To Your Scattered Bodies Go [M1]

[Akh Uur Hoon]

The charring was a result of being in the fire, but it looked like the mutilation and perhaps even death may have happened before that. There was a certain approach to fact-finding Akh Uur Hoon wanted to do here.

First, to determine the scale of injuries sustained prior to burning, and any specific items or substances on or in the body. Including conducting an autopsy if required.

Second, to consider whether any of that had religious, ritualistic or other deliberate meaning, or was consistent with any other murderous practices she had heard of, including from anything summoned but not bound.

Third, when all scientific approaches were exhausted, to actually eat a small part of Rhaunades to explore his last memories. It would probably be very insightful to eat more of him as he was an eminent scholar, but that felt like crossing some boundries given the circumstances, so not this time.

Fourth, to conduct appropriate funerary rights.

[Flession]

((Roll me a Medicine Check, DC 18 for the autoposy. After that, roll me a Religion or Arcana check DC 15.))

[Akh Uur Hoon]

The autopsy was difficult because of all the charring, some parts of Rhunades crumpled in the process.

EM1. Autopsy. Medicine. DC 18.: 1d20+11 16

The analysis of what she saw might have yielded more.

EM1. Autopsy. Arcana. DC 15.: 1d20+11 20

[Flession]

The body seemed too far gone to figure out the finer points of his death, but the ritualistic aspect seemed possible. Instead, however, your thoughts turned to the arcane, realizing that the simplest solution may be the correct one. To speak with the dead, one would only need to cast the appropriately named spell upon a corpse. A standard means of figuring out who the victim was in a case among the Harmonium and the Dustmen. The only means for the spell to fail would be to cast the spell on a corpse within 10 days of a previous casting, making the corpse undead, or if the corpse no longer possess a mouth.

[Akh Uur Hoon]

Even though she would like to, Akh didn't know how to cast the spell itself, or whether a jaw could be trsnsplanted or otherwise improvised to make it work. It seemed clear to her, however, that the jaw must have been removed to silence the scholar's corpse. Which was a good indicator that Rhaunades could point to the killer or to anything else the killer did not want him to share.

What the killer apparently hadn't foreseen was that the body would be investigated by a scholarly necrophage.

Before crispy breakfast, Akh prepared herself to record whatever memories she could retrieve into thought strands, for further investigation.

[Encode Thoughts Cantrip, then Feast on Memories ability]

[Flession]

You prepare your mental recording device and, with little fanfare, begin to take a real bite into the investigation.

(1 Ki Point spent)

You can feel the sense of urgency in his actions. Defending someone or something against the assaulter. He wants what the attacker has, and feels a sense of betrayal over it. What it is, you can't determine, but the desire for it is strong. It was his, after all.

[Akh Uur Hoon]

That wasn't much, but it was something. It indicated the motive had actually been robbery or kidnapping, and Rhaunades died because he wanted it back and opposed the attacker. Betrayal suggested it was someone Rhaunades had known, a colleague, a family member, a minion. And that someone had practical knowledge of magical investigation practices and thought on their feet to cover the tracks...

Akh Uur Hoon was worried because the man had died in such a tumultuous mental condition that his spirit was likely to remain restless and be denied the path to True Death. She had to pass this to the investigation so that the murderer could face justice. Perhaps this could help Rhaunades attain peace.

She wiped her mouth, wrote down a note from the autopsy, then started preparing the body for the funerary rites, sewing him up, bandaging, embalming, except for his mouth - in case someone would find the jaw.

She would need to report her findings to Dhall as well, and ask about the form.

[Gizby Brightshadow]

Random Dustman Task: 1d8 3

Maintaining the Mortuary Investigation DC12: 1d20+8 25

Gizby clicked his heels as he skipped through the hall of The Mortuary, proud to be a part of a brotherhood worthy of his beliefs. The stones, the cold damp air, but especially the smell seemed to envelop him in a cool embrace. He was at home here amongst the dead.

Normally, maintenance would be a low priority on Gizby's list of self care, but this was for a greater cause. He had noticed several damp spots amongst the halls, and was determined to clean what he could. Death forbid The Mortuary be overtaken with stalagmites and stalactites over the next several centuries. He filled in cracks the best he could, but there was a particularly stubborn spot on the floor he couldn't seem to clean, and had resorted to scrubbing at it on his hands and knees. Exasperated, he licked at the stain and scrubbed it with the sleeve of his robe until he was satisfied the mineral emulsion was cleaned. Satisfied with his work, he stood up, dusted his hands off, then chuckled at himself in irony.

He continued his cleaning routine until he entered the morgue section of The Mortuary, where he saw a rather tall woman chewing on a piece of... was that the flesh of that corpse on the slab in front of her!? "Greetings, madam, I believe I have seen you around the Mortuary in the past, but we haven't had the pleasure of proper introductions yet!" Gizby bows, and extends his hand after a flourish of his leather cloak, "Gizby Brightshadow." He looks up, licking his pursed lips.

[Reputation increased by 3]

[Akh Uur Hoon]

If he had seen her eating, he must have remained long after, seeing her taking notes and preparing the man for the journey into deeper death. Once the introduction was made, she turned to accept the hand unhurriedly, having no cultural imprint to greet this way.

"Akh Uur Hoon. I am but a Namer here." She looked at the gnome's expression slightly perplexed, perhaps because of interruption of some deeper thought. But there was no apprehension.

[Gizby Brightshadow]

"A pleasure!" Gizby shakes Hoon's hand enthusiastically. "I too, am but a Namer, for the moment." He straightens up, looks at the corpse, "So..." and back to the nice lady. "Did he taste good? Where I'm from it's considered impolite to eat in front of another without offering a taste." He licks his lips again, while his hands caress his extended belly.