D&D Adventure #3: Vicious Circle

[Grimmie]

I should also probably clarify that the Guard and the Militia are two different groups of people.

The guard work full-time to protect the peace, keep a look out over the palisade walls, and enforce the laws.

The militia are a "reserve army" of sorts, a large group of the public who generally have day jobs, and their own weapons and armour hanging up at home. They're the ones that help defend the city or go to war in times of need.

(ps. I mistakenly refereed to Lahaed as being in the "standing army", when I meant "reserve army". Apologies.)

[Dog Pants]

Both her boys? The two victims were brothers? I think we need to get the local knowledge on the two deaths while we fish for militia. Fancy a few drinks gents?

[Grimmie]

The housewife clarifies

No, no! Stephen and Arthur! Her good husband and friend.. They were so close.

[Dog Pants]

Right, hang on. Time for a recap.

Stephen Pyn: Murdered, married to Emma. Allegedly stabbed by Arthur/vampire/blood cultist.
Arthur Latham: Burnt at the stake for killing Stephen, but probably didn't. Close friend of Stephen and Emma.
Emma Pyn: Wife of Stephen, friend of Arthur. Possibly friend of Arthur...
Enkah Lahaed: Elf bloke, heart cut out from a blood-drop shaped wound, disappearing footprints
Vampires: Not much evidence of them being involved
Blood Cult: Wound said to be sign of Erythnul "The Many"
Guards: Probably wrongly accused Arthur of the murder
Militia: Both victims were militiamen

Did I miss anything?

So from there we have some leads.

Interview Emma
Speak to other militiamen
Bone up in the library about the blood cult to try to get more idea of who they might be or why they might be doing this
Check crime scenes for evidence, possible magic use
Interview the guards attending the scene at the Stephen/Arthur thing, speak to whoever spoke to Stephen

[Roman Totale]

I think we should also try and see the body of the original murder victim, Steven. If he died in the same way as Lahaed then we can be pretty sure it wasn't Arthur that did (unless he had an accomplice/accomplices). Who has good Spot skills? They should go find the first body at the morgue (is it at the morgue, or did I imagine that?).

I'll head to the Office of Commerce - it's only over the road and it's where Steven worked.

[Dog Pants]

I'm thinking of checking out some of the areas of interest once it's dark. I can't imagine them just letting us in to snoop about, so I'll make my own way in. Or we could ask the guard if we can investigate with their blessing I suppose.

[Baliame]

I suppose we should be looking for books on this Erythnul "The Many". I'll walk up to one of the bluerobes and ask him if he knows of any material on the subject.

[FatherJack]

Not being one for intellectual pursuits, or for social interactions, Thor will stick with whoever seems most likely to get in a fight. Which should be obvious.

[Grimmie]

Glibberig: The office of commerce is a neat little stone building between the main markets and some sweet little cottages. It's wonderfully decorated with flowers, plantlife crawling up the side of the building, hanging baskets and ornamental lanterns. The locals believe it's the spoonful-of-sugar to make the clean cut business talk inside go down a little better.

Inside is a female elf called Ms Dona Walker, which is displayed on a little brass name-plate on the desk. She's wearing a ruffled green blouse, and seems to be poring over a ledger. She glances up, eyebrows raised.

Yeeess?

Thoroar: There's a dusty tome about two foot by one foot just to the side of the oval reception desk, which lists the location of all the books in the library. There aren't any specifically listed about Erythnul, but there is a book on "Oerdian Gods" that the librarian directs you to. It's on the level above in one of the inner circles. It's a huge book that lists all of the ancient and modern gods, their followers and rituals, origins and creation stories. Some of them you will be familiar with, such as Pelor and St. Cuthbert, but Erythnul has quite a slim entry compared to the others.

ERYTHNUL (The Many), Intermediate God of Hate, Envy, Malice, Panic, Ugliness and Slaughter
Erythnul (eh-RITH-nul) is the undisciplined counterpart to Hextor, possibly predating him and losing worshipers to his ordered and intelligent rival. This Oeridian god is a terrible sight to behold, with ruddy skin, red garments, a brutally strong build, and a great stone mace that is pierced to cause a fear-inducing shriek when he swings it. His title comes from his appearance in battle, as his features change between human, gnoll, bugbear, ogre, and troll, and his spilled blood becomes an allied creature of like type. His symbol is a red blood drop or a hideous mask.

"Destroy anyone who would take what is yours away from you. Covet that which you do not own. Blessed is he who can take something from a rival. Maim those you cannot destroy, and cause fear in the hearts that you cannot maim. Bloodshed for its own sake is reason enough, and if you can shed the blood of a hated enemy, so much the better. When Erythnul’s gift of blood rage comes upon you, be sure to use it well."

Any site where great bloodshed has occurred is considered a holy place by the church.

