This seems to be a more reserved area for studies. There are bookshelves to your right. A closet stands, with door closed, near the Eastern door to the library - past the bookshelves. The room is very dark except for a candle that burns on the desk to your left, next to some parchments and a pen. There is a closed window opposite the door. A blue robe hangs on the back of a chair turned halfway between the desk and the window, 5 feet away from the desk.
A trail of blood spatters leads up to the south entrance of the library. This South entrance is the door you just entered through.
There is a diamond-shaped opening in a thinner wooden door on the south and east entrances. Most of the books in the library are written in an ancient language, and it’s not easy to determine their subject. There are also books on tax collection, regional descriptions, old maps, heraldry compendiums, and property and land laws that predate the Empire.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As Tel’ure investigates the blood trail, Stor moves directly to the table and inspects the parchment on the table and the robe on the chair. He is trying to determine who was in the library and what they were studying. Was it Vang or did she witness the aftermath of a different murder?
Tel’ure cranes his neck up. “…the dagger was dropped from the library window. Let us move.”
He wraps the dagger securely in a cloth and heads toward the library with the rest of the group
Corgretor nods, "We should also check to see if we can verify who this dagger belongs to. We also should have asked more about the source of those rumors against us."
The blood trail leads to the closet's closed door.
Desk
One of the parchments on the desk is upside down. as you flip it over you read it... Armur Jasperin, There has been success in the mission you gave to us in regard to finding this impostor you wished located. Just moments ago I heard a member of an other team speaking words that indicated he was likely the person you seek. His name is Garry Landen, a member of team 1. He said that he didn't understand why the ambush didn't work and blamed whomever he was speaking to, saying that they should have sent more than a few goblins to deal with the troubles. My plan is to ...
The letter is unfinished, stopping at this point.
As you look around the table you find... In a small gap between the desk’s leg and the wall behind it, there is a darkened coin that was once a gold piece but now is devoid of value. Looking over the gold coin you realize it has been “leached” by a redeemer, who can use coins like these to perform abilities, so they no longer have value.
Chair/Habit
Nothing stands out about the chair. The faintest sign of blood is detected on the habit, but it is so faint that it is impossible for the naked eye to see.
The closet is unlocked, and when you open it you see nothing but darkness. If you have darkvision or provide light, you can see a bloodstain inside and a single hanger on the floor.
Even without darkvision or light, the floor is still slick, so you can perceive the stain on a DC 16 Wisdom (Perception) check, which also finds a coin just like the one behind the desk.
Finding the blood stain in the closet, it soon becomes clear the blood trail is not from the library door to the closet, but from the closet to the library door.
Corgretor looks at it curiously, "Could the victim have been hiding in here, overheard something, then been dragged to our door to frame us? Or at least draw suspicion away from the real culprit."
Stor picks up the leached coin and flips it in his hand as the others search the closet and blood trail. He shares what he finds of the half-written letter with his companions. “Well, it appears Master Jasperin was handing out other tasks to some of the teams. A search for some sort of imposter. We have a suspect, Garry Landen, from Team 1, and this may also be linked to the attack on the caravan. But who was killed here? Vang, or someone else?”
He turns to his shadow, “What say you, Harold? What do you know of Team 1?”
"I can tell you that Garry Landen is a Reclaimer, so the coins make sense, if he is involved." The guard Lieutenant says with a frown. "It is all circumstancial evidence though. There is no reason to believe one of you did not write the letter, or find a way to plant the coins." He shrugs as he sees you all scowling at this. "I don't believe that to be the case myself, but just saying what the judge will say. You need to find someone to verify the hand writing on that letter belongs to the deceased, and you need to prove why this Garry Landen would want to be involved in this."
Blood trail
The blood trail leads out the door and to the stairs leading down to the lower floor. If you continue to follow it you will return to your own door.
Corgretor rolls his eyes, "Forget whether justice is done or not, so long as it is seen to be done. We should check in with her teammates, and perhaps our illustrious guardians would care to have a polite conversation with Mr Landen?"
"Exactly. We should start with this handwriting here." Tel'ure holds up the letter. "Let us show it to Myssa of Team Three, then."
He brings it back, knocking on her door. With the guards there as witnesses, he asks: "Myssa. Please confirm or deny whether this is the handwriting of Vang, your teammate. This may be crucial to finding her actual killer."
You knock on the door to team 3's chamber, but no one answers. Going on a hunch, you head back towards the latrines, where you find Myysa once more. She narrows her eyes as you approach, but takes a look at the note. "Yes, that is indeed Vang's handwriting." She informs you, biting her lip as tears come to her eyes. "Impostor?" She asks then sighs. "i suppose it doesn't much matter now... Yes, we were asked to seek out an impostor amongst the teams, as part of our work to prove ourselves to our benifactor."
