Normont is far too consumed in examining all the evidence laid out in front of him to take much notice of the food in the centre of the table, and only absently sips at his light ale. He also doesn't really take much notice of Dev wolfing down the food and guzzling the jug of water.
He will focus intently as he picks up the pin and signet ring in turn, looking at them closely trying to see if he can identify any sigils or markings, and then he takes one of his tools out and attempts to make each one glow.
"Let me see. Hm, yes, yes. I wonder if there is magic in these", he mutters as he works.
(OOC: Magical Tinkering only works on nonmagical objects, if they glow, it means they are mundane. He will cancel the magical tinkering after each attempt)
Both appear to be mundane items though from a tiny flicker he understands that the pin has recently been in close proximity to a number of magical items.
Normont is far too consumed in examining all the evidence laid out in front of him to take much notice of the food in the centre of the table, and only absently sips at his light ale. He also doesn't really take much notice of Dev wolfing down the food and guzzling the jug of water.
He will focus intently as he picks up the pin and signet ring in turn, looking at them closely trying to see if he can identify any sigils or markings, and then he takes one of his tools out and attempts to make each one glow.
"Let me see. Hm, yes, yes. I wonder if there is magic in these", he mutters as he works.
(OOC: Magical Tinkering only works on nonmagical objects, if they glow, it means they are mundane. He will cancel the magical tinkering after each attempt)
Lokilia had ordered a small glass of wine, and snatched a couple stone-cakes when they were placed on the table. She slowly nibbled at them and sipped at her wine. "A lot pointing to the Golador family," she says softly, not wanting anyone to overhear. "Who would wear an embroidered cloth with an insignia like that? Can anyone tell if it was clothing or something else? Conroy was holding it, which makes it possibly from whoever killed him. Then the blonde hair might narrow things. Anyone make sense of all those papers? Oh! And the pin and signet ring - anyone have thoughts on those?"
(Investigation: 14; trying to get an idea of who might have worn the cloth, what type of cloth it is.)
"Yes, yes, Golador estates is in the centre of this. Are we certain Golador is a family name?", Normont says absently still examining the pin. "Aha, look, the ring is quite mundane, but see this flicker when the pin lights up. The flicker is a residual effect, it has been close to other magical artefacts. Perhaps the one who dropped it had an item that helped them escape you", he says looking up at Jasper and Quinn.
As the group sits around the table considering what they know little is coming to mind...a couple of them are fairly sure they have heard of the Golador family before and that the estate may lie to the west....but any more than that they are having trouble remembering.
As the discussion goes on the door to the restaurant opens and a cloaked figure sweeps in and sits themselves down in the booth, the hood is pulled back and the well kept beard of Hook Korat comes into view.
" Good Evening, Lady and Gentlemen. Or perhaps Good Morning."
" I gather it’s been an eventful night, huh? My condolences on your loss, I honestly had no idea things were going to turn so....bloody."
"Why don’t you tell me a little bit about what’s been going on?”
As the door to The Red Trout opens and the hooded stranger walks in the direction of their table, Normont discreetly draws his pistol, keeping it out of sight. He is about to begin the process of loading it, when Hook Korat reveals himself and he instead holsters it.
"Interesting is one word for it. I didn't know Theron, and dying by any means is bad, but that was an awful way to go", he says shaking his head. He soon forgets about grieving for Theron when Hook asks for an update though.
He speaks in a whisper, so as not to be overheard by the staff of The Red Trout. "I expect seeing as you know about Theron, you have eyes and ears out there and may know some of the rest as well. Conroy Pekese was murdered in an alley a little way away. His apartment had been tossed before any of us got there. The dead are rising and we are a man down", he reports. "We have a couple of leads, but I guess the first question is whether your employer wants to proceed with this investigation now it is a murder case? The watch are all over this as well now, as I am sure you are aware", he adds, looking to Jasper and Quinn as he mentions the watch.
