GM Kirsdrake's Eberron Case Files (closed recruitment) (Inactive)

Game Master Kirsdrake

Before Volin spoke, he quickly added, "Or is there any other reason that you think someone wants past personnel from the Peace Circus dead?"

You can thank Alua for her Diplomacy roll, for Volin was going to hold on to one fact for dear life...

The elf sagged as the words sunk in. Three of his old companions killed, their tattoos removed. No chance something like that could be anything but intentional, and if someone had already killed half of them, why stop there? Particularly since...

"It has to be about the incident. What else could it even be?" the elf murmured, a tortured look in his eyes as he was again reminded of the fuel of his nightmares, of the day his beasts - his responsibility - went wild and attacked their audience. For a moment, he was back at that time, could hear the screeches of the enraged dinosaurs, the screams of pain and fear of their victims, smell the coppery of blood in the wind.

Slow and haltingly, Volin told you his own version of the incident and their life with the Circus. The tale consisted with the one Roctar had told you quite well - indeed, if two people gave you an identical retelling of an event it was likely they had practiced the story beforehand. But when it came to the dinosaurs...

"It was all my fault," the elf confessed, his voice quiet. "I... had been distracted, in the weeks before the disaster. I won't tell you with what, it's not my secret alone to share, and it doesn't matter anyway, as fault lies with me and me alone. Kaiwakit and Panch... they were not well. Parasites, I found out after the attack. A nasty infection, hard to spot but it was my job to do just that. Except I didn't, and the pain drove the little ones to a fury, and... well, you know what happened already."

"Over the years, I have put it behind me, learned to live with the guilt, but now, this?" Volin shook his head. "But why? People were hurt, but we paid dearly for their pain - the Watch bled us dry, and unless it all went to their own pockets, the victims had to have got more than the military would have paid if it had been one of their projects that caused harm for the civilians."

Phin stood close to the window, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed as she listened. She looked out the window at the Bluebird as she spoke, "How would your dinosaurs have gotten this infection? Would it have been treatable if you had found it in time?" She paused before changing gears somewhat, "If it was all your fault, why go after the others? Why wouldn't they just go after you and be done with it? Someone seems to strongly dislike all of you. Was anyone more that just hurt? Who did you make reparations to and how much did your circus pay?"

She turned her head to look at Volin, "Distractions can be costly. Especially when they continue. Make sure it isn't dulling your senses now. It could cost more lives. The killer seems to often go undetected."

"From their food or water, and yes, it was treatable had I figured it out in time, and I might have - only might, mind you, had I not been distracted by other matters as I said," Volin sighed. "And 'more than hurt'? Had someone died, we wouldn't have got away with fines. I have no idea how many Galifars the fines were, except it amounted to all we had left, no thanks to Svans's erratic book keeping."

No, Volin don't know the exact amount - Svans was the only one who did. Also, no, he doesn't recall the name of the Watch officer who handled the case. assuming he ever got told. You do get the name of the village and the exact date (not that either was ever mentioned in the adventure), but they don't really do you much good... you *could* go visit the place and see if someone there'd know more (unless the relevant people moved away or were relocated somewhere else once the War ended), but the trip would take a week at the very least and by the time you got the information, the case would already be concluded here, one way or the other...

So, what's your plan from here? You are not going to get much more in the way of answers here. You do have one more named NPC to visit if you want. You also have what seems to be the motive for the murders even if you are missing the last couple of pieces (and you can't really get those here and now). There are a few ways you could find at least some answers... though I won't guarantee they'd amount to what you might want...

Sorry, but Erix isn't going to call it. Happy for someone else to, though.
'Seems like he wasn't happy with Svans book-keeping. Money is as good a motive as anything.' "Don't suppose you can account for your whereabouts last night?"

"I was at home. With company," Volin said. "With whom, I will not tell you, as it might compromise the honor of someone dear to me."

"Convenient." Erix drawls.

