Edited the link to the Roll20 page into the opening post.  Here it is again for the sake of redundancy: https://app.roll20.net/join/85511/ZLp1pw

Surya joins the others in the bucket brigade.  With the help of the heroes, the fire is quenched, the animals are safely corralled, and the camp is saved!

"Well done," Almah commends, "It seems Garavel did well to hire the lot of you..."

She considers her words as she eyes the strange assortment of newcomers; a Bladeling, a Halfling, a Genasi, and two others who hide their faces, then smiles.

"Remarkable people."

50 xp per player for saving the camp.

Immediate crisis aside, Almah shows
remarkably little concern over the
fate of her astrologer, treating it more
as a loss of resources than a personal
tragedy. She asks Garavel to lead an
investigation into whether or not
the fire might have been set by
someone in her camp. Since the
heroes also were not around
when the fire broke out (and
are thus unlikely potential
arsonists in her eyes), she asks
them to help her major domo
determine if there is a mystery afoot,
and if so, to solve it.
Garavel tells the heroes that the
destroyed wagon belonged to Almah’s
personal fortuneteller Eloais, a
handsome man from Almah’s distant homeland
of Varisia. Eloais’s specialty was a divinatory deck
of cards known as Harrow, a few cards of which litter
the ground outside the burned-out wagon.
Physical examination of the ruined wagon reveals
sooty ashes, a few broken bottles or potion vials, a cracked
nonmagical crystal ball, and several pools of melted wax
where candles must once have stood. Eloais’s charred
skeletal form remains near the center of the wagon. A DC
20 Search DC 15 Perception check reveals no signs of struggle or violence,
suggesting that the fortune-teller was killed by the fire
itself or from inhaling the smoke the fire caused. Searching characters may make
a DC 16 Spot DC 15 Perception check to notice the gnoll expert Dashki
lurking a short distance away, watching them from behind
the corner of a nearby wagon.

  Kyle is very boring apparently, but then he'd have trouble arguing that point.

  "It would hardly be in the job description to run away when the caravan we were hired to protect was at risk.", he comments before heading over to the remains of the wagon.  He picks up the cracked crystal ball, recalling an acquaintance who had put a similarly mundane one to good use in actual arcane practice.

  Kyle comes to the conclusion Eloais had suffered what seemed to have been the most... relaxed, of burning deaths.  He considers what is left of the spilled potions and vials "I could have studied advanced alchemy, but no I had to learn Elven."  Sure, he knew how to make potions.  But so could any idiot who had read up on the Brew Potion ritual.

OOC:  Perc 23, a pleasant surprise.
For kicks arcana check:  15

The person Kyle sees: http://bellsouthpwp.net/e/r/eric_ang/Dashki.png

Results of Arcana check:  The only thing magical in the immediate vicinity are the potions which are of the relatively cheap variety.  Potions of healing and resist poison for example.  Some of the potions aren't magical at all.

"While it seems there is no love lost on the late Eloais, a burial and a few words for the departed would be the very least we should do for him," Surya says softly as she respectfully begins to wrap the body in whatever bits of cloth she can find that weren't completely destroyed.

"Right," Almah agrees, "I'll have the others deal with that.  You all focus on finding out if this was an accident.  Which seems terribly unlikely.  Wagons don't accidentally go up in flames quite that fast and without any calls for help from the occupant.  So find out who did this."

"The killer dies tonight," Surya prophesies with hand outstretched,
"Cliff and cactus in sight."

"Well, well, well... Would you take a look at that molding."
Apparently finding the craftsmanship of the wagon he had helped save quite intriguing, Tym fails to notice anything of the surrounding area.


Perception Check = (d20) [9] + 0 = 9

Sitting in contimplation Omira starts running questions through her mind.  1.) Why would someone set a fire to the wagon.. was it the victim they were after or was it something inside they were scared of.  2.) Where did the fire start inside or ourside of the wagon. 3.) Who would gain the most from this "accident" and who loses other than the dead man.  4.) Who are all of these people and why are they travelling together is there a relationship that has soured that caused this crime. 5.) How does everyone else view this incident.  Well, I guess as well as trying to help solve a crime that really has nothing to do with us can wait till after we see to the dead.

Hmmm.. catching a glance at the wagon before standing she Thinks to herself and studies the "crime scene" Perception check 14+9 = 23.

