Third Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
The Party returns to their respective residences, be they what they may, and return to Mickey P's the Blue Bird Inn in the morning, a sensible spot as it's within the District of interest and has plenty of space plus the added benefit of food and drink.
The mood of the staff is somber, Borgo was well liked and the owner and staff are preparing a celebration in his honor this evening.
Ratchet looks a bit tired as he was burning the midnight oil to assist in creating some useful communications system. Gauntlet gives the group the bad/good news that the Sending Stones can be made available, but Sergeant Viduk needs to fill out paperwork to requisition them and that may take one to two days...
Viduk is also present at breakfast, though he is of course not eating, "Your theories on the motives seem sound and you appeared to have been quite close to catching this perpetrator just last night. Looks like you all were indeed the proper team of Inquisitives to solve this problem.
Now that you have solid leads and a second murder has taken place, I want to place myself at your disposal.
While I like your idea of protective custody Frank, I am not certain that the Watch has the resources to guard these four citizens day and night or perhaps better put, they are of of sufficient rank to merit such security. If the motive is vengeance, we may delay but not stop such vengeance from taking place, at some point that custody would need to cease. Plus, while in such custody, no doubt the villain would lay low and how else can they be found if we don't try and catch them in the act.
Better that we create a perimeter and try to catch the villain in the act of murdering the next person. Morbid and callous I know but probably, a necessity. Is it possible to keep us all in communications in such a manner my new friends?"
Erix, feel free to make those Diplomacy rolls prior to this meeting via a message, I will tell you whether you have success or failure and you can incorporate what you know/can leverage for this discussion.
While I don't think my Favored in House feat itself could be of much help here, I am still a Dragonmarked member of a House. Could perhaps reach out to House Sivis and House Tharashk to see if they can lend a hand with our communication and tracking needs, respectfully? Also maybe try to enlist House Deneith for a bodyguard or two?
Absolutely, it would be a Diplomacy check for each House. May require a favor for each later too but we'll see :-)
OK folks, take a day or two and brainstorm how you want to approach inventing new ways to track multiple targets at once whether by tech or by magic or some other means! You could also see what resources, if any, the Sergeant can spare.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District - Borgo's Apartment
Based on the pattern so far, it seems that once per night the killer strikes. There are four targets left: Drummer, Corlina, Roctar, and Volin.
Shall I assume that the entire Party agrees to inform Sergeant Viduk of the murder and then rest for the evening? During the early morning you can each prepare what you believe will assist best in the next day's investigation.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District - Borgo's Apartment
The full team arrives shortly after Brennus and Erix begin their cursory review of the scene. With full capacity, the Party begins to notice small details initially overlooked.
It is clear that the point of entry was the window, the lock was picked from the outside. The door to the apartment was not tampered with. The flour appears to once again be happenstance, seems like the same type of flour based on color and consistency as the group found last time. The killer probably left the same way as well.
Gauntlet surmises that flour could be used to reveal invisible things but you would need a lot more than this. There are no spells that he can think of that have flour as a component. Gauntlet does believe that the killer must have used some sort of magic to climb the sheer wall. Brennus flies up to the roof to determine that there are no scrape marks that show evidence of a grappling hook being used.
This kill does confirm though the killer is targeting Peace Circus employees. Borgo was the cook for the Peace Circus, you know as you interviewed him just earlier this day. The tattoo was removed, the size and the shape are the same as taken from Svans.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District - All Together Now!
I am going to catch everyone up for the investigation scene, I think it makes more sense.
Erix and Brennus take a scan on the room but see nothing super obvious at the moment and await the arrival of their allies to do a deeper dive into the apartment. Brennus with the assistance of Erix does turn the body over and discovers that the victim in indeed a member of the Peace Circus, the dwarven cook Borgo Delborde! His throat was slit, which led to most of the bleeding out and a small area on his chest was carved out. Both of you suspect that this is where his tattoo was located.
Luckily, you are fresh upon the scene, hell the blood isn't even dry yet and the kill was so clean no one knows about this except for all of you.
Everyone roll Perception please! Let me know if you are looking for anything specific.
Erix, there are no invisible figures present. Brennus, no there are not hand or footprints in the shed blood.
