The Mortigny Murders

But before the group gets to the town a man jumps out from the trees on the side of the road. Rimo steps forward and greets the grizzled man, who introduces himself as Stewart Joshi. Stewart proceeds to tell us that the town of Mortigny is a closed town, due to a troubling outbreak of trouble.

Apparently there are some strange deaths happening in the city with strange circumstances. Already two groups of adventures have been brought in to help figure out the problem. So far though, both groups have not been able to figure out the cause of the strange deaths. Seeing us as a stout band, he inquires if we might be willing to help in stopping the cities problems.

When we agree to help, he tells us to head straight into town and go straight to the mayor's house and talk to him, whose name is Balrick Traven. With that in mind we head into the town and start heading for the mayor's house. Along the way Sik disappears down an alleyway, and dresses up as a young man. Daimonion tries to cover his face and avoid being seen by the townsfolk.

At the Mayor's house the butler, who shows us into a lavish study, meets us. As we wait the butler brings out some food, which Rimo and Tallorn scarf down because it isn't stew. As the butler begins to take the plates away the mayor steps into the study and greets us.

Before any discussion about the town's problem can begin, the first question asked if there are any healers around to help bring the party back up to health. Fortunately there is a Dr. Jonathan Garret in town that can help the party out once they leave his house. With that out of the way he begins to tell us that he is at a loss as what to do about the town's problem.

The murders are quite frustrating; as there doesn't appear to be a thing he can do about it. The murders happen mostly at night, and in various areas of the town. The attacks appear to be by some wild beasts. The problem with that is the bodies are not dragged away or completely mauled to pieces like beasts normally would. So it is feared that it is something supernatural causing the attacks. This causes people to worry about whether the town is cursed, and that is why the town has been closed off from the outside world.

Traven mentions that he has already hired two other groups of adventures to help figure out and stop the murders from happening, but so far they haven't done much. Well they have managed to put a drain on the town's coffers, which are strained already due to the closing. While hiring a third group would put more of a strain on the coffers, something needs to be done before the town dies financial and or mortally.

The first group that was hired is a group of five lead by a Robert Rodanovic. When that party didn't seem to be getting anywhere in solving the problem, another group was hired. This time a group of five, led by a nobleman named Reginald Jordan the third. He and his group were brought in because he has credentials as a monster hunter. So far neither group has done anything much to help in solving the problem. So he is bringing us in as a last ditch effort to get things resolved.

With that he begins to let us know of the attacks. The last attack happened four nights ago. Since the bodies were not taken away, this body is now at Dr. Garret's offices in his morgue if we wish to examine it. This murder happened in an alleyway inside the town, and was a baker's apprentice. There were three other murders, all outside town. The first was a water maiden then a hunter and an old man. Traven provides a map and location of where the murders took place.

With that he asks us to pass ourselves off as caravan guards looking for work, in order to throw off any suspicion of our task. We are to figure out what the two other groups are up to, and maybe if we are really good figure out what is causing the murders.

Since he cannot afford to pay us much, he might be able to give us something once things have been settled. For now he offers us free room and board at the Green Griffin, which is the inn where the other two groups are staying. With that he bids us good-bye and good luck.

Once we leave the mayor's house Dera, Dario and Daimonion head to the local temple of Ezra. Tallorn and Rimo take a look around the town.

Sik is still incognito around the town. At a local bar she tries to pass herself as a small boy, but the bartender doesn't fall for it and asks her to leave his bar. From there she goes to another bar and fails to convince the bar tender there as well. The bar tender then directs her to the Green Griffin.

Some how the whole group manages to all meet up at the Green Griffin at the same time. The party then enters the Green Griffin and takes up a table in the inn. Once at the table we all look around to see if we can check out the other parties.

At one table there sits a man with long dark brown hair playing on a drum. Beside him sits a short lithe human woman with shoulder length hair and green eyes. A Hulking burly fellow with a great sword is drinking heavily at the table, while finally a half-elf wearing a necklace of a star and teardrop watches.

