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Ritual sacrifice. Interesting.
Okay, let's try Arcana to figure out what kind of ritual it was (7), History to know if there's any tradition of ritual sacrifice associated with duergar (12), and Investigation to look for any tracks Grimnir missed (11).
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"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
The fresh corpse of a Duergar lies prone on the ground. Several organs from the body have been meticulously laid out around it. The heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs are splayed out on the ground, with unusual markings etched in the dirt around them.
OOC; just re-reading that... is the duergar that one that we saved ??? Does he look familiar ?
Grimnir approaches the corpse and look for clues of what happened here : Medicine19
Then investigate the area around the corpse : Investigation15
Grimnir, looking at the body, discovers roughly cut areas where the organs were removed. It looks like it was done carefully, but by someone not very skilled, or perhaps with a dull blade. You find a large bruised and bloody area on the back of the Duergar's head, indicating he was knocked out or killed prior to the dissection.
The face is disfigured and cut up as well, and it appears the eyes have been removed. It takes you a moment, but you soon realize with horror that the face does indeed belong to Hemeth, the duergar you rescued from Sloobludop. A close investigation reveals the eyes on the ground, close to the back of the head with more symbols, and a few words etched into the dirt.
Okay, let's try Arcana to figure out what kind of ritual it was (19), History to know if there's any tradition of ritual sacrifice associated with duergar (22), and Investigation to look for any tracks Grimnir missed (6).
This was no duergar ritual. In fact, looking at the symbols, and the arrangement of body parts, you recall some studies on the derro culture. When Grimnir reveals the writing behind the head of the duergar, the writing confirms your suspicions. Written in undercommon is the name of Diinkkarazan, the avatar of Murder, and a derro god. The god often demands, and even participates in, ritual sacrifice to further its own divine glory.
There is evidence that some tracks were covered up in the area, they lead away from the cave, but then vanish.
Oorr notices the tracks on the ground. They are probably left by the other group. Maybe there is something else? (Survival 20)
Oorr, doing a thorough search of the area, you clearly find tracks of a dwarf, quaggoth, humanoid heading off North down another set of tunnels and caverns. They are little more than a day old at this point. Curiously, there appears to be single set of small humanoid sized tracks that are more recent, and follow after the larger group.
"It appears he was sacrificed to Diinkkarazan, the derro god of murder. It could, of course, be a trick, but I don't think it's very likely that someone knows enough about us to predict that I would recognize it."
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"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Hmm. . . I'm from the Underdark; do I know how duergar and derro feel about each other?
They have no strong feelings about each other defined by their races. Derro tend to be insane, self-serving, living on the fringes and off the dregs of other societies. Duergar are more established, proud, degenerate dwarven cultures, often at war, creating alliances only to break them. Knowing what you do about the derro god of murder, this was probably driven by a lust for the kill, and not anything personal.
Hmm. . . I'm from the Underdark; do I know how duergar and derro feel about each other?
They have no strong feelings about each other defined by their races. Derro tend to be insane, self-serving, living on the fringes and off the dregs of other societies. Duergar are more established, proud, degenerate dwarven cultures, often at war, creating alliances only to break them. Knowing what you do about the derro god of murder, this was probably driven by a lust for the kill, and not anything personal.
But that doesn't exactly explain the dwarf tracks, now does it? Hmm. . .
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"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
"Might be a good idea; you never know what something like that will attract down here." And it's very unlikely that it's booby-trapped, especially since we investigated it with no ill effects. I'm going to have to make sure it didn't have any subtle traps, next chance I get.
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"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Valrish flinches at the gruesome sight. "These look like they have been carefully placed... It must have taken a long time."
(Nature to determine how fresh the corpse is 2, and Arcana for the marks near the organs 1)
PbP Characters
Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
PbP DMing
SPANISH - Storm King's Thunder
Grimnir approaches the corpse and look for clues of what happened here : Medicine 13
Then investigate the area around the corpse : Investigation 11
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
Ritual sacrifice. Interesting.
Okay, let's try Arcana to figure out what kind of ritual it was (7), History to know if there's any tradition of ritual sacrifice associated with duergar (12), and Investigation to look for any tracks Grimnir missed (11).
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
Oorr notices the tracks on the ground. They are probably left by the other group. Maybe there is something else? (Survival 5)
"They are being followed. The other group. It seems a small group of small humanoids is after them. We should probably follow these tracks as well."
"It appears he was sacrificed to Diinkkarazan, the derro god of murder. It could, of course, be a trick, but I don't think it's very likely that someone knows enough about us to predict that I would recognize it."
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
Hmm. . . I'm from the Underdark; do I know how duergar and derro feel about each other?
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
"We'd better hurry; there's a good chance the creature responsible for the tracks Oorr found is hunting our friends."
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
"Let's fret, then." Valrish says, praying to Bahamut not to end up like the poor Hemeth.
PbP Characters
Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
PbP DMing
SPANISH - Storm King's Thunder
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
"Yes, that seems a good idea."
"Glabbagool, we have to run, our friends might be in the danger. We can meet again later, can you track us down?"
"I will... do my best to follow. Do you want me to... clean up?" Glabbagool replies, indicating the corpse of the Duergar.
"Might be a good idea; you never know what something like that will attract down here." And it's very unlikely that it's booby-trapped, especially since we investigated it with no ill effects. I'm going to have to make sure it didn't have any subtle traps, next chance I get.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
Grimnir smile, "Yes, Glabbagool. that's a good idea !"
Grimnir suddenly wonders if we could sell people little gelatinous cube that could clean their house... Maybe worth investigating this idea later !
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation