Difference between revisions of "The lumber mill"

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He held up a piece of paper and started reading from it.
 
He held up a piece of paper and started reading from it.
 
+
<div style="font-style: italic; background: antiquewhite; border: 1px solid #ccc; width: 30em; padding: 0.5em; ">
"You will learn to love me in time as she did.<br>
+
You will learn to love me in time as she did.<br>
 
Give yourself to the pack and it will all end.<br>
 
Give yourself to the pack and it will all end.<br>
Your lordship."
+
Your lordship.
 
+
</div>
I had a few thoughs about the text in the note. The wording "pack" is  
+
I had a few thoughts about the text in the note. The wording "pack" is  
used about dogs, wolves and rats. Honeypot said that it was used about  
+
used about rats, dogs and wolves. Honeypot said that it was used about  
 
mules too, but she probably doesn't know that pack mules is something  
 
mules too, but she probably doesn't know that pack mules is something  
 
completely different. Maybe it involves werewolves or maybe the murderer  
 
completely different. Maybe it involves werewolves or maybe the murderer  
Line 50: Line 50:
 
us through while a low murmur spread through the crowd.
 
us through while a low murmur spread through the crowd.
  
We entered the lumber mill and the first thing I noticed was lots of blood that  
+
We entered the lumber mill and the first thing I noticed was lots of blood  
had been splashed around. Even though there was sawdust all over the floor it  
+
that had been splashed around. Even though there was sawdust all over the  
still hadn't soaked up all blood. There was a body cut to pieces by the saw and  
+
floor it still hadn't soaked up all blood. There was a body cut to pieces by  
another one hung on the wall. That body had had its face removed. It was a  
+
the saw and another one hung on the wall. That body had had its face removed.  
terrible sight and I felt sick. I volunteered to question the people outside  
+
It was a terrible sight and I felt sick. I volunteered to question the people  
and left immediately. Honeypot followed close behind.
+
outside and left immediately. Honeypot followed close behind.
  
 
When we got out it turned out that the people gathered there were scared of  
 
When we got out it turned out that the people gathered there were scared of  
Honeypot. They had heard about the letter, left by the murderer for her. I still  
+
Honeypot. They had heard about the letter, left by the murderer for her. I  
asked around and heard a lot of rumors. Banny Harker had had a not so secret  
+
still asked around and heard a lot of rumors. Banny Harker had had a not so  
relationship with Katrine Vinder and her father hadn't liked that any better  
+
secret relationship with Katrine Vinder and her father hadn't liked that any  
than Nathaniel's with his other daughter. It seemed as if no one really believed  
+
better than Nathaniel's with his other daughter. It seemed as if no one  
that Ven Vinder had killed them, but it was an easy answer so many told it.  
+
really believed that Ven Vinder had killed them, but it was an easy answer so  
Several seemed to think that Banny Harker might have been involved in illegal  
+
many told it. Several seemed to think that Banny Harker might have been  
activities. Some said that he might be dealing with gangsters. Others thought  
+
involved in illegal activities. Some said that he might be dealing with  
that he might be skimming the books or take bribes. Some said he had shady  
+
gangsters. Others thought that he might be skimming the books or take bribes.  
deals with rhenne, but I thought that the most reasonable rumor was that  
+
Some said he had shady deals with rhenne, but I thought that the most  
Titus Scarnetti had found out that Harker was stealing from him and killed them  
+
reasonable rumor was that Titus Scarnetti had found out that Harker was  
both. I was also told that the lumber mill had been running all night but they  
+
stealing from him and killed them both. I was also told that the lumber mill  
couldn't tell if it had been in use all night.
+
had been running all night but they couldn't tell if it had been in use all  
 +
night.
 +
 
 +
[[Image:Murder1.png|thumb|right|300px|As we imagine the murder might have happened.]]
  
