Omen walks into the room and simply shakes his head and removes his hat. The kenku wasn't good with kids and he wasn't good with emotion... He felt bad for them but wasn't sure what he could do to help. "We are going to find them... don't worry." Omen says with a forced smile. "But for now we all need to get some reset... It has been a long day." He adds as he finds an interior wall to sit against. He keeps himself facing the door with his hand on a dagger. He places his lantern next to him.. keeping it burning as he attempts to drift to sleep.
Kalgren saw that the others had a handle on dealing with the kids.
'I'm stepping out for a bit.'He said. 'I need to inspect the latest victim. See what I can gleam from it.'He gave a nod and headed off to the town hall where the body was currently housed.
"Don't you even think about it.." Omen says to Kit as Kalgren heads out the door. "I don't know why it couldn't wait until morning... but I'm done heading out into the dark for the night. I guess if the plants get him, we will just have to save him when we save the other fey... He's a half elf right? That's probably enough fey blood that the plants wouldn't kill him.."
Charlie immediately returns Kit's embrace, hugging her tightly as he sobs softly. Clearly he's still trying to stifle his tears as to not wake up the other two, but his small body shakes with fear and sadness. It makes you wonder just how long these children have lacked a loving adult in their lives.
As most of you do the logical thing and prepare to get at least a small bit of sleep seeing as the time is creeping closer to 1:00, Kalgren decides he just can't wait to examine the corpse. Despite his fey heritage, he ventures out into the darkness and starts the trek back to the town hall.
Everyone accept Kalgren can take a long rest.
Kalgren:
It's a bit of a walk to get back, taking you about 40 minutes to get from the children's ramshackle home back to the Hall, so it's a little past 1 at this point. During your walk, Lulu patrolled the skies, keeping a lookout in case of a plant dog ambush. However, your travel is surprisingly unhindered and there is no sign of any ominous movement around you.
Once you open the door to the hall, you see the body under the tablecloth exactly how Lulu described. However, rather than finding Cassian watching over the body, Elenor looks up at you from her kneeling position on the other side of the room. She looks very tired, and she says nothing as you come closer.
Kalgren gave Elenor a reassuring nod. 'I'm here to inspect the body.'He mentioned. He walked over to the tablecloth. 'Where's Cassian?' Kalgren asked before he got to work. As was his custom before a crime scene he first uttered a short incantation to attune his eyes to the flow of magic.
Amery is saddened at the sight of Charlie sobbing and afterwards he nodes in agreement with Omen "I am also not planning to head out into night again after just being attacked" He will find corner and hunkers down for the night.
Kalgren mentally steeled himself and lifted up the cloth. It was a necessary part of the job but not one he liked. He much preferred the living: at least they gave feedback. On the plus side, the dead could not lie. With his notepad and pencil in hand, Kalgren leaned in closer for inspection, taking care to note down anything unusual or interesting while muttering a prayer for the deceased as well as to guide his gaze.
Elenor backs up to let you investigate. "He went back to the inn. We are taking turns watching her." She replies quietly. "The drow came by earlier. I think he was paying his respects. Didn't look at her much." She still doesn't make eye contact with you.
Lifting the cloth, you are once again struck with the intense smell of blood and roses. Vines, covered in red roses of various sizes, are sprouting from her mouth, and a few have come out of her nose and even her tear ducts, a gruesome sight though no actual blood is visible. Removing the cloth farther, you also find that the vines have pushed through her stomach as well. The entire scene has left you a bit baffled as you've never seen anything like this before.
Giving up on an autopsy, you start rifling through her things. She has a coin purse with 10gp, a dagger, a rapier, studded leather, and a broken locket, poping it open, a torn crumpled up peice of paper falls out. Inside the locket is a portrait of another dragonborn who you assume to be her mother, though you don't feel like that is significant. Un-crumpling it, it reads-- ....Legend of Whithermore... The paper had been torn specifically to leave those words almost like someone intentionally left this to be found.
These words get you thinking about the origins of Withermore.
While this is knowledge specific to the town of Withermore, most of the townsfolk are ignorant of it's history. It almost seems like they wanted to forget about the founding of the town. You only came across this knowledge by browsing the town library.
