I gently unscrew the lid, letting it fall on its chain, then holding the bottle away from me, I fan across the opening towards my face.
[OOC Perception or Investigation? I will proceed on investigation as that is the lower adjustment.]
17
[OOC: I would have said this was more Perception than Investigation as Dora knows which sense is important here. However, as the scent is quite noticeable, I will tell this to both of you.
The contents of the bottle has a rich, dark odour that is reminiscent of both a wine-based liquor and narcotics.
I would like both of you to make an Arcana check please.
Paul, if you like, I will use the above roll for your Arcana check. However, if you choose to roll again, I will take the new roll.
Dora has smelt this liquid before. It was a number of years ago when she first joined the watch and it was her first experience of death on the job, which is possibly one of the reasons why she remembers the smell.
Her hand was involved in the mysterious death of a man. At first it was thought that he had committed suicide by drinking poison, but it soon became apparent that he was some sort of student of dark magic and that his death was by misadventure through the practice of some sort of ritual.
The liquid that killed him smelled like what is in this flask.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
I lid the flask and tuck it back in my pocket.
"I know that smell. It is a substance used by practitioners of the dark arts in their rituals. It can kill if misused. This is not good Guilliame. We now have a link to black magick in this riddle."
I walk around the back of the trough looking for clues.
Apart from it now being obvious through circumstance that someone has been lying behind the trough, Dora sees nothing else that sparks her interest.
[OOC: The contents of the flask, with its connections to dark magic, makes this a reportable event.
Not a major one requiring an immediate report, but as leader of her hand, Dora should tell the leader of the next watch what was found and the circumstances in which it was found and then take the flask to the sheriff's office to be handed in and a verbal report given to officer of the watch, who will record it in the Ward's record book.
Note: Investigation of black magic is not normally one of the responsibilities of the watch. In these sorts of situations, the responsibility normally falls to theSeekers of the Temple of Donai (Note: Because Donai is the Mithran god of the dead, the Seekers are colloquially called 'Death Stalkers'. Dora would also have previously had contact with aSeeker Harlan, who was not a particularly nice person, but who was unfortunately killed in the line of duty about a tenday ago.
Please make an Area Knowledge roll at Advantage to see if Dora knows anything more about the death of Seeker Harlan.
]
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
[OCC: The above roll is classed as a failure, which means Guilliame gets a roll for experience: 6
The above roll is also a failure, so no experience.
Guilliame would know that certain substances in this world can be mind altering (cf. Jartinal Weed) but he has no idea why Dora believes this strong-smelling liquid has anything to do with 'black magic'.
Dora was not on duty on the day when Seeker Harlan was killed so her information about his death is secondhand.
Apparently, the Seeker was killed while investigating someone's room in an inn. Why he was there by himself is unknown, but he apparently went down fighting as there was blood on the sword he drew in his defence. His own injuries were brutal: a mortal blow to the heart with a blade, his skull was broken in multiple places, and there were scorch marks on his chest.
Seeker Harlan's death, along with the recent death of the warlord, is believed to have contributed to the king's recent outlawing of non-Mithran religions in Constantine.
The main suspect for the death of Seeker Harlan is one Simad Moonson, a self-proclaimed priest of the—now-outlawed—god, Arion, God of Magick. He and Seeker Harlan had a history of conflicts where Harlan would always attempt to interfere with Moonson's proselytizing.
Dora has met Simad Moonson, and would have also been involved with the search for Moonson, but he hasn't been seen since the day Harlan died and the common belief is that he fled the city hidden among the large number of people who also left the city when their temples were closed down and their religions outlawed.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
"I don't recognise this. I do have other means that could help work what this is but they take a bit of time. Can you leave it with me tomorrow and I'll let you know what I find out."
"Investigating Black Magick was the seekers province, so I knew the man from his work with the Watch. You know that his murder and the Warlord's death were what apparently prompted the King to outlaw non-Mithran religions?"
"I can't help but feel that tonight there are things astir that are part of this bigger picture."
"I appreciate you offer to take the flask for analysis - I do have to hand it in though."
[OOC: The following presumes that Guilliame follows Dora across the road back to the door of the Shepherd's Rest. The conversation can continue as they walk but they will both see what follows.]
As the two of you begin to cross the street, the door to the inn opens spilling light out into the street. Silhouetted in the doorway are two men, the one supporting the other who seems to be very much in his cups. The two move out and to the side, just making it to the street, before the larger man begins to vomit, loudly.
"Better out than in, Rob," says the smaller of the two, slapping the larger man on the back.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
[OOC I am happy to use that roll.]
