could have lethal consequences. Still, with a twinkle in his eye he waited until Phin had just passed the point of no return before casually asking "Elves bounce, right?"
More seriously he added "Thinking about that impromptu table set up. This is the second place we've seen that sort of thing near a murder."
Erix looked across to Sebastian "If you're asking around, try to see if he ever talked about serving. Most veterans end up needing someone to confide in, so they can talk things through."
Sebastian sighed at the remains of the warforged. You could kill a person fairly quietly, probably even a warforged, but how do you chop up something made out of wood and metal quietly?
He was careful to try and not disturb the suspected 'murder' weapon or at least what appeared to have been used to dismember Drummer.
Sebastian was looking for anything and everything but two things came to mind. Did Drummer also have some sort of marking or tattoo on his chest? The investigator would look for the appropriate piece where the others had their markings and see if there was anything there or if if something was there and was erased (scratched out?) somehow.
Second, he knew warforged had three digits. So was the killer a warforged? Not likely because there was blood on that three-fingered hand? Or did Drummer put up a fight and managed to wound his killer?
If the killer was wounded, did he dismember the warforged out of anger and spite. This was something not done with the previous victims.
-------
, use inspiration (2/3 remaining)
Looking for: a) marking on Drummer and b) see if bloody mark corresponds to Drummer and the blood of the killer.
Well, a 'forged doesn't have blood, so it had to come from someone else. And you can later check with Alua to learn that no people she interviewed were wounded. The handprint was definitely not from a 'forged's hand. And if a piece of Drummer with tattoo (painting, in this case?) was taken... figuring out that would involve some time spent putting pieces back together to see if something is missing, but if you want to spend the time you can learn the answer. A perception roll will tell you that you don't find a piece with a curious marking among the ones in the room, but does that mean it was taken or that it didn't exist in the first place? That answer required assembling the puzzle for an hour or three.
Well, let's add to that... you do find one piece with a curious marking, but after a moment determine that to be Drummer's ghulra.
Erix made a whistle of indrawn breath "I don't know Aunty. Have you been cutting back on the muffins? If so, I reckon I'd be okay."
Humour aside, Erix made sure he was securely planted before he risked lowering Phin. The weight wasn't much of an issue - he could lift Phin's weight with one arm - but a wet roof was not the safest of platforms when a slip could have lethal consequences. Still, with a twinkle in his eye he waited until Phin had just passed the point of no return before casually asking "Elves bounce, right?"
More seriously he added "Thinking about that impromptu table set up. This is the second place we've seen that sort of thing near a murder."
Phin playfully cuffed Erix on the back of the head, "Respect your elders, cub. And you know I prefer pastries to muffins. I trust you haven't gotten soft in your time away from my watchful eye."
The rogue tied the rope around herself and threw a leg over the edge. She began to repel down the side of the building, checking for any clues as she went. At Erix's comment about elves bouncing, she looked up at him with an eyebrow raised, "Do you really want to sleep with one eye open for the next year?" But the fact that she had trusted him enough to get off the roof with nothing but him supporting her meant that her comment was made in jest, mostly.
Phin was distracted by the thought of the table set up on the roof. "Good point. Once I'm finished here, you should check it out. Does it happen to face the same direction as the one at Svans'? Maybe they were drawn to looking at the same part of Sharn for some reason."
Well, yeah... with a roll like that, you are lucky to spot the marks outside the window you know to be there - different lightning and all that ;^)
And how much rope did you have? The default kit seems to be 50', which should be plenty, at the very least get your feet close enough to the ground that you can let go and land without any issue.
Feel free to provide more feedback, folks. If you sit back and wait, things will move along eventually, but not necessarily in the way and direction you'd prefer ;^)
There are still plenty of things to do and useful questions to ask, but, naturally, I'm not going to tell you what and where and from whom.
Other questions for the owners...
How long had Drummer and Borgo worked for them?
What were Drummer's duties?
Who was the last person to see Drummer, and at what time?
Is the axe/murder weapon theirs?
How often did Drummer perform with the dancer girl? Did he ever perform with others?
Investigation questions for the team...
Whose room is closest to Drummer's? Is it reasonable that whoever was there wouldn't have heard a commotion?
Who was around to see Phin and Erix talking to Drummer last night?
I'll keep thinking....
Other questions for the owners...
How long had Drummer and Borgo worked for them?
What were Drummer's duties?
Who was the last person to see Drummer, and at what time?
Is the axe/murder weapon theirs?
How often did Drummer perform with the dancer girl? Did he ever perform with others?Investigation questions for the team...
Whose room is closest to Drummer's? Is it reasonable that whoever was there wouldn't have heard a commotion?
Who was around to see Phin and Erix talking to Drummer last night?I'll keep thinking....
