D&D 5E [D&D 5E] Tattered Memories: An Adventure in Tethyr (COMPLETE)

[Forged Fury]

Brue quickly returned back to the Mossy Nymph and explained to Janelle what she and Greycastle had discussed. Nodding in agreement, Janelle took Brue to a different section of the backroom containing the barrels from Kirgard. After about an hour's worth of work, the two had inspected all of the barrels from the provisioning and had found no tampering with any of them. Re-entering the common room, Janelle glanced outside to check the time. "I've got to head to the gate in about an hour for the next provisioning. I need to start getting the cart ready."

Returning to Greycastle, she said, "We've inspected the barrels. Nothing amiss about those from Kirgard."

"Well, that's one less thing to worry about," the lawkeeper replied. "Still, we need to figure out the status of the water supply. Folk are going to start lining up at Janelle's in a few. I don't want them taking water if it's carrying disease. Thoughts?"

 

[CanadienneBacon]

[section] Brue scratched her arm, thinking. "It's the afternoon. It's hot. I'll go to the well with a bucket and draw some water. I'll say I'm thirsty, then take the bucket to Master Boddynock to let him have a look at the water. That way, we don't raise anyone's ire or risk pandemonium. If Boddynock or I think something is queer with the water, then I'll bring you a sample directly after I meet with the gnome."[/section]

 

[CanadienneBacon]

OOC: While she was at the tavern storeroom, Brue meant to get another piece of the keg lid containing the waterkeep. That way, both she and Greycastle would have a piece in their possession.

 

[Forged Fury]

OOC: That's fine, no problem with taking another piece of the wood.

Greycastle looked grim. "How long do you think it will take Vials to figure out if something is wrong with it? We've only got a few hours until the provisioning starts. People are going to want to fill their skins and barrels at the well at that point. If the water is plagued, that's going to probably mean more deaths. We may need something more decisive."

 

[CanadienneBacon]

[section] Brue offered, "It'll take me ten minutes or less to walk to the well. Maybe five to get the water. And another five or ten to get to Boddynock's. Even if if he spent half an hour examining the water, I should still be back here in no more than an hour and fifteen minutes."

The genasi hesitated. "You could instruct one of your more trusted men to guard the well for the next two hours, tell folk the handcrank is being repaired. That would buy some time." She shrugged. "Or you could tell folks the truth, that the well water's being checked for purity. That's if someone comes for water in the next two hours. Maybe we'll luck out and they won't." Brue made ready to leave. She borrowed a bucket from Greycastle, and listened for his preference on whether to quarantine the water.[/section]

 

[Forged Fury]

Greycastle nodded, "Alright then, we'll see about putting a guard to it. If Vials says it's going to take longer than that, come back here."

After the paladin provided her with a pail, Brue left his house and headed west along the Main to the town center. The square was empty at this time of day, which would be unusual if not for the quarantine and the fear of plague. Winching up the water bucket, Brue poured the water in to the pail and headed north. Walking as carefully as she could, Brue still sloshed a fair bit of water along the way, but more than 3/4 remained when she finally arrived at Vials' house. Brue stopped at the door and gave a loud and resounding knock. She didn't hear anything at first, but faint sounds eventually could be heard. Raising her fist to knock again, the door opened on a tired and drawn looking Apothecary Boddynock.

Seeing who was at his door, his face grew blank. "Ah, the pyre-robber is here to speak with me?" Glancing at the pail, he finished, "Well, what can I do for you?"

OOC: Go ahead and roll like five D20 for me. Dealing with Vials is likely going to take a series of Persuasion and other rolls. Rather than breaking up the thread to ask for rolls, it will be easier to just roll them in advance.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

OOC: Brue will watch Boddynock for cues as to how mistrustful of her Boddynock is after hearing about her 'pyre-robbing.' She'll attempt to tailor her conversation with him with an eye toward re-gaining his trust. She's clunky, however, and not really 'human,' so I imagine she'll be a little socially awkward.

[roll0]

[section] Brue colored. She sighed. Probably have to endure more comments like that in the future. Somewhere inside, resolve stiffened. "Was looking for clues." Brue stifled the urge to say anything extra. She was feeling defensive, and things wouldn't go well if she alienated the gnome any more than she obviously already had with her gauche activity this morning in the burn pit.

"I'm sorry to bother you after you've had a long night tending the dead, Master Boddynock. I knocked earlier this morning, and you didn't answer--Greycastle told me you'd been up most of the night. I'm here about this," Brue thrust forward the pail, sloshing a bit more of the water. "I wonder if I could come inside? I'd like you to look at the water I just drew from the town well, if you've time."[/section]

[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]

 

[Forged Fury]

Glancing down at the pail, Boddynock frowned. "Give me a moment to get the room in order." With that, the gnome closed the door. Brue could hear him rummaging around inside for a minute before the door opened again, the gnome beckoning her inside.

Vials smiled wanly, "I'm sure you were looking for clues... and yet the clue you bring me is a pail of water rather than a smattering of ashes. So what's this about the well?" The gnome tried to seem disinterested, possibly to spite Brue, but he was clearly interested in the pail of water. The apothecary gestured towards a chair with a stack of scrolls piled on a table next to it.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

[section] Brue quirked an eyebrow at the closed door. Wot's he hiding? She didn't press her ear to the door, but she did attempt to listen carefully, and tried to filter from her hearing any outside sounds that might impede listening in on what on earth Vials was doing inside. When the gnome re-opened the door, Brue followed him inside his quarters and placed the bucket of water on the floor. She stood up and faced Vials. "It's possible either the ale or the water's been tampered with. I checked the ale this morning. One of the kegs had a false bottom that had been packed with waterkeep. I took it to Greycastle. Neither of us thought it wise to declare what we suspect until we've had a chance to have the water looked at, though, so that's why I'm here with this pail. Would you take a look at the water, please, and let me know if you think it's off? I drew it from the well not fifteen minutes ago." Brue watched Vials carefully for his reaction.[/section]

OOC: Perception to listen to the sounds Vials makes as he gets his room in order? And Insight to adjudge his behavior while Brue explicates her purpose re: the water? Let me know if some other skill or ability might apply and I will provide a roll.

[roll0]
[roll1]

 

[Forged Fury]

Brue was unable to make out much from her eavesdropping. A little muttering and maybe what sounded like a chair being dragged across the floor.

Once inside, the gnome listened to Brue's explanation. A look of disquiet took hold of his face. "That is very disturbing news. If the water is contaminated, the whole village is in danger! If only we had a cure, the whole thing would be irrelevant."

Gathering up the bucket, Vials walked over to a lab table. It was a little cluttered: various beakers, vials, tubes, a mortar and pestle, even a copper piece. Setting the pail on the table, he carefully drew a liter of the water using a small bellows and squirted it into a beaker. Holding the beaker up to a nearby candle, he shook the container and examined it closely. "There don't appear to be any unusual particulates in suspension." Reaching over to a glass jar, the gnome unscrewed the lid and dipped a small spoon into the container. He turned the spoon over the beaker and watched closely. After a few seconds, he said, "Damn... no reaction."

Looking back to Brue, he finished, "That means I'm going to have to run it through the distillation process to see if I there's anything undetectable to the naked eye. It's going to take me a few hours, but I should be able to find out if there's anything wrong."

Frowning, he said, "The ale... you don't think Janelle or one of her people did it, do you?"