 
As the others came out we returned to the garrison. When we got there the  
 
As the others came out we returned to the garrison. When we got there the  
 
others told us what they had found out. There had been a seven-pointed star  
 
others told us what they had found out. There had been a seven-pointed star  
 
carved in the body of Harker. They had found footprints of bare feet that had  
 
carved in the body of Harker. They had found footprints of bare feet that had  
stepped in blood. They had also found the same footprints in mud on the pier???  
+
stepped in blood. They had also found the same footprints in mud on the  
leading up from the water. I asked why there would be mud if the murderer swam  
+
pier??? leading up from the water. I asked why there would be mud if the  
there. They also told us that they had found an ax that Harker might have  
+
murderer swam there. They also told us that they had found an ax that Harker  
used to defend himself with, and that they found some really gory stuff on its
+
might have used to defend himself with, and that they found some really gory  
edge. They thought it was bits of an old corpse. At least it smelled like it.  
+
stuff on it's edge. They thought it was bits of an old corpse. At least it  
There had been a terrible smell of old rotten corpse on several places but not  
+
smelled like it. There had been a terrible smell of old rotten corpse on  
all over the place.
+
several places but not all over the place.
  
 
Honeypot used the old bits from the ax to get information about the murderer  
 
Honeypot used the old bits from the ax to get information about the murderer  
Line 88: Line 91:
  
 
Then the sheriff told us it wasn't the first murder. Two days ago the guards  
 
Then the sheriff told us it wasn't the first murder. Two days ago the guards  
patrolling the long coast road, while passing Bradley's Barn at Cougars Creek,  
+
patrolling the long coast road, while passing Bradley's Barn at Cougars  
had seen a mad man running about. They arrested him and checked the barn.  
+
Creek, had seen a mad man running about. They arrested him and checked the  
There they found three dead bodies of known conmen and swindlers. The mad  
+
barn. There they found three dead bodies of known conmen and swindlers. The  
man turned out to be Grayst Sevilla. The swindlers was identified from a  
+
mad man turned out to be Grayst Sevilla. The swindlers was identified from a  
 
letter and had all been banned from Sandpoint by the sheriff and he wasn't  
 
letter and had all been banned from Sandpoint by the sheriff and he wasn't  
 
surprised that they would meet a violent end. The letter was about property  
 
surprised that they would meet a violent end. The letter was about property  
Line 110: Line 113:
 
to Ibor. He agreed that Harker might have been stealing from the mill.
 
to Ibor. He agreed that Harker might have been stealing from the mill.
  
I talked to Ven Vinder  
+
I went to see Ven Vinder in his cell. We started talking, but he wasn't very  
 
+
friendly as he was still had a grudge against me for Nathaniel's misstep
Dorothea said that she had gotten an invitation for us all to Madame Mvashti.
+
with his other daughter. When Nathaniel entered the conversation it got
 
+
worse. We left when he was just screaming threats.
 
 
We all, but Dorothea, met and went over to
 
[[Sandpoint#28 Madame Mvashti's House|Madame Mvashti's house]]. It was
 
big but it seemed cramped on the inside and as if she didn't use most of the
 
rooms. When we entered some young rhenne women showed us in. I noticed a
 
stuffed owl that seemed very lifelike perched on a branch on top of a closet. I
 
jumped when it turned it's head.
 
 
 
The room we were led into was dark but we could see a very old rhenne woman
 
sitting at a table talking to Dorothea who was already there. Madame Mvashti
 
greeted us and asked us to sit down. She told us that she had heard of our
 
adventures and that we now faced new dangers. There was a great evil behind
 
our obstacles. She offered to read the cards for us.
 
 
 
First she drew one card for each of us.
 
 
 
Honeypot - chaotic evil - The Lost - emptiness and loss of identity. the bodak shown is forever mad, lost in a world of lunatics, insane asylums, and mass killers. For those under its influence the world makes no sence. All is babble as someone speaks in other tongue.<br>
 
Nell - true neutral - The Owl- eternal wisdom of natural order. Harsh realism that causes a pack of wolves to cull the weak in the herd. Tragic for the culled deer, but herd grows stronger. The needle binds life together, but can pick life apart.<br>
 
Nathaniel - neutral evil - The Mute Hag - Might be silent, but eye lets ger see inot the hearts of men. invokes blood pacts and poisonous secrets that turn brother against brother. Performers stumble over words and songs.<br>
 
Dorothea - neutral good - The Midwife - conduit to creation, but do not create, can see good in worst situation, see import of any new arrival.<br>
 
Velicia - chaotic good - The Publican - Fellowship and camaraderie, place of refuge in need, has insight relevant to quest.<br>
 
 
 
Then she placed nine cards on the table in front of us.
 
