06a. Death by Pie - Behind the Scenes

This article includes the GM's notes on the 06. Death By Pie side quest.
Five contestants try to win the prize (100GP and title). The judge and prize sponsor is bachelor, Julio Moretti (exotic, charismatic human male noble in his 40’s from Fiumri), known to try and charm young, pretty ladies. Upon trying all five pies, before he announces a winner, drops to the ground, convulses, foams at the mouth and then, if no intervention of a spell to cure poison, dies. His manservant, Luigi runs for the manor to advise Moretti’s mother. Mrs Eren will quickly declare the death was by poison, most likely fom the the Blodflower Mujj and Haaso who were watching the events will immediately point the blame of Miss Hope (being a tiefling who arrived a short while ago) and imprison her. Private Klamdor and Zdero Pero have other thoughts on the matter and are also concerned that the busy Vodja (Jerwitt Hubblepot) has not been advised.

Suspects and Clues

Mrs Patterwall

Old female gnome, cataracts, good hearing. Miss Hope’s neighbour. No motive

1. Knows Mrs Meatbraise has won 5 years in a row and that title is important to her, and that she’s quote in love with Moretti
2. Heard someone entering Hope’s home the last night through the window, probably man as the footsteps were heavy, she thinks Miss Hope is a “get around” so she can afford to live.
3. She heard that Miss Hope obtained flowers from Moretti for the pie – being a part of the seduction.
4. Believes Spinster Prim is a witch, thinks her own blindness is a witch curse
5. Claims Vjetar made lustful comments about Moretti

Hope

Young female Tiefling, nimble. + 2 CHA. (Rossa flower), Recently arrived, and is a Tiefling

1. Played the lute at the Dog’s Leg last night
2. Obtained Rossaflowers seeds from Moretti, required to make the Flower Pie. Moretti excited
3. Moved here hoping to escape persecution
4. Worked part time at Mrs Eren’s pharmacy, cleaning only
5. Doesn’t know how to read

Mrs Meatbraise

Mid-30’s, female human, quite stocky +1 ALL STATS. Infatuated with Moretti. Knew the tiefling was going to bake a pie Moretti would love.

1. Her Rhubarb Pie has won the last 5 years
2. Knows Miss Hope works for Mrs Eren, and would have access to Eren’s books on poison.
3. Knows Miss Hope obtained flowers from Moretti
4. Doesn’t like the Spinster, claiming she’s a witch. May admit she used the Spinster’s services to abort a child years ago.
5. Notes Mrs Patterwall is the town gossip & make up stories.
6. Has heard how jealous Vyetar s of Moretti’s stylish looks.
7. She knows about Bloodflowers, as worked for Mrs Eren a few years ago and actually poisoned her husband, as she was hopeful to get with Moretti.

The Spinster, Primrose

Older Firbolg female druid, gray/blue skin, 8’tall. Suspected of witchcraft +2 WIS, +1 STR,

1. Knows poisonous Bloodflowers resemble Rossaflowers, and where to find them locally
2. Believes strongly that the Tiefling is innocent
3. Comments that Mrs Meatbraise visited her five years ago for fertility issues.
4. Knows Vjetar was jealous of other women who caught Moretti eyes, but thinks it’s harmless.

Vyetar

40 year equivalent male elf. Moretti was more stylish than Vjetar +2 DEX

1. Knows Mrs Patterwall is not totally blind.
2. Knows Miss Hope is poor. Believes she had a good reason to win on account of making a pie that Moretti would be fond of (his mother used to make it).
3. Knows Mrs Eren was teaching Hope how to read.
4. Claims Mrs Meatbraise was infatuated with Moretti since her first win, surely she wouldn’t have done it. Her husband died 4 years ago.
5. Knows Spinster Prim is harmless.

Lady Sofia Moretti & Luigi – Manservant

Old baroness, human. Julio Morretti’s Mother. Brother of Marquez Moretti from Drimm. +3 CHA, + 1 INT

1. Hates Tieflings.Evn if the Tiefling didn’t kill Julio, she’s probably guilty of something.
2. Didn’t think much of Mrs Meatrbraises’s advances on Moretti in the past.
3. Secretly visited the Spinster to try and get anti aging cream.
4. Vyetar is the only good thing about this town.

Mrs Eren

+ 1 WIS, +2 INT, +3 Medicine. Will only initially give a limited number of clues, as she is busy dealing with the Moretti family.

1. Diagnoses cause of death – symptoms match Bloodflower poison.
2. Will confirm Miss Hope worked for her, and that she had started to teach her how to read only a few weeks ago, to help improve her job prospects
3. Upon further evidence or information about Mrs Meatbraise, will confirm Mrs Meatbraise worked for her as an assistant four years ago, quitting after her husband died, and could have some knowledge of poisonous flowers.
4. Knows that the Spinster provides assistance for sensitive lady issues, outside of the law.

Rewards

(if successful): “Hope’s Cloak” ( +1 to all Saving Throws), has strange writing inside of cloak. (if failed): Meatbraise’s chest, including Stone of Luck (Luckstone) – cursed, actually actually Stone of Ill Luck, soldier’s uniform, scale mail, longsword, flute