One of the other sisters touches Dog on his elbow lightly to get his attention. She looks at Martin and Althus as well when she speaks, though.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," she says. "We were all fond of Gideus...er...Ritter. He was a devote follower of Lathander." She offers a quiet prayer to him, then continues. "Please find who did this. Tymora willing, his murderer will face justice."
"Gideus?" Dog says, blinking his eyes several times, as if trying to shake himself out of a daze. "Did you says Gideus? Sister Muna said he was Ritter. Why did you call him Gideus?"
He tries to confort Sister Muna, explaining to her what happened and apologizing profusely for putting him in harm's way by asking to meet with him. He stands, peering down at the sister who spoke. "I will do all I can to find this man's murderer. I tried, right after it happened. I flew straight at them, and chased them across rooftops but they disappeared. I really wanted to talk to Ritter. Gideus. Muna said he knew about the Accords. A spy. Who else would know about these talks? Would any other temple of some other deity have more information? Milil?"
He turns to his friends. He suddenly realizes that Martin and Althus don't know anything about what's going on, and Gash and Tock don't know them. He quickly introduces everyone. "Gash and Tock, Martin and Althus were in the garden -- it seems they are just looking for a job to do or something to help with. I haven't told them much, but they're kind of in this now. Althus and Martin, these are my good friends Gash, who's an amazing wizard lest appearances deceive you, and Tock, who's sneaky and also seems to be catching religion. We were all in a circus what now seems like months ago, and got attacked by fiends. As we fled from the demonic army, we came upon their target, a very special mother and child, who we've been protecting for some time now. There's a lot more to the story, but that's the prologue. But right now we're trying to figure out what happened with some sort of negotiations between the heavens and the hells in Masa about what will happen to this mother and child. If you know anything about that, we'd love to hear it. Also, we have to do another thing. One of the hells' supporters placed an amulet like this that they tried to get us to wear," and Dog holds up one of the Sad Amulets in his hand, "on the mother, and it seems to be cursed in a way that affects her thinking and can't be removed easily. She is telling us she wants to do what the hells want her to do, but we don't know if she really does. That's a lot of information, but that's not even the half of it. We're pretty desperate to find out more about these talks and what they mean, and also how to help our friend."
Dog asks everyone if they've heard the name Axonia before.
He turns to Gash, and tries to calm him. "I'm sure you did your best. She's not in her right frame of mind, of course. Have you seen Bulwark? How is Genny? We can maybe talk to a stronger priest or mage about how to take off an amulet like that." He sighs. "My mind is fuzzy. Can you remember if we know anything about where the accords were held? They weren't actually held in Nev's inn, were they?"
"Gideus?" Dog says, blinking his eyes several times, as if trying to shake himself out of a daze. "Did you says Gideus? Sister Muna said he was Ritter. Why did you call him Gideus?"
Muna laughs through her tears as she begins to compose herself. "Gideus was his given name," she says. "Ritter was a nickname...a stupid nickname... He picked it up from his thieving days and it stuck." She laughs again. "Such a dumb name but it's what he called himself."
He tries to confort Sister Muna, explaining to her what happened and apologizing profusely for putting him in harm's way by asking to meet with him. He stands, peering down at the sister who spoke. "I will do all I can to find this man's murderer. I tried, right after it happened. I flew straight at them, and chased them across rooftops but they disappeared. I really wanted to talk to Ritter. Gideus. Muna said he knew about the Accords. A spy. Who else would know about these talks? Would any other temple of some other deity have more information? Milil?"
"I don't know. I doubt it. You could check his house. Maybe he told someone at the Temple of Lathander, although...no. He took his spying job very seriously."
Dog asks Muna where Gideus lived. His voice a gentle, sympathetic, and guilt-ridden rumble.
Once the other conversations are resolved, he suggests going to the house, but because either Gideus or the group is being followed (to the extent that before Dog could even talk to Gideus someone was already there to kill him), he suggests trying to scout out the area and the house subtly first. Dog will try out casting disguise self for the first time and ask others if there are other disguises they can use, leaving the temple through a back entrance and and trying to observe people on the way for signs of tails or spies. And once they get closer to the house, observing for watchers or alarms or other things so they don't blunder in like usual.