{|style="border: 1px solid #aaa;"
 
|-
 
|[[Image:The Rabbit Prince.png|200px]] <!--quirky fellow vagaries of hand-to-hand combat, battle personified, nothing if not capricious. Any combatant can fail in battle. Sometimes younger members of royalty or powerful household. -->
 
|[[Image:The Lost Reversed.png|200px]] <!-- clarity of mind under duress -->
 
|[[Image:The Liar Reversed.png|200px]] <!-- love at its most treacherous, Misaligned indicate new relationship beginning, although disguised as something much less beautiful. -->
 
|-
 
|[[Image:The Vision.png|200px]] <!-- arcane knowledge, can take the form of madness or cryptic words. Encounter with a crazy person or brush with genius. -->
 
|[[Image:The Joke.png|200px]] <!-- Shows a terror that must be overcome, but not by physical means. This monster be defeated by trickery or artifice. Value of humor in finding the way past difficult person or task.
 
|[[Image:The Foreign Trader.png|200px]] <!-- Spies and peddlers. Trade in intelligence. Bargain comes true but ramifications might be shocking if not understand implications. -->
 
|-
 
|[[Image:The Forge.png|200px]] <!-- strenght through great diversity, dangerous event that need many sources of strength to overcome -->
 
|[[Image:The Hidden Truth Reversed.png|200px]] <!-- see past the obious and banal to a greater truth within. Sometimes esoteric sometimes literal. Misaligned it can mean a secret being revealed to subjects detriment. -->
 
|[[Image:The Sickness.png|200px]] <!-- plague, pestilence, famine, and disease. It can indicate corruption of soul(/s) - misaligned chance to stop such disaster. -->
 
|}
 
In our past as positive was the The Rabbit Prince, unclear was The Vision and
 
negative was The Forge. She said that it was a very confusing past.
 
 
 
Our present had as positive influence the Lost, but it was reversed in that
 
position. As this was the same card Honeypot had draw earlier, she was very
 
intimately connected to our present. As unclear present we had The Joke and
 
as negative present was The Hidden Truth but inverted. This meant that
 
knowledge and insight is very important for us now.
 
 
 
In our future as positive was The Liar, inverted, as unclear The Foreign Trader
 
and as negative was the The Sickness. Mvashti said that Sickness was very
 
strong as it was an evil card in an evil position.
 
 
 
I found it to be very confusing as a whole. We thanked her and left. I felt a little
 
uneasy and suggested that we should go eat something good to calm down
 
some. I find it very comforting to eat. Honeypot thought it to be a good idea. I
 
also made sure to get a good packed lunch.
 
  
 
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Latest revision as of 07:26, 2 April 2009

Template:Rise of the Runelords chapter
Rise of the Runelords episode
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Episode no. Episode 24
Date 2009
Game Master Abbe
Characters Dorothea
Honeypot
Nathaniel
Nell
Velicia
Episode chronology
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Nathaniel came looking for us and found us eating breakfast at the Rusty Dragon. He said that Sheriff Hemlock wanted to see us, so I brought the food and we went to the garrison. Sheriff Belor Hemlock told us that during the night there had been an awful murder. Two people had been killed at the lumber mill and he wanted us to take a look at it. Partly because of us having handled the goblin threat so well and partly because a letter had been found at the bodies that was addressed to Honeypot.

He held up a piece of paper and started reading from it.

You will learn to love me in time as she did.
Give yourself to the pack and it will all end.
Your lordship.