Well, yeah... with a roll like that, you are lucky to spot the marks outside the window you know to be there - different lightning and all that ;^)
And how much rope did you have? The default kit seems to be 50', which should be plenty, at the very least get your feet close enough to the ground that you can let go and land without any issue.
Phin worked her way down, getting more and more frustrated that the light was hitting the side of the building in an odd way making it difficult to see anything.
Finally her feet touched down on the platform and she spent more time looking for evidence of the killer. After all, it they didn't lower themselves from the roof then it would make sense that they had climbed up from here.
Any chance you could write those questions in IC format? Pretty please :-)
Most of the interviewees had little useful information to give. Alua spent a little more time with the owners of the bar, trying to get as much information out of them as possible.
Pushing hair from her eyes, she asked, "How long has Borgo worked for you? And what about Drummer? Were they friends?"
"What were Drummer's normal duties? I thought he was with the dancer when we came in last night. Does he often perform with her, or others?"
When she was done with the others, she peeked in on the destruction that had been Drummer. She asked, "That axe there, is it yours? Also, can you show me the nearest occupied room to here?" Once she took a look at it, she tried to figure out if it was reasonable that the occupants wouldn't have heard anything.
No I didn't, but I'd love to play a game in addition to running one! I'm game for some more druid action ;^) Thanks for the tip.
Phin playfully cuffed Erix on the back of the head, "Respect your elders, cub. And you know I prefer pastries to muffins. I trust you haven't gotten soft in your time away from my watchful eye."
The rogue tied the rope around herself and threw a leg over the edge. She began to repel down the side of the building, checking for any clues as she went. At Erix's comment about elves bouncing, she looked up at him with an eyebrow raised, "Do you really want to sleep with one eye open for the next year?" But the fact that she had trusted him enough to get off the roof with nothing but him supporting her meant that her comment was made in jest, mostly.
Phin was distracted by the thought of the table set up on the roof. "Good point. Once I'm finished here, you should check it out. Does it happen to face the same direction as the one at Svans'? Maybe they were drawn to looking at the same part of Sharn for some reason."
Erix grinned and resisted the urge to jiggle the rope. He groaned at the implied order "Yes Ma'am. Don't suppose you know who'd have a compass? Seeing Phin is having trouble he falls quiet, letting the rogue concentrate."
"You see anything? Want me to come down as well?" He asks, waiting for an answer before moving off to examine the table and chair.
Careful not to touch the furniture, he kneels down to check the 'ground', trying to determine if they have been moved, what way they normally face, what might be in that direction, and who might be in the habit of using the furniture.
Erix inclines his head at Sebastian "So, two targets. Different rooms. That means they were both objectives - otherwise they'd've been killed in the same spot or one would have run." "That means one or both of them might have had information. They could have told someone else - who is now a target - or could have written it down."
"Seems to me you could warn people to come forward so they can be put in protective custody. On the other hand you could 'find' an encoded notebook in a hidden location, and take it back to the office to decode. If whoever did this is really silencing witnesses, that might be enough to invite a visit."
"There's certain people can do things with blood. Might be able to get us some information. Worst case we should definitely take a copy of it or something. Hmmm - do you think we could cut a panel out of the wall?"
That was Horken Pendrong, the innkeeper's son, manager of the inn's stables, the one who first found out about Drummer's fate and went to fetch help.
Yeah, no trace... on the other hand, Sharn's streets are of stone, not mud, so finding any tracks on the ground is pretty much a wasted effort in my mind, unless the killer, say, stepped in a pool of blood and forgot to clean his/her shoes, or you are in a park/garden area where there is actual soft ground for boots to leave tracks in.
Careful not to touch the furniture, he kneels down to check the 'ground', trying to determine if they have been moved, what way they normally face, what might be in that direction, and who might be in the habit of using the furniture.
Unfortunately, it seems they have been repeatedly moved, to any number of positions on the roof... it's not like anyone's spent much time sweeping the roof, so you can find a number of cleaner spots where the legs of the chairs have been at some not so distant point in time.
"So, two targets. Different rooms. That means they were both objectives - otherwise they'd've been killed in the same spot or one would have run."
Well... Drummer lived in the basement. Borgo on the second floor. So there seems to be no reason why someone'd have to kill one just to be able to slay the other. Which would certainly suggest someone set out to kill both.
Pushing hair from her eyes, she asked, "How long has Borgo worked for you? And what about Drummer? Were they friends?"
”Several years,” Graff Pendrong grunted, scratching his head. ”Borgo moved to Sharn just when we were short of a cook, so he was a real lifesaver. A day or two later Mr. ir’Kilmansor came over with Drummer in tow, begging and pleading us to take the ‘forged in as well. Were a bit hesitant about that, but he had a way with words, old Svans did, and in the end, Drummer proved well worth his pay – thought to take him as a bouncer, but he wasn’t much good for that. Too timid by half. But good with his hands, and there’s always things that need doing. And yes, Borgo and Drummer got along well – knew each other of old, I’m certain, even though they didn’t much care to talk about their past.”
