Exploding Chickens of Candlekeep

[aaron22]

After dropping a large haul of northern troll hides to the box outside of Candlekeep, Lunulata and Tsuchinoko head back down the path toward the Inn. Looking down the road, Lunulata's keen eyes were not needed to see a supply wagon turned over and engulfed in flames just ahead. Quickly running to the scene, the pair along with a seeker from the Keep named Herran searched for survivors. Enduring the great flames, they discover two female bodies. Neither of them had any life left and were charred badly. As a crowd gathers, a spell from afar is cast in an attempt to douse the flames. Instead it created an explosion obliterating everything that once was the wagon save a few crates. Dusting themselves off, the crowd sees a bird come out of one of the crates. A normal chicken by appearances, the onlookers moved toward it to investigate it closer. Then many more chickens came pouring from the crates. The large number of fowl spread out running between the feet of the crowd. Then one of the birds became agitated and began fighting with another bird. the bird damaged in a huge fiery burst. That bird in turn damaged the ones surrounding it causing them to burst as well. This reaction continued until all the chickens had been consumed by this. Damage was shared among many of the people in the crowd. After the dust cleared, nothing was left of the fowl but cooked remains scattered across the grassy lawn. Discussions on what to do with the remaining crates full of exploding chickens were plenty. Finally Isabella of Candlekeep decides to attempt dispelling the magic of these cursed birds. She set her mind and body to the weave and cast onto each crate individually. Confident now that the chickens would not be any more harm, the crowd began to open the crates. The lawn is once again full of many of these birds. Maybe one-hundred fowl litter the scape. This time the reaction was initiated by an arrow. But the result was the same. A conflagration of chicken and grass and wood. To much surprise, what was left of the chickens actually tasted good. Most of the people in the crowd were able to find enough laying around to have a nice supper. And with prize in hand, many of the people gathered went about their business again. A few stayed to investigate the exploding chickens further.

One of the boxes still had legible writing on the outside. While faded and charred the box read, "Elford and Sons Self Cooking Meals". Some stayed and discussed and deciphered. But Tsuchinoko grabbed the last remaining crate and started heading off. Lunulata caught up and with a look asked what he was doing. Tsuchi, a man of few words, simply tapped on the side if the crate with his earth hardened finger. In small print with the logo she reads "Balder's Gate" indicating a home location of this "Elford and Sons".

Once at the gate the two set off to find some answers within the city itself. After much time was spent, eventually a small group of investigators found themselves talking to a man named "Elan". Elan is some sort of book keeper for a shipping and deliveries company stationed in the Harbor District. After some back and forth between parties and disagreements between investigators, Elan leads us to an old warehouse. Once inside we find a trail of blood leading to a room toward the back. Following this trail we open the door to find a Beholder inside. Along with the beholder lies the remains of four months old gnomes. A woman with sorceress powers confides in the rest of the group that the beast is somehow magically bound to this room. Magically bound or not, this beast should have some answers if it decides to talk. Lucky for us, boredom has made this creature mad. It bargains with us to answer questions if we can succeed in solving it's riddles. Never any good at solving riddles, Lunulata would have just passed and went right to the fighting. But it seemed there were a few that were more than confident at their ability to decipher these word games. Feeling that the first riddle was hard. Lunulata had little hope in the group completing five without failure. Then the second riddle came and it was even considered easy for her. And the third just as simple. But wait. The man speaking for the group gave an odd answer. Why would he choose to give an answer to the beholder that is clearly incorrect. Maybe the beholder tricked his mind with its magic. That must have been it. Now we must battle this magical creature. The problem with beholders is that it is very difficult to judge how powerful one is just by looking at it. From a few experiences you could make some conclusion of this by mere size. The larger the beholder, the stronger the magic it possesses. This is not always the case though. It is best to prepare for the worst case in such a scenario and Lunulata selected some of her finest arrows and her finest crafted bow. The arrows selected impact with such a force that the target of such attacks are stunned and dazed by the force. Once again, it is difficult to judge the power of a beholder, because this one fell after just a few moments. Maybe we all prepared like this is the god of beholders and that is why it fell so quickly. After the beast had fallen, the place was searched and the city watch were called. The ones gifted in magic found some things but there didn't seem to be much more to make from the search. The Guards told us to be on our way and that if anymore is discovered, we should contact them. With that we all went our separate ways.

