Chapter 1: The Body
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Dec 29, 2024 7:58 pm
Zirah is saddened a little by the news of the gang. "Alas, I do not know much about the underbelly of the city, most of my knowledge is reserved for the arcane right now."
Dec 30, 2024 9:39 am
Lunori looks at the body and then turns to the guards, his whiskers twitching with curiosity.
"Would you mind if I paws to examine the body thoroughly? I'm hoping to sniff out a clue to uncover who this poor soul was and why he was so viciously attacked."
"Would you mind if I paws to examine the body thoroughly? I'm hoping to sniff out a clue to uncover who this poor soul was and why he was so viciously attacked."
Rolls
Search body with Perception - (1d20+3)
(3) + 3 = 6
Dec 30, 2024 7:27 pm
The lead guard shrugs. "You have until the cart from the morgue arrives. After that, the body is in the hands of the officials."
Lunori makes a fairly thorough search but finds nothing unusual. Anyone else may make another check if desired before I bring in the morgue wagon.
Lunori makes a fairly thorough search but finds nothing unusual. Anyone else may make another check if desired before I bring in the morgue wagon.
Dec 30, 2024 7:39 pm
Our rangerly fellow searches the body for anything unusual.
Rolls
Perception (Wis) - (1d20+6)
(17) + 6 = 23
Dec 30, 2024 11:22 pm
Zirah thinks thoughtfully for a moment. "Was the man carrying anything, any weapons on him?" Her background in blacksmithing lit a small fire of interest in her eyes, but she was doubtful about such a possibility.
Dec 31, 2024 12:10 am
Aldezar stood watching as the others searched the body again for any clues.
Nothing else from me.
OOC:
Nothing else from me.
Dec 31, 2024 1:24 am
Breg, now that you have time for a proper examination, you notice a couple of things:
1) He suffered many bites, all appear to be from wild dogs. One particularly nasty bite is on the victim’s neck. Strangely, there is no bruising about the bites, suggesting they occurred post-mortem.
2) He is missing a molar from the top left side of his mouth. The nature of his torn gums suggests the tooth was removed post-mortem. In addition, you discover the image of a cracked skull branded behind his left ear.
3) You find a small, triangular puncture wound on the victim’s back. Swelling and bruising around the grievous punctures suggest a sharp object slipped through his ribs and pierced his heart. This wound, not the animal attacks, seems to be his likely cause of death.
4) He wears a leather thong necklace.
1) He suffered many bites, all appear to be from wild dogs. One particularly nasty bite is on the victim’s neck. Strangely, there is no bruising about the bites, suggesting they occurred post-mortem.
2) He is missing a molar from the top left side of his mouth. The nature of his torn gums suggests the tooth was removed post-mortem. In addition, you discover the image of a cracked skull branded behind his left ear.
3) You find a small, triangular puncture wound on the victim’s back. Swelling and bruising around the grievous punctures suggest a sharp object slipped through his ribs and pierced his heart. This wound, not the animal attacks, seems to be his likely cause of death.
4) He wears a leather thong necklace.
Dec 31, 2024 4:23 am
Breg points out all the details to his companions.
Strange things indeed, people. What kind of persons, or things, would take one of his teeth?
Strange things indeed, people. What kind of persons, or things, would take one of his teeth?
Dec 31, 2024 9:35 am
Lunori caressed his whiskers with his paw.
"A cracked skull on his noggin, how curious! He must have been part of that same band of worthless thugs. Perhaps he wanted to quit, was spying on them, or even betrayed them. The teeth may have been a way to convey information—I've heard of such practices among the more cunning members of society—or perhaps a token of loyalty, something to prove one's authority. An artifact they couldn't afford to leave behind, no matter the cost.
Ah, this sounds like the seed of an epic poem. The spy in the cracked skull—a man willing to sacrifice his life to dismantle a gang of murderous rogues, only to end up stabbed in the back and fed to the hounds."
"A cracked skull on his noggin, how curious! He must have been part of that same band of worthless thugs. Perhaps he wanted to quit, was spying on them, or even betrayed them. The teeth may have been a way to convey information—I've heard of such practices among the more cunning members of society—or perhaps a token of loyalty, something to prove one's authority. An artifact they couldn't afford to leave behind, no matter the cost.
Ah, this sounds like the seed of an epic poem. The spy in the cracked skull—a man willing to sacrifice his life to dismantle a gang of murderous rogues, only to end up stabbed in the back and fed to the hounds."
Dec 31, 2024 2:02 pm
Eril wasn't sure what to make of all of this, "Why kill him and then set the dogs upon him, to cover up the murder?"
Jan 2, 2025 9:19 am
Zirah looks at the leather thong necklace, trying to determine if it has a pendant or anything attached to it, or if the leather is in a unique or unusual pattern.
OOC:
Should have taken 10 on that, if we had the time.Last edited January 2, 2025 9:20 am
Rolls
Perception - (1d20-1)
(2) - 1 = 1
Craft (examining craftsmanship?) - (1d20+1)
(1) + 1 = 2
Jan 2, 2025 6:36 pm
Lunori's eyes widened, glinting with curiosity.
"Oh, a purrfectly delightful trinket on a leather cord! Let me see, we catfolk have a keen eye for such treasures."
With a deft paw, he took the necklace, batting it gently while holding it in the other paw, repeating the motion several times, captivated by its sway. Suddenly, realizing he might appear too entranced, he glanced around quickly to ensure no one had seen his lapse in composure. Regaining his noble demeanor, he examined the necklace in detail.