At another table there sits a jovial looking fellow with pronounced muscles who is talking with a lanky person of oriental descent. A simply dressed elf and a dwarf in armor marked by a bronze spear are drinking together. Beside them is a tall lanky fellow wearing a big brimmed hat, which is flirting with a big-breasted strawberry blond woman who seems to be from the wilds.

Dera finds a corner to sit in while Rimo makes eye contact with the strawberry blonde woman, and then goes to the bar to get some ale. Dario meanwhile sneaks next to the first group and overhears a conversation about Gug, who is not with them, which is upsetting the big guy. He tries to sneak over to the other table but doesn't manage to get close enough to hear anything.

Daimonion wanders over to talk to the drummer, who turns out to be Robert Rodonavich. Robert introduces the rest of his party to Daimonion; the girl is Luca Sergial his consort, Gareth Rukan is the big man with the sword, and Pinochet Starborn is his half-elf compatriot.

Sik goes and asks for the names of the other party from the barkeep. The barkeep tells her that Reginald Jordon III is the man jovial muscular man. Ran Bockchan is the monkish oriental person. Roderick Greganthor is the elf, Kragar Stormspire is the dwarf, Nathial Delacarte is the flashy looking one, and finally Selena Varbeerk is the lady.

Dario walks over to the half-elf Pinochet, and introduces himself and asks if Pinochet might be able to help with his injuries. Pinochet asks how he received the injuries, to which Dario tells him of the creatures with the stapled mouths. At this point Rukan mumbles something into Robert's ear, Robert nods and turns around to join in the conversation between Dario and Pinochet. He then asks Dario to explain a bit more about the creatures. As Dario begins to explain Rimo sits down at the table. As Dario finishes his recounting of the encounter in the forest, Robert and the rest of his party are visibly shaken.

Robert then explains to Dario a bit about DelShonar's past. Following the biography, Dario asks about anyone else in the party. Robert replies that their friend Gug isn't with them, because he is in the local jail. Gug, wasn't a normal birth, and so tends to cause fear in people. Thus the townsfolk to ally their fears about him locked up Gug. Dario manages to convince Pinochet to offer him some help with his wounds.

Dera meanwhile wanders over to the barkeep and asks some questions about Vistani. Tallorn follows behind, and motions with his hands for something to eat, which takes a bit of time.

After conversing with the barkeep, Dera grabs Tallorn and walks over to Reginald's table. At first Dera causes Reginald a bit of insult by not saying his full name and title during the introductions. Tallorn meanwhile just smiles, but notices that the elf leaves the table and wanders over to talk to Sik. While Dera tries to talk to Reginald, Tallorn watches as the elf talks to Sik and eyes her up some. Dera meanwhile asks about what Reginald is doing in town. Tallorn not understanding anything whistles for Rimo to come over and join the conversation.

"Hey Rimo, come over here and help me with understanding what these people are jabbering about. This is a good reason for you to chat up the big-boobied girl."

Rimo tries to dash over without looking like he is dashing over. As soon as Rimo gets to the table he starts to talk to Serena and the two of them flirt. Sik after talking with the elf joins in the conversation between Dera and Reginald. Unfortunately Sik joins the conversation just in time to her Dera let it slip that the mayor employed us also. Rimo also hears the slip and tries to cover, but thrusting ale into Dera's hand and shouting over her. But this doesn't deter Dera from talking about it.

Reginald's voice starts to rise as he asks Dera what is going on. Rimo tries to calm Reginald down and the others by ordering them a round of ale, but it doesn't seem to work. Sik tries to calm the elf down by sitting in his lap, after which the two of them get up and head to the bar. Reginald and the rest only calm down when Tallorn walks Dera away from the table. This leaves Rimo alone to talk with the remaining party at the table.

At the bar Sik introduces Roderick the elf to Dario. While Sik preoccupies the elf, Dario tries to pick his pockets, and comes up with some miscellaneous items used in casting spells.

Rimo decides that Reginald has told all he is willing to, and it might be wise to leave his presence before he gets more upset. But as Rimo gets up to go join his friends at the bar, Selena stops him. Selena whispers something in his ear, and the two find a table by themselves and start to drink. Rimo talks about his past, and flashes his dagger at her. While the two continue to talk the rest of the part decide to call it a night, leaving Rimo to stay and fend for himself against Selena. The two eventually decide to go out and wander around the town and check out the other bars.

