A Murder in Dusross
The adventurers find their way to the Dusross Mountains, stumbling across a murder in the Paladin Posse's guild hall. Nobody knows who could have done it, but can they solve the mystery?
The Murder
Iriel and Orson were best friends, for many years. Iriel joined the Paladin Posse many years ago, and discovered she had a gift for healing magic. Orson soon took an interest in improving his healing magic, because it helped him keep killing more monsters. He and Iriel soon set up an agreement where she teaches him healing magic, and he helps improve her fighting ability. Iriel soon wanted to start learning how to cast better spells for killing monsters and attempted to write a fireball scroll, but she messed it up and it turned into directing the fireball at the caster. She mixed up the scrolls, and when Orson cast it, he immediately burst into flames and died. Iriel gasped, and realized that she would be excommunicated as soon as the Paladin Posse found out what had happened. So, she came up with the story that she was at the tavern all night, and made sure Spencer saw her there, figuring that Spencer wouldn't be sober enough to think otherwise. She messed up when she bumped into Harold on the way to the tavern, and quickly rushed past him, hoping he wouldn't notice. Later that night, she rifled through her scroll pile and hid the Scroll of Minor Healing under her pillow, hoping nobody would connect the dots.Structure
Exposition
Yahn, visiting the main hall of his guild, the Paladin Posse, opens the gates and is greeted with the familiar sight of Paladins milling about, practicing their swordplay in the courtyard, and going about their daily tasks. The leader of the guild, Brenden, the Illuminator, greets Yahn and says he is excited to hear his stories and tales of killing monsters.
Brenden brings them back to his office and talks about his gripes with some of the other paladins:
"Ya know, Chad keeps feeding the horses manure, Brad chugged all the ale in the local tavern, Spencer broke the hay cart again, all normal things."
He looks around to make sure the other paladins aren't listening and says:
"I probably shouldn't be telling you this, since we wanted to keep this matter inside the guild. But one of our older members, Paladin Orson, died last week, found burned to a crisp in his room. Our investigators are having difficulties figuring out why he died, though I can't be sure why... The guild, and by extension me, would greatly appreciate any assistance you could lend in getting to the bottom of this. With the proper compensation to show it, of course."
Brenden indicates towards another guild member to show them to the body. The investigators blunder about and keep talking about a candle that must have fallen on him. DC 21 Perception reveals that there is a charred scroll in the corner of the room, out of the reach of the body. Linguistics 23 or Spellcraft 21 show that it is a Scroll of Fireball, but the wording is messed up. Failed roll shows the room is fairly charred, but it doesn't seem intentional. With that information, Brenden, the Illuminator suggests that they ask around the guild hall.
Conflict
The adventurers continue through the hall, and the following NPC's have this to say:
Bret (Room next to the crime scene): "I heard a loud whoosh, what sounded like a gasp, and then nothing else. I figured it was someone messing around and went back to watching the swordfight out my window."
Chad (Out by the Stables): "Yeah, I heard about that, but I didn't really see anything. Well, I guess I did see someone walking across the courtyard, but people always do that, right?"
Further questioning reveals that he is describing Sullivan. (Sullivan was actually just walking back from practice)
Brad (In the local tavern): "Was drinking real heavily that night, somehow got back to my room but I woke up with a bruised knee. Don't remember falling, but that's how it goes sometimes."
Spencer (By the hay cart): "I didn't really hear anything, I fell asleep in the cart the whole night. Was watching the swordfight practice but then it got late. Heard Iriel was supposed to help out Orson practice his healing magic, but I guess she missed it 'cause I saw her in the tavern that night."
Sullivan (In the meal hall): "I was in that swordfight practice that night, saw the flash of light but I thought it was the reflection off my sword. Only heard what happened to Orson after the practice, though I can't say I'm too unhappy. We didn't really get along, always thought he was smarter than everybody else." Spits into the nearby bucket
Harold (In the meal hall): "Yeah, I was practicing with Sullivan that night, didn't really notice anything out of the ordinary. Bumped into Iriel on the way back to my room, must've been busy cause she rushed past me."
Iriel (By the fountain): "Wish I could tell you what happened to him, but I stayed back in the tavern. Was there all night. I feel bad I missed my meeting with Orson, I was supposed to help him with his healing magic but I had a bit too much. After I heard about what happened to him, I must say I felt much worse..." (DC 24 Perception reveals she is lying about drinking too much)
The hole in all the stories is that Harold saw Iriel in the barracks, but her story is that she was in the tavern all night. When asked about Iriel's friendship with Orson, everybody says it was very friendly and she would never hurt Orson. She had no reason to want him harmed.
If the adventurers investigate Iriel's room, they may search for any evidence. DC 25 Perception reveals that there is a Scroll of Minor Healing under her pillow, and DC 22 Knowledge (Arcana) shows that it is a moderately well made scroll. DC 23 Perception reveals that the stack of parchment near her bed seems hastily organized.
If the adventurers investigate Sullivan's room, they may search for evidence. DC 22 Perception reveals that his sword is half unsheathed, and is poorly cleaned.
Rising Action
If the group figures out that Iriel killed Orson and confront her, she starts crying and explains the whole story. She starts crying, and runs out of the guild hall. When they try to find her outside the gates, she appears to already be gone.
When they go back to Brenden, the Illuminator, he sighs and thanks them for their help, then pays them the agreed reward.
Relations
Protagonists
The Adventurers
Brenden, the Illuminator
Adversaries
Iriel
Related Characters
Related Organizations
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