Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK – Sharn - Oakbridge District - Roctar and Corlina's Residence
Erix and Frank (with Broulnindre)
B doesn't hear much of any interest, these two just continue to bicker terribly. He screams she cries, he softens, she screams, and the cycle repeats itself.
As you exit, Erix states he would like to grab a bite to eat before interviewing anyone else.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK – Sharn - Oakbridge District - Volin's Residence
Gauntlet, Brennus, and Ratchet
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Frank chuckles every minute or two until Erix and Frank give up on listening in.
After unsummoning Broulnindre, Frank goes with Erix to grab a bite to eat at the place they'd meet with the others.
"Well I would certainly support the idea of a visit to the library for some research," Brennus states.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Ooh, a library!" Ratchet's tone made it clear that getting a lead in their investigation was an added benefit. Going to a library was it's own reward.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK – Sharn - University District, Upper Menthis, Morgrave University
The university itself fully occupies Dalannan Tower, atop which stands the domed Lareth Hall. The library sits in the uppermost story of Dalannan Tower, just beneath Lareth Hall. As you attempt to enter you are informed that while access is free to students and staff, visitors are charge 1 GP per day. The gnome librarian appears quite adamant about it, he pints to the sign that reads no exceptions.
Gauntlet pays the fee for everyone.
As soon as he's in the library, Brennus joyfully flits about, examining titles on the shelves, though he quickly forces himself to focus on the purpose of their visit.
...he mostly focuses.
Using his natural intelligence, Gauntlet lets his brain lead his search among the stacks.
Ratchet managed to stay focused on the actual information they were seeking for almost five minutes before he became distracted by things he found more interesting. He still managed to be insightful, but he wasn't going to be the one making breakthroughs in their case.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK – Sharn - University District, Upper Menthis, Morgrave University
The gnomish librarian gives curt words to Gauntlet for letting his bird fly about the library...
Once the group settles to sit down and do research, they rather quickly, maybe two hours, find what they were seeking. Two articles from the Sharn Inquisitive of the event that happened about 3 years ago, about a year before the end of the Last War, are located.
Local authorities report that last nights Peace Circus performance, that band of loveable performers, suffered a terrible tragedy. During the greatest attraction of the show the last several months, Dancing Dinos, the shows trainer, Volin Krober, is reported to have lost control of the fan favorites Kaiwakit and Panch. The deinonychuses went on a rampage through the crowd.
By the time the trainer and circus crew were able to subdue them, they severely injured several patrons and maimed or killed a changeling mother and her very young daughter.
More news on this story as it unfolds.
The Local Breland Watch placed the beloved Peace Circus on temporary hiatus. Tragically, the young changeling was slain by the beloved dinosaurs and her young mother lost two fingers to the attack, while the rest of the crowd suffered lacerations, none appear to be dead or permanently injured based on local reports.
It remains unclear whether this tragedy will result in any legal action or criminal charges from Breland authorities or the Corwn itself.
---
Based on the Inquisitive records you find, this was the last report on the event.
The group exits the Library, begrudgingly, heading back to Oakbridge to meet up with the rest of the team.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
As Frank, B, and Erix step away from Roctar and Corlina's Residence, seeking to find a place to eat either a late lunch or an early dinner they run right into Gauntlet, Brennus, and Ratchet.
How convenient! Then again, the District isn't large in comparison to other districts within the City of Towers.
Brennus looks regretfully back at the library from his perch on Gaunlet's shoulder as they leave, promising himself that he'll be back soon...
When they run into the rest of their group, Brennus is quick to fill them in on what they'd discovered. "So if anyone was going to go for revenge it would be this changeling mother, but that is pretty flimsy and doesn't exactly give us a lead we can follow," he concludes. "Did any of you have better luck?"
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Ratchet sheepishly looked up from a book with dinosaurs on the cover. It did not look like it was about circuses.
...uh, no. I did not."
"Seems like someone else is asking around about the murder, though I couldn't find out about who. The guys we spoke with seemed to think they were friends with us or maybe with the watch." Frank explains.
"It feels like someone wants to impersonate Svans if they're stealing tattoos." Frank adds with a shrug.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Seems like someone else is asking around about the murder, though I couldn't find out about who. The guys we spoke with seemed to think they were friends with us or maybe with the watch." Frank explains.
"It feels like someone wants to impersonate Svans if they're stealing tattoos." Frank adds with a shrug.
”Stealing…or collecting the tattoos? This could be a murder for hire. It does show the signs of expert infiltration techniques. And I hesitate to think the murderer was just ‘lucky enough’ not to leave any signs of himself or his escape.”
"The wound seemed old enough that it didn't seem related to the assassination," Brennus states. "Beyond that we did speak to both Pyron and Volin, neither of whom seemed to know of anything Svans had done recently that would attract attention, nor of any who would want to kill him. We additionally went to a library and looked up articles from the Sharn Inquisitive about the tragedy at the Peace Circus, which mentioned that the only death was a changeling child, whose mother was also wounded, losing two fingers. The obvious conclusion would be this is our suspect, but assuming the obvious is correct makes my feathers stand on end."
Pointing out the obvious, Gauntlet sighs for effect…if not need.
”Simply getting a suspect of any sort is an improvement to what we had before. We should try and find the mother with the missing fingers and speak to her. Although if she is innocent, it will suck that we have to force her to deal with her tragedy again.”
"Let's wait until we run out of other leads, at least. No need digging up the past before that." Frank explains.
He looks at Broulnindre mournfully.