Withermore was the surname of the town's founder, while his first name has been long forgotten his daughter's name Rose Withermore, still circles around to this day though not as much as it used to. You know there was some kind of conflict concerning the Withermore family, specifically concerning Rose after her parents died and she became the town's leader. The most common story is that she mistreated the townsfolk, who eventually stood up against her and chased her out. She was known to be incredibly vain, and was thought to waste loads of money on frivolities. However, this is only one version of the story. There are many others with much darker tones. Some say she left the safety of the town to explore the woods, never returned, and now haunts the forest at night. Some say she practiced witchcraft, and was burned at the stake. Some say she partook in dark rituals, in attempts to buy eternal youth. You know of several more disturbing stories and over them all only two things stay consistent. Her name, and the fact that she was a Wood elf.
The rest of you take turns watching in shifts. However, the night seems to have gone quiet and nothing disturbs you. Charlie eventually cries himself to sleep and curls up next to Kit. The other two children remain fast asleep.
(Hopefully what's going on with Kalgren doesn't take to long. Gotta finish up with him before moving forward lol.)
Kalgren fought against the instinct to throw the cloth back over the body and call it a night. It was gruesome work but someone had to do it. Though in this case he wondered if it were not better to call a gardener rather than an investigator. The poor girl had turned into a flowerbed and not the pretty kind.
Leaving the body alone, Kalgren next took a look at the victim's belongings. There was not much to work with but the locket yielded a promising lead. The legend of Withermore and how the town was founded. He dug deep into his memory to recall what he know about it. The town's founder Withermore, his daughter Rose, the various stories of how she left the town. It would be poetic. Kalgren thought. A rose killing with roses. And Wood Elves do live long lives.
He put the crumpled up note in his pocket. With a practised flourish Kalgren grabbed his pencil and jotted some notes down on paper. Rose Witherwood. Motive - grudge against the town. Victims = town people lends credence. Method might suggest twisted sense of poetic justice. Need to look into history.
Kalgren was satisfied with what he had found so far. He carefully placed the cloth back over the body and mumbled a short prayer to the dead. He put everything back into his pockets. Elenor was still there: he gave her a courteous nod on his way out. 'Stay safe, Elenor.'Kalgren said before stepping out the door into the night's cold air. He quickly made his way back to the group. Perchance the new dawn might shed more light on the situation.
Satisfied with his findings, Kalgren bids Elenor farewell, who gives him a small nod in return, and heads back to the Stonedog. He does not see Cassian upon entering, nor does he see anyone else. It seems most folks have gone to bed at this time. Heading up to his room, Kalgren finally settles in for some rest.
(Alright, at the time Kalgren goes to bed it's around 1:30 am. If he's going to get a full long rest he's going to need to rest until 9:30am. Though I'll count getting up and eating breakfast into that. The rest of you would finish your rest around 7:30-8. So Kalgren, I'll leave it up to you as to whether you'd like a short or long rest.)
Whenever Kalgren rises, he descends the stairs and finds the Bill and Liliana busily preparing food and drink for the few costumers at the Stonedog. Cassian and Elenor are back at their table. The drow is nowhere to be seen.
Kit, Omen, Thar, and Amery, noting bothers you through the rest of the night and you each wake up refreshed. Kit, you wake to find Charlie and Sara huddled in the far corner of the loft whispering through quiet sniffles. Daisy is still sleeping. Perhaps they are discussing how to break the news to the younger child. When they hear you wake, they turn to you, eyes blurry and red. "You'll bring her back won't you?" Sara asks. "We- I- don't know how to tell her." Charlie states.
(If you head out shortly, you could get to the Stonedog around the time Kalgren wakes up.)
Kit wants desperately to lie to them. To make promises that she's almost certain can't be kept. But she knows that sparing them pain now will only hurt them more later.
"I'll tell her."
She strokes Charlie's hair and gives him a melancholy smile.
"The truth is, I don't know what we can do. Magic is tricky and fey magic is the trickiest. But Omen is the smartest person I know and Thar is the bravest. If there is a way to get her back, there's no one better to find it."
Omen wakes but doesn't move... he sits facing the door as the others begin to stir. When the others are awake, he finally risks moving from his spot. Standing up, he looks to Kit and then the children. "Don't you worry... You've got the best investigator in waterdeep on the case' He says while placing his hat upon his head "... and also the third or forth best as well..." the Kenku says with a grin as he gestures towards Amery. "Besides... who knows why they are collecting the Fey! maybe they are taking them somewhere nice! But don't you worry... we will track them down and bring them back." He then takes his leather gloved and ruffles the childs hair before preparing to head outside.