Having eaten his fill and squirreled away stone cakes for his parents, Dev follows the conversation closely, but, especially after Hook Morat arrives, allows the others in the room to take the lead in answering the man's questions.
'Questions are mostly what are in my mind anyhow,' he explains to himself, 'not answers to questions.' Dev hopes that the clues leading to the Golodor Estate are enough for Hook to call the investigation complete, although he does not put much stock in hope at the moment. Yet he does hope, despite himself, for the teenager has already had enough excitement and tragedy to last a week. Or at least, one night.
" And I'm most appreciative you did not drop my name off with the Watch, most appreciative."
" Yes, my client is actually even more eager to get to the bottom of it.....especially with the death of an adopted local like Theron."
“I see. Well, while you’ve been digging into Conroy, I’ve been trying to get a lead on his contacts within Drynna. So far, I haven’t been able to track down exactly whom he’s been making orders for, but I have uncovered this.”
He sets a small leather pouch filled with dark, rich soil down on the table before you.
“It’s a type of dirt which can only be found far to the north-west, one of you knows it well I believe."
" This dirt was the subject of some powerful necromancy in the past and I’m told this is one of the things Conroy was shipping back to a certain Estate."
" Conroy might be dead, but my employer wants us to keep digging into this to try to figure out what exactly is going on. Are you all willing to head to this Estate, you know which one yes? I overheard your whispers as I entered."
" Is it possible you do this while I keep digging for details around here?”
"Their estate is definitely the most logical place to look"Nerak nodded and looked out to the rest of the group. "Its still up in the air as to if the attacker was with the estate and maybe attacked Conroy to cover up the deal he made with them or he just happened to have the cloth after the deal and was attacked by someone else. We just have to keep in mind the uh.." he cuts himself off from saying the family name currently being discussed "Those people... we don't have any way yet to 100% know they are guilty. So best not to go in looking for a fight"
Normont stares at the pouch filled with soil, reaching towards it but not quite close enough to touch it, knowing the place that Hook referred to as having been the site of powerful necromancy from whence it came. He had arrived at Whitestone less than a year after the Briarwoods had been deposed, certainly recent enough for the wounds they inflicted on the city to still be raw. The effects of their necromancy was still evident for many years afterwards in fact, years he and his grandfather had spent helping rebuild. And the toll it took on the citizens, pretty much every one of whom suffered the loss of loved ones, would likely never heal.
When he realises that Nerak is speaking, he turns to look up at the Dragonborn. "Someone is trading the soil from...", he starts to say but loses his words. "This is abhorrent...", he says trying to process what it meant.
"If someone at that estate is purchasing the soil infused with the necromantic magic that the...the...I do not even wish to speak their names. If they are trading in that then they are trading in misery and death and pure evil. If this is true, regardless of whether they were involved in the death of Conroy Pekese, they need to be stopped. I for one will go to any length to make sure that happens. It is my sworn duty", he says and looks around the table with a resolve that belies his small stature.
”If it’s decided, I’ll meet you there,” says Dev. “At the Estate. I have to.. do something first.” No point in mentioning his parents around everyone else, and he needed to tell them he’d be out all night or they’d worry.
"I'll certainly help look into this, Normont. Bringing corrupted soil here..." She shakes her head, at a loss for words. "Why? What would that even accomplish?" She finishes up her drink and stands, ready to go. "You need any help with anything Dev? I could join up at the estate in a bit too. Hmm, I suppose we need to keep quiet about this. Don't want them to know or the Watch probably."
"I'll certainly help look into this, Normont. Bringing corrupted soil here..." She shakes her head, at a loss for words. "Why? What would that even accomplish?" She finishes up her drink and stands, ready to go. "You need any help with anything Dev? I could join up at the estate in a bit too. Hmm, I suppose we need to keep quiet about this. Don't want them to know or the Watch probably."
Lokilia can see in the set of Dev's red-irised eyes -- indeed, anyone there probably could, they were not hard to read -- when he glances at her, a wan hopefulness, or a tinge of fear, or both. Whatever it is, it makes him more than willing to accept help.
"I... wouldn't say no to company, after..." After what he'd seen earlier tonight.
Even though he'd said he needed to set his parents' minds at ease fully intending to do so alone, as usual, it wasn't until after the words had left his mouth that it started to sink in. That would mean going out there again, alone. Lokilia's presence would be an unexpected relief against the chill darkness of the night.
Normont turns to Lokilia with a worried look on his face. "My worry is that they are somehow using the residual necromantic energy in the soil to fuel some horrible ritual to make the dead rise. It is far too much of a coincidence that this soil is here and we fought undead this evening", he says in hushed tones.
"Wherever you two are going, please be careful. We lost Theron this evening and I would hate to lose one of you two as well. We would likely have been seen at the apartment block by whoever was behind those undead. We cannot rule out the possibility that they know we are here now as well".
He turns to Hook, "This estate, it is within the town borders or beyond? I am not familiar with it".
"Their estate is definitely the most logical place to look"Nerak nodded and looked out to the rest of the group. "Its still up in the air as to if the attacker was with the estate and maybe attacked Conroy to cover up the deal he made with them or he just happened to have the cloth after the deal and was attacked by someone else. We just have to keep in mind the uh.." he cuts himself off from saying the family name currently being discussed "Those people... we don't have any way yet to 100% know they are guilty. So best not to go in looking for a fight"
" Wise words. Best not to make enemies of entire noble or merchant families unless you have to......take it from someone who had to move countries."
Normont stares at the pouch filled with soil, reaching towards it but not quite close enough to touch it, knowing the place that Hook referred to as having been the site of powerful necromancy from whence it came. He had arrived at Whitestone less than a year after the Briarwoods had been deposed, certainly recent enough for the wounds they inflicted on the city to still be raw. The effects of their necromancy was still evident for many years afterwards in fact, years he and his grandfather had spent helping rebuild. And the toll it took on the citizens, pretty much every one of whom suffered the loss of loved ones, would likely never heal.
When he realises that Nerak is speaking, he turns to look up at the Dragonborn. "Someone is trading the soil from...", he starts to say but loses his words. "This is abhorrent...", he says trying to process what it meant.
"If someone at that estate is purchasing the soil infused with the necromantic magic that the...the...I do not even wish to speak their names. If they are trading in that then they are trading in misery and death and pure evil. If this is true, regardless of whether they were involved in the death of Conroy Pekese, they need to be stopped. I for one will go to any length to make sure that happens. It is my sworn duty", he says and looks around the table with a resolve that belies his small stature.
”If it’s decided, I’ll meet you there,” says Dev. “At the Estate. I have to.. do something first.” No point in mentioning his parents around everyone else, and he needed to tell them he’d be out all night or they’d worry.
"I'll certainly help look into this, Normont. Bringing corrupted soil here..." She shakes her head, at a loss for words. "Why? What would that even accomplish?" She finishes up her drink and stands, ready to go. "You need any help with anything Dev? I could join up at the estate in a bit too. Hmm, I suppose we need to keep quiet about this. Don't want them to know or the Watch probably."
Lokilia can see in the set of Dev's red-irised eyes -- indeed, anyone there probably could, they were not hard to read -- when he glances at her, a wan hopefulness, or a tinge of fear, or both. Whatever it is, it makes him more than willing to accept help.
"I... wouldn't say no to company, after..." After what he'd seen earlier tonight.
Even though he'd said he needed to set his parents' minds at ease fully intending to do so alone, as usual, it wasn't until after the words had left his mouth that it started to sink in. That would mean going out there again, alone. Lokilia's presence would be an unexpected relief against the chill darkness of the night.