She states to any who can hear her "Where did the fire start inside or outside the wagon?"

Glancing around to see if anyone else is going to join in the investigation she watches the group for a reaction and interactions. Peception check 15+9=24

Looking back towards where she last spotted Dashki I wonder what he is up to.  Looking to see if Dashki still stands out.  (Perception role 15+9-24)


Stating: Well, there I go again getting caught up with this when there is a grave matter to attend to first. Looking over at Sahba  I'll assist with the burial what do you need me to do?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:04, Mon 25 Feb 2013.

His mother once told him a story about a detective named Sherlock Holmes. A master of deduction and wit, was this man, that Sahba came to admire the legendary figure as a young cub. He would run around the den pretending to be Holmes while one of his younger brothers would play the sidekick Watson. Sahba even vowed to one day become a super sleuth, much like Detective Holmes. But of course that never came to pass, and, as his dreams went out the window, so did his ability to perceive a crime scene.

The fact that the fortune teller died in the flames left Sahba believing that there could have been any number of reasons why she died a fiery death. Possibility after possibility swam in his head: assassination, heart attack brought on by poison, magical fowl play, a stray rock to the forehead, and so on. As his mind raced through the mired of choices his eyes did catch a glimpse of a figure eyeing the group form behind a wagon.

Not wanting to show his hand Sahba continues to "search" the crime scene. But really he waits, keeping an eye on the figure, looking for it to make its next move. At any sign that the individual makes a moves, Sahba will pounce into action.

---

Perception check 1 - the body: 12 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 4
Perception check 2 - the figure: rolled 23 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 15.
Readied Action: charge the figure if he moves

"Forgive me, Almah, but until I understand why you don't seem upset at all about the death of Eloais, I won't be able to shake the feeling that you wanted him dead and thus, make you a suspect in my mind."

Her eyes are fully trained on Almah, ignoring all else.

---

Perception check: 5
Insight check to peer into Almah's motives and/or overcome a potential bluff check by Almah: 17

When playing out these interviews, use the NPCs’
descriptions on the preceeding pages to liven things
up; the players should ask their questions, not just roll
Diplomacy checks and wait for you to feed them a few lines
of information, after all.

Dashki doesn't move away and simply continues to spy on the heroes.

"How would you feel if one of your friends burned to death and you had to put on a strong front to maintain the respect of your caravan?!" Almah snaps bitterly at Emerald's question.  Emmy can tell that this burst of emotion is genuine.  She sighs and collects herself. "I hired Eloais in Solku about a month
ago to read his cards for me.  I haven’t visited the land of my ancestors, but having a harrower at my side felt right."

"He foretold disaster," Surya asserts.

"How did you...?"

Surya holds up the Cyclone card for Almah to see who stares at it in disbelief.

"Eloais’s readings had grown increasingly grim.  His last reading centered on that auspicious card, the Cyclone, portending death by fire and schemes by powerful evil."

"This omen also speaks of Kelmarane."

"Yes, but the village is only a small part of something much larger, something he called the 'Legacy of Fire.'  I'm not sure what he meant by 'Legacy of Fire,' alas."

With as little information as the PCs have at this point, no further Knowledge checks can reveal anything more, aside from the fact that no “Legacy of Fire” figures in prominent tales or legends.

"You don't realize just how much you meant to Eloais.  We shall soon learn that Dashki is obsessed with you."

Almah blinks in surprise then grows thoughtful.

"Eloais and I didn’t have a romantic relationship, but I did spend a lot of time with the Varisian listening to his fortunes — time that could well have made Dashki jealous?  Be careful in your questioning of him.  Don't tell him he is a suspect or he might frustrate your investigation."

  "If he were both at fault and cautious, then I doubt they would fall to their knees confessing just on someone's say so."  Of course on the other hand, there usually wasn't much of a legal system to prevent mere say so being damning in much of the world.

  "Though I suppose the main question at the moment would be if his hearing is better than his hiding."

One of the mercenaries who helped move the big wagon answers Omira, "It had to have been started from the inside.  Otherwise we would have noticed the flames in time to save both Eloais and the wagon."

Emerald is briefly startled by the sudden outburst, but shows more relief than annoyance. "No offense meant, Almah, but all I knew about you can be summed in the past 5 minutes. The only person who could have started the fire would be someone in the camp itself."

