Daggoth holds up the broach

"Does this look familiar?"

While the rest of the party talks to the dwarf, Hedoni wanders around the bridge to search the bodies and look for anything else interesting.

Perception check: 1d20+6+1=19

"Yes, that's the silver Strongsinger anniversary pin. You get it after you've been in the guild for 10 years. I have only like it, but brass, for my five year anniversay. It looks just like Thkas's, but there are other's who have similar ones." She begins to look quite worried. "I can't believe it. Thkas, was a poor traveling singer. I doesn't make sense. And yes, I would like to come with you, if you don't mind. I'd like to get to the bottom of this too."

Hedoni searches the bodies of the goblins. On the caster he finds a silk pouch with a handful of small gemsstones worth about 100 gold.

It is well into night once you reach Brindol.

To his comrades, Hedoni says, "That housekeeper could have let on to someone that we're on to them - we need to get to the jail as soon as possible."

The next morning you go to the town jail and find Constable Deslater at a desk. "Yes, what can I do for you gentlemen? Any new information?"

"Lots of new information," Salazar says. The mage proceeds to explain what the group found, particularly about Ravenblade being drugged, the new will from the debtor, and the missing minstrel.

You show DeSlater the brooch from the house and explain all that you've learned in your investigation. The constable seems impressed and decides to return to Hammerfist to interogate the housekeeper further.

The group gains 800 experience from succeeding at the CSI skill challenge.

"Alright you've convinced me there is more going on here. I want to check into these allegations myself. I'll be back by night fall." Looking somewhat embarassed he adds "In the meantime you can talk with your friend in jail if you like."

DeSlater leaves and the jailer escorts you back to the cells. The jail has no windows and stings of rat droppings. The jailer takes you to Ravenblade's cell. He has lost some weight and seems to be sick.

"Friend Dwarf, we'll get you out of here soon. We're sure now that you didn't commit these crimes. "

Hedoni uses his powers to clean up the cell a bit, sweeping away the droppings, replacing the smell with one of a fresh-mined quarry, and adding some light.

Turning to Mal, but not wanting to hurt Ravenblade's pride, he whispers "Can you do something for him? He looks like he could use a pick-me-up of the healing variety..."

<cough> <spit>

"Is that you, Fey? I feel like everything is a bit of a haze, what with the pain in my stomach. Joe's to blame. No I take that back, that damned, two-faced, son of a brittle, mossy stone Baldoc is to blame!!!"

After a further bout of coughing, when Hedoni cleans up the room and whirls up a bunch of dust and filth, the ranger relaxes a little and comes to the door.

"I'm glad Andronsius managed to send my message to you. I didn't have much time and hoped it wasn't too full of nature analogies, but figured you and Salazar would understand. In any case, tell me what has transpired."

"Ravenblade, keep tough in there. You will be out soon. We have proof enough we know you didn't do it and the authorities will soon know, too."

OOC: Use however many IIWs as needed to heal the dwarf. And Heal checks.

"Is that you, Mal? Tell me more. If you have proof I didn't kill Baldoc, do you know who did? At first I thought he arranged to have his death be blamed on me as a final act of vengeance for...." he trails off, clearly hesitant to say more.

"We think that Baldoc drugged you, named you as his new beneficiary in his will, put another poor dwarf in his place, and burnt his house down to escape his creditors and frame you for the 'murder,'" Salazar tells Ravenblade, "and I think we have enough proof DeSlater will have to free you."

Salazar takes a look at the dwarf, trying to see what ails him. Perhaps it's a rare strain of mutated dwarf-afflicting eladrin feyrot syndrome...

Heal (1d20+4+1=7)

"Gods you look awful!" Daggoth says while putting a reassuring hand on the dwarf's shoulder.

"At least your neck is not stretched, so all in all, things could be worse."

"Hah! Typical Daggothian humor. If you're not in a worse situation, then it can't be that bad." he says without a smile.

Looking at Salazar with narrowed eyes, "Sooooo....Baldoc yet lives. And he tried to frame me for his supposed murder. Well, after I get out of here, perhaps I should oblige him. Hmmm....but why would he do that? Did you find out if he was in some sort of danger and had to disappear? Why would he lie about his daughter, just to...."

"So far as we can tell, he wasn't in any physical danger, but he owed a lot of money to a lot of people," Salazar responds. "As to his daughters, we heard around town that the older one died in the fighting at Overlook, and the younger daughter has been missing for three months. Neither daughter cared much for Baldoc, or so we heard."

This side quest was inspired by the Sherlock Holmes story "The Norwood Builder."

As Ravenblade leaves the filthy cell and passes Baldoc, the ranger grabs the older dwarf's arm in a vise-like grip and he croaks to him in dwarven,"Tell me now, you honorless piece of slag, did you also lie about Kyra?! What do you know about her whereabouts? Did you have anything to do with her disappearance, so that you could plan this scheme of yours!?! If you did and she is in any way harmed, then I will come for you like an avenging angel flying on the wings of Melora's winds!"

Intimidate roll. (1d20+2+1=16)

As he hisses his questions at the chief, the ranger's predatory eyes also meet those of Dorydd. He hopes that his words at least reach the housekeeper's ears if not those of the stubborn clanchief.

Darth Ecks wrote

OOC: Can we read Ravenblade's side now, then? And Mal will try aiding Ravenblade's disease save as much as needed.

OOC: Emily said I could read your thread now, so I assume the same applies to you guys. I've read a little already up to just past your discussion with the Overlook council. Seems like you guys had quite the clue searching scenario going on. It's funny that Andronsius contacted the group.

"So, friend, we should get you in a nice bed at the inn to help you recover. After that, I assume you want to try to find your friend. Keera, is it?"

OOC: Here is my heal aid check.

Heal Aid (+7 skill, +1 24hr) (1d20+8=25)

Although there is venom behind Ravenblade's words, due to the many years of threats and angry complaints he has received, the chief is unmoved. Baldoc seems only to take pleasure in Ravenblade's anger. "Yes, you think of that. Maybe Kyra is in danger. Well, she can rot in hell for all I care."

As Raveblade leaves the jail, he is given back his belongings.

OOC: The different threads are open to all assuming that Ravenblade would share all that happened to him and visa versa.

I will apply Mal's healing check at your next extended rest.

What direction did you want to go now? Anything specific? If not I'll move things along my way.