Erythnul’s clerics are cruel, sadistic, and hateful. They foment rebellion, murder, and riots in civilized areas, lead troops of bandits, raiders, or nonhumans, and commit murder when they grow bored. They deface beautiful things and disfigure attractive people for fun. They aren’t above betraying their own allies to suit their own motives or protect their own hides. They travel to bring ugliness and strife to pleasant places or to escape those that would persecute them.

[Roman Totale]

Well they sound like a pleasant bunch!

Glibberig marches up to Ms Walker's desk:

Shop! Good day to thee young miss, I am Count Glibberig - trade envoy from the land of Mhangowcht'nee. I am here to see my good friend Steven Pyn to discuss a most lucrative trade deal. Could you kindly point me in his direction?

Lucrative means 'lots of money'.

Bluff: 17,+5 = 22. Smooooooth.

[Baliame]

That does indeed sound like the bunch we're looking for.

Is there anything more specific - religious uniforms and such, or recorded temples to Erythnul? Perhaps a more recent book, recording similar events which happened nearby.

I'm not convinced these murders are committed by locals, but now I would certainly discredit the vampire theory.

[Grimmie]

Bluff: 17,+5 = 22. Smooooooth.

There's quite a long pause before Dona shows any sign that she's heard you, simply staring at the strangely dressed individual before her. Her lips purse and eyebrows furrow as she looks back down to her ledger and continues to write. She speaks with an air of disinterest, barely looking back up from the book, even struggling to offer another glance when she offers further assistance.

I never knew Steven kept company with Gnomes.. I regret to inform you that Mr. Pyn was killed yesterday, most unfortunate. Is there any thing else I can help you with, Mr... Count Glibberig?

---

Is there anything more specific - religious uniforms and such, or recorded temples to Erythnul? Perhaps a more recent book, recording similar events which happened nearby.

The only concrete piece of clothing mentioned is the hideous face mask, there isn't really room for illustrations in this book, it seems to be more of a record of historical deities rather than a fully fledged encyclopaedia with diagrams. You can do a Search roll to see if you can find anything else on him if you want. The library does hold back-issues of a local publication that you can also do a Search roll for, to see if you can find similar stories of gory deaths.

[Roman Totale]

Glibberig struts around the office like a peacock.

What to do, what to do! Killed you say? That is most unfortunate. I was a dear friend of his you know - he probably spoke of me constantly. Like that time we met the Brown Eyed Sultan and his thousand concubines and he...actually that's probably not a suitable story to discuss right now.

But who killed him? Was it for money? Had he got involved in some deal that upset someone? My King must know what happened or else the whole deal may be off!

[Baliame]

Alright, let's see how that works out.

Search:
Roll(1d20)+2:
15,+2
Total:17

[FatherJack]

Thor's with Glibberig, in case I didn't make that clear. Apart from touching his hat and saying "Ma'am" as they entered he's been trying to be unobtrusive as if he's the "Count's" personal guard. Not used to the finer points of subterfuge a brief flick of puzzlement crosses his brow as Glib claims to be the dead man's friend, but he then concentrates on being Manly and stoic. He sets Glib's peculiar prancing aside in his mind as simply something city folks do when in town, perhaps resolving to ask him about it later.

[Roman Totale]

I love Thor

[shot2bits]

Alright, let's see how that works out.

Search:
Roll(1d20)+2:
15,+2
Total:17

Assuming you where searching for more material on Erythnul with that roll ill do as grimmie suggested and look for any publications of similar events in the past.

search
Roll(1d20)+1:
10,+1
Total:11

[Baliame]

Meh, I was responding to Grimmie's suggestion, but we can have it your way.

[Grimmie]

I think you were rolling for "Any other info", and bits was rolling for "Similar stories"?
Been busy over t'weekend, but I'll try and update today at lunchtime.

[Grimmie]

Glibberig struts around the office like a peacock.

Dona seems lost for words, and actually stops what she's doing for once, placing pen down and moving the well of ink to the far side of the table. She gently blows on her fresh scribbles and then proceeds to look down her nose at Glibberig.

Listen to me, "Count". Everything I know, I have already told the proper authorities. I suggest you go through the correct channels if you wish to learn the fine details of Mr. Pyn's demise. He was a quiet man of meagre means, as I'm sure you're well aware, what with being such an awfully close friend.

She frowns at the gnome and then to Thor, who she seems to have only just clocked. Her expression slowly softens.

Now gentlemen, have you any business of a commercial nature to raise with the living? Perhaps you could explain to me what this royal business transaction was to comprise of?

---

Alright, let's see how that works out.
Search: 17

Within an hour of searching, the only things you turn up seem to be rehashed bits of the entry you first found. One tome depicts the various masks recovered from three different sites sacred to Erythnul, each one slightly different to the next, be it a disfiguring scar or a broken eye socket, or rotten hogs-teeth.

---

I'll do as grimmie suggested and look for any publications of similar events in the past.
Search: 11

You can't seem to find anything in the local area that would point towards similar events happening elsewhere.