"Seems like no one talked to Drummer, yet." He adds as he stops looking and starts trying to remember other leads.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
The group was informed that the final member of the Circus present in Sharn is the Warforged named Drummer, who can be found living in the basement of the Bluebird Inn. As the day turns to night, the Inn is starting to fill up with people, but it's easy enough to find your way to the basement without being disrupted as to your reasons for doing so.
The basement is as you would expect, a bit disorganized and a bit organized. The organized side is filled with items that the Inn needs to operate, the disorganized side is filled with garbage and other junk. Beyond that side, you can see the back of the head of a Warforged. There's a path to reach him. The area in which he dwells is rather small and you don't have very good line of sight to what's there.
As you all fill in the basement he turns around and stands up. "Hello, can I help you?" He appears confused as to the presence of so many down here with him.
Nodding in recognition, Gauntlet waves casually.
”Greetings Drummer. We apologize for disturbing your personal time, but we come on a semi-important matter. We are currently under the employ of the Sharn watch and need to ask you some questions about a recent death of someone you might have known. Would it be ok to approach and speak further?”
Brennus, perched once again on Gauntlet's shoulder, waits quietly for a response, peering intently at this last member of the Peace Circus.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
Drummer is motionless but responds in a tone that is friendly enough, "Svans? Yes, I have heard of his death. I am saddended by the ceasing of his life function".
Moving closer, Gauntlet glances for a path through the junk.
”We are sorry for your loss. Do you know of any reason someone might have meant him harm?”
Erix hangs back a bit, allowing his Warforged companion to take the lead here. However, he does offer a bit of assistance. "We would greatly appreciate your help in discovering what befell poor Svans."
Frank nods agreeably, staying on the stairs and letting the others lead the conversation.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
Gauntlet is able to find a clear path through, though initially appearing to be a mess, the basement is fairly well organized its just the contents are not easily stackable. Drummer's area is quite small, just enough room for a chair, a small table, two drums, and two pairs of drumsticks.
"No, I do not know anyone who would wish to harm him.
In my observations, there are only two individuals in the District capable of such violence, but neither has motivation to kill poor Svans.
Kroga Brax the owner of Kroga's Bakery is a volatile ill tempered man. Lucian Cruzgar is a former soldier, he too is ill tempered and discusses his penchant for violence during the Last War with ever darker tones since his settling into the District".
"Neither of them sound like the sort to slit a man's throat while he's sitting in plain view on a balcony without being seen by anyone looking right at him," Brennus comments from Gauntlet's shoulder.
"Do you know anything of what Svans has been doing since the end of the Peace Circus? Evidence suggests he'd been dealing in art, but given there was no sign of theft it seems unlikely that would be a motive for someone to kill him."
"Or any help afforded to members of the circus? His tattoo was stolen, it seems." Frank chimes in from behind.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
Drummer seems unfazed by Brennus speaking, "No.
Though he saved me when I needed saving and gave me a purpose, he and I no longer interacted once we both settled here.
I believe that the pain of the Circus failure was too much for him to bear".
Drummer points to the space on his chest where he has the exact same tattoo, though on him it is more of an engraving, "We all had these, odd that someone would cut his off.
The Circus brought joy to so many for it to end in tragedy was..." he searches for the words but they don't come to him and he simply falls silent.
"Indeed. Whose ultimate decision was that, anyway? Was it something you mutually agreed upon?" Brennus asks.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
Drummer look at Brennus, "Which decision? The closing of the circus or the tattoos?
The Circus was forced to close.
The tattoos were a symbol of camaraderie, they were also a symbol of neutrality, when we left Breland for other Countries during the war, if you had a tattoo, you would be left alone as an emissary of peace.
It was useful, especially for me as 'Forged during the war were often looked on with malice".
"Forced?" Ratchet asked. "On who's authority?"
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
Drummer responds in his monotone voice, "I don't know, that wasn't something I was involved in, but it was probably the local Watch in Breland.
The dinosaurs were dangerous, people were hurt, a child died. I still thought that should not have shut us down, after all, how many were dying all over the Five Kingdoms due to the War?
But that is all done now, nothing to be done about it".
Not seeing anything else to discuss, Gauntlet thanks Drummer and suggests to the others that they leave him to his personal space. He turns back at the last second...
"If you can think of anything else, or...if someone attempts to remove you from this world...try contacting us or the local watch ASAP. They are alerted to this murderer and the possibility that it could lead to new killings, and should be able to help you directly or put you in contact with us if needs be."
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
Drummer nods to Gauntlet, "Thank you, I will".
With that, the Party takes its leave.
As he leads the way through the main dining area towards the exit, Frank stops short.
"Anyone feeling peckish? The pie here is quite good. We can plan while we eat." Frank suggests after turning around to address the rest of the party.
"But dere iz no bones in de pie at all." Broulnindre pouts from under her cloak.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District - Bluebird Inn
As the two investigating Parties compare notes over dinner and eventually pie, both believe that the Changeling may well be the best suspect, she certainly has the motive. Whether she has the means or is even present in Sharn is unclear.
Of course, as a humanoid race related to doppelgangers they share their shapeshifting qualities and capacity for disguise so she could be well... anyone.
Before leaving the other Warforged, Erix asks. "Hey Drummer, any chance you happen to know the name of that changeling woman who lost her kid? She might somebody we wish to question."
"...You know, it's not like we even know where to start. Let's just have a stake-out." Frank tries for the third time.
"We know where the less honest interviewees live. We have less of a clue about the changeling." He explains, again for the third time.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
Drummer shakes his head at Erix's question, "Sadly no, I don't think anyone ever asked".