D&D Adventure #3: Vicious Circle

[shot2bits]

Orovan shall step into the barn and cast detect magic looking up toward the platform

[Grimmie]

For murder or for farming?

Both!

[Grimmie]

Orovan shall step into the barn and cast detect magic looking up toward the platform

It takes a short while for the two auras you immediately spot up on the platform to solidify in your mind.

They seem quite dim, so whatever left them there is no longer there. The first is a trail of purple that seems to wriggle up the last few rungs of the ladder's rungs that are within in your cone of vision, and then a arching streak of yellow mist that leads from the platform to the hole in which the birds flew out of. Unfortunately even while your detection spell is active the auras start to fade away, the spells that left them obviously quite weak.

[shot2bits]

and then a arching streak of yellow mist that leads from the platform to the hole in which the birds flew out of. Unfortunately even while your detection spell is active the auras start to fade away, the spells that left them obviously quite weak.

i assume you mean the owl hatch opposite the platform?

and would the auras colour signify anything to me? other than them being different spells

ill tell the others what ive seen and then head out to the side of the barn that openings on

[Grimmie]

i assume you mean the owl hatch opposite the platform?

and would the auras colour signify anything to me? other than them being different spells

ill tell the others what ive seen and then head out to the side of the barn that openings on

Different colour auras can help you distinguish the school of magic for the spell - detect magic would narrow them down to schools if the item that left the aura was still around. For the purposes of the game next time you see a yellow aura, or a purple aura, they will be from the same schools as these are, so you can tell at a glance what's being used.

[Dog Pants]

Presumably he doesn't know which schools those are at the moment then?

[shot2bits]

Presumably he doesn't know which schools those are at the moment then?

i think i can only find that out if the thing/person with the aura on it is still around so i can make a spellcraft skill check

[Grimmie]

Indeed, but as you go along you should be able to make notes of what colour means what, in terms of magic school.

The two auras Thoroar saw earlier were blue in the infirmary, and white in Prince's Wine kitchens*. You saw that the soup in the kitchen had probably had its colour changed, so white auras represent the "Universal" non-school of magic, presuming it was a prestidigitation as used by a low-level caster.

The arrows you picked up at the end of Green Shell Suit had green auras which you identified as Necromancy, the dove feather token had a blue aura.

* Forgot to mention this at the time. Way to DM, DM.

[Dog Pants]

Indeed, but as you go along you should be able to make notes of what colour means what, in terms of magic school.

The two auras Thoroar saw earlier were blue in the infirmary, and white in Prince's Wine kitchens*. You saw that the soup in the kitchen had probably had its colour changed, so white auras represent the "Universal" non-school of magic, presuming it was a prestidigitation as used by a low-level caster.

The arrows you picked up at the end of Green Shell Suit had green auras which you identified as Necromancy, the dove feather token had a blue aura.

* Forgot to mention this at the time. Way to DM, DM.

I hope I'm not overstepping the mark by doing some research on Orovan's behalf. I've some ideas which spells might have been used, and as such which type of spellcaster we could be dealing with, but in character I wouldn't know a tenth of what I do out of character so I'll keep that to myself for now.

White - Cantrips - confirmed
Green - Necromancy - confirmed
Blue - Likely to be Conjuration (healing) from the infirmary or maybe Transmutation from the feather (stab in the dark, featherfall).
Purple - Possibly Illusion (glamer) from the invisibility, although it was probably invisible when it exited through the hole too unless the birds obscured it
Yellow - I'm thinking maybe Transmutation as a way of travelling through the air. It possibly jumped, which could make it Illusion leaving a trail from its invisibility.

[shot2bits]

i was going to post with pretty much the same theory but you worded it better anyway, even if we are right though i think this is one of those things that falls in player knowledge rather than character knowledge.

either way it looks like magic is mainly being used to aid in remaining undetected rather than the killing itself

[Roman Totale]

Do we reckon it's the same implement used to carve up the others? If so we might be able to work out where it came from.

[Dog Pants]

Well, apparently it looks like it's been used before so that might be a fair bet. What's the plan, Columbo?

[shot2bits]

Oh yeah forgot to say, can i make a search and spot check while im around the back of this barn to see if anything looks amiss after our friends apparant escape

Spot:
Roll(1d20)+5:
15,+5
Total:20

Search:
Roll(1d20)+1:
16,+1
Total:17

[Dog Pants]

[Roman Totale]

What sort of farming tool is it anyway? Could we easily identify where it might have come from? Maybe a specific type of farm.

[Grimmie]

Sorry, I home-bearded, skyrim'd then ill'd for a while. I got thinking about this today, so I'll try and pick up full steam tomorrow, promise.

Re: Type of tool:

It's a farming tool, but isn't dissimilar from a dagger. Short, dirty blade, like a sharp trowel.

Apart from a few bird droppings and a scattering of black feathers across the floor of the barn Orovan sees nothing out of sorts.

[shot2bits]

Apart from a few bird droppings and a scattering of black feathers across the floor of the barn Orovan sees nothing out of sorts.

i can see the floor of the barn from outside?

[Dog Pants]

How about scouting around outside the owl hatch, see if you can spot where (if) it landed?

[shot2bits]

How about scouting around outside the owl hatch, see if you can spot where (if) it landed?

i assume you mean the owl hatch opposite the platform?

and would the auras colour signify anything to me? other than them being different spells

ill tell the others what ive seen and then head out to the side of the barn that openings on

i may not have worded it very well but i thought thats where i was at the moment and already trying to search and spot

[Dog Pants]

There are still people milling around I assume? I'll direct anyone who catches my eye and looks rural at the implement.

What's that for then? Apart from brutally murdering people I mean. What kind of farm would use that?