"Not particularly, but need I remind you that while you are working for the Watch, you are not in the Watch?" Volin shot back, eyes narrowed. "I have already been more open with you than I expected to ever be, with anyone, about these painful memories. Do not ask any more from me."

Volin's house was full of ghosts.

Alua didn't know if they were the ghosts of people he'd hurt, or even known, or if the spirits were simply drawn to his pain and guilt, but there were at least a dozen crammed into the tiny place.

Already distracted by the spirits, her emotions heightened, Alua found her imagination transported to the day of the rampage. In her mind's eye she saw the raptors, driven mad with sickness, attack the audience, saw blood fly. As a young woman fell beneath the savage claws, Alua leapt to her feet, crying, "No!"

Her flailing arm knocked a bottle from the table, which fell to the floor with a clatter. Brought suddenly back to her senses, Alua realized everybody was staring at her. Both the living and the dead.

Cheeks burning, she sat back down, murmuring, "It sounds really awful. I'm so sorry." She took out her notebook, and after flipping through, she found the name she'd been looking for.

"The name Lucina has come up in our investigation. Do you know him?"

"Know of him, I could say," Volin said, cocking his head in thought. "An artist of some sort? See him in the Inn every now and then - a gloomy sort of fellow, keeps to himself mostly. Svans kept his company every now and then, I think, but that might just have been about business - he turned to art when we moved into Sharn, you know?"

So, what's the plan? There is very little information for you to gain here anymore.

Sebastian tried to wrap things up as tidy as possible, "Well, consider yourself warned. There's a killer out there, trying to make some sort of amends and the only connection we have found is the Peace Circus. And you seem to be right in the middle of things."

later with group

Sebastian scratched his stubble of a beard, "Well, we seem to be right back where we started. We discard Volin as having any motive for the murders yet he is somewhat responsible for the accident. The killer will go after him for sure."

He added, "Should we ask the Watch to keep an eye on him and Corlina and Rocstar?"

Sebastian, "I guess we need to talk to Lucina next. Anything else I may have missed?"

As far as NPCs go, the only named NPC you are aware of but have yet to meet is the addict artist.

But you did strike the nail there... you have a motive, and while you don't have any idea who the killer might be, you do know where they'll eventually want to be at (wherever the last three surviving targets are). Now, there are a few ways for you to try to get more information that haven't really been discussed yet (I think there have been some passing remarks that got close) but those have their own attached complications - it's just the case that you'll never be able to dig for ALL the information you'd want to have, when you want it, in this adventure. Some things and clues only become available as the case progresses further. And I trust I don't need to draw you a picture what that means... ;^)

Throwing this in
"So. Occurs to me we put Volin, Corlina and Roctar in the same place, put up a bunch of defences and hide we're pretty much guaranteed to know where this guy'll strike next." Erix looks reluctant "I think we should chase up the last lead, though. I don't like using people as bait."

"From their food or water, and yes, it was treatable had I figured it out in time, and I might have - only might, mind you, had I not been distracted by other matters as I said,"

"Was it a common infection for the dinosaurs to get? Maybe you wouldn't have noticed regardless of whether you were distracted or not."

"Well, consider yourself warned. There's a killer out there, trying to make some sort of amends and the only connection we have found is the Peace Circus. And you seem to be right in the middle of things."

Phin moved away from the window, closer to the others, "Is there a safe place you can go where you won't be easily found? You may want to lay low for awhile."

-------

"Well, we seem to be right back where we started. We discard Volin as having any motive for the murders yet he is somewhat responsible for the accident. The killer will go after him for sure."

Phin nodded, "I'm a little surprised that Volin wasn't the first victim but maybe the killer is saving him for last. Hoping to make him suffer through the loss of the others. Although he didn't seem too broken up about it all."

Should we ask the Watch to keep an eye on him and Corlina and Rocstar?"

The rogue looked doubtful, "From what we know about the killer, I don't trhink the Watch has enough man-power to keep them safe."

"Lucina does seem like the next logical choice."

