The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Magnum, the repair work is decent, but obviously temporary and done by someone without too much skill.  As you look it over, the overseer says as much - a craftsman from town will come in a day or two for proper repairs. 

Silent picks up the patch of brown hair/fur and points out the scratch marks to Magnum. Lucky find, eh? Don't look like a sword cut to me - seems more like a bear than anything, maybe one of those buggers just barreled in here. 

Silent will then show the overseer the patch of hair and say, You ever see any animals in the forest here that might be interested in some grain?  

Only some grain was taken? The grain wasn't poisoned or sullied in any way? 

Never seen bears around these parts, the overseer replies.  They live further up north.

Only some grain.  We don't think anything else was done.  But that's a thick wooden wall.  How could any animal just...break through that?

Your guess is as good as ours. 

To Magnum: Should we check out the other silo, then? 

Magnum nods. Yes, but before we do, can you provide directions to a silo that hasn't been attacked? I'd like to look at that area eventually. 

There's that one.  The overseer points at a similar building just across the yard.  Or, my neighbour has one.  He points west.  Half a mile that way.

Magnum thanks him and accompanies Silent to the other pilfered silo. 

You head back into town, and it's midday when you finally reach the second location.  This appears to be more a family farm; the gnome farmer and her husband greet you as you arrive.  You here to look at the damage?  You're the second lot today!  Got a letter from the Husseldorfs?

Silent gestures to Magnum and says he has the letter. He will also show the farmers the patch of fur he found at the other silo. Found this near the other damaged silo. Wouldn't happen to look familiar to either of you, would it? 

The farmer looks at it, curious.  Nope.  What kind of animal is it from?

Was hoping you'd be able to tell me. Let's see if there's any more of it lying around this silo. 

Silent will specifically look for any signs of fur or animal tracks in the surrounding ground. 

(OOC: In case this calls for Investigation, 16 . If it calls for Survival instead, +5 would be added to the investigation roll)  

Magnum will also investigate.

Investigation - 18.

I do apologize for the inconvenience if we're intruding in any way, but I wondered if I might trouble you with a question or two. 

This would be Survival, yes.  

Silent and Magnum, you both spend a fair amount of time looking around the area, not just the immediate building where the grain is stored, as much of the ground there has been trodden and disturbed since the attack.  You notice there is a small orchard nearby which backs onto a small wood, and on the ground between the orchard and the grain silo you do see the tracks of an animal that might be a large bear.

After your investigation, you return to the farmer and ask your question.  She smiles.  Happy to help, mister.  Never talked to a statue before.

For as long as you can remember, has anyone ever tried to break into this silo before?  To steal grain or damage anything?

No, don't think so.  Kids messing around.  But no.  People talk about the feud between the families, but it's not criminal.  At least, she adds, not this type of criminal.  Why?  You got a suspect?

Not a suspect, no.  More of a curiosity.  To damage a silo in this manner and steal a bit of grain doesn't seem like it would do significant harm.  That implies to me that this isn't an act in line with a feud at all.  I'm convinced that this is some sort of animal attack, though we'll need to investigate further.

What do you say, Silent?  Where to next?

Silent points to the orchard and the woods beyond it. Tracks heading thataway, could be the beastie we're looking for. Wanna go on a hunt? 

Magnum nods.