Normont turns to Lokilia with a worried look on his face. "My worry is that they are somehow using the residual necromantic energy in the soil to fuel some horrible ritual to make the dead rise. It is far too much of a coincidence that this soil is here and we fought undead this evening", he says in hushed tones.
"Wherever you two are going, please be careful. We lost Theron this evening and I would hate to lose one of you two as well. We would likely have been seen at the apartment block by whoever was behind those undead. We cannot rule out the possibility that they know we are here now as well".
He turns to Hook, "This estate, it is within the town borders or beyond? I am not familiar with it".
" Ah! I would suggest travelling together, the estate is a good hour out of town on the Parchwood Way towards the Turst Fields, its farmland most of the way but there are some woods and possible dangers."
Not so sure I am cut out for this adventuring life but I can't let the foulness of Theron's death go unpunished, I will see this till the end, and hopefully not my own or my friends, yes I can count them as friends after tonight. Magnus shakes his head to clear the thoughts racing in his mind and speaks up, "It is almost morning, why don't we all grab some more food from the kitchen here and set out to Dev's place." Turning to Dev, "If that is alright with you, as was suggested, we should not split up as I am sure we have all been marked in some way." Addressing the group once more, "Then we can rest for most of the day at Dev's place eat some food and mid afternoon head out to the Golodar estate and see what is going on. Hopefully we can arrive under cover of darkness and give a look at the place before they know we are there. Hopefully then we can discover what is going on and stop whatever nefarious plans these people have going on."
Normont turns to Lokilia with a worried look on his face. "My worry is that they are somehow using the residual necromantic energy in the soil to fuel some horrible ritual to make the dead rise. It is far too much of a coincidence that this soil is here and we fought undead this evening", he says in hushed tones.
"Wherever you two are going, please be careful. We lost Theron this evening and I would hate to lose one of you two as well. We would likely have been seen at the apartment block by whoever was behind those undead. We cannot rule out the possibility that they know we are here now as well".
He turns to Hook, "This estate, it is within the town borders or beyond? I am not familiar with it".
" Ah! I would suggest travelling together, the estate is a good hour out of town on the Parchwood Way towards the Turst Fields, its farmland most of the way but there are some woods and possible dangers."
“Oh,” Dev says, his voice hollow from disappointment. And moreover, after listening to the others, a new image forms in his mind. Not of himself alone in an alley confronting a stealthy knife. Now he envisions a worse future: undead coming out of the earth around his parents cabin, because Dev is there with them putting their minds at ease.
”No! No… you’re right,” he says to Normont and Hook. “I’ll stay with you. My folks’ll be ok.” He looks back to Lokilia, and she sees whatever solace he has taken in their prior plan has drained to nothing.
Both appear to be mundane items though from a tiny flicker he understands that the pin has recently been in close proximity to a number of magical items.
(OOC: Very clever!! )
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Lokilia had ordered a small glass of wine, and snatched a couple stone-cakes when they were placed on the table. She slowly nibbled at them and sipped at her wine. "A lot pointing to the Golador family," she says softly, not wanting anyone to overhear. "Who would wear an embroidered cloth with an insignia like that? Can anyone tell if it was clothing or something else? Conroy was holding it, which makes it possibly from whoever killed him. Then the blonde hair might narrow things. Anyone make sense of all those papers? Oh! And the pin and signet ring - anyone have thoughts on those?"
(Investigation: 14; trying to get an idea of who might have worn the cloth, what type of cloth it is.)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
"Yes, yes, Golador estates is in the centre of this. Are we certain Golador is a family name?", Normont says absently still examining the pin. "Aha, look, the ring is quite mundane, but see this flicker when the pin lights up. The flicker is a residual effect, it has been close to other magical artefacts. Perhaps the one who dropped it had an item that helped them escape you", he says looking up at Jasper and Quinn.
"Maybe so. The Golador family, huh...?" Jasper muses. They try and jog their own memory about any knowledge they have regarding the Goladors.