Kalgren rose from his bed and went downstairs to settle in for breakfast. Sleuthing on an empty stomach would not be a great idea. He waved over either Bill or Liliana for a question.
'Where would one find the town's historical records?'
Charlie and Sara try to cheer up a little at Kit and Omen's words, but remain rather quiet. Despite how determined they seemed to be on staying here when Twig was leading them, they don't even seem phased by Kit stating they have to stay at the Inn.
When you start helping them pack, you soon realize how little they had. Daisy's belongings basically consist of a worn out rag doll, and one extra set of cloths. When the small child wakes up, she stares at Kit blurry eyed before looking around. Seeing Charlie and Sara in their depressed state, she looks back up at Kit confused. "Why are you all sad? Where is Twig? Telron?" She starts looking around confused. Sara starts crying again, and Charlie bites his lip trying not to look at her.
It takes a while before you manage to get Daisy to understand. When she finally does, she grips her doll and wraps her small arms around the half-elf. "She'll come back. She will. Twig will come back. And she will bring Tel with her. You'll see." She cries.
Once you manage to get the children down from the loft. You all start on your way back to the Stonedog.
Bill looks up from his current task when Kalgren approaches. "The town's historical records? Well, unfortunately much of them were lost due to a fire many years ago, that was before even my time. If I recall, some were salvaged and kept in the library but most weren't anything to ancent. Hmmm, though the best place to look for that kind of thing is the Mayor's personal library. His family kept a lot of those old records safe. Why do you ask?"
(Feel free to RP some of your walk back if you wish. You'll make it back just as Kalgren answers Bill.)
Amery feels for all these kids and wholeheartedly agree with Kit. Seeing Daisy so sad he bends down and says, "Come here I can carry you to the Inn as it's a bit cold in the morning."
Omen walks into the room and simply shakes his head and removes his hat. The kenku wasn't good with kids and he wasn't good with emotion... He felt bad for them but wasn't sure what he could do to help. "We are going to find them... don't worry." Omen says with a forced smile. "But for now we all need to get some reset... It has been a long day." He adds as he finds an interior wall to sit against. He keeps himself facing the door with his hand on a dagger. He places his lantern next to him.. keeping it burning as he attempts to drift to sleep.
Kalgren saw that the others had a handle on dealing with the kids.
'I'm stepping out for a bit.' He said. 'I need to inspect the latest victim. See what I can gleam from it.' He gave a nod and headed off to the town hall where the body was currently housed.
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
Kit goggles at the Kalgren.
"Didn't he just... We almost... Shouldn't somebody go with him?!"
"Don't you even think about it.." Omen says to Kit as Kalgren heads out the door. "I don't know why it couldn't wait until morning... but I'm done heading out into the dark for the night. I guess if the plants get him, we will just have to save him when we save the other fey... He's a half elf right? That's probably enough fey blood that the plants wouldn't kill him.."
Charlie immediately returns Kit's embrace, hugging her tightly as he sobs softly. Clearly he's still trying to stifle his tears as to not wake up the other two, but his small body shakes with fear and sadness. It makes you wonder just how long these children have lacked a loving adult in their lives.
As most of you do the logical thing and prepare to get at least a small bit of sleep seeing as the time is creeping closer to 1:00, Kalgren decides he just can't wait to examine the corpse. Despite his fey heritage, he ventures out into the darkness and starts the trek back to the town hall.
Everyone accept Kalgren can take a long rest.
Kalgren:
It's a bit of a walk to get back, taking you about 40 minutes to get from the children's ramshackle home back to the Hall, so it's a little past 1 at this point. During your walk, Lulu patrolled the skies, keeping a lookout in case of a plant dog ambush. However, your travel is surprisingly unhindered and there is no sign of any ominous movement around you.
Once you open the door to the hall, you see the body under the tablecloth exactly how Lulu described. However, rather than finding Cassian watching over the body, Elenor looks up at you from her kneeling position on the other side of the room. She looks very tired, and she says nothing as you come closer.
Kalgren gave Elenor a reassuring nod. 'I'm here to inspect the body.' He mentioned. He walked over to the tablecloth. 'Where's Cassian?' Kalgren asked before he got to work. As was his custom before a crime scene he first uttered a short incantation to attune his eyes to the flow of magic.
Casting Detect Magic
What kind of rolls would be required to thoroughly inspect the body?
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
Thar takes post near the entrance and rest there taking guard while the kids and the others rest.