Tock takes a closer look at the brass key found on Gideous. Wondering if its purpose can be ascertained from looking at it - is it for a chest or a door or a gate type lock?
Would Muna have seen the key previously or might have a guess at what this would unlock?
Tock takes a closer look at the brass key found on Gideous. Wondering if its purpose can be ascertained from looking at it - is it for a chest or a door or a gate type lock?
Would Muna have seen the key previously or might have a guess at what this would unlock?
It looks too heavy to be for furniture or even a chest, really. It definitely seems more like a door key.
"I think that is his house key," Muna says while she gives directions to his house. "He's near the Temple District. He is in a two-story house with red brick and vines growing down the side of it. It is well-kept for the neighborhood, which isn't especially friendly to outsiders. Ritter..." she gives a little sob, "Ritter made sure that the clergy were left alone in that part of the city. He really was a kind soul, despite the people he used to be involved with."
This begins a new bought of crying that draws in a couple of the other sisters, who group together in support of each other. Leaving the temple out the back, the party find the area is quiet and somewhat dark for the time of day. It is not yet supper time, though the sun is beginning to set earlier in the day now. Not being especially familiar with the city, the group must stick to Muna's directions, which do put them on the main streets to get to Ritter's house. There are still plenty of people out and about on the main streets, even in the shadier part of town where Ritter lived. His street is quiet, however.
Looking along the rooftops and into the alleyways reveal no immediate threats. Which is why it is surprising when a gruff voice speaks from behind. "Can I 'elp you, gentlemen?"
Turning around, the group see three rough-around-the-edges half-orcs, the middle one, probably the leader, with a cocked smile showing his bad teeth. They are not making any overt threats, but neither do they seem to be especially troubled by the large group. "You ain't here to trouble Mr. Ritter, is you?" says one of the others next to the leader.
Althus:
These are the same half-orcs Althus encountered earlier.
(Before leaving the temple. And image Gash is still stuttering. I just don’t have the heart to type it all out)
”Could you give us — is there a church for Tymora in the city. Where the holy men are? Priests and Clerics of Tymora? They may have insight on The Accords and perhaps give me advice with how to proceed with nev.”
to dog:
“Genny is good. Last I saw she was drawing on Bulwark. nev asked me to leave and I told her how concerned I was but she wouldn’t budge. She’s really upset with me. And the Minotaur you all chased she thought he was a perfect gentleman. Wanted to say goodbye. She is anxious to leave town. I’m worried she might do it on her own. She is going to be properly angry with all of us when she finds out his fate. We need to solve this murder quickly and deal with Nev as soon as possible.”
Althus steps forward and shakes his head sadly, ”Unfortunately, after Ritter and I left, an assassin claimed his life. Do you know who could have a reason to kill him, or who would have the means?”
Tock imitates the local accent and speech pattern. He points to Althus, "What he said - we here to track down the **** who shanked him. You seem like an observant lot, seen anyone shifty around or know who might have had a beef with him?"
Martin pipes up with “Well, we were about to go check to see if there’s anything in his house to give us a clue. You could come along, I suppose. Oh and uh... does the name Axonia mean anything to you?”
Dog, who after using disguise self spell looks like a slightly-shorter (but still tall) grumpy human tradesman with a big shaggy head of hair, had encouraged Tock and Gash to do what they could to alter their appearance (Tock has abilities on this end, right?) before setting out. He doesn't recognize the half-orcs but tries to play along when Athus takes point.
"We were there when it happened -- I was trying to meet him in the botanical gardens but some ******* with a crossbow made it so the meeting never happened. Really pissed me off. Brought his body back to our friend, his cousin Muna over at the temple. You know, out of respect. Sorry you lost your friend. People seemed to really love him. Muna gave us the key and her blessing to come by his place and try to find clues to his killer. If you wouldn't mind escorting us to his door and making sure we're not disturbed, I'd be much obliged. Once we get the why's and the wherefores out of the sniper, as far as I'm concerned, he or she's all yours. Does that work for you? He seemed to inspire loyalty. I appreciate that. By the way, did he have anyone he really, truly trusted who we might talk to? Maybe at the Temple of Lathander?"
