Landing Events - 2018-04-24 - A Sketchy Mystery (log)

Olaesta 24-25, 5118

by Leafiara Autumnwind of the [[::The_TownCrier|TownCrier]]

Summary

• Sketch, who had passed news of Thrayzar's capture to Stormyrain, is found dead in the [[::Category:Upper_Trollfang_creatures|Upper Trollfang]]. Florania's loresong recalls him passing the bloody neckerchief to Stormy--and reveals him to have slept with another woman for money, then later to be poisoned by a third woman who had invited him to her drink stand. He had run off into the forest to bury a black burlap sack before dying.

• Adventurers find and dig up the buried sack, wherein Mayor Lylia finds a gear-covered prism similar to what Malluch had used as well as a scroll with a sketch of an [[::Turamzzyrian_Empire|imperial]] ship with dozens of mana pylons. "Drawn on the scroll, within the bottom of the ship, is a large square with a scribbled mark that reads "plinite charge." Beneath the sketch of the ship is the letter "A" scribbled in the same handwriting."

Log

Sketchy Death

The crack of thunder echoes in the night.

Thunder rumbles and builds in the distance.

Thunder grows more loudly on the horizon, heralding the coming of a storm which shouldn't be too far off now.

Some townspeople wander by, "...and did you see that man? He must not have cared for that drink much, he took a swig and ran off grabbing his throat!"

[The group goes to Helga's, but finds nothing--or at least I think we didn't, but several people's connections froze here, so I'm not sure. Afterward we return to the square.]

A town guard walks by, "...some trapper reported a corpse in Upper Trollfang, but I searched all over. Didn't see it. But I did get hungry, maybe I'll check again later."

[Multiple groups split off to search and eventually...]

[Upper Trollfang]

The hoof and paw marks of countless creatures are clearly evident along this part of the trail. A row of fallen trees allows the wind to blow through, keeping the leaves off the trail. You also see an angular fire wyrdling, a pale-faced coppery barn owl that is flying around, a snow white raven that is flying around and a one-eyed human corpse.

Stormyrain focuses her concentration, briefly studying the composition of a one-eyed human corpse.

>look corp

The corpse is of a scruffy human with one eye. His garb is simple and there appears to be no physical wounds or injuries upon his body. Upon closer inspection, the skin along his throat looks paler than the rest of his flesh.

Stormyrain says, "There are energies still surrounding him, I might be able to catch a glimpse of what happened."

Stormyrain gives a sidelong glance at Florania.

Speaking to Florania, Stormyrain asks, "Unless you'd like to try?"

Stormyrain casually observes her surroundings.

Stormyrain asks, "Or another bard?"

Florania ponders.

Florania quietly agrees, "I can try."

Stormyrain nods at Florania.

Florania casts an appraising gaze over her surroundings, seemingly taking in every detail.

Florania takes a deep breath.

Florania sings something in Guildspeak to a one-eyed human corpse that you don't understand.

The human corpse seems to respond to the magic of Florania's song.

Florania blinks, staring off into the distance.

Florania clears her throat.

Florania recites quietly:

"Your vision blurs, colors melding together before forming a new landscape entirely. You see a scruffy one-eyed man sitting in Helga's Tavern, drinking and talking to a crowd before he eventually leans forward and slides a bloodstained red neckerchief over to a sylvan woman with pale silver hair and dark amethyst eyes. The scruffy man takes another drink and heads out of the tavern."

Stormyrain slowly empties her lungs.

Pukk quietly exclaims, "It's the sylvan woman! She did it!"

Stormyrain settles her gaze on Pukk, watching him intently.

Speaking slowly to Pukk, Stormyrain says, "I am the sylvan woman you bat."

Speaking quietly to Stormyrain, Pukk says, "Oh, yeah."

Florania sings something in Guildspeak to a one-eyed human corpse that you don't understand.

The human corpse seems to respond to the magic of Florania's song.

Florania blinks, staring off into the distance.

Speaking quietly to Stormyrain, Pukk asks, "Where were you a few minutes ago?"

Lylia snaps, "Perhaps we could be quiet and let the woman sing."

Florania recites quietly:

"Your vision blurs, colors melding together before forming a new landscape entirely. You see a scruffy one-eyed man crawling out of a bed, not his own, as the light of day breaks through a window. He tosses a pouch of coins onto a stand near the bed, which elicits a soft moan from a scantily clad woman slumbering next to it. He grabs his belongings, double pats down a black burlap sack on his belt, nods and heads out into the town."

Pukk squints at Stormyrain.

Speaking slowly to Pukk, Stormyrain says, "With you all in the center of town."

Stormyrain loudly says, "I am not the woman. To be clear. I. am not. the woman."

Florania sings something in Guildspeak to a one-eyed human corpse that you don't understand.

The human corpse seems to respond to the magic of Florania's song.

Florania blinks, staring off into the distance.