After a few hours of drinking, Rimo and Selena return to he Green Griffin, where she manages to convince Rimo to allow her to spend the night with him. Due to some strange manner of luck Rimo's room happens to be above Sik's room. Thus Sik endures the night listening to the sound of Rimo and Selena, with a pillow over her ears.

In the morning the party all gathers down in the common room and partake of breakfast. As they are eating Rimo wanders down the steps looking quiet disheveled, and appears to be aching in certain joints.

Dario and Daimonion both decide to go and visit Dr. Garret's office and examine the corpse of the most recent victim, after breakfast. Dera, Rimo and Tallorn decide to make a visit to the Temple of Ezra instead. Sik on her own goes and wanders about town.

Dr. Garret meets both Dario and Daimonion and takes them to his basement morgue where he shows them the body. The body is in tact and has scars that look as though made by claws. Upon closer inspection though, as Dr. Garret points out, the wounds are not jagged like they would be from an animal, instead they appear to be made by a very sharp metal blade. Dario looks over the wounds and doesn't find any metal fragments in the wounds. The two then ask Dr. Garret if they know of anyone in town who might be able to produce such weapons. Dr. Garret mentions that the local weapon smithy is a Godfrey Adamar, and gives them directions to the smithy.

Dera, Rimo and Tallorn make it to the temple of Ezra where Warden Cartwright meets them. Tallorn mentions that he is a follower of Ezra and is wondering if he could find healing at the temple. Cartwright mentions that such healing that Tallorn requires is not easy to dispense with out something in return. Tallorn offers his short-sword in exchange for the help;

"Master Cartwright, I offer my short-sword with which I endeavor to protect my fellow comrades in arms, and myself. My it be used by the temple to better protect those who needs its help."

Cartwright is impressed by Tallorn's offering, and instead lets him keeps his short-sword, and heals Tallorn of all his wounds.

From the temple Dera, Rimo and Tallorn head over to Dr. Garret's office where they run into Daimonion and Dario walking out. Daimonion and Dario mention that they didn't find anything out about the body and wander off, while Dera, Rimo and Tallorn decide to see if they can find anything else about the body, and go inside. Dr. Garret seems a little puzzled at the fact that another group has just arrived to look at the body, but none-the-less lets the three examine the body. Rimo almost instantly notices that the slash marks were not done by an animal, and upon looking closer determines it must have been a set of metal blades.

Daimonion and Dario meanwhile make it across town to visit with the weapon smithy, and find out that his has no information regarding such a weapon. When asked if knows of anyone who might know of such a thing, he mentions that there was an elf that was stuck in town when it was closed. He then gives the two directions to the elf's current residence. Before the two take off Dario takes a look around the shop for anything of interest and finding none, the two take off.

Dera, Rimo and Tallorn get to the Weapon smithy a bit after Daimonion and Dario left the place, so they do not know that they were already there. Rimo then sells a long sword he had for some money. After the sale the three ask about any type of weapon that could cause such a wound. The smithy, looks a little surprised, and answer that an elf in town might be able to help, and gives the three directions. The three then head off to visit the elf.

At the Elf's residence Daimonion and Dera knock on the door. The elf opens the door and out flows a strong odor from inside. The elf appears to be a bit more than just intoxicated when he starts to talk. He tries to convince the two of them to step inside and chat, but Daimonion is hesitant because he recognizes the smell as those of an intoxicating herbal drug. Despite the best efforts, the two enter the elf's residence, feeling that is the only way to get the elf to talk. Once inside Daimonion confirms his suspicions of the drug, by noticing a glassware piece used in the smoking of the herb lying in the corner of the room. When asked about a weapon that can cause the damage they saw on the body, the elf scrounges through a few books before pulling one out of the stacks lying about the room. Quickly he flips through the pages, and stops on one page and hands the book to Dario, pointing at the picture on the page.

