An important step to be sure (how else can you find out motive for who’d want to kill said victim), then again, sometimes such a question can provide too many answers. And it can even lead to a lack of sympathy — which is more damning than the party needs.

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9 Nunzayel. 720

Nina arrives and, after being updated on the situation, she checks the upper arms of the 8 dead for tattoos. Sure enough, they all have the general seaman’s rank tattoo. And it doesn’t wash off.

One of the eight has something on his breath. Brandy maybe?
When questioning the 10 locals, the group learns that the 8 came in and went straight to the group in the back of the bar.

Clarlan of Perien, Master Physician, arrives with two young assistants. Once it’s agreed that his fee should be paid by the captain of the boat, he looks at the two sailors with broken jaws and mouths first, then slowly makes his way through the other injured.

Seenae and Kjarri visit the local butcher to take a look at the shop. The 9th man to be murdered could have been drained in the butcher shop. Other than a little more blood in the grate outside the shop; everything else is as Mosa of Baysin left it last night.

Seenae learns that the new year is celebrated mostly by Morgathians, Navehians, Haleans, and Laranians.

Examining the 9th body, Nina finds that he’s fastidiously clean. His clothing is clean. His nails are clean! His shoulders and hips are dislocated. There is no answer as to where he was killed, or when.

Tirn tries to use psychometry on the blood and only gets a sharp pain around his neck and a feeling of intense, soul-numbing cold.

Garal of Elet, captain of Shesha arrives in lock step along another captain. Dressed in black, Garal wears a short sword on his hip. He says 12 men left his ship, 12 men, the pilot and himself stayed onboard. He says the remaining 4 are devout to Halea, so they might have spent the night there. Otherwise, they should be back at the ship by tonight. He wants to leave the next day.

Kres of Dasyin, captain of Timivan is dressed in more moderate colors; greys and browns. He carries a brass cane.

Arkain Fred of Chandar comes to replace Arkain Sork of Andamen, whose shift was up some time ago.

Wyliral of Meslylë, the local barber arrives and identifies the dead as having been to his booth yesterday afternoon.

Elycia of Chandar, an alchemist arrives and identifies the sweet smell on the 9th man as clorophorm; and while she can make it, she crafts it rarely and only on request. She hasn’t sold any in years and often gives it to the horse doctors at the temple. She says that if well made and carefully stored, it can last for years. Three bodies are being sent with her for further exploration: number 9, the one who drank brandy, and one other.

One of the eight drank brandy, she guesses maybe 1/4 a quart before he died. She’d have to check his stomach contents for more. She suggests maybe 7 of the 8 were drinking something else and only one had either the most brandy or drink something else last.

The physician identifies the smell as clorophorm as well, and says the 9th body was either naked or washed after death. His proof is the state of the skin and his hair.

The innkeepers brew their ale only once every 3-4 days. This is known. And, while neither Nina or the physician would ever drink such swill, it’s not typically poisonous.

They release the locals. The sailors are released to the Kres of Dasyin, Captain of the Timivan claims he does have barnacles that need scraping.

Tirn and Kjarri visit the Guild of the Arcane Lore. There, Tirn speaks to Master Forissa of Talkunen. She is joined by Aandin of Elast, Kjarri’s mother. They suggest maybe the people would be dosed with Vitalis. Or a poisoned ale barrel?

Aandin recognizes the 9th body when it’s brought in. She says it’s Andran of Chahryn and that he is Aenirn. They met some 50 years ago on Orbaaleese ships. Andran was a black market runner; never enough to get chastised officially, but his rudder included land routes.