Lisette speaks up rather abruptly, "Speak as if the corpse were still your living, breathing kin. Though his soul is no longer present, the animated body still contains the physical remains of his mind and personality. Just because his soul has passed on does not mean his physical remains are any less... him... even if only for the short duration granted through divine power."
Looking somewhat embarrassed, the young healer steps back, mumbling an incoherent apology for her interuption before turning to putter about her lab.
Varaster raises an eyebrow, "Mistress Le'Lanoria's arcano-theological, eh, interpretations aside... she has the essence of it. We are not recalling Thaan's soul, and thus cannot expect answers from beyond the veil. Limit your questions to things Thaan should have known in, eh, life. Also know that the spell does not compel honesty or, ehe, clarity."
[Anyone with a passive perception of 13 or higher: At the cleric's comment, Lisette tenses up noticeably and the flask clutched in her right hand shakes slightly.]
Balasar muses aloud, though he seems primarily to be speaking to Rajan: The primary thing we're seeking to learn would be who attacked him, and why. It's possible they managed the attack such that he did not see them, but he still might have noticed something that would provide some insight to his attacker's identity. He might also have had some notion of who might have been out for him, though learning that the attack was a complete surprise would also be useful.
Balasar turns his attention to Varaster: Based on what you have said, I take it that Thaan will not be able to tell us what transpired or what questions were asked the first time Speak with Dead was cast?
Without looking up from her potion work, Lisette remarks quietly, "If in doubt, you could always inqure of Lord Kriv whether or not he has any specific questions he wishes asked. To my knowledge, he does not but that was several days ago - he may have changed his mind."
An excellent point! Rajan, has he expressed anything to you in that regard?
For my own thoughts, I would propose the following potential questions for the group's consideration:
Who attacked you?
Where did they attack you?
Why did they attack you?
What did they say to you?
What did they look like?
I know it appears that we already know where the attack took place, but if we get an unexpected answer, that could open up a fruitful line of inquiry. What does everyone think?
Rajan shrugs, "It's all the same to me. Whoever did this was thorough, and they clearly had this spell in mind when they killed him. Where and why seem good... but I doubt he'll be able to give us a description." He sighs, "That's all I have. I'll bear witness to this, but I'll leave the questions to you."
Varaster nods, "Then, eh, we are all agreed on the questions?"
Wendell nods, "Those all sound fine to me."
Varaster nods, "If no one has any objections, I shall begin the, eh, casting."
Withdrawing a small pouch of incense, the cleric approaches the corpse and begins to chant. As he does, the aromatic powder begins to smoke, then bursts into flame. A sweet scent fills the room, and rings of smoke begins to gather about Thann's body.
As Balasar asks his questions, the smoke slithers into Thaan's nostrils. The body trembles slightly, takes a hissing breath, then coughs. Punctured eyes slip loosely in their sockets to point towards the Dragonborn. The corpse's voice rasps out, at once quiet and inescapable.
Who attacked you?
"Someone... hehhh... skilled. Someone I did not see."
Where did they attack you?
"My Father's study... In the alcove..."
Why did they attack you?
"I do not know... hehhhh... maybe they were hungry... maybe they hated Father... maybe they hated me..."
What were you doing when you were attacked?
"I planned to... hehhhhh... wait for Father there, so we could... hehhh talk privately."
Sounding as if she had been about to speak, Lisette has instead set down her potion-in-progress and joined the conclave clustered about Thaan's body. She chews one side of her lower lip while a look of extreme focus creeps across her face.
On hearing these four answers, Balasar asks: What were you going to discuss with your Father?
"Servant... hehhhh... places they shouldn't be... speaking words they shouldn't know.... and acting so strangely... Why didn't he notice? Why did they not notice?Why didn't he notice?Why did they not notice..."
Lisette, you wouldn't happen to have noticed what Thaan noticed or have any idea what Thaan was referring to, would you? Balasar asks, in a friendly tone that seems to indicate that he's asking just to be thorough, not because he thinks Lisette might be guilty.
Though her eyes remain fixed on Thaan's corpse, she addresses her words to Balasar. Shaking her head, she responds in a thoughtful tone, "No. No, I am sorry, Bal, but I spend most of my time here in my laboratory. Most of my interactions with the household have been in my capacity as a healer."
Looking about at the dark stone of her subterranean quarters, she smiles sunnily before heaving a great sigh. Turning to take in the group, her smile slips sideways in a grin. "And for some reason, most of my patients seem to wish to be treated and leave as quickly as possible. Perhaps my assisstant and I need to work on our bedside manner, no?"
In a more serious tone, she adds, "I am afraid I have never taken a great interest in household matters beyond my duties or special projects assigned by Lord Kriv. Maybe if I had..." Her eyes sharpen with a sudden intensity and focus as she looks Balasar in the eye, "Perhaps I have been too long in my comfortable rut. If you will accept my aid, I would very much like to help you and your companions in this investigation, Bal."