For Dora:
Dora has smelt this liquid before. It was a number of years ago when she first joined the watch and it was her first experience of death on the job, which is possibly one of the reasons why she remembers the smell.
Her hand was involved in the mysterious death of a man. At first it was thought that he had committed suicide by drinking poison, but it soon became apparent that he was some sort of student of dark magic and that his death was by misadventure through the practice of some sort of ritual.
The liquid that killed him smelled like what is in this flask.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
I lid the flask and tuck it back in my pocket.
"I know that smell. It is a substance used by practitioners of the dark arts in their rituals. It can kill if misused. This is not good Guilliame. We now have a link to black magick in this riddle."
I walk around the back of the trough looking for clues.
[OOC Perception]
21
For Dora:
Apart from it now being obvious through circumstance that someone has been lying behind the trough, Dora sees nothing else that sparks her interest.
[OOC: The contents of the flask, with its connections to dark magic, makes this a reportable event.
Not a major one requiring an immediate report, but as leader of her hand, Dora should tell the leader of the next watch what was found and the circumstances in which it was found and then take the flask to the sheriff's office to be handed in and a verbal report given to officer of the watch, who will record it in the Ward's record book.
Note: Investigation of black magic is not normally one of the responsibilities of the watch. In these sorts of situations, the responsibility normally falls to the Seekers of the Temple of Donai (Note: Because Donai is the Mithran god of the dead, the Seekers are colloquially called 'Death Stalkers'. Dora would also have previously had contact with a Seeker Harlan, who was not a particularly nice person, but who was unfortunately killed in the line of duty about a tenday ago.
Please make an Area Knowledge roll at Advantage to see if Dora knows anything more about the death of Seeker Harlan.
]
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
[OOC Area of knowledge, assume +5?]
17
I don't see anything around the trough. Looking to Guilliame "could you grab that lamp thanks, and then I think we call in to the Shepherds briefly."
Arcana roll: 5
Grab lamp and follow Dora.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
For Dora:
Dora was not on duty on the day when Seeker Harlan was killed so her information about his death is secondhand.
Apparently, the Seeker was killed while investigating someone's room in an inn. Why he was there by himself is unknown, but he apparently went down fighting as there was blood on the sword he drew in his defence. His own injuries were brutal: a mortal blow to the heart with a blade, his skull was broken in multiple places, and there were scorch marks on his chest.
Seeker Harlan's death, along with the recent death of the warlord, is believed to have contributed to the king's recent outlawing of non-Mithran religions in Constantine.
The main suspect for the death of Seeker Harlan is one Simad Moonson, a self-proclaimed priest of the—now-outlawed—god, Arion, God of Magick. He and Seeker Harlan had a history of conflicts where Harlan would always attempt to interfere with Moonson's proselytizing.
Dora has met Simad Moonson, and would have also been involved with the search for Moonson, but he hasn't been seen since the day Harlan died and the common belief is that he fled the city hidden among the large number of people who also left the city when their temples were closed down and their religions outlawed.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
"I don't recognise this. I do have other means that could help work what this is but they take a bit of time. Can you leave it with me tomorrow and I'll let you know what I find out."
I look at Guilliame, "Sorry lost in my thoughts about Seeker Harlan, he was murdered on duty about tenday ago. What was it you don't recognise?"
"I was talking about the flask. What made you think of Seeker Harlan?"
"Investigating Black Magick was the seekers province, so I knew the man from his work with the Watch. You know that his murder and the Warlord's death were what apparently prompted the King to outlaw non-Mithran religions?"
"I can't help but feel that tonight there are things astir that are part of this bigger picture."
"I appreciate you offer to take the flask for analysis - I do have to hand it in though."
I start to walk to the Inn.
[OOC: The following presumes that Guilliame follows Dora across the road back to the door of the Shepherd's Rest. The conversation can continue as they walk but they will both see what follows.]
As the two of you begin to cross the street, the door to the inn opens spilling light out into the street. Silhouetted in the doorway are two men, the one supporting the other who seems to be very much in his cups. The two move out and to the side, just making it to the street, before the larger man begins to vomit, loudly.
"Better out than in, Rob," says the smaller of the two, slapping the larger man on the back.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Avoid any splashage and continue into pub.
"I can only analyse things in my house. I don't need to use any of the contents."
Follow Guilliame into pub.
"You are asking me to take a risk."
The two walk into the lighted taproom to see people seated at tables talking amongst themselves.
"Well, Handleader?" shouts Brock from the bar. "Did you chase those thieves off?"
The room goes quiet as everyone turns to look at Dora.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Loudly "I chased the fellow but lost him in the stockyards."