The Captivating Case of the Brother's Funeral

> *"They were not there a moment ago. They appeared as if from nowhere and you neither heard nor saw a thing of them; three figures shrouded in black cloaks that now block your path through the port. They unveil themselves, letting the cloaks drop to the floor to reveal themselves as ebony-skinned elves, wearing impressive leather armour. Each of these strangers pulls two scimitars from their sides, and in the moment it takes you to react, they charge."*
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The Captivating Case of the Brother's Funeral is the third ever case to be documented by the Split Shields. It involves the troubles of a visiting dignitary from Donathal named Tanyth Ennan who had come to the port to attend the funeral of his later brother, Voron Ennan. Reportedly, before his arrival in Port Ral'Endas, Tanyth communicated with Allia Darrow via sending to ask her to provide security for him for the funeral, expressing concerns that he feared for his life while in the port. In response, Allia hired a small group, half composed of adventurers she had hired in previous cases, to escort Tanyth around the port and keep him safe.

## Characters Involved

The following PCs were involved in this adventure:

* Artus Lockscale
* Dragath
* Hakkon Direfrost
* Gidion
* Kurig
* Adeptus

## Plot

The party visit with Allia Darrow in the Split Shields Tower to discuss the protection of a visiting dignitary from Donathal who is attending their brother's funeral. Half of the party comprise of adventurers that were involved in the Curious Case of the Missing Patrol, while the other half comprises of completely new faces to the Split Shields. Allia informs the party that one high-elf by the name of Tanyth Ennan, will be arriving in the port shortly by way of ship in the lower decks. She explains that his brother, Voron Ennan, was a cleric and hero of the port who helped save many lives during the Summertime Siege and, because of that, Voron is due to be buried in a graveyard just outside of the town's walls. The funeral will be attended by many who knew him, including Allia herself.

The party travel to the lower docks and await Tanyth's arrival, making themselves known thanks to Gideon's sign making. Shortly after, they are approached by an elf stepping off a nearby boat, who moves to the party and introduces himself as Tanyth Ennan. The party introduce themselves as well and move to head towards the tavern that Tanyth is due to stay in. Almost immediately though, they notice a presence ahead of them on the road, three cloaked figures that quickly reveal themselves to be drow assassins (including a fairly nimble drow in high heels and an unfashionable drow that has mixed socks with sandals). The drow attack the party, but their efforts of presumably assassinating Tanyth are foiled and the party quickly dispatch with all three of them.

After asking Tanyth if he knows who they are, Tanyth is quick to explain that the drow are obvious members of an assassins guild known as The Quiet, a group that he confesses to having run into before. After investigating the bodies, the party find a disguise kit amongst the drow's belongings, as well as a necklace that is a duplicate of Tanyth's necklace. This leads the party to believe that they were planning on disguising themselves as Tanyth, hence why they attack the elf as soon as he arrived in the port. Tanyth doesn't know why they would want to impersonate him, but guesses that it might have something to do with his brother's will and asks the group to take him to his brother's former residence.

The party accompany Tanyth to his brother's house, finding it in a state of decay. Artus and Adeptus attempt in vain to break into the house via the windows in a side alley, while other members of the party walk through the front door after it has been broken open. They investigate the abandoned house, and Gidion is successful in finding something interesting after sifting through the many paintings that are now stacked in Voron's former office. He finds a strange note hidden in a painting of Tanyth. Upon handing the note to Tanyth, the elf reveals it's a secret code he developed with his brother to hide things from their mother growing up. The letter asks Tanyth to carry on Voron's work in the city, that Voron is close to an answer, and that he knows death is just around the corner. Tanyth explains to the party that Voron studied the Gods in life, and although he hasn't seen his brother in 50 years, he doubts that he was studying anything worthy of getting him killed.

The discovery of the letter prompts a more thorough investigation of the office, where Dragath finds something attached to the underside of a drawer. Upon trying to yank it out, the entirety of the house fills with a poisonous gas and the party have a lucky escape in trying to get back outside. Kurig very nearly lost their life, but was spared thanks to Tanyth's clerical powers. The party make haste to the Split Shields Tower, where they inform Allia of everything that has happened and ask Klombroth, who they finding sitting in the lounge area, to keep an eye on the cleric while they investigate the graveyard for any traps. Supposedly, Kurig has been carried and left in the Split Shield Tower to recover from their near death while the rest of the party investigate.

After a thorough check of the graveyard, the party find no traps and begin to make plans for defence against any possible assassination. This involves placing some members of the party in the trees that sit near the graveyard, while Gidion disguises himself as Tanyth using the disguise kit they found of the drow's body. The funeral comes around the next day and the party gather their strength after a long rest at the Split Shield Tower. As Gidion, disguised as Tanyth, takes to the stage however, the ground begins to tremble as a precursor to something massive approaching. Through the trees comes a lumbering troll, brandishing a massive club, and the party move quickly to intercept it before it can reach the proceedings. They deal with the troll, but not before it can launch its tree-sized club like a spear towards the disguised Gidion. Gidion, thanksfully, dodges out of the way but the coffin is mashed (along with much of the graveyard). The party finish off the troll easily.

The coffin is revealed to be empty, save for a single note that has been stuck to the lid. The note reads:

> "Your brother is ours now. His blasphemy is purged, and quite soon, yours shall be too."
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Attached to the note is a mysterious symbol that none of the party can recognise. Tanyth informs Allia that he will be extending his stay in Port Ral'Endas while he searches for the whereabouts of his brother's body.

## Rewards

These were the rewards offered the party earned over the course of their adventure:

* 40 gold each (240 gold total)

## Aftermath

The Quiet were hired by somebody, either a group or an individual, that use this mysterious symbol as their moniker. Who is this group and what do they want with Voron's body?