"Let's see... mmm... such a fine trinket, with such a splendid cord!"
Once again, he was lost in awe before the trinket. Realizing his shameful situation, he gave it back, with a soft, embarrassed purr.
"Oh, a purrfectly delightful trinket on a leather cord! Let me see, we catfolk have a keen eye for such treasures."
With a deft paw, he took the necklace, batting it gently while holding it in the other paw, repeating the motion several times, captivated by its sway. Suddenly, realizing he might appear too entranced, he glanced around quickly to ensure no one had seen his lapse in composure. Regaining his noble demeanor, he examined the necklace in detail.
"Let's see... mmm... such a fine trinket, with such a splendid cord!"
Once again, he was lost in awe before the trinket. Realizing his shameful situation, he gave it back, with a soft, embarrassed purr.
Last edited January 2, 2025 6:40 pm
Rolls
Knowledge to recognize (if history extra bonus +4) - (1d20+4)
(1) + 4 = 5
Jan 2, 2025 7:53 pm
Curiously, the necklace is just a plain leather cord, with no jewelry. It does not bear any patterns. Close examination reveals a broken clasp, indicating there was once something hanging from the thong, likely some sort of pendant, locket, or medallion that was violently torn off probably before the man’s death.
Jan 2, 2025 7:57 pm
The guardsman writes down everything that you have discovered. "We'll look into it further, there's no reason to trouble yourselves or to worry about it."
It is about this time that the morgue wagon pulls up. You watch as two gruff-looking men hoist the victim’s disheveled corpse onto a litter. The litter, in turn, is loaded onto a covered wagon bearing the name "Grang’s Crematorium" painted on the side. As the wagon pulls away, the army officials continue to clean up around the area. Grang is a well-known public figure, highly regarded throughout the city. Folks appreciate his timeliness and his kindness when dealing with those grieving over the loss of a loved one, earning him exceptional word-of-mouth advertising.
It is about this time that the morgue wagon pulls up. You watch as two gruff-looking men hoist the victim’s disheveled corpse onto a litter. The litter, in turn, is loaded onto a covered wagon bearing the name "Grang’s Crematorium" painted on the side. As the wagon pulls away, the army officials continue to clean up around the area. Grang is a well-known public figure, highly regarded throughout the city. Folks appreciate his timeliness and his kindness when dealing with those grieving over the loss of a loved one, earning him exceptional word-of-mouth advertising.
Jan 2, 2025 10:03 pm
Standing with the others who had responded to the dog attack, Aldezar watched as the morgue gathered the body and the guards dismissed them.
"A gang member is apparently killed and robbed, then attacked by the gang's own dogs. A murder and a theft setup to look like a wild dog attack. All executed out in the open. Internal strife in the gang maybe - although I'd thought those were usually resolved in more secluded locations."
"A gang member is apparently killed and robbed, then attacked by the gang's own dogs. A murder and a theft setup to look like a wild dog attack. All executed out in the open. Internal strife in the gang maybe - although I'd thought those were usually resolved in more secluded locations."
Jan 2, 2025 11:57 pm
"Well the good news is we are off the hook to wonder further, the Guards said they will look into it and we are not to worry about it..." Eril's voice was thick innuendo. This was an interesting mystery, and he thought someone other than the guard, who was already stretched thing, SHOULD look into it.
Jan 3, 2025 1:03 pm
Lunori brushed some errant fur with his paw, his tail twitching with a mix of excitement and determination. His sharp eyes sparkled with the fervor of a bard who couldn't resist the allure of an untold tale.
"Curiosity doth slay the cat, they say, yet it also leadeth bards into the jaws of danger and catfolk into the very heart of folly! Being both, I am destined to delve to the very bottom of this enigma.
I shall henceforth seek out the esteemed Grang and pry from him, betwixt six whiskers, any knowledge he holdeth of this gang. Only then shall I embark upon my quest to uncover the truth behind this shadowy mystery."
"Curiosity doth slay the cat, they say, yet it also leadeth bards into the jaws of danger and catfolk into the very heart of folly! Being both, I am destined to delve to the very bottom of this enigma.
I shall henceforth seek out the esteemed Grang and pry from him, betwixt six whiskers, any knowledge he holdeth of this gang. Only then shall I embark upon my quest to uncover the truth behind this shadowy mystery."
Jan 4, 2025 2:56 pm
Breg nods red-bearded head with rangerly determination.
Yes, I will help you, dear bard. Between each of us in this group, perhaps we’ve knowledge of a way to penetrate the gang’s hideout? I want to presume, time is of the essence. The sooner we can track members of this gang, the sooner we can shake some of them down for information.
Yes, I will help you, dear bard. Between each of us in this group, perhaps we’ve knowledge of a way to penetrate the gang’s hideout? I want to presume, time is of the essence. The sooner we can track members of this gang, the sooner we can shake some of them down for information.
Rolls
Knowledge (Local) (Int) where the gang is - (1d20+4)
(11) + 4 = 15
Jan 7, 2025 3:58 am
Zirah agrees. "Yes, we should do something. I'm not sure about invading hideouts, but some further research would be good."
Jan 7, 2025 1:44 pm
"Well then, I am in as well." Eril showed a friendly smile, he was happy to have found a purpose, if at least a temporary one.
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