[Flasmix]

((Just some minor corrections.. it's Elford and Sons and it was the city watch that was called, not the Fist.

[paw]

Herran, being the gypsy bard that he is, was not the least bit satisfied with how things were handled when Magnus took charge or the end results, continues forward.

Heading first to the Ilmatari temple to seek the aid of Ameris. He wants to warn of the possibility of other shipments. He worries that orphans or others who would be ill prepared to face the deadly assault of exploding chickens may accept them as a gift only to get blown up in the process. (I plan to proceed with this meeting IG as Herran did express this desire, any others who investigated are free to join me, just let me know.)

He also plans to seek Ameris' help to recover the book that was discovered from the city watch so he can take it to Candlekeep for further investigation.

Herran then leaves a warning with whoever will hear him at the Dukes palace, expressing all his concerns and offering up the same warning as he does to Ameris.

His next stop ... Candlekeep ... to try and discover the identity of any otherplaner entities who might be trying to do harm to Candlekeeps many resources collected through the ages ... he knows the list is likely great. (also plan an IG meeting with Guide Laitae though Herran being a seeker there would not likely invite -everybody- to that meeting and limit it to those who are "friends" of the keep )


///PS: sorry Magnus! could not resist ... i enjoyed the short sparring Herran and he had in trying to wrestle control of how the investigation would be handled

[Master_Sarevok]

Magnus, while obviously distraught that his third answer was wrong, proceeds with his own investigation and content knowing that the answer given to him for the Beholder's third question was from the bard. The last time he would listen to a bard for a riddle's answer.

While others worry about chicken shipments, Magnus focuses on the important issue. Finding the summoner(s). He is content to let Herran and the other brash minded fools deal with chickens, he had more important issues to deal with.


////P.S. No harm done Paw it was fun having a Lawful guy *Magnus* sparring with a chaotic guy *Herran* He'll just keep Herran's actions against him in his little black book XD

[kleomenes]

Ameris visits the Revered Sister Juna at the orphanage, to warn of the risk of exploding chickens being delivered; the same warning is repeated to the clergy at the Temple of Ilmater.

He gives a warning to Endelyon and Alessia of the SCCE, and when he stops by the nascent soup kitchen he warns what staff are present to be careful of donations of chickens, and to kill them at a distance.

However beyond this he puts a notice on the doors of the Soup Kitchen warehouse.

People of the Harbour District,

Caution is advised regarding stray chickens in the docks.

If you see a chicken in the docks district, do not approach it and report it to the Watch; alternatively to Ameris Santrager at the Temple of Ilmater, or Herran Hymn at the White Mask Theatre. If a chicken cannot be avoided, slay it from a distance.

While it is unlikely it is possible these chickens are explosive and so it is wise to be cautious to avoid risk to health.

Then, with resigned acceptance, he returns to his duties in the temple and calmly awaits a deluge of requests regarding poultry.

[aaron22]

The Palace district of Balder's Gate is a bustle diplomats and merchants. Lunulata finds it hard to distinguish which is which as they both seem to be trying to sell something for personal gain. Dressed in her finest armor, she moves through the crowd. She knows of just two places that either work with or for gnomes.

Her first stop is the temple that the gnomes that build things worship. Moving to the sign she tries to read the common words. Making out the word "Gond" she nods, "This is the place." Inside she finds only one man and he is not a gnome. It is a human named Peter. By the looks of the place it looks like gnome craftsmanship. She proceeds to ask the man some questions and satisfied with her answers, She then leaves.

"One more stop and I can leave this place." she tells herself as she walks toward the next place. A shop this time. Even though Lunulata has been in the Sword Coast for more than one season, she is still not very comfortable in the crowded cities. Stories of places like Waterdeep and Calimport do not inspire wonder to the simple wood elf, instead it conjures feelings of dread and discomfort. She opens the door to the merchant shop. Inside is once again another human, but Lun was told that this shop, named the Seven Suns Merchant, is owned and supplied by a gnome or gnomes. After a long bit of question and answer, Lunulata leaves the shop. And it seems she is carrying some items and a bit less gold. Quickly she leaves the city and heads back to the lodge.

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