We would be happy to have your aid, Lisette, Balasar replies.
I think our next step is to consult Thaan's father to see if this topic is something they had discussed before, or if what Thaan was planning to say would have been a surprise to him.
Rajan nods, "Let me know what he says. He was always a bit more fond of you than of me. Just... take the situation into account, Bal. We lost a cousin, he lost his son. A little more tact than usual will not go unrewarded." The dragonborn taps his walking stick on the ground and makes ready to depart, "The evening meal will be ready in about an hour. Try to not say anything that will make dinner too awkward. And get a Thaan story or two ready if you can. I think Mother wants to turn this into something of a wake."
Varaster likewise makes ready to depart, "I will, eh, be in town if any of you are seeking guidance. May the Lord of Knowledge guide you to the truth you, eh, seek."
Balasar and Lisette guide the party across the garden and into the main house, then up the stairs to Soh's chambers. A few seconds after knocking, the door opens to reveal a middle aged dragonborn in a red housecoat. Balasar's uncle looks as though he has not been sleeping much, but when he sees his nephew, a little light returns to his dull eyes, "Bal, it does my heart good to see you here. How was your journey?"
It is good to you as well, Uncle, though I wish it were under better circumstances. My journey went well, thank you. How have you been holding up? I can't even begin to imagine what this must be like for you.
Soh considers for a moment, "Some days are easier than others. Most of the time, I simply feel numb, like a dead thing. Then I will see something that reminds me of him, or hear a word, and as I come alive again the wound reopens." His face remains largely expressionless, but he makes some effort to smile, "You have caught me during one of the hollow times, so I can at least attempt some semblance of decorum. How can I help you, nephew? Ah, and who are your companions?"
It is not right for a father to have to bury his son. I will do all in my power to see swift justice brought to the perpetrator of this butchery; I know of no other comfort to offer.
These are Wendell, Gong, and Skoth, Balasar motions to each of the party members in turn. They have graciously agreed to assist in the investigation. We've come across some new information, and we're hoping you might be able to help us make sense of it, though we can return another time if you would prefer?
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Lisette speaks up rather abruptly, "Speak as if the corpse were still your living, breathing kin. Though his soul is no longer present, the animated body still contains the physical remains of his mind and personality. Just because his soul has passed on does not mean his physical remains are any less... him... even if only for the short duration granted through divine power."
Looking somewhat embarrassed, the young healer steps back, mumbling an incoherent apology for her interuption before turning to putter about her lab.
Varaster raises an eyebrow, "Mistress Le'Lanoria's arcano-theological, eh, interpretations aside... she has the essence of it. We are not recalling Thaan's soul, and thus cannot expect answers from beyond the veil. Limit your questions to things Thaan should have known in, eh, life. Also know that the spell does not compel honesty or, ehe, clarity."
[Anyone with a passive perception of 13 or higher: At the cleric's comment, Lisette tenses up noticeably and the flask clutched in her right hand shakes slightly.]
Balasar muses aloud, though he seems primarily to be speaking to Rajan: The primary thing we're seeking to learn would be who attacked him, and why. It's possible they managed the attack such that he did not see them, but he still might have noticed something that would provide some insight to his attacker's identity. He might also have had some notion of who might have been out for him, though learning that the attack was a complete surprise would also be useful.
Balasar turns his attention to Varaster: Based on what you have said, I take it that Thaan will not be able to tell us what transpired or what questions were asked the first time Speak with Dead was cast?
Varaster nods "It is ,eh, better to consider his body a sort of scroll or book, in which nothing has been written after the moment of his, eh, death."
Without looking up from her potion work, Lisette remarks quietly, "If in doubt, you could always inqure of Lord Kriv whether or not he has any specific questions he wishes asked. To my knowledge, he does not but that was several days ago - he may have changed his mind."
An excellent point! Rajan, has he expressed anything to you in that regard?
For my own thoughts, I would propose the following potential questions for the group's consideration:
Who attacked you?
Where did they attack you?
Why did they attack you?
What did they say to you?
What did they look like?
I know it appears that we already know where the attack took place, but if we get an unexpected answer, that could open up a fruitful line of inquiry. What does everyone think?
Rajan shrugs, "It's all the same to me. Whoever did this was thorough, and they clearly had this spell in mind when they killed him. Where and why seem good... but I doubt he'll be able to give us a description." He sighs, "That's all I have. I'll bear witness to this, but I'll leave the questions to you."
Varaster nods, "Then, eh, we are all agreed on the questions?"
Wendell nods, "Those all sound fine to me."
Varaster nods, "If no one has any objections, I shall begin the, eh, casting."