PbP Character: A few ;)
Amery is saddened at the sight of Charlie sobbing and afterwards he nodes in agreement with Omen "I am also not planning to head out into night again after just being attacked" He will find corner and hunkers down for the night.
Kit continues to hold Charlie until, exhausted, she falls into a fitful sleep surrounded by the children...
Kalgren mentally steeled himself and lifted up the cloth. It was a necessary part of the job but not one he liked. He much preferred the living: at least they gave feedback. On the plus side, the dead could not lie. With his notepad and pencil in hand, Kalgren leaned in closer for inspection, taking care to note down anything unusual or interesting while muttering a prayer for the deceased as well as to guide his gaze.
Investigation: 10 + 2 Guidance = 12
History: 18 + 2 Guidance = 20
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
Kalgren:
Elenor backs up to let you investigate. "He went back to the inn. We are taking turns watching her." She replies quietly. "The drow came by earlier. I think he was paying his respects. Didn't look at her much." She still doesn't make eye contact with you.
Lifting the cloth, you are once again struck with the intense smell of blood and roses. Vines, covered in red roses of various sizes, are sprouting from her mouth, and a few have come out of her nose and even her tear ducts, a gruesome sight though no actual blood is visible. Removing the cloth farther, you also find that the vines have pushed through her stomach as well. The entire scene has left you a bit baffled as you've never seen anything like this before.
Giving up on an autopsy, you start rifling through her things. She has a coin purse with 10gp, a dagger, a rapier, studded leather, and a broken locket, poping it open, a torn crumpled up peice of paper falls out. Inside the locket is a portrait of another dragonborn who you assume to be her mother, though you don't feel like that is significant. Un-crumpling it, it reads-- ....Legend of Whithermore... The paper had been torn specifically to leave those words almost like someone intentionally left this to be found.
These words get you thinking about the origins of Withermore.
While this is knowledge specific to the town of Withermore, most of the townsfolk are ignorant of it's history. It almost seems like they wanted to forget about the founding of the town. You only came across this knowledge by browsing the town library.
Withermore was the surname of the town's founder, while his first name has been long forgotten his daughter's name Rose Withermore, still circles around to this day though not as much as it used to. You know there was some kind of conflict concerning the Withermore family, specifically concerning Rose after her parents died and she became the town's leader. The most common story is that she mistreated the townsfolk, who eventually stood up against her and chased her out. She was known to be incredibly vain, and was thought to waste loads of money on frivolities. However, this is only one version of the story. There are many others with much darker tones. Some say she left the safety of the town to explore the woods, never returned, and now haunts the forest at night. Some say she practiced witchcraft, and was burned at the stake. Some say she partook in dark rituals, in attempts to buy eternal youth. You know of several more disturbing stories and over them all only two things stay consistent. Her name, and the fact that she was a Wood elf.
The rest of you take turns watching in shifts. However, the night seems to have gone quiet and nothing disturbs you. Charlie eventually cries himself to sleep and curls up next to Kit. The other two children remain fast asleep.
(Hopefully what's going on with Kalgren doesn't take to long. Gotta finish up with him before moving forward lol.)
Kalgren fought against the instinct to throw the cloth back over the body and call it a night. It was gruesome work but someone had to do it. Though in this case he wondered if it were not better to call a gardener rather than an investigator. The poor girl had turned into a flowerbed and not the pretty kind.
Leaving the body alone, Kalgren next took a look at the victim's belongings. There was not much to work with but the locket yielded a promising lead. The legend of Withermore and how the town was founded. He dug deep into his memory to recall what he know about it. The town's founder Withermore, his daughter Rose, the various stories of how she left the town. It would be poetic. Kalgren thought. A rose killing with roses. And Wood Elves do live long lives.
He put the crumpled up note in his pocket. With a practised flourish Kalgren grabbed his pencil and jotted some notes down on paper. Rose Witherwood. Motive - grudge against the town. Victims = town people lends credence. Method might suggest twisted sense of poetic justice. Need to look into history.
Kalgren was satisfied with what he had found so far. He carefully placed the cloth back over the body and mumbled a short prayer to the dead. He put everything back into his pockets. Elenor was still there: he gave her a courteous nod on his way out. 'Stay safe, Elenor.' Kalgren said before stepping out the door into the night's cold air. He quickly made his way back to the group. Perchance the new dawn might shed more light on the situation.
