Chapter 1 - Waterdavian Affairs

[Chris1234]

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@Tristen - Yes; see your private thread.

[Jenara]

"Very careful." Aleica agrees squeezing Nix's hand again. "I was just trying to move in."

[Nocturno]

Sue will pick up the cape and inspect it.

"From what I know of that place, it's favoured by Duergar, and some Half-Orcs. As long as someone there doesn't recognize me from collaring them, I might be able to get some information, or at least get us in to start following the map."

[TristenC]

Yes, and... one of my kind... certainly wouldn't stand out. And I can be quite persuasive, at need. Nix searches his memory for any other tidbits on the place.

[Nocturno]

"Well the invitation is a ways away, so we could go check out the KHD after you all have dinner. I could use a drink while you folks dine... unless you uh want to be 'alone' ". A dry chuckle will escape his lips.

[Chris1234]

The semitransparent cloak looks like it would snugly fit someone smaller than him and possibly look a little ridiculous on him. It doesn't give the appearance of having been designed for outdoor use.

[Jenara]

"I have heard rumors, suggestions, I... It is not the place for a Priestess, there are blood sports.. Goblin fighting.." She shudders slightly, grasping Nix tighter than she intended. "Ohh Dinner!" She gasps in sudden realisation.

[Nocturno]

"Oh, and here is the note about the Moon. Seem it is a tax or collection. Whoever wrote this does not seem very happy they didn't get their 'moon."

"Humph" Ridiculous or not he will put it on his shoulders. Knowning it might just do something, since it looks so fancy.

[Chris1234]

The blue semi-transparent cloak indeed does something - it makes Sue look silly.
But it gives an insight in the flashes of form that can be seen through it.
This is an item of exotic pleasure; play-clothes rather than functional wear.

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It's taken ages to find these, so here they are - if the current owners choose not to share then I'll delete them.

From the apartment there was a scrawled up, rather tatty note (retained by Sue):
"Usual place. Nine bells." written in a rough scrawl.

From the Hanging Lantern there was a high quality parchment scroll (retained by Nix) sealed with an unusually yellow wax indented with the likeness of some kind of bird. It contained a flowing, educated hand, possibly that of one accustomed to writing elven script: "You missed the handover payment. He is displeased. It went ahead. Bring the missing Moon with the Moon for next handover, down below as usual, day before party."

If anyone has another note (that they want to share) feel free to remind me as I've forgotten. (Mislaid some notes to be honest.)

And please will everyone give me an Intelligence saving throw, DC15. Nix has advantage. Sue has disadvantage.

[Nocturno]

"Urgh" Sue pulls off the cloak.

"This might pertain to the note from the locker. 'Usual place, nine bells.' " he will smooth out that particular note on the table.

He will check the time, if any time devices are available.

"Your dinner may have to wait."

Int Check Disadvantage: [1d20] = 20 [1d20] = 17
No int bonus for Sue.

[Jenara]

So I assume normal check for Alecia?
int [1d20+2] = 19+2 = 21

"So, he was supposed to pay, couldn't, whoever he owed wanted more, and they killed him?" Alecia suggests as she reads each note, "Whoever he is he obviously doesnt like people messing up. Or upsetting him."

[TristenC]

Wow... soooo glad to have advantage on that...
Int save with advantage [1d20] = 3, [1d20] = 20
Nat 20 ^_^
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Nix shares the rolled up note about missing the appointment.

From what I recall of the KHD, newcomers may be targets if they can't be vouched for by a couple of regulars... he says, a little concerned. Would... charming a couple of the regulars with some priestly magic be possible? My abilities are far more... temporary.

[Nocturno]

Does Sue recognize the seal? Or can he figure out if it is a Canary.

Does the bottom of the Canary carving have a seal stamp?

Would the body have been along a path from the apartment to the KHD?

"I think I have a contact that help us get in."

[Chris1234]

Putting their heads together, Alecia & Nix recall that:

• Taffis Bornam’s time of death was between eight and nine bells {8-9pm} yesterday - it was virtually certainly premeditated murder.
  The deceased had:
  • previously been in the sewers, probably on more than one occasion.
    not been in the sewers or in Dock Ward in the hours just before his demise.
    not been robbed at the time of his death and was known to have been carrying a Harbour Moon.
    a striking tattoo on his upper left arm - a circle of six hands (fingers outward).
    a silver ring engraved with a likeness of a minotaur.
  A rendezvous “down below” was not made but the undefined transaction was allowed to continue.
  There is a party in the Purple Palace in 5 days.
  The next transaction is in 4 days in the same “down under” place.
  The deceased is expected to attend the next transaction and to bring two Harbour Moons (one for that transaction and one for the payment just missed).

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Additional details in private threads.

[TristenC]

[Sorry, tied up a bit today. Nix relays the following info as well]

Nix's brain kicks into deductive overdrive and also infers:

The KHD probably has an entrance to the sewers.
Taffis Bornam possibly planned to enter the sewers through the KHD to reach his rendezvous point, tentatively the circle on the map.
It should be possible to reach the rendezvous point via another sewer entrance without going through the KHD.
Should the trio decide to try and impersonate Taffis Bornam then they would need two Harbour Moons. He was known to have possessed on ‘Moon so perhaps he possessed two and the second has yet to be found.
The writer of the roughly scrawled note might be presumed to be the hand-on team leader and of a lower status than the deceased who, in turn, had been of lower status than the “Yellow Canary”.
“Yellow Canary” refers to a superior, “He”.
Neither “Rough Scrawl” nor “Yellow Canary” appear to know that Taffis “Red Parrot” Bornam is dead so, perhaps, “He” does not know either.
Assuming the murder was to prevent the Red Parrot form turning “Lord’s Evidence”, there is a tentative inference of a layers (or layers) of the operation higher than “He”.


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Investigation [1d20] = 20
+10 mod (from Int saving throw)= 30. Wow! Nix is on fire!!