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02.25.20

CSI: Abominable Charges

by Steel Claw


 
We have returned to Bezia; Sapphire is away fighting on the front lines. Yet there's much going on in the city.
 
Three nights ago:

  • Two guards dropped dead in the mess hall (poison?)

  • A charge in the powder reserves was discovered before it exploded


    • The bodies


    Whatever happened to the guardsmen, Theo and Murg decided to investigate them first. A spell of Master Theo's (detect poison and disease) identified synthesized basilisk venom -- and only killers-for-hire specialized in that subset of alchemy are known to synthesize poisons. Zorzall, the half-orc hitman.
     
    Murg did find two small arrowheads of specific construct. Their design is too professional for Steel; the poison would have poisoned the arrow shaft as well. Theo did ascertain that the arrowheads were made of mithril.
     
    Izol, in the meanwhile, had been going through whatever records the morgue had. He did find two instances of basilisk venom of note:
  • Princess Clara, poisoned on the day of her betrothed. Clues point to poison in her drink (after a toast)

  • The father of the current captain of the guard (and previous capt. himself): Capt. Woodcorps. He was celebrating (and drinking) when the poison took him.


    • I mused that we should speak to (the current) Capt. Woodcorps' second in command. With Sapphire and the next lieutenant on the front lines, Corp. Rodrick would be the next one to interview.
     
    We first entered the mess hall. A chef/worker directed me towards Alice, who pointed out where they sat. She said they were sitting across from someone she didn't recognize: he wore official dress and seemed friendly, and even ran out to "find help" (disappear). She claimed that, like Princess Clara and Capt. Woodcorps, the guardsmen drank just before being taken by poison.
     
    Just as he sat down, Izol could see clear as day two bolts hidden by invisibility magic underneath the table.
     
    "How would I make this shot?" The bolts could only really be fired from inside the room, and probably from point-blank range. Returning to Alice: the guard was young, a human male with blonde hair and clean-shaven. His helmet was on the table -- probably hiding whatever subterfuge he used to kill those guards. Alice claims he looked like a new recruit (he had the uniform).
     

    The charge


    The explosive material used in the bombing attempt was also identified: dragonpowder.
     
    The powder room itself is pretty large, containing large amounts of explosives. If destroyed, it could destroy
     
    To the guardsmen posted at the powder room: "Did either of you know the two guards who were murdered?" No, they were new recruits -- posted sometimes to the armory, sometimes as extras to the warroom.
     
    Theo noticed irregularities in the floor stonework. "Oh, yeah, there was a crew that came to the keep, the day after the poisoning." Admin Connor authorized them directly. Unfortunately, Izol confirmed that the bricks are illusory. Beneath each section is "a small black bundle with a small piece of pink flesh attached". Each "bundle" is a construction of wire and what looks like brain.
     
    Theo recognized it as a sending bomb, an illegal piece of magic that is triggered via a sending spell. To disarm the bombs, Theo took the three bombs and placed them in Izol's empty bag of holding.
     
     

    The Timeline


    Firstly, the poisoning happened
    Then, the dragonfire explosive went off in the
     
    In order to make it from the mess hall to the powder room, the assailant could have made it in time, via a second-story window and a balcony overlooking the training yard. Anything from haste to invisibility would have helped greatly.

    Continue reading...

    1. To Bezia: Dangerous & Familiar
      10.22.19
    2. To Waylay Arcadia
      10.29.19
    3. As the Gods Watch
      11.12.19
    4. Recap: Riding the River to Bezia
      12.03.19
    5. Honor Returns to the Redtails
      12.03.19
    6. Honor and Innocence
      12.10.19
    7. What Ends & What Begins
      01.07.20
    8. Night Before the Report
      01.14.20
    9. Adrenaline
      01.28.20
    10. Fairytale's End
      02.11.20
    11. CSI: Abominable Charges
      02.25.20
    12. Stones in the Basement
      03.03.20
    13. Saviors
      03.17.20
    14. A Night To Remember
      03.24.20
    15. The End Draws Near
      03.31.20
    16. Black Reckoning
      04.07.20
    17. Argyle's End
      04.10.20
    18. Two and Two
      04.14.20
    19. Concentration
      04.21.20
    20. The Magic in Winter
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    21. Real, Under, Dark: Indrada
      05.12.20
    22. Puzzling the Way Forward
      05.19.20
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      06.02.20
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      06.16.20
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      06.30.20
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      07.10.20
    29. Arcane Mishap
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    30. The Treasure of Weave-Steel
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      6th of February, 2022
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      02.13.22
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      02.20.22
    48. Heed the Changing Winds
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      03.27.22
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    51. It Begins Again
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    52. Stratagem to the Winds
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    54. Another Hot Time
      05.15.22
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    56. Unfavorably Familiar
      08.07.22
    57. Cloaked in Red
      09.11.22
    58. Forged After War
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    59. Truthseeking
      10.02.22
    60. Two-Parters
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    61. Blade & Bow, Hammer & Axe
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    65. A Clashing of Fangs
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    66. Nleyke [v. To Wish]
      01.29.23

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