Harold Pennc
"I believe we need to speak with this Garry Landen." The officer accompanying your group speaks up, nodding to the dwarf as he steers your group away from the latrine area. "I can give you some authority, and aid you in getting him to speak on matters he might wish to keep secret, but you must continue to be primary in this investigation." He frowns as he looks among the group of you. "I believe you are all inocent here, but it would look as favoritism if I started to take over the investigation. I can add my own information to yours, when we bring this all to the trial, but it must be you that leads the process still." He holds up a hand and moves to speak with his two lower-rank guards, the ones near Stor. When he steps back he nods. "It appears this Garry Landen is likely still in the main dining hall, where we should be able to find him now..." He gestures for you all to lead the way.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Stor gives Harold a grin “I knew you would come around sooner or later. There is still a keen eye and an investigative spirit in there. You want to get to the truth as much as we do. Now perhaps you could untie my bonds”Stor holds up his hands. “You have my word I will not run.”
Persuasion: 12.
Stor follows Corgretor toward the dining hall, looking forward to meeting this Garry Landen.
"I believe that would be appropriate." The officer says, nodding to the two guards near Stor. "Please untie Stor." The two guards moved in and did so, removing the ropes that bind Stor's wrists.
Dining Hall.
To the north, officers, employees, and the occasional visitor can eat in one of three rows of solid tables made of dark wood. A fourth table, perpendicular to them, is reserved for high-ranking officers or nobles visiting the fort.
You find Garry Landin sitting in the center of the rows of 3 tables. He appears to notice you come in, but gives no real sign of being concerned of that fact as he continues to sit and do nothing.
Library
This seems to be a more reserved area for studies. There are bookshelves to your right. A closet stands, with door closed, near the Eastern door to the library - past the bookshelves. The room is very dark except for a candle that burns on the desk to your left, next to some parchments and a pen. There is a closed window opposite the door. A blue robe hangs on the back of a chair turned halfway between the desk and the window, 5 feet away from the desk.
A trail of blood spatters leads up to the south entrance of the library. This South entrance is the door you just entered through.
There is a diamond-shaped opening in a thinner wooden door on the south and east entrances. Most of the books in the library are written in an ancient language, and it’s not easy to determine their subject. There are also books on tax collection, regional descriptions, old maps, heraldry compendiums, and property and land laws that predate the Empire.
The madwalker follows the trail of blood, looking around for danger.
Perception: 26
As Tel’ure investigates the blood trail, Stor moves directly to the table and inspects the parchment on the table and the robe on the chair. He is trying to determine who was in the library and what they were studying. Was it Vang or did she witness the aftermath of a different murder?
Perception: 16.
Investigation: 4.
Corgretor nods, "We should also check to see if we can verify who this dagger belongs to. We also should have asked more about the source of those rumors against us."
Blood
The blood trail leads to the closet's closed door.
Desk
One of the parchments on the desk is upside down. as you flip it over you read it...
Armur Jasperin,
There has been success in the mission you gave to us in regard to finding this impostor you wished located. Just moments ago I heard a member of an other team speaking words that indicated he was likely the person you seek. His name is Garry Landen, a member of team 1. He said that he didn't understand why the ambush didn't work and blamed whomever he was speaking to, saying that they should have sent more than a few goblins to deal with the troubles.
My plan is to ...
The letter is unfinished, stopping at this point.
As you look around the table you find...
In a small gap between the desk’s leg and the wall behind it, there is a darkened coin that was once a gold piece but now is devoid of value. Looking over the gold coin you realize it has been “leached” by a redeemer, who can use coins like these to perform abilities, so they no longer have value.
Chair/Habit
Nothing stands out about the chair. The faintest sign of blood is detected on the habit, but it is so faint that it is impossible for the naked eye to see.
"Team one... Garry Landen."
Tel'ure looks to the guards. "Can you get any reports on where this individual was? And this ambush... the one we were caught in the middle of?!"
"Hm. Blood trail to the closet door. Stand back."
He opens the door.
Closet
The closet is unlocked, and when you open it you see nothing but darkness. If you have darkvision or provide light, you can see a bloodstain inside and a single hanger on the floor.
Even without darkvision or light, the floor is still slick, so you can perceive the stain on a DC 16 Wisdom (Perception) check, which also finds a coin just like the one behind the desk.
Finding the blood stain in the closet, it soon becomes clear the blood trail is not from the library door to the closet, but from the closet to the library door.