Withdrawing a small pouch of incense, the cleric approaches the corpse and begins to chant. As he does, the aromatic powder begins to smoke, then bursts into flame. A sweet scent fills the room, and rings of smoke begins to gather about Thann's body.
Balasar nods: that's a good point. In light of that, I think we should revise the list of questions to the following:
Who attacked you?
Where did they attack you?
Why did they attack you?
What were you doing when you were attacked?
When did they attack you?
As Balasar asks his questions, the smoke slithers into Thaan's nostrils. The body trembles slightly, takes a hissing breath, then coughs. Punctured eyes slip loosely in their sockets to point towards the Dragonborn. The corpse's voice rasps out, at once quiet and inescapable.
Who attacked you?
"Someone... hehhh... skilled. Someone I did not see."
Where did they attack you?
"My Father's study... In the alcove..."
Why did they attack you?
"I do not know... hehhhh... maybe they were hungry... maybe they hated Father... maybe they hated me..."
What were you doing when you were attacked?
"I planned to... hehhhhh... wait for Father there, so we could... hehhh talk privately."
On hearing these four answers, Balasar asks: What were you going to discuss with your Father?
Sounding as if she had been about to speak, Lisette has instead set down her potion-in-progress and joined the conclave clustered about Thaan's body. She chews one side of her lower lip while a look of extreme focus creeps across her face.
"Servant... hehhhh... places they shouldn't be... speaking words they shouldn't know.... and acting so strangely... Why didn't he notice? Why did they not notice? Why didn't he notice? Why did they not notice..."
The last of the smoke leaves Thaan's lungs in a slow sigh, and the corpse speaks no more.
Lisette, you wouldn't happen to have noticed what Thaan noticed or have any idea what Thaan was referring to, would you? Balasar asks, in a friendly tone that seems to indicate that he's asking just to be thorough, not because he thinks Lisette might be guilty.
Though her eyes remain fixed on Thaan's corpse, she addresses her words to Balasar. Shaking her head, she responds in a thoughtful tone, "No. No, I am sorry, Bal, but I spend most of my time here in my laboratory. Most of my interactions with the household have been in my capacity as a healer."
Looking about at the dark stone of her subterranean quarters, she smiles sunnily before heaving a great sigh. Turning to take in the group, her smile slips sideways in a grin. "And for some reason, most of my patients seem to wish to be treated and leave as quickly as possible. Perhaps my assisstant and I need to work on our bedside manner, no?"
In a more serious tone, she adds, "I am afraid I have never taken a great interest in household matters beyond my duties or special projects assigned by Lord Kriv. Maybe if I had..." Her eyes sharpen with a sudden intensity and focus as she looks Balasar in the eye, "Perhaps I have been too long in my comfortable rut. If you will accept my aid, I would very much like to help you and your companions in this investigation, Bal."
We would be happy to have your aid, Lisette, Balasar replies.
I think our next step is to consult Thaan's father to see if this topic is something they had discussed before, or if what Thaan was planning to say would have been a surprise to him.
Rajan nods, "Let me know what he says. He was always a bit more fond of you than of me. Just... take the situation into account, Bal. We lost a cousin, he lost his son. A little more tact than usual will not go unrewarded." The dragonborn taps his walking stick on the ground and makes ready to depart, "The evening meal will be ready in about an hour. Try to not say anything that will make dinner too awkward. And get a Thaan story or two ready if you can. I think Mother wants to turn this into something of a wake."
Varaster likewise makes ready to depart, "I will, eh, be in town if any of you are seeking guidance. May the Lord of Knowledge guide you to the truth you, eh, seek."
Balasar and Lisette guide the party across the garden and into the main house, then up the stairs to Soh's chambers. A few seconds after knocking, the door opens to reveal a middle aged dragonborn in a red housecoat. Balasar's uncle looks as though he has not been sleeping much, but when he sees his nephew, a little light returns to his dull eyes, "Bal, it does my heart good to see you here. How was your journey?"
It is good to you as well, Uncle, though I wish it were under better circumstances. My journey went well, thank you. How have you been holding up? I can't even begin to imagine what this must be like for you.
Soh considers for a moment, "Some days are easier than others. Most of the time, I simply feel numb, like a dead thing. Then I will see something that reminds me of him, or hear a word, and as I come alive again the wound reopens." His face remains largely expressionless, but he makes some effort to smile, "You have caught me during one of the hollow times, so I can at least attempt some semblance of decorum. How can I help you, nephew? Ah, and who are your companions?"
It is not right for a father to have to bury his son. I will do all in my power to see swift justice brought to the perpetrator of this butchery; I know of no other comfort to offer.
These are Wendell, Gong, and Skoth, Balasar motions to each of the party members in turn. They have graciously agreed to assist in the investigation. We've come across some new information, and we're hoping you might be able to help us make sense of it, though we can return another time if you would prefer?