Florania recites quietly:

"Your vision blurs, colors melding together before forming a new landscape entirely. You see a scruffy one-eyed man wandering towards a tavern, when someone nearby calls to him and beckons him to a wooden stand. The woman behind the stand smiles and flirts with the human, and she offers him a sample of some drinks from her stand. The man smiles back, and takes a drink before his eyes go wide."

Florania sings something in Guildspeak to a one-eyed human corpse that you don't understand.

The human corpse seems to respond to the magic of Florania's song.

Florania blinks, staring off into the distance.

Florania recites quietly:

"Your vision blurs, colors melding together before forming a new landscape entirely. You see a scruffy one-eyed man half running, half stumbling through the forest, collapsing more than once as he tries to flee quickly. He slams against a tree, finally stopping to kneel before the ground and feverishly dig a hole in the dirt, tossing his black burlap sack inside and quickly covering it up. He rushes off further into the forest before finally falling with a thud."

Stormyrain squints.

Cruxophim curiously wonders, "Did he bury something... out here?"

Stormyrain says, "A tree."

Stormyrain asks, "Nearby. Which one though?"

Goldstr says, "Where da hole? Wid da sack."

Pukk quietly says, "Shouldn't be too far."

Florania sings something in Guildspeak to a one-eyed human corpse that you don't understand.

The human corpse seems to respond to the magic of Florania's song.

Florania nods once.

Florania simply says, "There is nothing more."

The Buried Truth

[the group begins searching for what he buried and eventually...]

[Upper Trollfang]

A dead elm tree lies across the trail here. The passing of countless hooves has nearly severed the decaying log, therefore its presence does not hinder your passage. You also see a small pile of dirt.

Roblar deeply says, "Dug it well for near death."

Roblar snorts!

[By which he means that it takes probably over 100 rounds of us digging before we find...]

Chaoswynd digs at the pile of dirt and seems to be loosening it up a bit.

The last of the pile of dirt crumbles away, revealing a black burlap sack!

Hapenlok just opened a black burlap sack.

Cruxophim picks up a black burlap sack.

Cruxophim offers Lylia a black burlap sack.

Lylia accepts Cruxophim's burlap sack.

Shinann asks, "What is inside?"

Lylia removes a crisp white scroll from in her burlap sack.

Lylia says, "Only two items."

Lylia says, "This sketch..."

Lylia attaches a black burlap sack to her belt.

Lylia removes a white gear-covered prism from in her burlap sack.

Lylia says, "And this."

Stormyrain asks, "What is the sketch of?"

(Lylia holds up the scroll with the image facing out. The scroll appears to be in pristine shape and holds the crude sketch of a large imperial ship that depicts dozens of mana pylons positioned upon it. Drawn on the scroll, within the bottom of the ship, is a large square with a scribbled mark that reads "plinite charge." Beneath the sketch of the ship is the letter "A" scribbled in the same handwriting.)

Lylia narrows her eyes.

Lylia put a white gear-covered prism in her wrap.

Lylia removes a black burlap sack from her belt.

(Lylia holds the sack at arm's length between thumb and forefinger.)

Lylia put a black burlap sack in her wrap.

Lylia offers Stormyrain a crisp white scroll.

Stormyrain accepts Lylia's white scroll.

Stormyrain focuses her concentration, briefly studying the composition of a crisp white scroll.

Stormyrain offers Lylia a crisp white scroll.

Speaking to Stormyrain, Lylia asks, "Perhaps you can find more about this?"

Stormyrain looks over at Lylia and shakes her head.

Lylia accepts Stormyrain's white scroll.

Lylia removes a white gear-covered prism from in her wrap.

Stormyrain says, "No, it holds no histories that I could pull from it."

Lylia offers Stormyrain a white gear-covered prism.

Stormyrain accepts Lylia's gear-covered prism.

Speaking to Stormyrain, Lylia asks, "Or this?"

Stormyrain focuses her concentration, briefly studying the composition of a white gear-covered prism.

Stormyrain says, "Nor does this."

Speaking hurriedly to Stormyrain, you say, "Don't turn it."

Stormyrain offers Lylia a white gear-covered prism.

Stormyrain gazes in amusement at you.

Lylia accepts Stormyrain's gear-covered prism.

Speaking to you, Madmountan says, "I was just gonna crack a joke."

You grin at Madmountan.

Madmountan grins at you.

[speculation about what this could mean]

Some town guards can be seen nearby, "See! There is the body. I knew it. Let's get it to town and let the constable and Mayor know." The guards carry off the corpse.

You belt out, "I think the mayor knows!"

You gaze in wonder at your surroundings.

Lylia turns her head slightly to the side and stares off into the distance, effectively ignoring her surroundings.

Cruxophim yells, "The Mayor's right here!"

Hapenlok calls, "The Mayor's right here."

Speaking quietly to Lylia, Pukk says, "They are going to tell you later."

Lylia nods once.

Speaking quietly to Lylia, Pukk says, "You need to act surprised."

Speaking to Pukk, Lylia asks, "Why would I pretend to surprise when I am never surprised?"

Lylia raises an eyebrow.