Speaking up from the rear of the group, Lisette adds, "Hopefully majordomo Clearwater will be able to tell us of any other such phenomena. Though, with the lapse in maid-service, I must wonder if we shall find the majordomo himself is in some way afflicted."
The party ascends from the kitchens, up through the family quarters, and into the third story attic. Clearwater's room is walled off from the rest of the attic and provides a decent view of the estate's northern grounds from a balcony. From their position by the stair, the party can see the majordomo's back as he looks out over the courtyard. The older man does not appear to have noticed the group's arrival.
Clearwater turns smoothly around at the sound, "Ah, healer Le'lanoria-"
He blinks and squints towards the group, "And master Balasar! Damnation, lad, how have you been? It's been ages! How can I be of service this evening?"
( On the way up to Clearwater's room, Balasar made a Perception check to see if he could discern the cobwebs and other signs of neglect that the kitchen staff mentioned: 6 )
Perception check to see if there seems to be anything off or unusual about Clearwater: 17
Balasar smiles warmly: Clearwater! It is good to see you. How are you holding up with these tragic events of late?
Even without looking very closely, Balasar spots a number of spider webs on his way up. Regarding Clearwater, Balasar feels something is strange in how the man is moving, but he can't quite put his finger on why (Investigation check might lead to more details).
Balasar feels like something is off, but he can't isolate the reason why.
Clearwater harrumphs and rolls his eyes before launching into a tirade (letting more and more of his cultured airs fall away as he gets into it), "Well, Bal... my employer's nephew was murdered, the father's a wreck - understandably so, mind you -, The chef's gone mad, and I've got your old dad breathin' down me neck about the smallest things, as if me maids could do anything to stop whatever got Thaan. Peh... security lapses my arse. Can't say I'm doing too bloody well at all actually. Gettin' too old fer this mystery nonsense."
He grins ruefully, "Ah- come in, come in all the rest of you... make yourselves at home. I doubt you came up all those stairs just to pay respects to the man what keeps this place from burning down. Out with it, lad. What do you need?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Balasar follows Clearwater into the room (Perception check to see if anything seems out of the ordinary or suspicious about the room: 8; Investigation check to learn more about anything Balasar notices: 17).
You've hit the nail on the head, as usual, Clearwater! I'm trying to find out more about what all has been going on. I'd like to hear anything you can tell me about what's been out of the ordinary, and when and how it all started.
Lisette scrutinizes Clearwater's movements with the practiced eye of a healer. (Diagnostic medicine check: 17 )
Given her more recent contact with the Majordomo, coupled with her medical training, Lisette can tell that Clearwater is not moving like the old man he is. Even his slight limp appears to have vanished.
Balasar follows Clearwater into the room (Perception check to see if anything seems out of the ordinary or suspicious about the room: 19; Investigation check to learn more about anything Balasar notices: 2).
You've hit the nail on the head, as usual, Clearwater! I'm trying to find out more about what all has been going on. I'd like to hear anything you can tell me about what's been out of the ordinary, and when and how it all started.
Clearwater chews his lip, "Yer dad's been taking this almost as hard as yer uncle. I don't think he were especially fond of Thaan, no more'n his other extended kin and CERTAINLY no more'n you or yer siblings... but it's no small thing to kill kin in a warrior's own home. His pride as a patriarch's been wounded bad, an' it's making him paranoid. Rajan's been keeping more to himself than usual too. Other than those two though... can't say anything stands out. The property's being kept, guards are doing their best to keep the rest of us safe... Chef's gone a little off, as said... we're keeping an eye on him."
(Balasar notices something just barely visible under Clearwater's bed, but is not close enough to determine exactly what it is, save that it's thin and rectangular)
Clearwater starts ticking off various fingers, "Well, he's started limiting access to certain parts of the house from the staff... and I'm pretty sure yer mum has tried to enforce that with magic. He's had everyone travel in pairs at all times... and if that's not enough he's even talked about starting a sign in sheet and SCHEDULE for everyone in the estate. He and Rajan have taken to making patrols outside the normal patterns too. And speaking of the patrol patterns, he's asked Rajan to start making them more random. Some days, I heard the guards complaining that the patterns even shift on the day OF a patrol every now and then."
Which parts of the house is he limiting access to? Is he limiting them all the time, or just at certain times of day? And are they off-limits to all the staff, or just certain members?
Clearwater sighs, "Family quarters are off limits unless I'm there to supervise on a per room basis, and his study is off limits entirely to all staff. He and Rajan have taken to borrowing cleaning supplies from the maids every few days, but they're both fighters so you know they're makin' a mess of the job. Hell, I don't think even yer sister of yer ma can go in the study. The staff doesn't complain, as it usually means less work for them, but I'm a busy man, you see. I can't spend all day watching someone else empty chamber pots and fold linens, I've an estate to run!"
Interesting... Balasar muses aloud. Surely he doesn't suspect a member of the staff of such a deed... perhaps he's worried that the perpetrator disguised themselves as a staff member... and might strike again... or maybe he's just trying to make it harder for an outsider to sneak in and move around undetected...
Aside from the deed itself, do you recall anything odd or unusual about the day of the murder or the days leading up to it? Or anything that seems odd in hindsight?
"Nothing odd, just unlucky. Damos told me that on the day of the murder, Rajan had swapped around the patrol routes. He always tries to keep things fresh in case a thief tries to memorize the pattern. Bet it's eating at him whether that created a gap or not."