She tilts her head in the direction of Omira and the answer she gets. "Then the fire was more to clean up evidence while spreading chaos while the one who started the fire got away maybe?"

She shrugs. "Well if Surya's assertion is any clue, then where is Dashki?"

(Emmy failed the perception check to notice Dashki, but Surya pointed out the name)

Omira thinks to herself... If it was set from the inside the person who set it had to have subdued the victim, set the fire, and had time to get away clean or be seen.  That takes a lot of skill.  Dashki sucks at being stealthy at least to the trained eye.  Glancing around at the people around wonders if any of them appear to have trained skills for this type of work.

Omira looks at the person who responded and says "Did the wagon have some kind of security.. Anything in place maybe magically that the person who set it would have to get through?" Continuing to ponder out loud not really waiting for a response she states "It just strikes me that whoever set it would have to have known when would be a good time to set it as well.. was there a routine in place for maybe a watch as well?"

Waits patiently for a response as she glances around looking again to spot Dashki and see what he is up to.

Perception: Rolled 13+9=22
This message was undeleted by the player at 01:32, Tue 05 Mar 2013.

"That's not necessarily true, Emerald," I say. "Kyle picked up a cracked crystal ball earlier. It could very well be possible a magic spell was somehow pushed through it, or perhaps some other device, into the wagon."

"However, as we have very few leads, I believe discretion to be the cumbersome part of valor. Let us ask this Dashki exactly what he knows. If we don't accuse him, he shouldn't have a problem. If he acts suspiciously, then we shall push the harder for it."

Tym turns towards the tree several members have glanced at when mentioning Dashki and makes to move in his direction should noone stop him.

Sahba takes his eyes off his target, as his ears pick-up on the talk of fire. What was this Legacy of Fire? Why would someone kill a fortune teller? His mind mulls over the limited knowledge and comes up with nothing. They can only hope that something will come up.

He then turns his attention back to the Dashki that Tym is now approaching. Does this one know something? He follows closely behind Tym to see.

---

OOC: As a player I had the thought that perhaps the title of the story "Legacy of Fire" might start with this supposed arson. Perhaps that this fire was alive. Or maybe the work of an elemental. But Sahba wouldn't know anything like that. This is all new to him. So it is kept as OoC thought.

Dashki doesn't make any indications that he overheard the conversation, nor does he make a move to leave his hiding place.

The only ones who may clearly have people-killing skills that Omira can see are the mercenaries.

Almah calms down and nods.  "It's good to be thorough."

To answer emerald's question, Surya points in Dashki's direction.The merc answers Omira with a shrug.  "He was a fortune-teller.  Shouldn't he have seen the danger ahead of time?  As for security, we have a night watch.  During the day, everyone's expected to call for help if they see danger.  Especially fortune-tellers."

"Knowledge will pass through us," Surya prophesies, hand outstretched,
"In a veil bound in ashes.

Blessed are those who hear;
Keep what is written for the time in near.
He who has an ear, let him hear
The footsteps of one
As he approaches the doors of heaven to return.

Lead us to the edge of life and death;
Bound by ears of wisdom.
Give us this day, give us the strength
To reach out and touch the face
of the divine."

"Uh... yeah..."

Anyone who approaches Dashki immediately
notices that his powerful body odor betrays a man with a
very loose relationship with hygiene. He dresses in filthy
rags and walks with a slight limp due to an old injury
(a gnoll once tried to chew off his left leg at the thigh),
propping himself up with a gnarled wooden staff. (A DC 10
Spot check during mealtime reveals that the gnoll expert
ravenously shoves food into his mouth with his grubby
hands, an animalistic display that grossly offends anyone
of culture or refinement.)

"Ho there! Stinky!" I shout at the little man as his odor appears friendlier than his countenance. "We were watching you watching us and we want to know what you know of the events surrounding the fire, since you were so busy hiding and not helping."

I flex my arms and clench my fists a few times. "Tell me quickly and I won't have to forcefully introduce you to a bar of soap."




OOC: 5 Diplomacy check 19 Intimidate check
This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:12, Wed 06 Mar 2013.

