Rise of the Runelords [The Skinsaw Murders] (IC)

[meemaas]

Norton laughs a little, as Brodert has run back in before he could say anything. "That man is never going to like me, is he? I guess we ought to just get going then. I doubt we'll get anything else out of him for now."

[lostsole31]

"I would take that as the best estimation of your perceived intellectual prowess," says Draegra with a broad smile. "I think your willingness to share what you know and your own brilliance is a threat to his livelihood!"

[rypt]

"Whatever that was," Alvor says with a sour expression, "I don't think we all needed to be here to see it."

He looks to the others. "The sanitarium then?"

[lostsole31]

Draegra shakes his head. "Wouldn't we do better exhausting leads in town, first? The Sanatorium is in a remote dale south of town. I mean, if we go now it would be fine, but I think the rest of you think that the Sanatorium is in town, which it isn't."

[TooterfishPopkn]

Steingott scratches his head.

"So that would leave Ven Vindor and Ibor Thorn then? Any idea who is closest or would be easiest to find?"

[lostsole31]

The "natives" (or longer-term residents) of Sandpoint can tell you that Broder Quink's is right here at the end of Tower Street next to the Old Light.

To get to the General Store (Ven's place), you would go east on Tower, South on Main St., and take the Rusty Nail Alley around the back to get to Festival St.

But, as Ibor might be in protective custody, the Sandpoint Garrison is on the way, at the corrner of Tower and Main.

[digiman619]

Zada actually seems incensed that this wise man refused to share his knowledge, especially after they took Draega's money. "What the hell?" the normally calm nomad exclaimed. They have to be dissuaded from knocking on the mans door and demanding he answer their questions, but eventually Zada calms down enough to focus on the next part of the plan.

[DrK]

Martin Bevuk


Martin shakes his head at Quint, a muttered "Miserable old got, a pox on you" after the door has closed. At the question from the Alovrhe nods towards the gates of town, "Aye, a walk sounds good. We can speak to this mad guard." As the other mentions Ibor and Ven he shrugs, "Looked pretty obvious from what we found yesterday it were undead, so not sure that Ven or Ibor will offer much eh?" They ain't going anywhere so may as well go and see the madmen. If he knows nowt we can speak to the lads when we get back to the town tonight?"

Its clear that the Martin likes the idea of ranging out the town rather than seeing a grief stricken father.

[lostsole31]

Inputs from anyone else?

[TooterfishPopkn]

Steingott shifts his weigth from foot to foot as he begins going over the options in his head.

"Well the other leads are right here in town. They seem to be dead ends though. The boss made a good point that Ibor may have forgotten something of value now that he's had the time to go over it...maybe we can split the difference and visit Ibor before heading to the Sanitarium, then see Vindor in the morning."

An imaginary flint and steel lights up above Steingott's head.

"Perhaps we can speed things up a bit? I have my horse Navigator in the stables. Does anyone else have a ride that might get us around more quickly while we investigate?"

"If we have to go on foot I'm in favor of the sanitorium. Brodert seems like he's going to be a minute and I think outside of him, the sanitorium is our strongest lead."

[rypt]

Alvor raises an eyebrow at Zada's outburst but otherwise says nothing.

At Steingott's question, he replies, "Aye. I have a horse stabled here in town. Can ride south if need be." He gestures with one hand in an abbreviated shrug. "Most all of you know this town better than I do, and unless we split up, it seems to me like these visits will take the same amount of time regardless of the order in which we make them."

[digiman619]

Zada shook their head. "I came in on a caravan and was planning on leaving town the same way. The town didn't seem big enough to worry about stabling a horse."

[lostsole31]

Despite not being much of a wind, Draegra makes a show of it by licking his index finger and holding it in the air. "Or, we could just all walk, as the time it would take to saddle and prep the horses - those that have them - would be a negative gain."

He starts strolling east on Tower Street and turning down Main Street .... likely to head towards the southern exit of town.

[meemaas]

Norton will follow Draegra.

[DrK]

Martin Bevuk


Martin glances at Draegra as she leaves and grins at the others, "Seems single minded that one eh?" then follows heading out towards the gates with a long easy stride twirling his bow as they head out of town

[TooterfishPopkn]

Steingott follows the others towards the southern exit.

[digiman619]

Zada shrugged as they turned to follow. "Well, when you put it that way..."

[lostsole31]

It will take somewhere between and hour and an hour-and-a-half to get to your destination. The squat, stone building that serves as the sanatorium has three floors under a stout, stone-flagged roof, and is built in the lee of the limestone escarpment known as Ashen Rise.

Coming in from the north, there is a verand that wraps along the length of the west. As you step up, the old floorboards creak under each of you. They are stout, with no fear of breakage, even kept very clean, but old enough that some warp has set in to allow the creakage. There are two doors on the veranda. One is the obvious entrance, and another door much farther down at the end of the veranda.

Not everyone can really pile into the reception area, as it is ony 15' x 10', and most of the middle is taken up by a counter-desk and three chairs - two the west (where you come in, one to the east). A cord hangs from a hole in the southern wall above a sign that reads: "Ring for service." There are two doors - one to north, and one to south.