Throwing this in

"So. Occurs to me we put Volin, Corlina and Roctar in the same place, put up a bunch of defences and hide we're pretty much guaranteed to know where this guy'll strike next." Erix looks reluctant "I think we should chase up the last lead, though. I don't like using people as bait."

Was this said when we were with Volin or afterwards? If afterwards, Phin will say she doesn't think that's the best idea. If it's before, she probably won't say anything

Alua shook her head. "It's not bait, if they're targets anyway. It's being tactical. We should secure them at a safe location, maybe at the agency? Then we can create an ambush at their homesite, and wait for the murderer to betray themselves." She fell into a semi-military cadence unconsciously, betraying her time in the army.

What time is it? Enough time to see Lucina before dark?

afterwards

"Was it a common infection for the dinosaurs to get? Maybe you wouldn't have noticed regardless of whether you were distracted or not."

"No, not common," Volin said, shaking his head. "And yes, I did say that I might but only might have noticed the infection in time, had I paid them the attention I should have."

Phin moved away from the window, closer to the others, "Is there a safe place you can go where you won't be easily found? You may want to lay low for awhile."

"Well... I do have some family in Wroat, if you think that's the safest bet for me," Volin said.

And here's one of the big questions of the adventure... what do you want to do with the three presumable targets of the killer(s)? They now recognize you as professionals, so they will be open to suggestions... not that they'll be open to absolutely anything. But whether the three will survive the next coming days is largely due to what you suggest they do, or what you do to protect them.

What time is it? Enough time to see Lucina before dark?

You started off early, but did spend a fair bit of time with Alua's interviews and Sebastian's jigsaw puzzle. But after that, you haven't used up much time walking back and forth. Call it around midday-ish, and Lucina's studio is also close by - as bird flies, that is. On foot, it takes about 20 minutes to reach his place - the top floor of one of the smaller and less reputable residential towers of the district.

"Well... I do have some family in Wroat, if you think that's the safest bet for me," Volin said

Phin started to pace but then realized that Volin's place was far too small for much movement. Pausing mid-step she said, "Is this family common knowledge? If so, then going there won't keep you hidden and it may put them in danger. Maybe it's best if we find a place that you can stay that isn't connected to you at all."

Phin would be willing to offer up her place temporarily as long as he promises to stay there.

"So. Occurs to me we put Volin, Corlina and Roctar in the same place, put up a bunch of defences and hide we're pretty much guaranteed to know where this guy'll strike next." Erix looks reluctant "I think we should chase up the last lead, though. I don't like using people as bait."

Phin chuckled even though the prospect of three more deaths was far from amusing. "Having Corlina and Roctar together with Volin could be both amusing and dangerous. But as long as they aren't left alone together for long periods of time, it would be the easiest way to keep an eye on all of them."

"I wonder about the validity of using them as bait. I think we all agree that the killer is most likely a professional. If that's the case, they won't easily be lured into a trap."

"No, not common," Volin said, shaking his head. "And yes, I did say that I might but only might have noticed the infection in time, had I paid them the attention I should have."

Phin wasn't sure how her next question would be received but she plowed ahead, "If it was through their food or water that they caught this infection and it isn't common, could someone have done it on purpose? Like done something to the food or water to make your dinosaurs sick?"

Turn 014 - Dinosaur Tamer

Game on!

Actions 3

Sebastian cocked his head as if listening and once more banged on the door to no avail.

He noticed the door was open and there was someone or something inside. He signaled for the group to get ready for trouble and motioned for Erix to get up close to him. He asked, "Ready?" and slowly opened the door...

Action 3
Erix twisted his head to the side with an audible crack, and moved up to the door. He took a breath and nodded in readiness to Sebastian, ready to move in.

Action 1:

Phin considered options before offering, "You can stay at my place until we figure out a better plan. And wherever you were off to when we arrived, it's probably best that change your plans. My place isn't much but you won't be found there unless you're followed."

Action 3:

Phin would always opt for stealth first. If you could get the drop on someone it was always less messy than giving them the chance to react. However, she wasn't about to argue with Sebastian or Erix. She stayed back and let the men do their thing.