History: 9
Quinn will join Jasper in thinking about what he might have seen in his recent role as a Guard.
History: 4
As the group sits around the table considering what they know little is coming to mind...a couple of them are fairly sure they have heard of the Golador family before and that the estate may lie to the west....but any more than that they are having trouble remembering.
As the discussion goes on the door to the restaurant opens and a cloaked figure sweeps in and sits themselves down in the booth, the hood is pulled back and the well kept beard of Hook Korat comes into view.
" Good Evening, Lady and Gentlemen. Or perhaps Good Morning."
" I gather it’s been an eventful night, huh? My condolences on your loss, I honestly had no idea things were going to turn so....bloody."
"Why don’t you tell me a little bit about what’s been going on?”
As the door to The Red Trout opens and the hooded stranger walks in the direction of their table, Normont discreetly draws his pistol, keeping it out of sight. He is about to begin the process of loading it, when Hook Korat reveals himself and he instead holsters it.
"Interesting is one word for it. I didn't know Theron, and dying by any means is bad, but that was an awful way to go", he says shaking his head. He soon forgets about grieving for Theron when Hook asks for an update though.
He speaks in a whisper, so as not to be overheard by the staff of The Red Trout. "I expect seeing as you know about Theron, you have eyes and ears out there and may know some of the rest as well. Conroy Pekese was murdered in an alley a little way away. His apartment had been tossed before any of us got there. The dead are rising and we are a man down", he reports. "We have a couple of leads, but I guess the first question is whether your employer wants to proceed with this investigation now it is a murder case? The watch are all over this as well now, as I am sure you are aware", he adds, looking to Jasper and Quinn as he mentions the watch.
Having eaten his fill and squirreled away stone cakes for his parents, Dev follows the conversation closely, but, especially after Hook Morat arrives, allows the others in the room to take the lead in answering the man's questions.
'Questions are mostly what are in my mind anyhow,' he explains to himself, 'not answers to questions.' Dev hopes that the clues leading to the Golodor Estate are enough for Hook to call the investigation complete, although he does not put much stock in hope at the moment. Yet he does hope, despite himself, for the teenager has already had enough excitement and tragedy to last a week. Or at least, one night.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
" And I'm most appreciative you did not drop my name off with the Watch, most appreciative."
" Yes, my client is actually even more eager to get to the bottom of it.....especially with the death of an adopted local like Theron."
“I see. Well, while you’ve been digging into Conroy, I’ve been trying to get a lead on his contacts within Drynna. So far, I haven’t been able to track down exactly whom he’s been making orders for, but I have uncovered this.”
He sets a small leather pouch filled with dark, rich soil down on the table before you.
“It’s a type of dirt which can only be found far to the north-west, one of you knows it well I believe."
" This dirt was the subject of some powerful necromancy in the past and I’m told this is one of the things Conroy was shipping back to a certain Estate."
" Conroy might be dead, but my employer wants us to keep digging into this to try to figure out what exactly is going on. Are you all willing to head to this Estate, you know which one yes? I overheard your whispers as I entered."
" Is it possible you do this while I keep digging for details around here?”
"Their estate is definitely the most logical place to look" Nerak nodded and looked out to the rest of the group. "Its still up in the air as to if the attacker was with the estate and maybe attacked Conroy to cover up the deal he made with them or he just happened to have the cloth after the deal and was attacked by someone else. We just have to keep in mind the uh.." he cuts himself off from saying the family name currently being discussed "Those people... we don't have any way yet to 100% know they are guilty. So best not to go in looking for a fight"
Normont stares at the pouch filled with soil, reaching towards it but not quite close enough to touch it, knowing the place that Hook referred to as having been the site of powerful necromancy from whence it came. He had arrived at Whitestone less than a year after the Briarwoods had been deposed, certainly recent enough for the wounds they inflicted on the city to still be raw. The effects of their necromancy was still evident for many years afterwards in fact, years he and his grandfather had spent helping rebuild. And the toll it took on the citizens, pretty much every one of whom suffered the loss of loved ones, would likely never heal.