The weapon on the page is called a Bok-nok, which is native to Sri Raji. The elf then mentions that there is a monk for Sri Raji that might be able to tell them more about the weapon. With that he takes the book back and says that he isn't sure but the monk's name might be Yan or Yen something, but he is definitely staying at the Green Griffin. The elf then starts to shuffle the two out the door. Daimonion and Dera than walk out the door and decide to check around town for a bit before heading back to the inn.

Dera, Rimo and Tallorn get to the Elf's residence, but only after Daimonion and Dario have left a few minutes earlier. Tallorn and Rimo both notice and recognize the smell when the elf answers the door. Rimo tries to convince the elf to let them in so they can talk, but the elf says he doesn't want any more visitors today, and closes the door.

The three then head back to the Green Griffin, only to get there just as Daimonion and Dario are sitting down at a table. Rimo quickly notices that Selena is there and heads over to her table and sits down to talk with her. Dario proceeds to tell Dera, and Tallorn via the common language of Darkonian (common for Dario and Tallorn), about the bok- nok, but fails to mention the fact it is from Sri Raji and that Yan is a monk from Sri Raji.

As Dario tells the group this Sik wanders into the inn and heads straight for the elf, Roderick. When Dario finishes his explanation he walks over to Sik and Roderick and interrupts their conversation. The two give Dario dirty looks that cause Dario to step back a bit and then walk away from the two of them, much to Daimonion's laughter.

The whole group then gets together at a table in the corner to talk about things over lunch. Over lunch the group discuss a plan to split up and watch the other two parties as they come and go from the inn. Rimo pipes up saying he will be glad to keep a close eye on Selena. After further debate the group decides to go investigate the scene of the last murder instead. Rimo though thinks it is still a good idea to watch the other groups as the leave and enter the inn, and opts to stay behind.

At the scene the group finds a silver broach, but nothing else that strikes the group as helpful in investigating the murder. So the group heads back to the inn.

Rimo, who stayed at the inn, notices that some of the people from the other groups are not to be seen. Luca, and Pinochet from Robert's group, and from Reginald's only Yan, Kragar and Delacarte are not present. Rimo decides to check upstairs for the others and not finding anyone walks back down to the common room. On the way down the stairs he meets Selena walking back up, and decides to escort her back to her room.

When the rest of the party return to the inn, they all take a break and sit down at a table. Dario pulls out the Parchment the group found at the abandoned town hall and looks it over. Dera and Tallorn try to talk via hand gestures, but don't get very far into a deep conversation before a constable rushes in and yells about a murder.

All the parties suddenly gather up and head out the door following behind the constable. As the various groups head towards the scene, Kragar, Pinochet and Delacarte join them.

At the scene lies in a bloody puddle the body of a female peasant with similar claw-like marks on her body. Tallorn looks in the blood for footprints and doesn't find any, while Dario asks the constable about the victim's family. The constable tells Dario a bit about the family and points them out, and Dario goes over and talks to them. Dario though isn't much comfort and only manages to make them cry even more about the murder. Dera, Sik and Tallorn notice that Yan is not amongst the people at the crime scene.

Daimonion pulls Dario back from talking with the family, seeing as how he is only causing more grief, and the two decide to head back to the Green Griffin. As they head back they too notice that Yan is not present. As Daimonion and Dario start the head back Dera, Sik and Tallorn join them.

Back at the Green Griffin the group notice that Rimo is not downstairs, and so must still be upstairs with Selena. Dario wanders upstairs to listen at the doors of the rooms to see if he can find out who is where. Sik meanwhile talks to Roderick some more, and tries to get more information about Yan and Kragar. Dario doesn't get very far in listening at doors before he tries to break into one, but only manages to break his tools.

After a short while the Daimonion, Sik and Dario decide to go get some sleep. Dera and Tallorn stay downstairs in the common room to keep an eye on things in the tavern just in case. As Daimonion heads to his room he runs across Yan, but doesn't get anything out of Yan about where he has been.

In the middle of the night Dario is awoken by a noise at his door. Dario instantly recognizes the sound as that of his lock being picked. Dario starts to moan and groan trying to sound as if he is having a nightmare to scare of the person on the other side of the door. When he quiets down from his noise making, he doesn't hear the lock being picked any more, and then tries to get back to sleep.