Speaking up from the rear of the group, Lisette adds, "Hopefully majordomo Clearwater will be able to tell us of any other such phenomena. Though, with the lapse in maid-service, I must wonder if we shall find the majordomo himself is in some way afflicted."
Balasar nods. My concern exactly, though I do hope we don’t find him constructing brains out of dust and cobwebs.
The party ascends from the kitchens, up through the family quarters, and into the third story attic. Clearwater's room is walled off from the rest of the attic and provides a decent view of the estate's northern grounds from a balcony. From their position by the stair, the party can see the majordomo's back as he looks out over the courtyard. The older man does not appear to have noticed the group's arrival.
Lisette clears her throat loudly.
Clearwater turns smoothly around at the sound, "Ah, healer Le'lanoria-"
He blinks and squints towards the group, "And master Balasar! Damnation, lad, how have you been? It's been ages! How can I be of service this evening?"
( On the way up to Clearwater's room, Balasar made a Perception check to see if he could discern the cobwebs and other signs of neglect that the kitchen staff mentioned: 6 )
Perception check to see if there seems to be anything off or unusual about Clearwater: 17
Balasar smiles warmly: Clearwater! It is good to see you. How are you holding up with these tragic events of late?
Even without looking very closely, Balasar spots a number of spider webs on his way up. Regarding Clearwater, Balasar feels something is strange in how the man is moving, but he can't quite put his finger on why (Investigation check might lead to more details).
Investigation: 14
Balasar feels like something is off, but he can't isolate the reason why.
Clearwater harrumphs and rolls his eyes before launching into a tirade (letting more and more of his cultured airs fall away as he gets into it), "Well, Bal... my employer's nephew was murdered, the father's a wreck - understandably so, mind you -, The chef's gone mad, and I've got your old dad breathin' down me neck about the smallest things, as if me maids could do anything to stop whatever got Thaan. Peh... security lapses my arse. Can't say I'm doing too bloody well at all actually. Gettin' too old fer this mystery nonsense."
He grins ruefully, "Ah- come in, come in all the rest of you... make yourselves at home. I doubt you came up all those stairs just to pay respects to the man what keeps this place from burning down. Out with it, lad. What do you need?"
Balasar follows Clearwater into the room (Perception check to see if anything seems out of the ordinary or suspicious about the room: 8; Investigation check to learn more about anything Balasar notices: 17).
You've hit the nail on the head, as usual, Clearwater! I'm trying to find out more about what all has been going on. I'd like to hear anything you can tell me about what's been out of the ordinary, and when and how it all started.
Lisette scrutinizes Clearwater's movements with the practiced eye of a healer. (Diagnostic medicine check: 15 )
Given her more recent contact with the Majordomo, coupled with her medical training, Lisette can tell that Clearwater is not moving like the old man he is. Even his slight limp appears to have vanished.
Clearwater chews his lip, "Yer dad's been taking this almost as hard as yer uncle. I don't think he were especially fond of Thaan, no more'n his other extended kin and CERTAINLY no more'n you or yer siblings... but it's no small thing to kill kin in a warrior's own home. His pride as a patriarch's been wounded bad, an' it's making him paranoid. Rajan's been keeping more to himself than usual too. Other than those two though... can't say anything stands out. The property's being kept, guards are doing their best to keep the rest of us safe... Chef's gone a little off, as said... we're keeping an eye on him."
(Balasar notices something just barely visible under Clearwater's bed, but is not close enough to determine exactly what it is, save that it's thin and rectangular)
Dad's gone paranoid? What's he doing? I haven't had much of a chance to catch up with him since I returned.
Clearwater starts ticking off various fingers, "Well, he's started limiting access to certain parts of the house from the staff... and I'm pretty sure yer mum has tried to enforce that with magic. He's had everyone travel in pairs at all times... and if that's not enough he's even talked about starting a sign in sheet and SCHEDULE for everyone in the estate. He and Rajan have taken to making patrols outside the normal patterns too. And speaking of the patrol patterns, he's asked Rajan to start making them more random. Some days, I heard the guards complaining that the patterns even shift on the day OF a patrol every now and then."
Which parts of the house is he limiting access to? Is he limiting them all the time, or just at certain times of day? And are they off-limits to all the staff, or just certain members?
Clearwater sighs, "Family quarters are off limits unless I'm there to supervise on a per room basis, and his study is off limits entirely to all staff. He and Rajan have taken to borrowing cleaning supplies from the maids every few days, but they're both fighters so you know they're makin' a mess of the job. Hell, I don't think even yer sister of yer ma can go in the study. The staff doesn't complain, as it usually means less work for them, but I'm a busy man, you see. I can't spend all day watching someone else empty chamber pots and fold linens, I've an estate to run!"
Interesting... Balasar muses aloud. Surely he doesn't suspect a member of the staff of such a deed... perhaps he's worried that the perpetrator disguised themselves as a staff member... and might strike again... or maybe he's just trying to make it harder for an outsider to sneak in and move around undetected...
Aside from the deed itself, do you recall anything odd or unusual about the day of the murder or the days leading up to it? Or anything that seems odd in hindsight?
"Nothing odd, just unlucky. Damos told me that on the day of the murder, Rajan had swapped around the patrol routes. He always tries to keep things fresh in case a thief tries to memorize the pattern. Bet it's eating at him whether that created a gap or not."
That is bad luck. Do you know if that was the first time he changed the patrol routes?