Deceit and Divination

Without grabbing any coins or jewels, Freya runs. Arwen is about to chase after the Dwarf when Ymzi stops him saying “The dwarf isn’t worth it.”

Hansel chimes in, “Let’s count the goods in the chest if anything is missing I’ll reimburse you.”

The go to the other side of the wagon and talk with the merchant and spot Irwyn doing fireworks in an open area. They count the chest and everyone is at ease nothing is missing.

Just inside the castle Freya finds some solace and checks through the papers she grabbed. She reads about some correspondence with the western merchants including Percy. There is a map of the eastern roads and an invitation from the king to Arwen Dureck.

The four of them group together in front of the castle and talk about where they should go or who to talk ton next.

Should we try to find a representative of the college?

Should we talk to Zara Gortosh?

Talk or interrogate to the easterners?

As Hansel and Ymzi walk out of the large wagon they hear an explosion and the elves follow them. The first thing they see is Freya holding a merchant’s chest open.

Should the team preemptively prevent the elves getting to Freya?

Should Freya run?

Should the Ymzi take the lead and act like they don’t know the dwarf?

Freya and Irwyn walk the camp. There are about 20 carts and wagons and about 50 elves. The elves pay them no mind as they wander through. Every time they pass by an elf they look over the Dwarf and the Gnome. The Dwarf takes this moment to search for clues to see if the elves had a hand in the murder.

Freya leans in to Irwyn, “I’m going to see if I can get clues from these people, see if they did it. Can you make a noise over there?” She points to the open side of the field. Irwyn grins wildly, puts a finger on a few hairs that are burning and walks away.

Freya walks along the largest wagon and hears Hansel and Arwen talking inside it. She looks around (stealth roll=19) and picks (pick roll=14) a lock on a chest, it takes a little longer than normal but she remains calm and quiet. She finds some letters and grabs them frantically without looking.

BOOM! Irwyn’s explosion was not what Freya was expecting but she decides it’s enough to look in a merchants chest. She quickly and quietly rushes to a chest (stealth roll=24) and opens it quickly (pick roll=21) She see’s nothing but coins, jewels, and some potions.

Should Freya take anything from this chest?

Hide and read the letters?

Near the castle there is a lush green field with a caravan of wagons, horses, and many elves. The biggest wagon is 7 meters from nose to tail and about 3 meters wide. Inside is enough room for several people, when Hansel pokes his head in he is mesmerized by the company Arwen Dureck is keeping.

There are 2 female elves both wearing just enough to not be naked. Another elvish man is sitting shirtless playing a solo card game on a table. Next to him scratching his back is Arwen Dureck.

Hansel’s eyes linger on the two girls and he finally lands his attention on Arwen.

Arwen stands up and asks jovially, “Hansel, it has been months. How are you? Visited Moruntuk lately?” Moruntuk is where Hansel had fallen in love with Ishabell, a duke’s daughter.

Hansel turns red, “No, I haven’t been East in a bit. Anything I should know?”

Arwen answers, “Nah, Isha is still waiting for your hand. Sent one groom to be to the Midlands for a royal request. He’s not come back. Her father was livid. HA!”

Hansel nods but remains silent. Ymzi has taken a step and and just gives a sharp, “ahem!”

Hansel gathers himself, “Oh, umm did you hear of the prince and king-to-be?” Arwen nods. “Do you know a type poison that may be magical and attacks organs?”

“Hmm, when did he die?” Arwen asks.

“Shortly after midni...”

Arwen interupts, “I knew it! It’s Midnight Tears. Very lethal and very expensive. It can be purchased through the schools in the south. It can be consumed at any point during the day but wont affect the imbiber until the stroke of midnight.”

Ymzi just sighs to herself. Hansel looks to Ymzi and asks, “what’s next?”

Inside the apothecary shop the group can’t decide where to go so after a moment of silence Freya Speaks up.

“Guys, let’s just gather ourselves for a moment. I agree we need to talk with people BUT as soon as we let people know we’re searching for the murderer we’ll get mislead. Don’t you believe that this killer is a part of those that have ears in and around the people we need information from?”

Ymzi looks at her with understanding eyes, “yes, we need to be careful.”

Freya looks at Hansel and asks, “Do you trust anyone from the east?”

Hansel answers, “Not any humans. A few elves of the Coppercloak Clan. I think Arwen Dureck is still here, he was at the wedding service yesterday.”

Irwyn snaps out of thought when he hears Arwen but quickly realizes it’s not his name. “Okay friends, what should we do? Talk to this Elvish man? Someone else?” Irwyn asks.

What should the group do?

Talk to Arwen Dureck of the Coppercloak Clan

Talk to The Sorceress Zara Gortosh

Interrogate/Talk to the humans from the East

Something else

or you can control one of the PCs Freya Mountainclock Ymzi Lightseeker Hansel Greensman Irwyn “Hothead” Bomberson

Hansel, Freya, and Ymzi leave the castle and head towards Crier’s Corner.

Crier’s Corner is full of shops and food stalls. There is a blacksmith ran by an Elvish couple and a Dwarven entrepreneur. On the opposite side of the street from the blacksmith is a printing press. The second printing press in Alessia, both of the print shops are owned by Percy Goldmane and has made him a small fortune. Above the print shop is a very small but well organized apothecary, owned and operated by Irwyn Bomberson.