"What were Drummer's normal duties? I thought he was with the dancer when we came in last night. Does he often perform with her, or others?"
”He was a general handyman around the place, but he sure loved his music – Miss Herfast didn’t need to sweettalk him onto playing for her, that’s for sure.”
When she was done with the others, she peeked in on the destruction that had been Drummer. She asked, "That axe there, is it yours? Also, can you show me the nearest occupied room to here?" Once she took a look at it, she tried to figure out if it was reasonable that the occupants wouldn't have heard anything.
”Well, mine in the sense it belongs to the Inn, I guess,” Graff said. ”Although Drummer did most of the chopping – the ovens back in the kitchen do eat firewood fast. And the only other rooms in the basement are all storehouses and the like – you are welcome to take a look at any of them if you wish.”
knew each other of old, I’m certain, even though they didn’t much care to talk about their past.”
Alua felt a thrill run through her body; this was important. "Was Svans in the habit of finding employees for you? Was there anybody else he brought to you, or vouched for in the past? Or anybody else who seemed to know Borgo or Drummer from days of old?"
"We'll need a list of everybody whom Drummer or Borgo were close to, or spent social time with."
"You see anything? Want me to come down as well?" He asks, waiting for an answer before moving off to examine the table and chair.
Phin sighed and ran.a hand through her hair in frustration, "No, I don't see anything. I can't tell if the killer came from down here or lowered themselves from the roof. If you think it worthwhile, you could also take a look but I think we may have exhausted this line of investigation."
knew each other of old, I’m certain, even though they didn’t much care to talk about their past.”Alua felt a thrill run through her body; this was important. "Was Svans in the habit of finding employees for you? Was there anybody else he brought to you, or vouched for in the past? Or anybody else who seemed to know Borgo or Drummer from days of old?"
"We'll need a list of everybody whom Drummer or Borgo were close to, or spent social time with."
Sebastian nodded and patted the girl on her back, "Nice work. Now we have some sort of connection. All three victims were somehow known to each other in the past."
He thought out loud, "How about if get the word out in the community and see if there's anyone else that also knew the three victims in the past? We can say that it's for their protection to come forth and talk to us. This is probably true."
Alua felt a thrill run through her body; this was important. "Was Svans in the habit of finding employees for you? Was there anybody else he brought to you, or vouched for in the past? Or anybody else who seemed to know Borgo or Drummer from days of old?"
"We'll need a list of everybody whom Drummer or Borgo were close to, or spent social time with."
"Well, not Svans, but I do get people begging me to employ their friends often enough. The War ending made many people lose their jobs for the army or arms industries, you know? More often than not, there is a reason why those people find it hard to find a job, but every now often, one finds a gem like Drummer."
"As to who they knew of old... like I said, it wasn't like they spoke much of their past - hardly anything, ever - but back in the day, when they had just moved in, those two spent more time with Corlina and Roctar Herfast, as well as Volin Krober than with anyone else. Can't rightly say if they knew each other from before, or just hit it off at first meeting. Mr. ir'Kilmansor, I think, all five of them avoided, although things mellowed out some with time, both with the five of them spending less time together and avoiding Svans less."
Right, thank you. That was my mistake. Hope I'll remember to fix that in the turn summary...
I think you shall gather in Drummer's room, since Sebastian will be putting the puzzle that is Drummer's body together for some time, and Alua already wrote something that I took to you getting together down there.
"You see anything? Want me to come down as well?" He asks, waiting for an answer before moving off to examine the table and chair.Phin sighed and ran.a hand through her hair in frustration, "No, I don't see anything. I can't tell if the killer came from down here or lowered themselves from the roof. If you think it worthwhile, you could also take a look but I think we may have exhausted this line of investigation."
"Then we should probably get back to the others. Boss asked me to stay close by."
"Then we should probably get back to the others. Boss asked me to stay close by.""You see anything? Want me to come down as well?" He asks, waiting for an answer before moving off to examine the table and chair.Phin sighed and ran.a hand through her hair in frustration, "No, I don't see anything. I can't tell if the killer came from down here or lowered themselves from the roof. If you think it worthwhile, you could also take a look but I think we may have exhausted this line of investigation."
Phin looked up at Erix and nodded, "Yeah, I agree. But I doubt you want to haul me up so I'll meet you down there."
Phin lowered herself off the platform she was standing on. Even as she went back into The Bluebird, she kept a sharp eye out for anything unusual in case the killer had originally come this way.
Phin stopped short in the doorway of Drummer's room with a sharp intake of breath as the disturbing scene came into full view. Sebastian had begun to put the pieces back together in some semblance of order. "There was a lot of rage in this room. Or maybe someone just wanted it to look that way."
