The Music Box II

***The Music Box II*** is the continuation of a character-developing miniseries in which Waylon investigates a murder at Ratscheschachtel handicraft company, deep in the Ice Mountains below Citadel Adbar.

## The Middle Layer

### The Forge

Waylon exits Arthur's bedchamber. The crackling of a raging fire echoes throughout the quiet cavern. Not far from the staircase, he sees dark smoke steadily billowing out of an open threshold. Upon entering the forge, he finds a sturdy middle-aged gnome with an impressive beard. Waylon praises Callin's skill and dexterity in shaping the delicate iron cogs.

Callin says that he was always impressed by Arthur's talent, but warned him several times about outshining his coworkers. He and Arthur would argue occasionally about "innovation versus scalability". In passing, the gnome refers to Arthur's girlfriend as "the red hair gal who runs the General Store", though Waylon does not correct him.

When Waylon asks about Jefan, the mastercraftsgnome grows quiet, only saying that he is a good worker. Callin volunteers that he doesn't know anything about the murder and that he spent the whole night at the forge, which strikes Waylon as suspicious. Without probing further, he bids *auf wiedersehen* and leaves the smith in peace.

### Corryn's Quarters

Waylon recalls that Garben spoke highly of Corryn, the master of the Wood Workshop. A younger (though balding) gnome answers the door, though is slightly reluctant to entertain a stranger in his disheveled state. Corryn knew Arthur only through occasional interactions at the canteen, where he would criticize Nyci and swoon over Elephina. Although they shared a laugh now and again, Corryn found Arthur to be too serious to have a good time with.

When asked about the night of the murder, Corryn recalls little except that he woke up the next morning under the canteen table. "I only had a couple pints and I am *not* a lightweight!" the gnome remarks. Waylon glances around the carpenter's room. Dirty clothes are piled in one corner, evidence of vomit in another. The gnome, shaking slightly, thanks Waylon and expresses hope that the investigation will be over soon.

## The Upper Layer

### Jefan's Quarters

Before meeting Nyci, Waylon decides to take a detour to Jefan's quarters. Ascending the apex of the stairwell, he spots a small gathering of gnomes whispering at the opposite side of the dome. At the sight of the lumbering dwarf, the apprentices quietly and quickly return to their "cells". Certain the coast is clear, Waylon opens the door to a very small room, inside which stands a small cot and a chest.

Waylon's bardic intuition detects a low hum emanating from the chest. Upon opening it, a flame lashes out and singes his beard! He steps back and contemplates. His eyes light up! He makes a gesture and sings a little tune before, suddenly, his rough, dwarven features give way to the soft, pudgy resemblance of Jafen! He approaches the chest and opens it without incident, discovering the schematics that were torn from Arthur's notebook. He also finds a plain metal band, which does not appear to have any magical properties.

Quietly, Waylon closes the chest and returns to the common area.

### Nyci's Quarters

Only a few paces away, Waylon hears stifled sobs from behind the door to Nyci's room. The blond apprentice is encouraged by Waylon's concern. She continues to engrave a small pocketwatch as she relates a story about Arthur summoning a tiny dwarf to scare away a mouse that frightened her. When Waylon asks about the clockwork mouse he found, she remarks that she doesn't know where he got or how he was able to afford it on his modest income.

When Waylon prompts Nyci for suspects, she fumes, "Everything was fine until that fair-skinned redhead showed up. No elf would ever date him and he *knows* it!" (Waylon sneaks a chuckle into his sleeve.) "I knew we should have stayed the night together... She killed him because he chose *me*, I just know it! I just know it!"

Waylon gives his condolences and honors her request to be left alone.

## The Bottom Layer

### Mergrim's Quarters

After a long day of travelling, interrogating, and snooping around, Waylon decides to descend the stairs and reconnoiter with Mergrim the wizard. The bard suspects **Garben** is the culprit, but fails to see his motive. After hearing about Garben's under-the-table dealings, Mergrim gets so livid that he forgets his own accent! The old gnome implores Waylon to investigate the chef's quarters for proof. With some reluctance, Waylon agrees.

## Footnotes

1. ↑ Here, Tom forgets to dispel *Disguise Self*, so he technically remains in Jafen's form for another 55 minutes after this point. The DM didn't notice either, so it's assumed that Waylon returns to form before he leaves Jafen's quarters.

## Bibliography

Orthrix. *Deadly Music Box*. Dungeon Masters Guild, 10 October 2021, https://www.dmsguild.com/product/373597/Deadly-Music-Box/.