Whoever chooses to go starts heading in the direction follows Proto's nose. After about 15 minutes you pass by Corlina, she waves and smiles and keeps walking past you all, "Hello!"
I have the ability to move up my speed(40ft) as a swift action once/encounter. However this isn't exactly an encounter, so unsure if I would be limited in it's use or not. Even if I am, a run action for me is 160+40 from Grim News(the aforementioned Swift action ability) gives me a movement of 200ft in a round, then 160 after(assuming I can only use Grim News once). Is that enough to beat Corlina down the stairs, or must I teleport? Since Dimension Door is 1/day(and Leap is twice), if I did, I can't use it again(just in case).
Does Brennus spot Erix when he looks down for his 'flock' ? That'll obviously be an important factor in what I decide to do. As well as if the others have arrived yet or not.
Yes, that's enough to beat her down the stairs, no teleport needed.
Absolutely, Brennus spotted you and informed you as posted above. The rest of the group still trails behind with Gauntlet the farthest behind.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - On Wing in the Oakbridge District
Brennus
Your eyes dilate and much is revealed to you...
you divine that there were two medium sized creatures in the area. The attacker remained present for approximately 15 minutes, and the event ended seven minutes ago. The movements made were limited to an attack on the sleeping victim followed by some time further mutilating the body. No objects were left attended or unattended.
Your quick scan of the area is insufficient to decipher more.
There is no roof access unless a person used a rope or magic to get here.
Actions?
Brennus:
Divine Time: You may divine the events that happened within range. You can only divine what occurred up to 1 hour per caster level in the past. When you divine time you are only given the following details: The number of creatures that were in the area, their size, how long they remained in the area, and any movements they made while in the area. In addition, if objects were left unattended or unattended objects were moved during this time, you learn the size and vague shape of such objects.
This is SUCH a fantastic build for this game love it!
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District - Inside Volin's Apartment Building
Erix
Within about a minute she is in the hallway, you watch her enter the lift. As the door closes, you race down (or teleport down I suppose) the stairs, you indeed do beat here down from the lift. She heads out, taking a moment to see who is in the street before stepping out, and you trail her as she walks down the street. She appears entirely unconcerned about being followed this time.
Being an observant fellow, you look up and you see what has got to be Brennus flying around I mean, you've seen few other Ravens within Sharn before, he flies by an open window and lets out a low gurgling croak...
Do you want to pause and see what Brennus is up to or keep tailing Corlina?
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
Ratchet, Frank, B, and Proto - Roctar and Corlina's Apartment
Proto would need to make that survival check, I'll allow the other checks as Aid another assist rolls though! As Proto has the scent of Erix already (i presume) I'll make that DC 17. Note that you will be about 15 minutes behind where Brennus and Erix are currently as he flew straightaway and the rest of you will need to walk unless Proto has Fast Tracking.
"So, uh, to catch up those of us who might have been distracted when the plan was being made, these two were having an affair, she's leaving, Brennus is watching the guy up there, and... why are we doing this again?" Ratchet asked. "Do we think one of them is the next target, or do we think one of them is the murderer?"
Decent synopsis Ratchet BUT Roctar and Corlina's apartments are not close to Volin's apartment so you would not be able to observe what he is currently observing, sorry if that wasn't clear.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - On Wing in the Oakbridge District
Brennus
You fly straightaway to Volin's apartment. You wing by the penthouse, intent on looking into the windows, you certainly get an eye full! Standing by the door is Volin stark naked and he is smooching with Corlina!
You do not see Erix, of course that doesn't men that he's not here...
To be clear, these are separate rolls!
Roll 1 - Perception DC 25:
As you fly around the building, gaining a bit of altitude to glide past to take a second look, you see a figure on top of the tallest building adjacent to Volin's apartment. They are about to head into a door that gave them roof access.
Roll 2 - Perception DC 20:
On the tallest building adjacent to Volin's building, there is a single open window across from Volin's penthouse. It's conspicuous as it's the ONLY one open.
How exactly is this apartment complex laid out? I'm not too worried about staying ahead of her, but I'm curious if there's an alcove or corner or something I can duck into as she passes, so I can stay behind her.
Volin has the penthouse, so the lift leads to a small hall that leads to his door. There is a hall the other way that leads to roof access. You could hide there and then follow her down. Though if she does what she did last time, she will take the lift down (you could take the stairs down but you'd have to run pretty fast to potentially stay ahead of her), you're probably better off heading down now, taking an inconspicuous spot, and then tailing her once more.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
Ratchet, Brennus, Frank, B, and Proto - Roctar and Corlina's Apartment
Parts of the two groups merge at the stake out of the married couples apartment.
Taking a liberty here Frank informs Ratchet and Brennus that Erix left to tail Corlina about and hour and a half to two hours ago. Roctar is home and has been home the entire time. He's received no visitors.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Mickey P's Humble Abode
Gauntlet
You separate from Ratchet and Brennus and head to Mickey P to ensure that the old man is ok.
You arrive and find him sleeping on his couch, only a few bottles of beer are at his feet, he is reading the Sharn Inquisitive so that's a good sign. He looks fairly serene snoring away!
Zero rest. It's about 6:30 pm (roughly) in game time. If the Party doesn't get any rest by much later this evening, some fatigue may begin to set in, but for now I am ignoring how tired you all probably are!
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Oakbridge District
Gauntlet, Brennus, and Ratchet
You arrive back in Oakbridge District, you are aware that the other group is tailing Roctar and Corlina. The streets are still busy even though night has fallen, a single murder has some people on edge, but not enough on edge to keep people from stepping out.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
Erix
You move to the door to hear better that which takes place. It's quite the earful! This is an affair, and a steamy one at that, after an hour they're still entangled...
"Wroat? I’m not sure a journey there will help us here and now.”
Wroat to Sharn would be a long way away. If she's in Wroat, then she's probably not a suspect, but that would take time for the group to confirm via travel there. Viduk could probably send a missive to the Watch in Wroat faster than you all could get there and back again. House Sivis probably has a service for that within Breland if the Watch cannot do it. Sivis' abilities would be something that Erix or Gauntlet would be aware of.
Would there be a tactical advantage to getting up onto the roof? I can probably get up there via some of my teleportation effects, just unsure if it would be beneficial or not. At least, ooc. In game, Erix should probably be a bit more knowledgeable about that sorta thing, lol.
A number of tactical considerations.
In the hallway you cannot see any comings and goings outside of the building, so if they were to sneak out, you would miss that.
Assuming she exits the way she entered, you would have to hustle down the stairs to stay ahead of her and that would require a few rolls to remian unseen and unheard.
But, inside you can hear them better if you listen at the door. On the roof you would only hear them if the window happens to be open.
On the ground, you will be able to see if they exit via the front entrance or a window, but you won't be able to hear anything they say.
Essentially, there's pluses and minuses to any choice you make here.
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
Erix
You follow Corlina, after her initial attempt to ensure she isn't being followed, she becomes more carefree and does not even bother to look behind her!
She takes a rather long circuitous route and ends up at another apartment. You realize that this apartment is the one right next to where Svans lived, tough most of the apartments here are clustered together.
You are able to follow her inside and up the stairs she doesn't take the lift which is unusual as she has to walk up fifteen flights! Though as a dancer she is in good shape.
By the time you are both done climbing, you realize she is going to the penthouse! At the top she has to knock, based on your angle, you cannot see the person but you hear a male voice, "Got out early tonight eh? Come on in gorgeous, let's make some music together, shall we?" She giggles and enters, the door closes behind her.
Do you want to listen by the door or try and observe the penthouse from the outside the building or maybe try and access the roof somehow?
Wisdom Check DC 10:
Based on what the other group reported, this is probably the apartment of the Bard Volin the same Elf that was the trainer of the Dinos that caused the Peace Circus chaos!
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn Central Watchtower
Gauntlet, Brennus, and Ratchet
Robilar frowns at Ratchet but then his face softens a bit, "Aye, I do indeed remember the incident.
I also happen to remember where the records are kept as I thought it a shame what happened to the victim, it'll take a few minutes to gather the records up, I'll let you inside the cage if Madelyt stays with you. Otherwise I can't have outsiders, even Inquisitives working with the Watch snooping around".
She nods in agreement.
He unlocks the cage and lets you all in.
Madelyt makes small talk with Gauntlet and Ratchet and seems to not pay much attention to Brennus, Brennus, do you attempt to snoop while inside, or just hang out?
After about 45 minutes, the Gnome returns with a file.
Based on the report, the Dinos lost control because Volin wasn't spending sufficient time tending to the animals and their condition deteriorated though the report doesn't delve into why Volin was inattentive.
Most of the spectators received wounds that could be healed by clerics of the Watch one they were on scene. The worst victims were a Changeling named Ziki and her baby daughter. The baby was literally shredded by the Dinos and nothing could be done for her by the time help arrived. The Changeling lost two fingers in the attack. She was in attendance as a distraction from the news that her husband had died on the front lines of the war. However, as part of the investigation, it was revealed that Ziki had warrants for her arrest in Xandrar and Wroat due to thievery. While she explained it away as necessity, the Watch instead of pursuing any sort of charge against the Circus exchanged her freedom for the death of her child. It is believed that Ziki was living in Wroat at the time. The file has not been updated as to her whereabouts.
Is this the part where we are supposed to blend in? I thought that was for a stakeout. If we're being inconspicuous, Proto is parked in a nearby alley under a tarp. I thought Broulni might keep Proto company.
With alleyways and different levels of the District, you can blend in fairly well. Proto can absolutely be with B, but, if his Stealth isn't great then being some distance away with Frank might make more sense!
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
Gauntlet, Brennus, and Ratchet - Sharn Central Watchtower
The guard nods stiffly, both are Human, "Thank you then for your service.
What you are seeking would be on the lowest level. It will take some time to dig through those records but you may well find something of value. I remember the incident myself and no doubt some paperwork was generated as a result.
Ask Robilar to assist you, he is the recordkeeper.
As you enter, Madelyt, can guide you to the proper floor and she can be an escort for you so that you need not answer this same challenge over and over again.
Wait here a moment".
The guard enters the Tower and soon enough produces a female guard, she is half-elven. She smiles warmly and guides you past dozens of Watch members who no doubt would have slowed your passing and then into a lift bank bringing you to the lower levels much more efficiently.
You are deep when the lift stops, and you all exit onto a dingy foyer, it smells of dust and old paper. A cage closes off the records, within are rows and rows of documents on metal shelves that run into the darkness beyond.
Seated at a desk on the other side of the cage is a gnome, on his desk are two lanterns that produce most f the light currently down here, he looks up at you squinting, "New recruits Madelyt?"
She shakes her head, "No Local Inquisitives assisting the Watch, can you help them?"
Second Day of Vult in the Year 998 YK - Sharn - Oakbridge District
BlueBird Inn
The Party decides to once more, split their efforts, utilizing the same split. Frank, B, and Erix camp out outside of Roctar and Corlina's Apartment, while Gauntlet, Brennus, and Ratchet head to the Central Watchtower to investigate the "Changeling".
Frank, B, and Erix - Roctar and Corlina's Apartment
The split squad heads to the Apartment, which is close by, and settles in for a spell to see if suspicious actions are met with suspicious deeds.
Frank, not being the stealthiest fellow, hangs back to let B and Erix do the surveillance.
An our after sunset, the hunch may just pan out as both of them spot Corlina is disguise (cowled cloak on) heading out of her apartment and into the night!
Do you follow? Does B alert Frank or ask him to hang behind and keep watching for Roctar?
Gauntlet, Brennus, and Ratchet - Sharn Central Watchtower
The other half of the split Party heads to Central Watchtower to seek information on the changeling, if it can be found.
Base-to-tip the tallest tower in Sharn, the central Watchtower is a broad, imposing tower whose foundations stretch down into Middle Sharn and is the only remnant Goblinoid architecture in Upper Sharn. Although many in Upper Sharn decry it as an eyesore that should be replaced, the Central Watchtower is an extremely practical facility and the spine of the Watch's nervous system.
As you arrive, a pair of guards bar your entry, both wield halberds though they don't directly threaten you one of the two speaks, "State your business citizens, the Central Watchtower cannot be accessed by civilians without good cause".
The Changeling is unlikely to have the tattoo as she was a spectator not a member of the Peace Circus, indeed, one of them could have been a changeling I suppose....
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.
Hmmm... I'm a bit at a loss for how to look for further leads now. The only thing that I can think of *maybe* looking into now is the changeling who lost their child.
Don't worry, if the group ends up being stuck, I am sure I can find a way to move the plot along! :-)