Gash takes a moment to cast disguise self as well after Dog suggests it. He creates a form that looks similar to Dog's but much shorter and younger looking -- the goal would be to look like his son.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gash- Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
"Yeah, okay," says the lead half-orc. "We'll keep an eye out. You show us what you find, though, okay?"
As they all walk over to Ritter's house, the lead half-orc scratches the back of his head sheepishly. "Ritter was always tryin' to get us to go the temple. I don't remember which one. Not the one that Muna works at, though. We met Muna a few times. She's a nice lady."
At the door, one of the other half-orcs chimes in. "We don't know no Axonia. He had some fancy people visit him sometimes. Coulda been one o' them."
If successful, he will stay outside with the half-orcs, keeping them company and assuring that whatever the party finds will be brought out.
"Have you heard of anyone else finding their end recently like that? Seems like lots of weird folk running around. We saw some demon or devil types at the Gardens yesterday. Killed them"
The door unlocks with the brass key and swings open smoothly revealing a tastefully decorated entryway. A statue of Lathander sits on a small shelf next to a small hook, which is empty of anything, but probably held the key to the front door. No candles or lamps are lit, so the house is presently quite dark and quiet. The sun is just now dipping over the wall to the west as lamp lighters walk through the streets of Masa.
"For real?" says one of the half-orcs. "A demon here in Masa? Man, this neighborhood is going to shit."
"Course," human-Dog says. "Thanks again. By the way, my name's Dog. What's yours? Glad you know Muna. Think you'd recognize any of the fancy visitors he had? Also, any tricks to opening up his place? Any weird locks or magic he used to keep out unwanted visitors?"
If not, Dog will volunteer to try the key and open the door, looking to Tock to see if he wanted to check anything first.
He'll also look around, trying to see if anyone's looking at them, and encourage the half-orc friends to keep a good eye out, "rooftops too."
[Sorry, missed the last few posts. Dog will help someone else investigate and look around for anything interesting -- items, papers, clues, names, anything at all that would give us an idea of who Ritter saw, what he did, where he went, etc.]
One of the other sisters touches Dog on his elbow lightly to get his attention. She looks at Martin and Althus as well when she speaks, though.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," she says. "We were all fond of Gideus...er...Ritter. He was a devote follower of Lathander." She offers a quiet prayer to him, then continues. "Please find who did this. Tymora willing, his murderer will face justice."
Martin nods at the woman. “Sorry for your loss, miss. We’ll do our best to help find who did this. Can you help? You might know something we don’t.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
Althus nods solemnly, "I will give my help wherever it is needed. I will find Ritter's killers and bring them to justice."
"Gideus?" Dog says, blinking his eyes several times, as if trying to shake himself out of a daze. "Did you says Gideus? Sister Muna said he was Ritter. Why did you call him Gideus?"
He tries to confort Sister Muna, explaining to her what happened and apologizing profusely for putting him in harm's way by asking to meet with him. He stands, peering down at the sister who spoke. "I will do all I can to find this man's murderer. I tried, right after it happened. I flew straight at them, and chased them across rooftops but they disappeared. I really wanted to talk to Ritter. Gideus. Muna said he knew about the Accords. A spy. Who else would know about these talks? Would any other temple of some other deity have more information? Milil?"
He turns to his friends. He suddenly realizes that Martin and Althus don't know anything about what's going on, and Gash and Tock don't know them. He quickly introduces everyone. "Gash and Tock, Martin and Althus were in the garden -- it seems they are just looking for a job to do or something to help with. I haven't told them much, but they're kind of in this now. Althus and Martin, these are my good friends Gash, who's an amazing wizard lest appearances deceive you, and Tock, who's sneaky and also seems to be catching religion. We were all in a circus what now seems like months ago, and got attacked by fiends. As we fled from the demonic army, we came upon their target, a very special mother and child, who we've been protecting for some time now. There's a lot more to the story, but that's the prologue. But right now we're trying to figure out what happened with some sort of negotiations between the heavens and the hells in Masa about what will happen to this mother and child. If you know anything about that, we'd love to hear it. Also, we have to do another thing. One of the hells' supporters placed an amulet like this that they tried to get us to wear," and Dog holds up one of the Sad Amulets in his hand, "on the mother, and it seems to be cursed in a way that affects her thinking and can't be removed easily. She is telling us she wants to do what the hells want her to do, but we don't know if she really does. That's a lot of information, but that's not even the half of it. We're pretty desperate to find out more about these talks and what they mean, and also how to help our friend."