I had a few thoughts about the text in the note. The wording "pack" is used about rats, dogs and wolves. Honeypot said that it was used about mules too, but she probably doesn't know that pack mules is something completely different. Maybe it involves werewolves or maybe the murderer had seen Honeypot using her magic to transform into a wolf as she did when returning from Thistletop.

Hemlock told us that the two bodies were Banny Harker and Katrine Vinder. They had been found early in the morning by Ibor Thorn. It was he and his partner Banny Harker that took care of the daily operation of the mill for the owner, the Scarnetti family. We went there to see the lumber mill for ourselves.

When we got there, there were lots of people gathered outside, but they let us through while a low murmur spread through the crowd.

We entered the lumber mill and the first thing I noticed was lots of blood that had been splashed around. Even though there was sawdust all over the floor it still hadn't soaked up all blood. There was a body cut to pieces by the saw and another one hung on the wall. That body had had its face removed. It was a terrible sight and I felt sick. I volunteered to question the people outside and left immediately. Honeypot followed close behind.

When we got out it turned out that the people gathered there were scared of Honeypot. They had heard about the letter, left by the murderer for her. I still asked around and heard a lot of rumors. Banny Harker had had a not so secret relationship with Katrine Vinder and her father hadn't liked that any better than Nathaniel's with his other daughter. It seemed as if no one really believed that Ven Vinder had killed them, but it was an easy answer so many told it. Several seemed to think that Banny Harker might have been involved in illegal activities. Some said that he might be dealing with gangsters. Others thought that he might be skimming the books or take bribes. Some said he had shady deals with rhenne, but I thought that the most reasonable rumor was that Titus Scarnetti had found out that Harker was stealing from him and killed them both. I was also told that the lumber mill had been running all night but they couldn't tell if it had been in use all night.

File:Murder1.png
As we imagine the murder might have happened.

As the others came out we returned to the garrison. When we got there the others told us what they had found out. There had been a seven-pointed star carved in the body of Harker. They had found footprints of bare feet that had stepped in blood. They had also found the same footprints in mud on the pier??? leading up from the water. I asked why there would be mud if the murderer swam there. They also told us that they had found an ax that Harker might have used to defend himself with, and that they found some really gory stuff on it's edge. They thought it was bits of an old corpse. At least it smelled like it. There had been a terrible smell of old rotten corpse on several places but not all over the place.

Honeypot used the old bits from the ax to get information about the murderer by using a magical ritual. It took quite some time but she found out that whatever it was, it's vulnerable to radiant energy but not to silver and therefore probably not a werewolf but might be an undead monster.

Then the sheriff told us it wasn't the first murder. Two days ago the guards patrolling the long coast road, while passing Bradley's Barn at Cougars Creek, had seen a mad man running about. They arrested him and checked the barn. There they found three dead bodies of known conmen and swindlers. The mad man turned out to be Grayst Sevilla. The swindlers was identified from a letter and had all been banned from Sandpoint by the sheriff and he wasn't surprised that they would meet a violent end. The letter was about property and gold and about "make rich". It was signed by "Your lordship".

I thought about who could be called lordship as it would be a male noble. There aren't that many families that can live up to that title. The Kaijitsu family is headed by a woman, Ameiko, and the Deverin's too. Mvashti isn't really any nobles even though they were among the first to live where Sandpoint was built and besides they are lead by a woman too, Madame Niska Mvashti. The Scarnettis are my main suspects as they own the lumber mill and is led by a man, but on the other hand old Ethram Valdemar had some sickness and has been cured over and over again. Maybe he is some undead creature... Nathaniel added that the Foxgloves also are nobles in the area.

Hemlock told us that he had arrested Ibor and Ven, the last one mostly because he had lost his temper when told his daughter was dead. We talked to Ibor. He agreed that Harker might have been stealing from the mill.

I went to see Ven Vinder in his cell. We started talking, but he wasn't very friendly as he was still had a grudge against me for Nathaniel's misstep with his other daughter. When Nathaniel entered the conversation it got worse. We left when he was just screaming threats.