Daimonion is awakes like a bolt by the sound of someone tampering with his door. Before he can do anything but kick his covers off the door swings open with a loud slam. In the door way stands the silhouette of a person with a pistol aimed directly at him. As Daimonion tries to make a move the pistol goes off and the bullet slams into him creating a gaping wound in his upper chest.

Daimonion isn't knocked out by the gunshot, but manages to slide out of his bed, and grope for his rapier. But before he can bring his rapier up to attack the figure, it quickly rushes across the room and jumps through the window.

In the other room, Rimo gets smacked upside the head, and knocked out by Selena. Sik unfortunately, who went upstairs to bed with Roderick, gets paralyzed by the elf.

Dera and Tallorn decide to go over and talk to Robert Radanvich, but before they can get to his table they hear the gun shot from upstairs. Robert also hearing the gun shot stands up at his table, startled. The sound of breaking glass causes Dera and Tallorn to run outside to see if they can spot the intruder, while Radanvich runs for the stairs. Not seeing anyone outside Dera and Tallorn rush back inside and up the stairs.

Sik, Rimo, Luca and Delacarte are not present when Dera and Tallorn get to the hallway outside Daimonion's room. The two quickly rush into his room, and help Daimonion back up onto his bed. Dera turns to Radanvich and asks where Luca is, but he only shrugs saying he doesn't know. He does say that her weapon of choice is a pistol though. Dera steps back into Daimonion's room and tends to his gunshot wound healing it some.

Dera than goes up to Reginald and demands to know where Delacarte is. Reginald tells her that he went out drinking with Rimo and Sik, and they are probably still out drinking. Tallorn, noticing that Selena is amongst the group while Rimo is not, has Dera ask Selena where Rimo is. Selena, trying to sound convincing, says that Rimo went out drinking with Delacarte. Radanvich points out that this cannot be true because Dera, Tallorn and him would have seen the three of them leaving the inn, because they were downstairs in the common room.

As a Constable arrives to check out the scene, Delacarte comes up the steps. Before being asked Delacarte tells the assembled people that Rimo and Sik are still out drinking.

Daimonion decides to go to Selena's room to check to see if Rimo is not there, while Dera and Tallorn decide to go check Rimo's room. But before they can leave the hallway, Delacarte pulls out a pistol, grabs Pinochet and points his pistol at Pinochet's head. Reginald steps next to Delacarte and with a little chuckle say that his group has had its fun, but it is growing a bit old. Reginald continues saying that he and his group will be leaving now, and he turns to walk away from the party.

Suddenly behind Kragar and Roderick, who moved beside Reginald, the sound of several loud gunshots goes off. Kragar and Roderick turn around to see nothing, and in the confusion Delacarte's head suddenly explodes. Pinochet quickly dashes to find cover behind Radanvich. Before Delacarte's body can hit the ground a shimmering light hits Reginald's party stopping them all from moving. Leaving Delacarte's headless body to hang in mid air.

Those that can still move, slowly turn to see Luca standing with a smoking pistol, and a strange guy standing at the end of the hall. Once the shock wears off, Dera, Daimonion and Tallorn quickly go and find Sik, and help her gain her ability to walk. Once Sik is able to walk again, the three head off to get Rimo, and Sik walks down the hall to where Reginald's party is frozen. Sik then pulls out her crossbow, and fires a bolt point blank into Roderick's head causing the bolt to eerily slam into his head, and slow down to a stop as it barely begins to point out the other side.

As the rest of the party return to the hallway, with Rimo, they see Luca walk off with the strange guy. Radanvich obviously not happy with this gathers his group and heads down to the common room. Dario tries to take Delacarte's pistol but the constable tells him to leave it as evidence of Reginald's crimes. The party then decides to head down stairs.

