Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-16047389-20140624184300/@comment-16047389-20140821165810

Not knowing enough about the murder, you decide to ask Attrebus what he knows. You know that the Fortesias have more or less scared the other guests into not talking about it openly, so you decide to discuss this matter in more hushed tones. The Councillor picks up on your desire for discretion, and respectfully does the same for your sake.

"You saw the state of the body," Attrebus says. "Since we do not have an alchemist readily available, we can't rule out poison entirely, although from the obvious wounds I'd say that poison was the least of his concerns. Cromwell has stated that it is unlikely that any of his injuries or death were caused by magical means of any kind."

After looking around a bit to make sure no one is eavsdropping, he continues.

"Each of the lacerations and puncture wounds appear to be consistent, meaning it is likely that they all came from the same weapon. However, none of the cuts seem to have made it to vital organs. Most of the blood seems to have come from two severed major arteries. This along with the blood trail leads us to believe that Uthyn died of severe blood loss, while he attempted to find help. The handprints and the trail suggest he had to drag himself along the floor. Both of his knee caps were shattered, so this is likely. As for the blood trail itself, it led outside to the back of the manor. Most of the blood had been washed away by the rain, but there was a sizeable point of impact on the ground, suggesting that he had fallen from the second floor. It couldn't have been the third floor, as the fall alone would've likely killed him. At the very least, he wouldn't have been capable of moving, much less dragging himself into the parlor from outside. There are signs that Uthyn was restrained, no marks consistent with rope or chains, so it is unlikely that he was bound and tortured, as you would normally see with this combination of lacerations and shattered knee caps. It's likely that he was attacked, and fought back. We found blood on the ends of his sleeves that don't appear to have come from his own injuries. I suppose it could've come from if he tried holding his hands over some of his cuts to try and stop the bleeding, but you never know."

Attrebus certainly knows a lot about this.

"I said my days in the Penitus Oculatus was easier, not cleaner," he says with a half-smile. "I was in charge of most of the actual investigations that the Penitus Oculatus handled, and saw more than my share of murders. Anyway, if my senses haven't dulled with my age, I'd say that Uthyn Foidon was attacked somewhere on the second floor with a knife or other short bladed object. It would have to have been one of the rooms facing out toward the back of the manor. He likely fought back against the attacker, before being thrown out of a window. At some point during the fight, both of his knee caps had been broken with a blunt object. It's unclear if the mangling of his limbs was the result of the fall or the attacker. After landing on the ground, Uthyn had dragged himself into the parlor before bleeding to death."

So Uthyn was attacked on the second floor in the middle of the night. All of the guests rooms are on the second floor. How did know one hear this going on? Perhaps someone did.

"Two more things I forgot to mention," Attrebus says, interrupting your train of thought. "First, one of the maids saw Uthyn just before he died. She was just entering the parlor when she saw him on the floor, with someone else standing over him. Apparently, she screamed and the person ran away. She doesn't know who it was. Uthyn was still alive and she tried to cover his wounds, but he died in her arms before the guards had shown up in response to her scream. We tried asking her more about what she saw, but she was too traumatized to tell us anything else. I think she's resting in the servant's quarters now."

And the other thing?

"Uthyn had this in his pocket." Attrebus reaches into his own pocket and pulls out a folded piece of paper that appears to have been previously crumpled up. He hands it to you, and you unfold it.

 Tonight at midnight. Do not be seen.

That's never a good sign. You return the note to Attrebus.

Before you can ask Attrebus anything else, Madame Fortesia summons the servants to pick up the dishes and leftover food. Breakfast is over, it seems.

"I would like to apologize for the inconvenience that the storm is causing all of you," announces Madame Fortesia. "But as we are gracious hosts, we shall endeavour to keep you all entertained until it ends. We have had hors d'oeuvre and our finest wine brought out to the parlor, and as soon as the servants move the last of instruments down to the first floor, my two lovely daughters will delight us with wonderful music. So if you would all care to join us in the parlor..."

Most of the guests immediately head toward the parlor without hesitation. You aren't sure if it's out of geniune interest, or if they're just afraid of Madame Fortesia.

"I'll be in the study later, if you need me," says Attrebus. "There's something I have to check first."

He walks off toward one of the hallways away from the parlor.

A) Join the other guests in the parlor. Time to mingle.

B) Check on Vallina. She's being kept in her room by Attrebus's bodyguard.

C) Go to the servants' quarters. The only possible witness to the murder is there.

D) Head to the study now. Although, Attrebus is probably not there yet.