Only two people can really fit inside the reception area (unless you totally break protocol and go behind the desk). Assuming you are not here kicking down the doors like a pack of wild murderhobos, who are the two that will be inside in reception, with the rest assumed to be milling about the veranda?

[meemaas]

With both Norton and Draegra being knowledge specialists, albeit at differing levels, Norton suggests that one of the two of them goes in, along with someone with a keener eye than them.

Spoiler

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Obviously, the PC will go in rather than the NPC, because it makes more sense, but it still makes sense to say such. In other words, Norton is volunteering for one of the two.

[DrK]

[QUOTE=DrK;24960635]Martin Bevuk


Enjoying the walk he looks at the grim small squat stone building. "Not exactly welcoming is it eh?" he mutters as he walks around the building once just to give the place a once over. As they look at the front door, he is content to let the others go forward looking out over the scrubby moors as he leans on the railing by the veranda, a muttered "Nota bad view eh from here, maybe it helps the poor souls locked in this place"

He glances at the door clearly happy to let Norton and one of the others head in and speak with the staff of the strange building

[rypt]

With Martin stepping aside to let another join Norton, Alvor turns to Zada. "You wanna head in with him? Seems you picked up on quite a bit down at the mill. I figure you'll fare just as well here."

Leaning against the same railing as Martin but with his back to the view, Al grimaces at the hunter's comment. "I doubt it," he says as his shifting weight elicits a long creak from the floor.

[digiman619]

Not wanting to add to the crowd, Zada stands by the door.

[TooterfishPopkn]

Steingott scans the entry points.

"It's best we don't barge in. Are any of you folks good with words? I'm not your man . I'd love to stand guard, though!"

[lostsole31]

It only makes sense, albeit after a bit of a pause, that Draegra would go in with Norton, as their names are a little more well-known (despite Martin being a lifelong local). Draegra pulls the cord, which has some resistance (as expected). After doing so, Draegra casts a spell on himself .... once a minute.

Spoiler: Martin, Norton, Zada

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Enhanced diplomacy.

A few minutes later, a nervous, twitchy-looking man comes out to see what is happening. "Today is not a visitor's day..." he scolds Draegra and Norton. ".... samsaran," he adds with equal parts annoyance and intrigue. "I am in the middle of some frightfully important work and cannot be disturbed."

Draegra nods understandingly. "I would ask if we could wait, but as you can see," and here he gestures to the handful of people that the man might be able to spy out the front door from his position, "I have a lot of people here. And, to be honest, we are on business as sent by Sheriff Hemlock. Can we see Dr. Habe, please? I have a letter for him."

"I am Dr. Erin Habe," he admits, and takes the paper once Draegra produces it. Dr. Habe gives it a cursory glance. "A fine introduction. It changes nothing. A group of armed people coming up on a place for peace of mind. For shame. Leave, please. I don't have time to entertain the sheriff's paranoia."

"Thank you for giving us this much regard, doctor. Since you are busy today, we will stop by again tomorrow .... and the next day, if need be."

Draegra gestures for Norton to head out with him.

Does Norton head outside with Draegra to the others?

[meemaas]

Norton will give a respectful nod to the Doctor before leaving. Once outside, he looks at the others. "No dice right now. Draegra's made it very clear that we will be returning, but the Doctor claims he is very busy right now. What next?"

[digiman619]

Zada will step into the door frame; clearly visible, but outside the threshold. "We're not trying to strongarm you. You have to look out for the best interest of your patients, we respect that. We're only here because we want to talk to one of them, because they were a witness to a horrible crime we're investigating. We'd send one person in, and you or one of your staff can be there to ensure the well-being of your patient"

[lostsole31]

He shakes his head and holds up his hand in Zada's direction, and disappears behind a door.

Now what?

[rypt]

"What, that's it?" Alvor steps forward to peer into the reception area from behind Zada. Seeing that the room is empty, he turns back and scowls at Zada and Norton. "What did you even say to the man? Busy until when?"

[lostsole31]

"That's it ... for today. We are asked to look into things discretely," said Draegra, "and we have no police 'powers' of any kind. Demands and an unearned sense of entitlement will not endear us to him, or if any abuse of him should occur, to the rest of Sandpoint. This is Dr. Habe's realm, and his place to determine an audience. This was a healthy walk, one which can allow us to get to know each other were we to avail ourselves of the opportunity.* But I have also seeded Dr. Habe with the understanding that I will return tomorrow, with the unspoken 'ad infinitum' so at some point he will be worn down not by intimidation, but by civility. And that works in our favor with any others that might hear the tale."

Spoiler: * = Prompt

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Great time to use the RP thread not for problem-solving the plot but for getting to know each other.

[rypt]

"You'd gamble two-and-a-half hours of every day on that doctor's capacity to withstand our...civility?" Alvor exhales something between a scoff and a sigh. "If he's busy now, fine, but he can at least tell us when he won't be." At that, he begins to head into the reception area, clearly intent on giving the cord another pull.

Spoiler: OOC

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I've purposefully only described Al's intention here, rather than specifying that he actually does pull the cord, in order to leave an opening for dissenting views. If anyone feels strongly about not calling the doctor out again, they are welcome to tell Al to hold on for a minute.