Alua stood back. If this was the artist who created the horror of war she'd seen earlier, she was in no hurry to enter his studio.

The door opened with an ominous screech of ill-maintained hinges but even that sound of tortured iron didn't still the sounds of painting nor the muttering. Sebastian had to blink his eyes to try to adapt to the gloom inside… and that's when the assault of odours hit his nose. The smell of rotten food scraps, sweat, alcohol were familiar to anyone who had spent time in the bowels of the City, but they seemed somehow magnified in these closed confines. Or perhaps it were the other less familiar smells of oil, paint and turpentine mixed in with those of tobacco and a strange, sweet smell that cut through the rest now that the open door introduced a slight breeze to disturb the still air inside.

As your eyes adjusted you realize the interior of the apartment is a single open room with a high ceiling, the rafters of the tower's roof barely visible in the shadows above. The room had four small windows but all but one were shuttered and the last let in just enough light to see by. Not that there were much to see in the room - here, a simple mattress on the floor, there a single high-backed chair with one armrest missing. A pile of billows, a heap of unwashed and discarded clothes that their owner had never got to washing.

But the art. It was everywhere, placed seemingly haphazardly… or perhaps you simply couldn't grasp the pattern in the chaos. Paintings small and truly massive, in varying stages of completion as if the artist went from one to the next as the mood took him. All exquisitely made, but depicting sights of bloody violence and war. On a few scattered tables across the room were items of interest, perhaps picked up across the city to act as model or inspiration. A rusted axe, handle rotten and broken. A statue's severed hand, life-sized, fingers open as if grasping for something just out of its reach. A trio of dolls's severed heads, carefully arranged in a triangle, facing each other and many, many more such strange pieces - the only common theme seemed to be their flaws.

And in the front of one huge canvas stood the artist himself, standing on a three-legged stool. A man of middle years, wearing only sandals and his underwear - and with a longsword belted to his hip. He was filthy, beard wild and long hair tangled and greasy, hands stained with paint, his body thin but still showing signs of what had once been fighter's muscles. Ignoring you completely, he kept on painting with sure but furious strokes, muttering all the while something under his breath, the words reduced incomprehensible by the two extra brushes clenched between his teeth.

Erix's training stopped him retching at the place, but also left him fighting the urge to shout it back into order. 'Trick is going to be stopping him getting that sword out. Man wearing underdaks and a sword is a man I don't want fighting. Even then though...' the ex-soldier surveyed the room quickly 'this room is full of things you can use to kill someone. Flammable enough a spark or accident could cause chaos. Decorated enough to cause flashbacks.'
"Alua." he ordered quietly "Stay outside the door. Phin, anything happens, take the left. assuming he is wearing his sword on his right, indiciating right handedness Boss - you're up. Just like Dale in Marikstead?"
Carefully he advanced a little, Ensuring he was able to move but could stop the madman charging anyone else.

@Alua: feel free to ignore, but one painting was bad for Alua and he's looking out for her... plus she does seem accident prone.

throwing in 'Dale in Markistead' as a shared experience where they interrogated a soldier doing something terrible, and Erix was bad cop to Sebastian's good cop (or the other way around if Fabian prefers)

The smell assaulted Phin's senses making her eyes water and involuntary gagging. She was now grateful that she hadn't gone first. The body in that place might be alive but it was extremely ripe and she was happy to keep her distance.

The rogue quickly composed herself and nodded at Erix and signalled with her hand where she would be moving in antipcipation of trouble.

Can we see what he is painting?

Sure, as the canvas is large enough to require him to stand on that stool to reach the upper parts. Not that the dim light makes seeing very easy. It's another in the series of horribly bloody and violent snapshots of the Last War, either invented or real-life based, who can tell? Feel free to invent details if you want.

While not as sensitive to the horrors of war as Alua, Sebastian's nose worked just as well as everyone else's.

He involuntarily cringed and breathed through clenched teeth. With Erix next to him, the detective slowly approached, his rapier sheathed but his hand not too far from it.

