Bryn Shander is not only settlement in the Ten-Towns that sacrifices people to the Frostmaiden. The towns of Targos and Easthaven do the same - and their communities have also experienced similar murders.
Hlin, though she seems a bit embarrassed by your response to her hunch, doesn't seem guilty. You get the feeling she wholeheartedly believes her idea.
Orixian:
It looks like it didn't snow much last night, for you find two sets of tracks outside the window. One heading in through the window, the other seemingly headed out. You follow them to a shack a few blocks away. A cursory inspection shows that the door and windows are unlocked, and though it's seemingly empty, you can tell through subtle clues that someone was staying here for at least a few days.
Ciaran:
The moon's current phase is about halfway between a crescent and half moon. The last new moon was about 7 days ago. You recall that sacrifices to the Frostmaiden are not ritually killed, but rather stripped of their winter clothes and forced into the wilderness by the Children of Auril. Then they either freeze to death or are killed by the dangerous denizens of the Dale. The individual to be sacrificed is chosen at random via lottery to which every adult in town must submit their name. To your knowledge, there has never been a ritual murder carried out by the Children.
Unburdened and Calid:
The locked window was indeed the entry point. Unburdened and Calid both find the latch that kept the window locked is completely shattered. You pick up some of the pieces and feel that the iron latch is quite brittle - almost like the metal was frozen and then broken in order to gain entry. Unburdened also finds trace elements of the same icy magic that produced the dagger that skewered the victim. Whoever the assailant is, they have remarkable skill with ice magic.
Additionally, Unburdened, you find an open book on a desk near the window. It appears to be some kind of ledger. It looks pretty standard, detailing purchases and expenditures for personal and business purposes, but one entry stands out to you as more exorbitant than most - 100 gold pieces listed as a 'religious contribution.'
Solvail:
"They've taken over an old temple of the Triad. Just up the way from the Southwest Gate. A sad sign of the times - the justice of Tyr, the courage of Torm, and the selflessness of Ilmater replaced by the Frostmaiden's cold-hearted servants," Southwell murmurs with a sigh. "It's entirely possible they are involved. I can't ask you to properly investigate them, of course... but in the event that a group of... concerned citizens... took matters into their own hands, well... there's not much I can do about that, is there?"
"The lock was frozen then shattered like glass and the murderer climbed in. I surmise he is not sneak thief as they would have used thieves' tools and a brute would have used a crowbar." says Calid. She then opens the window letting the cold air rush in. She checks to see if there are any footprints outside the window.
Orixian walks back to the crime scene as Calid throws open the window and waves. He points to the footprints in the snow and then leans in the window to say loud enough for others to hear, "There are footprints out here that lead to a small shack that someone was staying in, but its empty now. Makes me think this was calculated. They were watching and waiting for the right moment to attack."
Solvail eyes Southwell, "Concerned citizens... ?" she nods and lets the silence linger as she looks at the others, "We'll see if it comes to that." she distances herself from the sheriff with a polite smile and rejoins the others, "So, what else did we find out here? Looks like the locals have quite a lot to deal with..."
When Unburdened shares what he's found in the ledger, Ciaran says:
- So the murder does not follow the standard sacrifice procedures and was not commited under a new moon? Also, that religious contribution sounds curious. What if Darrekk was a follower of the Children of Auril and the murderer is precisely killing that kind of folk? - He turns to Southwell and asks - What do we know of the other two muders? Did you find any clue that could indicate that they were followers of Auril? Where they well off too?
Silvie sighs at Hlin's reaction. She then turns toward the others, braiding her hair as she listens to them sharing what they found. At Ciaran's suggestion of Darrekk being a follower of the Children of Auril, Silvie tilts her head in consideration.
Then she turns on her heel and climbs the stairs, being careful to not touch the corpse. Once upstairs, she looks around for anything that would mark him as a follower of the cult or anything that would not fit in a simple glassblower's home.
"The payment may have been a one-time deal. If he was part of the cult, providing funds on a regular basis, I would have seen more on his ledger," Unburdened supposes. "He probably put that in his books to give some credibility to such a sum."