When he realises that Nerak is speaking, he turns to look up at the Dragonborn. "Someone is trading the soil from...", he starts to say but loses his words. "This is abhorrent...", he says trying to process what it meant.
"If someone at that estate is purchasing the soil infused with the necromantic magic that the...the...I do not even wish to speak their names. If they are trading in that then they are trading in misery and death and pure evil. If this is true, regardless of whether they were involved in the death of Conroy Pekese, they need to be stopped. I for one will go to any length to make sure that happens. It is my sworn duty", he says and looks around the table with a resolve that belies his small stature.
"I sure could use some help though".
”If it’s decided, I’ll meet you there,” says Dev. “At the Estate. I have to.. do something first.” No point in mentioning his parents around everyone else, and he needed to tell them he’d be out all night or they’d worry.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
"I'll certainly help look into this, Normont. Bringing corrupted soil here..." She shakes her head, at a loss for words. "Why? What would that even accomplish?" She finishes up her drink and stands, ready to go. "You need any help with anything Dev? I could join up at the estate in a bit too. Hmm, I suppose we need to keep quiet about this. Don't want them to know or the Watch probably."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Lokilia can see in the set of Dev's red-irised eyes -- indeed, anyone there probably could, they were not hard to read -- when he glances at her, a wan hopefulness, or a tinge of fear, or both. Whatever it is, it makes him more than willing to accept help.
"I... wouldn't say no to company, after..." After what he'd seen earlier tonight.
Even though he'd said he needed to set his parents' minds at ease fully intending to do so alone, as usual, it wasn't until after the words had left his mouth that it started to sink in. That would mean going out there again, alone. Lokilia's presence would be an unexpected relief against the chill darkness of the night.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Normont turns to Lokilia with a worried look on his face. "My worry is that they are somehow using the residual necromantic energy in the soil to fuel some horrible ritual to make the dead rise. It is far too much of a coincidence that this soil is here and we fought undead this evening", he says in hushed tones.
"Wherever you two are going, please be careful. We lost Theron this evening and I would hate to lose one of you two as well. We would likely have been seen at the apartment block by whoever was behind those undead. We cannot rule out the possibility that they know we are here now as well".
He turns to Hook, "This estate, it is within the town borders or beyond? I am not familiar with it".
" Wise words. Best not to make enemies of entire noble or merchant families unless you have to......take it from someone who had to move countries."
" Ah! I would suggest travelling together, the estate is a good hour out of town on the Parchwood Way towards the Turst Fields, its farmland most of the way but there are some woods and possible dangers."
Not so sure I am cut out for this adventuring life but I can't let the foulness of Theron's death go unpunished, I will see this till the end, and hopefully not my own or my friends, yes I can count them as friends after tonight. Magnus shakes his head to clear the thoughts racing in his mind and speaks up, "It is almost morning, why don't we all grab some more food from the kitchen here and set out to Dev's place." Turning to Dev, "If that is alright with you, as was suggested, we should not split up as I am sure we have all been marked in some way." Addressing the group once more, "Then we can rest for most of the day at Dev's place eat some food and mid afternoon head out to the Golodar estate and see what is going on. Hopefully we can arrive under cover of darkness and give a look at the place before they know we are there. Hopefully then we can discover what is going on and stop whatever nefarious plans these people have going on."
“Oh,” Dev says, his voice hollow from disappointment. And moreover, after listening to the others, a new image forms in his mind. Not of himself alone in an alley confronting a stealthy knife. Now he envisions a worse future: undead coming out of the earth around his parents cabin, because Dev is there with them putting their minds at ease.
”No! No… you’re right,” he says to Normont and Hook. “I’ll stay with you. My folks’ll be ok.” He looks back to Lokilia, and she sees whatever solace he has taken in their prior plan has drained to nothing.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer