D&D Adventure #3: Vicious Circle

[Dog Pants]

Arthur huh? So was the guy the apothecary saw an imposter, or is the corpse? Or did he see the corpse at the window? I don't know what it means, but it certainly means something. On top of Stephen seemingly being possessed. I wonder if there's an illusionist involved somewhere.

Arthur? Hmm, well I don't know what that mean, if anything, but I wouldn't put too much faith in the gossip. Thanks for the help.

I'll pass him a couple of silver pieces and go to leave, pausing at the door.

Oh, one more thing. Do you know where Enkah lived? I'd like to walk back along the route he took.

[Roman Totale]

It was Steven, not Arthur he saw - the first murder victim.

Hmm, I wonder if Steven faked his own death? Or maybe Arthur did kill him and turned him into some sort of beastie.

[Dog Pants]

Well I saw his corpse. I suppose it could have been someone else's corpse though, since I didn't know the bloke.

[FatherJack]

I'm finding this hard to follow with all the names getting mixed up. The apothecary man saw Stephen Pyn, who had died the day before? Sounds like necromancy.

Also aren't the miltia and town guard different things?

Ma'am. My er..companions may seem a little odd, but we've been through many a scrape together an' I can warrant for them.

It doesn't appear to cross Thor's mind that she might consider him rather odd.

[Roman Totale]

They are different, but all the victims so far have been members of the militia so it might turn something up.

Pants, can you do any sort of tracking or spotting in the area that this chap reckons he saw Mr Pyn?

[Dog Pants]

I can have a look around. Tracking's more Thor's thing.

[Grimmie]

Francesca gives an even bigger smirk as Glibberig tells a massive porky very unconvincingly.

I'm sure you've gone by many names, Mr. Garrety, but I've never heard you pull "Aramis" out before. Word spreads quickly around town, and you seem to be cropping up in all sorts of reports under different pseudonyms - though I'm flattered you'd weave a tale just for my benefit.

And then a softer smile to Thor.

Well, your offer is the third we've had this morning for aid, but we've placed a freeze on recruiting for now till a link to the militia is ruled out. Don't want to be endangering any more lives than need be. That said, when this thing all blows over, I'm sure we could use the extra help. Normally we have to do a drive for recruits, but today we've had them knocking on our door, silver-lining and all that.

---

The chemist looks at and then pockets the coins with a bemused smile, clearly not used to being paid for information, especially that freely given.

No, thank you kind sir! Enkah? North I think, round the back of the Iron Man Inn 'far as I know.

[Dog Pants]

I'll step outside the shop and have a look around. I don't know what I'm expecting to find, but no harm ever came from being observant.

Spot (it's spot, right?)
Roll(1d20)+5:
18,+5
Total:23

Woo! I spotted the shit out of it. There's probably nothing to see. Hey-ho. I'll walk the route towards the Iron Man and keep an eye out. This is interesting though; walking from the Iron Man to Prince's Wine takes you directly past where they were burning Arthur. I don't know if that has any significance yet. I'll drop in at the other shops along the way to see if they've seen anything, but looking at them I don't think there's much reason for him to go in most of them.

[Grimmie]

Spot's correct, but you don't spot anything particularly unusual outside the Apothacary. However, as you line up with the road that goes down towards the south gate you do see a small but bustling crowd assembled there.

[Dog Pants]

I'll step out and hurry over to see what the fuss is.

[Grimmie]

The south gate's historically been used as an entrance for farm goods in to the town as it faces out on to the various fields outside of the palisade wall. In recent years it's become more of a home-away-from-home for the guard to operate from, to save them trudging to the other side of Orhedge every time a report needs to be made, and to help respond to threats faster.

As you draw nearer it's obvious that something's seriously wrong, there are a couple of guardsmen with swords drawn filtering out in to the half-ploughed and recently-harvested grain fields with a trail of concerned citizens following. Crumpled in a heap next to the inside of the gate is a young half-elven female who looks to be in a state of shock, one of the lesser armoured guards has stayed behind to talk to her.

[Dog Pants]

I'll sidle up and listen to what they're saying while watching what's happening in the fields.

[Roman Totale]

Apologies for the deception my dear lady, but a famous adventurer such as myself has to be careful - with the number of tyrants I've toppled I've made some enemies along the way. I'm sure you understand.

Likewise I understand that you want the great unwashed masses out of your hair. We can help! If you can give us any information on what Steven, Arthur and Enkeh got up to together it will help us with our investigation.

Diplodocusmacy: 11,+5 = 16

Edit: the militia is probably a dead end, and I'm sure Pants is about to find something more relevant.

[Dog Pants]

Could be a runaway epileptic dog.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT6X4lyAYUg[/media]

[Grimmie]

Investigation huh? Here to get the big bounty? Can't say I blame you - if I didn't have to be sat behind this desk all day I'd be out looking for the little beggar too! 'Fraid we don't keep tabs on the personal lives of the people in our books though, Mr. Garrety - alls I can tell you is that Stephen and Enkah were equally as good with a short-sword and shield.

---

The half-elf woman is hunched over by the time you reach her, and the guardsman consoling her is sat down beside her with a hand on her shoulder. He looks up on your approach.

Looking for the angry mob? Big crowd's gone off to Nelson's barn - the big blue one - t'see if they can get this little blighter at last.

[Dog Pants]

Why does everyone keep calling the killer little?

Like you got Arthur?

I'll address the woman.

What happened? Quickly, lives could be lost.

[Grimmie]

The Guardsman scowls.

Sst.. Tt. Ttar - Ttar Weldigger, murdered!

A man, a man just like Mr. Lahaed lurched out from the barn and just stabbed him! Ttar was putting the plough away and the next moment he had a knife sticking out of his chest!

She starts shaking, and then bows her head, placing in in her upturned palms, elbows on knees.

Gods, man - can't you see she's in shock? Let the poor lass recover at least!

The crowd in the distance seem to be milling around the barn now, the recent harvest leaving very little crops for anything to hide in, but plenty of damp straw and upturned earth to slowly trudge through.

[Grimmie]

Why does everyone keep calling the killer little?

It's not on purpose, I just have a limited vocabulary

[Dog Pants]

I'll dash off towards the crowd as quickly as I can.

[Roman Totale]

oo-er, given how the rest of this has unfolded I think we should secure the body of the most recent murder victim.