Looking over at the Merc, Omira replies "Sounds like there are some hostilities or resentments about the fortuneteller? I don't know much about fortunetellers or their type of skills but I would think he should have been able to predict, sense, or something to protect himself in one way or another but out side of that was there another issue we should be aware of?" Tell me how do you really feel?

Ponders if Surya is in the same type of work and if he'll be able to shed some light on the workings of this magic.

Looks over at Tym and agrees/hopes he'll get some answers from Dashki.  He is intimidating enough I'd think to get something out of him... that will at least help the rest of us get answers from the others around the camp.

Insight check Rolled 10+4=14
Perception check rolled 6+9=15

OOC: I was looking around to see if any of the merc or camp people looked to have rogue skills for stealthiness, picking locks, sneaky job trades.. not the killing people ones.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:32, Wed 06 Mar 2013.

  Kyle has leather armor and a crossbow, if you had a very limited view of 'Equipment = Class' then one could assume he was a sneaky sort (Rangers, Can't trust em).  Or you could realize he was kind of terrible at concealed movement, let alone stealthy enough to pull off Daylight arson without any potential witnesses being spectacularly dim witted.

  Kyle manages (somehow) to refrain from double taking at Tym.  The Genasi was going to Pump *clap* You up Dashki into compliance?  He distracts himself from this by answering their previous question.  "While a trained sort could use a chunk of glass as a focus for their own basic spells, it would require something much more valuable, or at the very least enchanted in some way for something like that to have happened.  Though that doesn't mean such an object was simply removed, I find it more likely that more plain methods of arson were used."

  Okay, we could spend several hundred gold investing in a specific ritual and the required components, and the minutes long at best casting time.  Or, we could use a match.

OOC:  As a reminder, Crippled limping cane man, everybody.
http://bellsouthpwp.net/e/r/eric_ang/Dashki.png 

Emerald is tempted to pull a Daffy Duck and smooch Surya on the lips, just to get a reaction out of her like "EEEK!" or "What the?!", but figures she'll save that for another time. Besides... she finds the eccentricities of this group *highly* entertaining. And here I'm supposed to be the entertainer she thinks to herself.

Emerald does, however, address the merc who was talking to Omira. "Hey now... don't speak ill of the dead. Fortune-tellers can no more evade fate than the sun can evade falling behind the horizon. Everyone meets their end eventually, whether they are prepared for it or not."

Emerald starts to approach Tym and says, "Don't be mean, Tym. We don't want to antago-" she wrinkles her nose and covers her mouth before she can get to where Tym is and says, "Pardon..." she heads over to check the OTHERS in the camp who are NOT Dashki. Yeesh! She thinks to herself, Who lets themselves go that long? Is he just that depressed? Or that depraved?

"So it shows it's true colors," Dashki answers, "It arrives on the heels of fire and death, plays the hero to deceive sweet Almah, now bears it's teeth.  I have nothing to say to you, deceiver.  Now make good on your threat so I can forcefully introduce your face to my blades."

He bears his teeth in a savage expression that resembles a snarling dog.

Surya can only predict those things that are expected to happen in the module, so sudden smooch attack will certainly catch her off guard.  Assuming Mr. Tym doesn't turn this into a combat encounter, she puts her hands together in a triangle gesture ( http://neveryetmelted.com/wp-images/SpockSalute.jpg ) and bows to Dashki.

"Perhaps you misunderstand.  Tym and the rest of us have been tasked by our employer Almah with finding Eloais killer.  Tym simply wishes to do so quickly.  Clearly you care about Almah.  Did Eloias?"

"Grr.  Yes.  I could see in his eyes he desired her."

"She often spent time alone with him.  Did that make you jealous?"

"Of course it did!"

"Then you're glad he's dead."

"No.  He was a waste of Alma's money in life, but in death he's costing her even more: a wagon, a funeral, and an investigation.  It would have been better if he was simply fired."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:13, Sat 09 Mar 2013.

Sahba only stands to the side waiting to hear more, saying nothing. If there was one thing his parents taught him, it was to be quiet, be patient and wait.

  "While we are on the subject of business expenditures, what is it exactly you do around here Dashki.  More or less expensive than fortune telling of unconfirmed accuracy?"

  Usually the flavor text only bothers to go into poor hygiene if it's someone either A) destitute, or B) Evil.  Dashki was currently employed, but then shooting a man for bad health habits wasn't exactly rational.