He continued shouting trying to get the man's attention...

assuming it doesn't work

The detective finally stood in front of the man's field of vision, hoping this would make him take notice. "Hello! Hello! We need to talk..."

Erix tensed "Oi! Lucina! Pay attention!"

Alua stood outside the door, notebook gripped in her hand, knuckles turning white. Something about this place gave her a bad case of the heebie jeebies, and it wasn't the smell emanating from the open door. After all, she'd smelled worse in Fallen. No; there was something else at work here, she could feel it in her jellies. For the first time in years, Alua wished she had her mace in hand. The temptation to peek inside was growing, but for now she obeyed Erix as if he were her superior officer.

More to come, depending on how getting Lucina's attention goes.

Phin moved past Alua and gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze. She whispered in the woman's ear as she quietly moved, "Just breathe. You've got this."

The elf then slipped into the shadows of the room and positioned herself to the left while the boys tried to get the painter's attention.

assuming it doesn't work

The detective finally stood in front of the man's field of vision, hoping this would make him take notice. "Hello! Hello! We need to talk..."

It doesn't quite come to that but does get close...

The artist barely paid any attention to Sebastian as he approached but eventually even he could no longer ignore the loud disturbance in his home. The brush came to stop on the canvas and Lucina turned his head to regard the inquisitive. This close to the man, Sebastian could not miss the multitude of scars and burnt marks on Lucina's body - clearly, the man had lived an extremely eventful life but had survived all the world had thrown at him. His expression was dazed, the pupils of his eyes dilated, and the brushes still held between his teeth didn't add any dignity to his visage.

"....eh?" Lucina muttered absently, as if only very mildly curious about your uninvited presence in his home. "Talk?" he said, tasting the words as if the concept was both novel and alien to him.

Just that we are clear, Lucina's stoned out of his mind. And maybe his mind's not quite intact to begin with. So don't expect him to volunteer anything useful just because you said "Hi".

"....eh?" Lucina muttered absently, as if only very mildly curious about your uninvited presence in his home. "Talk?" he said, tasting the words as if the concept was both novel and alien to him.

Sebastian sighed and relaxed a bit as he saw why the painter was not responding. He continued wrinkling his nose, "Can you stop painting for a bit? We have something serious to talk about."

assuming he stops and listens

The investigator related the news about the murders and the common link they had found. "Do you understand that you could be in danger?"

He added, "Do you know anything that could help us in keeping people safe and apprehend the culprit?"

Well, it won't go quite as smoothly as that... I understand why you skipped the explanation, but it's a bit tricky here since Lucian will react to certain keywords... so I'll have to cut Sebastian short mid-story and you folks can take it from there.

Just to make sure... I assume by "common link" you do NOT mention the three-fingered bloody handprint found in Drummer's room? That's something specific enough that I expect you to come out and write if you want to speak about it.

Lucian’s attention to Sebastian was very much a subject of debate when the inquisitive began his retelling of events, but when he got to the murders Lucina did forget about his painting and fix his unnervingly absent gaze on Sebastian. The artist’s mouth twisted into a grin full of longing, the brushes falling from his mouth to the floor, instantly forgotten. ”Murder… I… good at… so many… blood…” he said, slowly and haltingly, falling into indistinct muttering between every other word in a way that made his speech mostly incomprehensible… assuming there was any reason to be found in what he attempted to say in the first place.

Lucian’s attention to Sebastian was very much a subject of debate when the inquisitive began his retelling of events, but when he got to the murders Lucina did forget about his painting and fix his unnervingly absent gaze on Sebastian. The artist’s mouth twisted into a grin full of longing, the brushes falling from his mouth to the floor, instantly forgotten. ”Murder… I… good at… so many… blood…” he said, slowly and haltingly, falling into indistinct muttering between every other word in a way that made his speech mostly incomprehensible… assuming there was any reason to be found in what he attempted to say in the first place.