(Tel'ure has 16 passive perception, so I believe he finds the coin.)
He picks it up. "Just like the other one... what on earth..."
Still holding it, he follows the blood trail away from the closet and out the south entrance.
Corgretor looks at it curiously, "Could the victim have been hiding in here, overheard something, then been dragged to our door to frame us? Or at least draw suspicion away from the real culprit."
Stor picks up the leached coin and flips it in his hand as the others search the closet and blood trail. He shares what he finds of the half-written letter with his companions. “Well, it appears Master Jasperin was handing out other tasks to some of the teams. A search for some sort of imposter. We have a suspect, Garry Landen, from Team 1, and this may also be linked to the attack on the caravan. But who was killed here? Vang, or someone else?”
He turns to his shadow, “What say you, Harold? What do you know of Team 1?”
Harold
"I can tell you that Garry Landen is a Reclaimer, so the coins make sense, if he is involved." The guard Lieutenant says with a frown. "It is all circumstancial evidence though. There is no reason to believe one of you did not write the letter, or find a way to plant the coins." He shrugs as he sees you all scowling at this. "I don't believe that to be the case myself, but just saying what the judge will say. You need to find someone to verify the hand writing on that letter belongs to the deceased, and you need to prove why this Garry Landen would want to be involved in this."
Blood trail
The blood trail leads out the door and to the stairs leading down to the lower floor. If you continue to follow it you will return to your own door.
Corgretor rolls his eyes, "Forget whether justice is done or not, so long as it is seen to be done. We should check in with her teammates, and perhaps our illustrious guardians would care to have a polite conversation with Mr Landen?"
"Exactly. We should start with this handwriting here." Tel'ure holds up the letter. "Let us show it to Myssa of Team Three, then."
He brings it back, knocking on her door. With the guards there as witnesses, he asks: "Myssa. Please confirm or deny whether this is the handwriting of Vang, your teammate. This may be crucial to finding her actual killer."
Stor leans in to the conversation with Myssa and adds “Did your team already accept a mission from Master Jasperin? To hunt out this imposter?”
Myysa Teek
You knock on the door to team 3's chamber, but no one answers. Going on a hunch, you head back towards the latrines, where you find Myysa once more. She narrows her eyes as you approach, but takes a look at the note.
"Yes, that is indeed Vang's handwriting." She informs you, biting her lip as tears come to her eyes. "Impostor?" She asks then sighs. "i suppose it doesn't much matter now... Yes, we were asked to seek out an impostor amongst the teams, as part of our work to prove ourselves to our benifactor."
Harold Pennc
"I believe we need to speak with this Garry Landen." The officer accompanying your group speaks up, nodding to the dwarf as he steers your group away from the latrine area. "I can give you some authority, and aid you in getting him to speak on matters he might wish to keep secret, but you must continue to be primary in this investigation." He frowns as he looks among the group of you. "I believe you are all inocent here, but it would look as favoritism if I started to take over the investigation. I can add my own information to yours, when we bring this all to the trial, but it must be you that leads the process still." He holds up a hand and moves to speak with his two lower-rank guards, the ones near Stor. When he steps back he nods. "It appears this Garry Landen is likely still in the main dining hall, where we should be able to find him now..." He gestures for you all to lead the way.
Corgretor moves confidently in, hopefully, the direction of the dining hall.
Stor gives Harold a grin “I knew you would come around sooner or later. There is still a keen eye and an investigative spirit in there. You want to get to the truth as much as we do. Now perhaps you could untie my bonds” Stor holds up his hands. “You have my word I will not run.”
Persuasion: 12.
Stor follows Corgretor toward the dining hall, looking forward to meeting this Garry Landen.
"Not to worry." Tel'ure says with a huff. "I believe we always were primary. In this investiagion and out of it."
He follows toward the dining hall.
Harold Pennc
"I believe that would be appropriate." The officer says, nodding to the two guards near Stor. "Please untie Stor." The two guards moved in and did so, removing the ropes that bind Stor's wrists.
Dining Hall.
To the north, officers, employees, and the occasional visitor can eat in one of three rows of solid tables made of dark wood. A fourth table, perpendicular to them, is reserved for high-ranking officers or nobles visiting the fort.
You find Garry Landin sitting in the center of the rows of 3 tables. He appears to notice you come in, but gives no real sign of being concerned of that fact as he continues to sit and do nothing.
Tel'ure moves to sit across from the man.
"Mister Landin. I hear you are one of the famous... reclaimers. Am I to believe that one of these is a coin that has been touched by you?"
He gestures to the coins they had found.