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
Satisfied with his findings, Kalgren bids Elenor farewell, who gives him a small nod in return, and heads back to the Stonedog. He does not see Cassian upon entering, nor does he see anyone else. It seems most folks have gone to bed at this time. Heading up to his room, Kalgren finally settles in for some rest.
(Alright, at the time Kalgren goes to bed it's around 1:30 am. If he's going to get a full long rest he's going to need to rest until 9:30am. Though I'll count getting up and eating breakfast into that. The rest of you would finish your rest around 7:30-8. So Kalgren, I'll leave it up to you as to whether you'd like a short or long rest.)
Whenever Kalgren rises, he descends the stairs and finds the Bill and Liliana busily preparing food and drink for the few costumers at the Stonedog. Cassian and Elenor are back at their table. The drow is nowhere to be seen.
Kit, Omen, Thar, and Amery, noting bothers you through the rest of the night and you each wake up refreshed. Kit, you wake to find Charlie and Sara huddled in the far corner of the loft whispering through quiet sniffles. Daisy is still sleeping. Perhaps they are discussing how to break the news to the younger child. When they hear you wake, they turn to you, eyes blurry and red. "You'll bring her back won't you?" Sara asks. "We- I- don't know how to tell her." Charlie states.
(If you head out shortly, you could get to the Stonedog around the time Kalgren wakes up.)
Kit wants desperately to lie to them. To make promises that she's almost certain can't be kept. But she knows that sparing them pain now will only hurt them more later.
"I'll tell her."
She strokes Charlie's hair and gives him a melancholy smile.
"The truth is, I don't know what we can do. Magic is tricky and fey magic is the trickiest. But Omen is the smartest person I know and Thar is the bravest. If there is a way to get her back, there's no one better to find it."
Omen wakes but doesn't move... he sits facing the door as the others begin to stir. When the others are awake, he finally risks moving from his spot. Standing up, he looks to Kit and then the children. "Don't you worry... You've got the best investigator in waterdeep on the case' He says while placing his hat upon his head "... and also the third or forth best as well..." the Kenku says with a grin as he gestures towards Amery. "Besides... who knows why they are collecting the Fey! maybe they are taking them somewhere nice! But don't you worry... we will track them down and bring them back." He then takes his leather gloved and ruffles the childs hair before preparing to head outside.
Kit gives a sad smile at the departing Kenku, wanting to believe and be comforted by his words as much as she hopes the children are.
"Charlie, Sara, it's time to pack up your things. You'll be staying at the inn with me until this is all settled."
She can't help but sigh at the burden of what comes next.
"I'll help Daisy pack and explain things to her..."
Kalgren rose from his bed and went downstairs to settle in for breakfast. Sleuthing on an empty stomach would not be a great idea. He waved over either Bill or Liliana for a question.
'Where would one find the town's historical records?'
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
Charlie and Sara try to cheer up a little at Kit and Omen's words, but remain rather quiet. Despite how determined they seemed to be on staying here when Twig was leading them, they don't even seem phased by Kit stating they have to stay at the Inn.
When you start helping them pack, you soon realize how little they had. Daisy's belongings basically consist of a worn out rag doll, and one extra set of cloths. When the small child wakes up, she stares at Kit blurry eyed before looking around. Seeing Charlie and Sara in their depressed state, she looks back up at Kit confused. "Why are you all sad? Where is Twig? Telron?" She starts looking around confused. Sara starts crying again, and Charlie bites his lip trying not to look at her.
It takes a while before you manage to get Daisy to understand. When she finally does, she grips her doll and wraps her small arms around the half-elf. "She'll come back. She will. Twig will come back. And she will bring Tel with her. You'll see." She cries.
Once you manage to get the children down from the loft. You all start on your way back to the Stonedog.
Bill looks up from his current task when Kalgren approaches. "The town's historical records? Well, unfortunately much of them were lost due to a fire many years ago, that was before even my time. If I recall, some were salvaged and kept in the library but most weren't anything to ancent. Hmmm, though the best place to look for that kind of thing is the Mayor's personal library. His family kept a lot of those old records safe. Why do you ask?"
(Feel free to RP some of your walk back if you wish. You'll make it back just as Kalgren answers Bill.)
Amery feels for all these kids and wholeheartedly agree with Kit. Seeing Daisy so sad he bends down and says, "Come here I can carry you to the Inn as it's a bit cold in the morning."
once ready he heads out and walks to the Inn.
Kit gives Amery a warm smile of thanks and then, taking Charlie and Sara's hands, follows Amery back to the Stonedog...