The common link was the fact that all murder victims belonged to the Peace Circus

Sebastian looked about to his companions to see if he was missing something. He said, "You were part of the Peace Circus, right? Do you remember anything about the raptors incident?"

He then slowly repeated his questions, "Do you understand that you could be in danger?"

He added, "Do you know anything that could help us in keeping people safe and apprehend the culprit?"

I don't think Lucina was in the circus. Svans met him later, here in Sharn. The link is he has three fingers, like the handprint at the murder.

Alua could hear them struggling to communicate with the painter, and from here she could smell the alcohol and drug sweat coming off him. Gritting her teeth, she put her head down and slid into the room.

The state of things was appalling - the state of Lucina even more so. Fear of his art momentarily forgotten, she moved quickly to his side and lay her hands upon him. "Oh, you poor man," she said. Turning to Sebastian, she said, "I'll see what I can do for him." She called upon the spirits to heal him, and wish she knew more about removing poison from the body.

Lay on hands. I wish I had lesser restoration! Hopefully this helps a bit.

Alua looked up at her "patient" to see if she'd been able to help any. But she ended up looking into his latest project, and recoiled in horror. Turning her head, she gazed into another painting, glorifying the murder that was war. The oracle was assaulted from all sides, and she dropped her eyes to the floor, hoping to find a safe place to look.

It was the spirits in the room that distracted her. She thought there'd been several at Volin's...that was nothing compared to the storm of them here at Lucina's. They moved in and out of the art, as if trying to pose within it. They swirled around the objects, as if trying to make sense of them. They hurled themselves at the wet canvas, as if trying to influence the emerging scene upon it. But mostly, they surrounded the stone hand.

Unable to look away, Alua watched the spirits alternately move towards the broken statuary hand, and then rocket away from it. They seemed alarmed....no...terrified is the word. They seemed terrified of it, but unable to stay away. Drawn reluctantly towards it, step by step, Alua reached out a shaking hand towards it. But it just felt like a piece of stone. The spirits, however, reacted as if she'd stuck her hand in the fire. For a moment she had to clap her hands over her ears to block out the ghostly shrieks of terror.

Turning to Lucina, she demanded, "What is this? Where did you get it?"

Yup, you were told he didn't have anything to do with the circus, but this might just be an example of Sebastian's interrogation technique! Hit the suspect with a curveball to catch him off guard. Anyway, well done and thank you, I'll get back to you tomorrow morning my time.

Yup, you were told he didn't have anything to do with the circus, but this might just be an example of Sebastian's interrogation technique! Hit the suspect with a curveball to catch him off guard. Anyway, well done and thank you, I'll get back to you tomorrow morning my time.

Of course! That was it exactly! :)

Sorry, I do need to ay more attention to the game but this inquisitive business in PBP is tough at times (at least for me).

Game on!

Phin shook her head sadly, "He's clearly off his gourd. Not sure how useful talking to him will be. Although maybe we could direct him to paint rather than speak if he saw something."

She watched Alua try to attend to the strung out artist, "Check his hands. If there's blood as well as paint then he was present at Drummer's."

I assume we would know whether the 3-fingered hand from the crime scene is right or left? Does it match any possible deformity of Lucina's

RE: 3 fingers… Alua in particular gets close enough (and pays attention to her new patient sufficiently) to note that while Lucian indeed has only 3 fingers in his right hand, the fingers he’s missing are different ones than those shown on the bloody handprint. Also, while Lucian’s got long, delicate fingers like that handprint, his hands are simply a couple sizes too large to match the print.

As for Alua’s healing… LoH is a simple heal, intended to close wounds, mend broken bones and the like, and the caster here is relatively junior one. Still, mental disorders and addictions might and do have some physical causes and cause other physical changes, so it is not completely wild to assume even a simple spell would have some effect. Besides, I like the thought so some effect you shall have – just don’t expect miracles with such a spell/effect.

And since you do pay attention to him, you can see he’s not injured – all the majior scars and the like are years old – but he’s clearly not been taking good care of himself for quite some time now. He’s not quite malnourished but he’s getting there, and the lice in his hair and beard probably have their own parasites by this time.