The bloody handprint caught the rogue's eye, "A three-fingered killer should be easier to find than one with five, right? Considering that's blood and not blood-like fluid, maybe that means that Drummer managed to hurt them."
No need to do any more climbing - as I said, the platform was there to facilitate access to the Inn's stables, and it's on the level of the entrance. You can just waltz over to the front door whenever you please ;^)
I'm assuming that all the residents of the Bluebird being questioned have all their digits? Or is there a three-fingered person in the bunch?
Everyone in the Inn have all their visible bits still present, yes.
Has Alua joined us? I think we should talk to Horken. He was one of the last to speak with Drummer and if he's in charge of the stables, the killer might have accessed the ledge above the stables to get to Borgo's window.
Yes, you are all in Drummer's room, eventually, as you arrive separately. Waiting will solve that problem. And since there was no sign on the roof that the killer climbed down to Borgo's room, he, she or it pretty much had to climb up from below the windows, from the platform that you deemed clear of all traces... unless he/she/it flew.
Alua stared at the hand print with curiousity, and drew a careful rendition of it in her notebook.
Definitely damaged. And no, Volin is only a name to you at this point.
Any chance Sebastian found any fingers amid the Drummer parts?
Nope, only sign of damage on the killer (or on someone made of flesh and blood at any rate) was that single handprint and a few stray drops of blood.
Phin once again became concerned about Corlina but now it was for a completely different reason. After what Alua said about a bunch of them having a history, the rogue suggested, "Sounds like we need to find this Volin character and make sure they're ok. We should also check in with the Herfasts to make sure they're ok and hopefully Corlina will tell me how they previously knew each other."
I feel kind of done here, I vote we move on to the Volin and the Herfasts, and talk to them.
Not sure about spreading the word that associates of Svans are being targeted....could save lives, but could also tip off the killer and speed up his agenda.
With the party gathered in one place, Sebastian puts their idle hands to use helping him reconstruct the dismembered Drummer much faster, and finds his suspicions warranted - a piece of armor plating from Drummer's chest is indeed missing.
The revelation of Drummer's missing chest piece filled Phin with a feeling of dread. "Making sure Corlina is ok has now moved to the top of my list. That and she may be more willing to share information with me, although her husband may not be so stoked to see us again."
Sorry, but that's enough vague hints for now ;^) I will take that post as directions is nothing else presents itself soon, and take to to the loving couple's apartment - the innkeeper can provide you with their address.
Sorry, but that's enough vague hints for now ;^) I will take that post as directions is nothing else presents itself soon, and take to to the loving couple's apartment - the innkeeper can provide you with their address.
Sebastian scratched his chin and mused out loud to his team, "I'm still thinking that the connection with markings and/or tattoos of our victims and the fact that the killer took the time to take them."
He pointed to the missing piece on the warforged, "The victims all belonged to some sort of organization that 'wronged' the killer in some way. My first guess was a military unit and that the killer was a prisoner or perhaps they wronged the killer's loved ones. However, I don't think the victims have a military background. Do they?"
He added, "Could the victims and the killer have spent time together in an orphanage? Could the victims have denied critical services (medical, food, etc.) to the killer?"
Phin nodded as she looked around at the others, "I think we all agree that a possible marking or tattoo is what connects the victims and is important to the killer somehow."
The elf tucked hair behind one of her elegant ears, "But if the victims don't have a military connection, what kind of organization would bring warforged and humans together? It's not unheard of to find another line of work after having fought in the war. I mean, look at Alua and Erix."
She looked thoughtfully at the pair, "Did the military keep any records on you guys? More specifically, for when you were discharged? Maybe we should ask the Sergeant if he can get us access to such records if they exist. But, I do think our priority is Corlina and her husband followed by finding this Volin."
The revelation of Drummer's missing chest piece filled Phin with a feeling of dread. "Making sure Corlina is ok has now moved to the top of my list. That and she may be more willing to share information with me, although her husband may not be so stoked to see us again."
Erix shrugs "You take flowers, I take beer. Up to you whether we come clean. Could be just showing sympathy? And guilt? Actually..." Erix thinks for a minute "Probably better to come clean. More chance they won't just brush us off."
He turns to look at Sebastian "Boss?"
Game on!
Action 2:
Phin looked from the apron to the mop, That was the last thing I was expecting.
The rogue cleared her throat, "I'm afraid we have bad news and a few questions. May we come in?" She held up a few bottles of liquor they'd procured from the Bluebird. "We brought alcohol."
The rogue cleared her throat, "I'm afraid we have bad news and a few questions. May we come in?" She held up a few bottles of liquor they'd procured from the Bluebird. "We brought alcohol."
"Yeah? I'm in the middle of something right now, so you'll have to do better than that if you want to waste more of my time," Roctar grunted, not moving an inch from the doorway.