Sylvie:
Bryn Shander is not only settlement in the Ten-Towns that sacrifices people to the Frostmaiden. The towns of Targos and Easthaven do the same - and their communities have also experienced similar murders.
Hlin, though she seems a bit embarrassed by your response to her hunch, doesn't seem guilty. You get the feeling she wholeheartedly believes her idea.
Orixian:
It looks like it didn't snow much last night, for you find two sets of tracks outside the window. One heading in through the window, the other seemingly headed out. You follow them to a shack a few blocks away. A cursory inspection shows that the door and windows are unlocked, and though it's seemingly empty, you can tell through subtle clues that someone was staying here for at least a few days.
Ciaran:
The moon's current phase is about halfway between a crescent and half moon. The last new moon was about 7 days ago. You recall that sacrifices to the Frostmaiden are not ritually killed, but rather stripped of their winter clothes and forced into the wilderness by the Children of Auril. Then they either freeze to death or are killed by the dangerous denizens of the Dale. The individual to be sacrificed is chosen at random via lottery to which every adult in town must submit their name. To your knowledge, there has never been a ritual murder carried out by the Children.
Unburdened and Calid:
The locked window was indeed the entry point. Unburdened and Calid both find the latch that kept the window locked is completely shattered. You pick up some of the pieces and feel that the iron latch is quite brittle - almost like the metal was frozen and then broken in order to gain entry. Unburdened also finds trace elements of the same icy magic that produced the dagger that skewered the victim. Whoever the assailant is, they have remarkable skill with ice magic.
Additionally, Unburdened, you find an open book on a desk near the window. It appears to be some kind of ledger. It looks pretty standard, detailing purchases and expenditures for personal and business purposes, but one entry stands out to you as more exorbitant than most - 100 gold pieces listed as a 'religious contribution.'
Solvail:
"They've taken over an old temple of the Triad. Just up the way from the Southwest Gate. A sad sign of the times - the justice of Tyr, the courage of Torm, and the selflessness of Ilmater replaced by the Frostmaiden's cold-hearted servants," Southwell murmurs with a sigh. "It's entirely possible they are involved. I can't ask you to properly investigate them, of course... but in the event that a group of... concerned citizens... took matters into their own hands, well... there's not much I can do about that, is there?"
"The lock was frozen then shattered like glass and the murderer climbed in. I surmise he is not sneak thief as they would have used thieves' tools and a brute would have used a crowbar." says Calid. She then opens the window letting the cold air rush in. She checks to see if there are any footprints outside the window.
Perception
24 rolld in game log
Orixian walks back to the crime scene as Calid throws open the window and waves. He points to the footprints in the snow and then leans in the window to say loud enough for others to hear, "There are footprints out here that lead to a small shack that someone was staying in, but its empty now. Makes me think this was calculated. They were watching and waiting for the right moment to attack."
Solvail eyes Southwell, "Concerned citizens... ?" she nods and lets the silence linger as she looks at the others, "We'll see if it comes to that." she distances herself from the sheriff with a polite smile and rejoins the others, "So, what else did we find out here? Looks like the locals have quite a lot to deal with..."
Art Portfolio
When Unburdened shares what he's found in the ledger, Ciaran says:
- So the murder does not follow the standard sacrifice procedures and was not commited under a new moon? Also, that religious contribution sounds curious. What if Darrekk was a follower of the Children of Auril and the murderer is precisely killing that kind of folk? - He turns to Southwell and asks - What do we know of the other two muders? Did you find any clue that could indicate that they were followers of Auril? Where they well off too?
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Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Silvie sighs at Hlin's reaction. She then turns toward the others, braiding her hair as she listens to them sharing what they found. At Ciaran's suggestion of Darrekk being a follower of the Children of Auril, Silvie tilts her head in consideration.
Then she turns on her heel and climbs the stairs, being careful to not touch the corpse. Once upstairs, she looks around for anything that would mark him as a follower of the cult or anything that would not fit in a simple glassblower's home.
Perception: 19
"The payment may have been a one-time deal. If he was part of the cult, providing funds on a regular basis, I would have seen more on his ledger," Unburdened supposes. "He probably put that in his books to give some credibility to such a sum."
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