Inside the apothecary the crew meets up and Ymzi and Irwyn explain what they have found. The smell in the air is a mix of cinnamon and sulfur, light shines in from a roof top window and there are some plants on the desk. The desk itself looks like it may cut from one piece of wood, the legs of the desk are gnarled branches that turn to meet the floor. The top of the desk is stained but cleared off.

Ymzi excitedly tells Irwyn, “it’s a poison, do you agree?”

Irwyn replies, “I investigated (investigate roll of 17) the various substances and I believe you’re correct. I don’t know what kind of poison it might be though. We’ll have to keep it in mind and ask around.”

Ymzi agrees, “we could ask Zara the sorceress, a cleric at the Hathor temple, or maybe another apothecary or alchemist?”

Hansel draws their attention and adds, “ahem... I think we need to speak with the Eastlanders that are in town still. What say you?”

Freya enthusiastically agrees. The others nod.

Ymzi slowly walks towards the brothers, her eyes fixated on Markis. Markis looks up at her and she asks if she can examine the body. He nods and walks over to Hansel and Freya.

Ymzi slowly pulls down the sheet and tries to learn whatever she can. She says a quick prayer out of ear-shot of the others. She uses her medical knowledge (medicine check of 19) and checks his body She sees bruising near his diaphragm, also his chest is purpleish-red, and his eyes are blood shot. She decides she knows what but not how.

On the other side of the bedroom, Markis approaches Hansel and asks a question. “What do you make of all this? I don’t even know where to start.”

As he trails off Hansel responds firmly, “did he have any enemies? Who was in the chambers before he died?”

Freya adds, “Could be anyone with a little skill with a pick, these locks aren’t worth their weight of iron.”

Markis ignores Freya and answers, “Well for enemies, there was anyone from the Midland... or the Eastland... or the Southland. Much less the South though they are usually mad at my younger brother Percy... As for who was in the chambers? Oh my, everyone! The wedding party of the groom and the bride and a few stragglers. We brought their presents in and we gave them a toast before the consummation, as is the custom.”

“Hmm, very well. Will keep and ear out.” Hansel finishes as Ymzi walks over.

“Okay, so there are 3 types of poison, Number one that goes for the organs, number two for the muscles, and three magic. I’m not 100% but I believe we’re working with a magical potion that targets organs, I guess that can be number four? Idk, we will have to reconvene with Irwyn.”

Before they even leave the castle Irwyn starts speaking out loud. "The king has said something about a poison... I should get into the prince’s chambers to investigate - with some of his bodily fluids, I should be able to extract remnants of the poison to analyze in my workshop. Once I know what the poison's made of, maybe I can pinpoint where it was made - and thus, where the assassin came from."

The other three unsure about their next step agree that it is the best course of action.

Hansel leads the way nodding to guards and asking for directions when needed.

Freya is out of her element and is looking at each door. Both checking to see if it’s a sturdy lock and to see if she can make some sales. She only gets a glimpse (perception roll of 14) of a few of the locks and deems them insufficient.

Ymzi Lightseeker at the back of the pack is just watching.

In the room there is a body on the bed. A white sheet has been pulled over the prince. Next to him is the second prince, Markis Goldmane, he’s obviously been crying. He exchanges a few words with Irwyn and allows him to swab the cheek and throat of his brother.

Irwyn leaves telling the others “Find me tomorrow second floor of Crier’s Corner. I’ll let you know what substances I find in here.”

The other three remain in the room.

PCs: Freya Mountainclock Ymzi Lightseeker Hansel Greensman

This wedding was a great affair. The oldest son, Trentor of the King Maxillan Goldmane was being wedded to Carmella Silverquill of the Westland city Solheil.

King Goldmane rushed the wedding because of his age and his declining health. In front of the nobles he can put on a strong face but his energy is dwindling quickly. The Northland and the Westland have been on good terms for many generations and although this move isn’t in the North’s best interest it will work for the short term.

The sorceress Zara stayed near the rear of the ceremony and made purple and white lights dance well above the heads of the patrons. She made the air smell of cinnamon and vanilla with just a flick of her wrist. Zara was also on guard duty watching for anything suspicious.

The vows were said, the ceremonial knot was tied, and the nobles went home. The new princess Goldmane and her new husband went to his quarters to consumate their marriage.

It was just minutes after midnight Carmella comes flying down the tower and screaming at the top of her lungs. “The prince! The prin.. my husband! He’s dead!”

The next morning the King has Irwyn Bomberson, Ymzi Lightseeker, Hansel Greensman, and Freya Mountainclock join him in a counsel room. “You each have skills and ambition that will help you. I need to find who killed my son! From the looks of it, it’s a poison. That’s not how the West does things, nor is it beneficial. They would have gotten so much out of this marriage. I just don’t understand.” He takes a breath and looks over the crew “Be cautious and swift. I may not have much time.” he continues until he coughs into his arm. “Now go” he mutters.

PCs involved: Freya Mountainclock Hansel Greensman Ymzi Lightseeker Irwyn Bomberson

So I will set up scene. Then I will write which PCs will be responding to this scene.

For example:

There is a dinner among noble’s and they are discussing plans for securing the borders. King Goldmane isn’t present but he has two of his advisors barking orders. They tell Hansel “Check to see how many people are still fleeing the east. Have them pay a 25% immigration tax of what they have on their person and let them through.”

PCs in this scene: Hansel Greensman

Name: Irwyn Bomberson Race: Gnome Class: Wizard Gender: Male Background: Sage Alignment: Good Specialty: Apothecary/Alchemist

Here is the character sheet.

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