Radanvich's group doesn't seem keen on talking about things, so the party talks amongst themselves. They figure that Reginald's group had Yan sneak upon the town and using his bok-nok attack and kill a peasant, in a manner that looks gruesome. Using that strange death of the peasent and the town's lack of knowledge about the bok-nok, they figured they could get money as monster hunters to track down the "beast." Reginald and company figure they could keep killing every so often to make it look as though they were needed in order to track down the beast. The mayor's hiring of Radanvich's group put a hamper on their plans, so they figured they should step up the killings so as to quicken their "stopping" of the murders. But alas they were found out before they could get away with it.

With that figured out the all decide to head to sleep, and as they head upstairs the constable tells them to come by the Mayor's tomorrow.

The next day downstairs in the common room, over breakfast Daimonion and Dera argue over who is going to talk with Radanvich. Dera wins out and walks over to Radanvich and sits down. From the brief conversation, Dera learns that the strange guy from the night before is Polis, and he suspected that Luca was going to leave him for Polis eventually. Before Dera can ask more questions, Radanvich gets up and says he and his group will be heading back to Barovia, and the Temple of the Radiant Beacon.

As Dera returns to the rest of the party, a well-dressed man all in red wanders up to the party. He introduces himself as Andre Linos, and he is happy to have met us after learning of our exploits in the town. He offers to buy everyone a drink, and then sits beside Rimo, where he talks to him in a lowered voice. As he talks to Rimo, Rimo appears to be a bit agitated by the conversation. Andre then gets up and says he has to leave, but before he goes he would like us to all attend a party in a few months time in Port-a-Lucine, and hands Sik an invitation. The invitation is to a masquerade ball to be held in two months time.

The group finishes its drinks and then heads off the Mayor's. When they get there they explain what was going on and the Mayor congratulates them on stopping the heinous murders. He then gives each person $500, and since Reginald's group is imprison he figures as a further reward we can take something of theirs. Dario takes a cloak, Sik a pair of Kragar's goggles, Rimo a long sword, Daimonion a rapier, Dera a ring, and Tallorn a pair of boots. With that taken care of the party is thanked once again by the Mayor and told they are free to leave the town, now that it is open once again.

The group then decide to take the time to purchase a few things before leaving town. Dario pruchases a new set of thieves tools to replace the ones he broke earlier, while Tallorn returns to the temple of Ezra and donates $250, for their helping him earlier. The whole group then meet up and visit farmer Bawb's ranch on the outskirts of town, and they purchase horses to help speed their journey along. After a day of shopping they return to the Green Griffin to get some rest before leaving in the morning for Port-A-Lucine.

One of the interesting problems in this campaign is that Tallorn is not very literate in many languages. In fact he only knows, Darkonian, Tepesti and Vaashi. This causes some problems because our of the rest of the group only Rimo knows Darkonian, and later we find out that so does Dario, but the rest of the party tend to only speak Mordentish or other langauges Tallorn has no understanding in. As a result Tallorn is reduced to hand gestures or drawing on peices of parchment when Rimo is not around to translate for him. Here are the scribblings Tallorn has used through out this adventure to "talk" to other members of the party.

This one is Tallorn trying to convey to Dera that we should go to the local temple and for some medical help.

This one is Tallorn talking with Dera about the fact that certain members of the other parties are missing. Yan, Delacarte, and Kragar, as well as Luca and Roderick

Tallorn was trying to explain that the claw weapon had to be used by someone with good hand to hand skills, like Yan as opposed to a swordsman like Delacarte. Unfortunatly things happened that interrupted the explination

Here Tallorn is trying to explain that he doesn't see any footprints at the crime scene

This is actually Dera's attempt to tell Tallorn they should go explore the possible exits from the scene. It took a while to figure this one out, in fact in the end Tallorn decided they should just go back to the Inn and get some drink and food.

This one Tallorn is "talking" with Daimonion about the fact he sees Yan and Delcarte but not Luca. Daimonion kept thinking he was talking about Selena who had big breasts, so Tallorn had to draw the big breasted lady and cross her out to show he wasn't talking about her.

This is Tallorn saying that the should go over and talk to the people at the table.

Here Tallorn is "talking" to Dera about how the should keep an eye on the door to the inn, as well as Radanvich.

Here Daimonion is explaining to Tallorn that he is going to go ask Radanvich about where Luca went.

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