Dog asks everyone if they've heard the name Axonia before.
He turns to Gash, and tries to calm him. "I'm sure you did your best. She's not in her right frame of mind, of course. Have you seen Bulwark? How is Genny? We can maybe talk to a stronger priest or mage about how to take off an amulet like that." He sighs. "My mind is fuzzy. Can you remember if we know anything about where the accords were held? They weren't actually held in Nev's inn, were they?"
Muna laughs through her tears as she begins to compose herself. "Gideus was his given name," she says. "Ritter was a nickname...a stupid nickname... He picked it up from his thieving days and it stuck." She laughs again. "Such a dumb name but it's what he called himself."
"I don't know. I doubt it. You could check his house. Maybe he told someone at the Temple of Lathander, although...no. He took his spying job very seriously."
Dog asks Muna where Gideus lived. His voice a gentle, sympathetic, and guilt-ridden rumble.
Once the other conversations are resolved, he suggests going to the house, but because either Gideus or the group is being followed (to the extent that before Dog could even talk to Gideus someone was already there to kill him), he suggests trying to scout out the area and the house subtly first. Dog will try out casting disguise self for the first time and ask others if there are other disguises they can use, leaving the temple through a back entrance and and trying to observe people on the way for signs of tails or spies. And once they get closer to the house, observing for watchers or alarms or other things so they don't blunder in like usual.
Tock takes a closer look at the brass key found on Gideous. Wondering if its purpose can be ascertained from looking at it - is it for a chest or a door or a gate type lock?
Would Muna have seen the key previously or might have a guess at what this would unlock?
It looks too heavy to be for furniture or even a chest, really. It definitely seems more like a door key.
"I think that is his house key," Muna says while she gives directions to his house. "He's near the Temple District. He is in a two-story house with red brick and vines growing down the side of it. It is well-kept for the neighborhood, which isn't especially friendly to outsiders. Ritter..." she gives a little sob, "Ritter made sure that the clergy were left alone in that part of the city. He really was a kind soul, despite the people he used to be involved with."
This begins a new bought of crying that draws in a couple of the other sisters, who group together in support of each other. Leaving the temple out the back, the party find the area is quiet and somewhat dark for the time of day. It is not yet supper time, though the sun is beginning to set earlier in the day now. Not being especially familiar with the city, the group must stick to Muna's directions, which do put them on the main streets to get to Ritter's house. There are still plenty of people out and about on the main streets, even in the shadier part of town where Ritter lived. His street is quiet, however.
Looking along the rooftops and into the alleyways reveal no immediate threats. Which is why it is surprising when a gruff voice speaks from behind. "Can I 'elp you, gentlemen?"
Turning around, the group see three rough-around-the-edges half-orcs, the middle one, probably the leader, with a cocked smile showing his bad teeth. They are not making any overt threats, but neither do they seem to be especially troubled by the large group. "You ain't here to trouble Mr. Ritter, is you?" says one of the others next to the leader.
Althus:
These are the same half-orcs Althus encountered earlier.
(Before leaving the temple. And image Gash is still stuttering. I just don’t have the heart to type it all out)
”Could you give us — is there a church for Tymora in the city. Where the holy men are? Priests and Clerics of Tymora? They may have insight on The Accords and perhaps give me advice with how to proceed with nev.”
to dog:
“Genny is good. Last I saw she was drawing on Bulwark. nev asked me to leave and I told her how concerned I was but she wouldn’t budge. She’s really upset with me. And the Minotaur you all chased she thought he was a perfect gentleman. Wanted to say goodbye. She is anxious to leave town. I’m worried she might do it on her own. She is going to be properly angry with all of us when she finds out his fate. We need to solve this murder quickly and deal with Nev as soon as possible.”
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
Althus steps forward and shakes his head sadly, ”Unfortunately, after Ritter and I left, an assassin claimed his life. Do you know who could have a reason to kill him, or who would have the means?”