Turning to Sebastian, she said, "I'll see what I can do for him." She called upon the spirits to heal him, and wish she knew more about removing poison from the body.

At first, Lucian didn’t react to Alua’s touch, busy as he was in what for him passed for a conversation with Sebastian, his attention attracted by his talk about murder and killings. But then the healing energy passed into his body. He stiffened, mouth snapping shut mid-mutter and slowly straightened his back to stand at parade rest. New light dawned in his eyes, and he turned to look at Alua, for the first time seeming like he was actually looking at any one of you instead of through you.

”Thank you, medic,” he said, his voice steady and sure, even though it seemed he had merely switched mental tracks of one delusion to the next as a healer’s touch evoked a new scene in his mind. ”You should run along now, missus. The next wave is bound to hit the line at any moment, and we will have a need for your talents after they have been repelled. Long live Breland!” He saluted Alua with a precision that would bring a happy tear to the eye of the most psychotic drill sergeant who had ever lived to curse his useless recruits, seeming momentarily confused as his balled fist hit his naked chest instead of the uniform tunic he saw himself wearing, but put that small irregularity quickly aside as unimportant.

Lucian’s walking down a different memory lane for a moment, wanna try your luck with this one? He’s still out of his mind but at least more lucid… for a time. But it won’t last. And it will end sooner if you help him off it with your words.

Turning to Lucina, she demanded, "What is this? Where did you get it?"

Lucian blinked at Alua, caught off-guard by a question that didn’t fit the path his mind was currently traveling. His stance fell apart as he sat down on his stool, brooding. ”That? A trinket. From below. Lost, like I was, am, will be. Cut off just like me. No use, no purpose.” Lucian fell back to indistinct muttering for a time, with only the occasional word clear enough to hear, but without context, not clear enough to understand. Until suddenly…

”Gods! Why did you have to end it!”

Alua could see that the painter was responding in a military style, but she was unable to go further with the inquiry. Stumbling back, she grabbed Erix's arm for support, and lent him a little burst of diplomacy. "Be his captain," she murmured to him.

Enhanced diplomacy for a +2 to diplomacy or intimidation

Alua could see that the painter was responding in a military style, but she was unable to go further with the inquiry. Stumbling back, she grabbed Erix's arm for support, and lent him a little burst of diplomacy. "Be his captain," she murmured to him.

Sebastian liked that idea and nodded for Erix to play his part.

Erix thought for a moment. 'Don't know his rank - or what he thinks it is. Better to not mention it than get it wrong. Keep it simple.'
To Alua he whispers back "Call me captain and salute."
assuming she does
Erix issues a return salute to Alua "Medic I need the name of your patient."
assuming Alua says 'Lucina'
"Alright Lucina. I'm evaluating your fitness for combat. I need a report on your mission and readiness status. Now! Verbal will do."
profession: soldier: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
profession: intimidate: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 21 bonii: +2 more from dim light. +2 more from Alua's spell

The deception left a sour taste in Erix's mouth. 'Reminds me too much of me. Still, he's the best candidate we've seen for the skills the killer would need, and if the war broke him then that might be the reason for his motivation.'

Erix thought for a moment. 'Don't know his rank - or what he thinks it is. Better to not mention it than get it wrong. Keep it simple.'

To Alua he whispers back "Call me captain and salute."

With effort, Alua pulled herself into a straight-backed stance and saluted smartly. "Captain Thorne, Medic Alua reporting for duty."

Erix issues a return salute to Alua "Medic I need the name of your patient."

Holding herself together, she said, "Soldier, Breland native, name of Lucina. Long live Breland!"

I had started her next bit about the spirits with this: "Alua looked up at her "patient" to see if she'd been able to help any. " Please delete and replace with the following: As Erix took over questioning Lucina, Alua couldn't keep her eyes from the painting any longer. It was so real, so raw, that the traumatized oracle couldn't help recoiling in horror. Turning her head...