The Will to Live

DM: Rocky
Players:
Chompy -> Polemoduke
Alian Alyre Adradar -> Matt
Melvin R. d'Medani -> Tamara

Recap by Tamara

Sharn Inquisisitive:

Breaking News: Former brelish captain Alabaster found dead in his manor in the Azure district in Skyway! The veteran had chosen the manor, designed by the architect Kleudeau, known for his strange and magical works, as a reward for his time in the war. Seven days ago he was found dead in his own house by D. Jeanne, the Estate Realtor. The watch issued a statement that caused the death of Mr. Elaboster was some sort of poison, his will, and therefore the knowledge who will be the new owner of the house, is still missing. Multiple relatives have sent Medani and Tharashk agents in, but the manor by the crazy architect seems to be haunted.

Nymm, Tearoom in the Lost & Found agency:

A new recruit, Alian Alyre Adradar, comes in and finds Chompy Guardsman sleeping on the ceiling. They share some cookies when Melvin R. d'Medanijoins them, followed by Ms. Can’die. (second cousin of Man'die, the front desk lady)
She explains that a note was sent to the agency and all free detectives were assigned to meet D. Jeanne in Skyway. the goblin lady gave them all tickets for a skycoach and after a quick stop at “Bertram and Minzie’s grilled goods'', the group arrived at the manor of the deceased Mr. Alabaster where five individuals seem to wait for something.

Before approaching, the group had a quick talk and Alian revealed himself to be a former smuggler of goods during the last war and that when he was caught by Seekers, they cut off one of his hands.

“I never met a person who wasn't happy or dead after I interacted with them.”
-Alian Alyre Adradar, 997 YK

A woman in a yellow business suit, D. Jeanne, gave the agents the keys to the house and gave some valuable information:

• The inside of the house shifts every few days
• None of the hopeful inheritors entered the house since the murder
• Son and wife of the victim are not present and could not be contacted

Next, the crew started to interview the 5 suspects:

Ms. Sephir, the halfling housemaid:

• from a poor family -> scared to lose her job
• Mrs. Mulbry (niece of victim) would fire all non-human workers
• Mr. Elaboster said about the will that he was “very familiar with the location”.
• Beside Mr. Fern and her, only Mr. Moron would be in the house frequently

Corporal Lekkrish:

• Warbuddy of the victim -> big wound and fake hand and limp (Mr. Elaboster blamed him for his own wound)
• Mr. Elaboster enjoyed animals more than human company
• Mr. Elaboster would only pass the house to someone he knew well

Mr. Moron (pronounced Mow-rown), tutor of son and professor:

• uses the library for research (hopes to get some of the books)
• break up in the family, wife and son, some magical knack in the family

Mr. Fern, elvish groundskeeper:

• hopes to stay employed
• Ms. Sephir is curious and snoops around in places she isn’t supposed to be
• was not bothered by the interview

Mrs. Mulbry, niece:

• bad blood between her mother and Mr. Elaboster
• recent re-connected with her uncle
• son and wife disowned, Mr. Elaboster
• point about getting into high society

Further information:

• things would move on it’s own and scratching, cawing and barking would be heard
• Mr. Elaboster didn’t actively like everyone (held grudge against Lekkrish)

Now it was finally time to enter the manor, where Chompy immediately ran up some floors after Mevlin demanded that she may not eat anything in the house.
Bit by bit the team started to uncover the house and found that each of the 5 people they met outside had some dirt on their plate.

Mr. Fern was cultivating some dangerous and venomous plants
Sentient plant found
Pesticide (poisonous)

Ms. Sephir was stealing valuables for the Boromar Clan:

Letter: "You've been doing well to keep the coin flowing, Cousin. As long as you do so, your family will continue to be safe. The rich never miss a few coins, and they never suspect us, Cousin."
Missing items and a chest full of them

However Alian withheld most of those informations from the group

Prof. Moron was using the library and house to experiment on potentially dangerous transmutation spells that could animate object:

Furniture that moved on its own

The library hold multiple transmutation volume’s concerning giant magic
Transmutation rune across the whole house

Corporal Lekkrish was actually a karrnathi spy that conducted necromantic rituals in the house by pulling from the plane of Mabar:
Pentagram in the cellar -> connection to Mabar
Traces of undead/ zombies in the house (fought with dog)
Necromantic runes in Mr. Alabasters office and a panic rooms

Mrs. Mulbry stole stuff and was just after getting into high society.

Further there were traces that Mr. Alabaster owned a raven, a cat and a dog which all seemed to have died.
Alian took some salted meat from the cellar to give to Chompy since she got a little hangry (because of her curse). Also a secret magic elevator was discovered by Malvin that would teleport across the house.

It struck midnight when suddenly strange noises came from the grand staircase. On top, three ghostly spirits stepped forward: a dog, a cat and a raven.
Without hesitation they ran towards the three detectives and passed right through them. Chompy noticed that the picture on top of the stairs showed Mr. Elaboster with his three animals, but they were all staring over their shoulder at a tree in the front yard. When the crew stepped out the ghostly animals were sitting under the tree, waiting for them, but disappeared as they stepped closer.

Buried under the tree the group sound a chest and in it the will of Mr. Elaboster which declared the following:

Medals and memorabilia from the last war were to be given to Corporal Lekkrish.
Ms. Sephir was to be given a small trust fund for her family
Mr. Fern was given the contact for a colleague who was in need of a gardener
Professor Moron inherited some tomes that were of interest to him.
Mrs. Mulbry were given memorabilia and items/ books on etiquette
And all the rest, Mr. Elaboster left it to his son, once he would come of age.

Before the detectives could decide what to do, a dragging sound came from the street leading to the manor. Out of the shadows stepped Corporal Lekkrish, who raised a couple of skeletons that attacked the detectives. Chompy ran right for the corporal and went down after a few hits. After channeling some elemental thunder magic, Melvin tried to also go for the corporal, but was hit by the last remaining skeleton. When all seems lost and Alian was the last one standing, the ghost animals re-appeared, brought Chompy and Melvin back to life and incapacitated the corporal.
The watch came, alerted by the ruckus, and finally managed to be helpful by taking the corpal into their care.
As a reward, each of the detectives could choose a wondrous item out of Mr. Elaboster's vault.
Back at the agency, Can’die took over the paperwork and the group decided to let Alian name the case as a welcoming gift. The corporal didn’t stay long in Sharn, he was given over to some… higher authorities.