The lead half-orc squints at Althus for a minute as he scratches under his left jaw. "Yeah," he says. "I remember you. Not many o' you folks in Masa."
"Ritter's dead?" says one of his buddies.
"Everyone liked Ritter," says the lead half-orc. "He was this neighborhood."
The third half-orc snarls. "Whoever did it I'm gonna slice his pecker off!" He thumbs his fists together several times.
"No idea who would do Ritter...or why. What can we do t'help?"
Tock imitates the local accent and speech pattern. He points to Althus, "What he said - we here to track down the **** who shanked him. You seem like an observant lot, seen anyone shifty around or know who might have had a beef with him?"
Martin pipes up with “Well, we were about to go check to see if there’s anything in his house to give us a clue. You could come along, I suppose. Oh and uh... does the name Axonia mean anything to you?”
Paladin - warforged - orange
Dog, who after using disguise self spell looks like a slightly-shorter (but still tall) grumpy human tradesman with a big shaggy head of hair, had encouraged Tock and Gash to do what they could to alter their appearance (Tock has abilities on this end, right?) before setting out. He doesn't recognize the half-orcs but tries to play along when Athus takes point.
"We were there when it happened -- I was trying to meet him in the botanical gardens but some ******* with a crossbow made it so the meeting never happened. Really pissed me off. Brought his body back to our friend, his cousin Muna over at the temple. You know, out of respect. Sorry you lost your friend. People seemed to really love him. Muna gave us the key and her blessing to come by his place and try to find clues to his killer. If you wouldn't mind escorting us to his door and making sure we're not disturbed, I'd be much obliged. Once we get the why's and the wherefores out of the sniper, as far as I'm concerned, he or she's all yours. Does that work for you? He seemed to inspire loyalty. I appreciate that. By the way, did he have anyone he really, truly trusted who we might talk to? Maybe at the Temple of Lathander?"
Gash takes a moment to cast disguise self as well after Dog suggests it. He creates a form that looks similar to Dog's but much shorter and younger looking -- the goal would be to look like his son.
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
"Yeah, okay," says the lead half-orc. "We'll keep an eye out. You show us what you find, though, okay?"
As they all walk over to Ritter's house, the lead half-orc scratches the back of his head sheepishly. "Ritter was always tryin' to get us to go the temple. I don't remember which one. Not the one that Muna works at, though. We met Muna a few times. She's a nice lady."
At the door, one of the other half-orcs chimes in. "We don't know no Axonia. He had some fancy people visit him sometimes. Coulda been one o' them."
Tock will try to unlock the door with the key.
If successful, he will stay outside with the half-orcs, keeping them company and assuring that whatever the party finds will be brought out.
"Have you heard of anyone else finding their end recently like that? Seems like lots of weird folk running around. We saw some demon or devil types at the Gardens yesterday. Killed them"
The door unlocks with the brass key and swings open smoothly revealing a tastefully decorated entryway. A statue of Lathander sits on a small shelf next to a small hook, which is empty of anything, but probably held the key to the front door. No candles or lamps are lit, so the house is presently quite dark and quiet. The sun is just now dipping over the wall to the west as lamp lighters walk through the streets of Masa.
"For real?" says one of the half-orcs. "A demon here in Masa? Man, this neighborhood is going to shit."
"A couple, at least." Gash says as he finds a nice spot on the floor to sit, still stuttering a little.
He starts his ritual to cast detect magic as he mutters his incantations, the stutter is gone.
As he finishes, the stutter is back, "Sorry, Dog, was that one of the spells you learned? You should be practicing when you can."
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
"Course," human-Dog says. "Thanks again. By the way, my name's Dog. What's yours? Glad you know Muna. Think you'd recognize any of the fancy visitors he had? Also, any tricks to opening up his place? Any weird locks or magic he used to keep out unwanted visitors?"
If not, Dog will volunteer to try the key and open the door, looking to Tock to see if he wanted to check anything first.
He'll also look around, trying to see if anyone's looking at them, and encourage the half-orc friends to keep a good eye out, "rooftops too."
[Sorry, missed the last few posts. Dog will help someone else investigate and look around for anything interesting -- items, papers, clues, names, anything at all that would give us an idea of who Ritter saw, what he did, where he went, etc.]