Murder in the Harperhall!
A TinyPlot in Several Acts
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The Plot:
It was a dark and stormy night...
Actually, it was a beautiful spring morning in the
Istan Hall of the Harper Craft when the body was discovered. What body, you ask?
Why the corpse of none other than the fastidious Harper Master Poirot, found
dead in the Harper Office by Crafthead Jueann with a cut throat, an empty
wineglass, and an empty medicine vial on the desk beside him, and no signs of
struggle apparent.
The news spread quickly, from Master Jueann to Master
Liesana, to Tutor Jellem, an unnamed journeyman and out to the rest of the Hall
and Hold as Guards arrived and Healers were summoned to try and determine who
had killed the Master, by all accounts universally despised. Many had motive,
many opportunity. So... whodunnit?
And so the mystery began. Read over the logs, gentle
reader, examine them for clues, find your own suspects and no fair skipping to
the end. Remember, the murderer walked amongst us...
The Suspects:
Harper Master
Jueann, Istan Harper Hall Crafthead.
A shy sort who had the Crafthead position thrust upon
her. She stood the most to lose, if Poirot took control. The empty vial of
medicine found near the body belonged to her. Still, could such a retiring
creature really commit murder?
Harper Master Liesana
The youngest of the Harper Masters, the so-called Heretic of Harper Hall's
virulent dislike of Poirot was common knowledge. As is the fact that this legal
expert both owns knives and knows how to use them. On the other hand, as Smith
Hall's Harper, her alibi is nearly impeccable.
Harper Journeyman Rook
A member of the Southern Blood with a past history at Fort Hall he'd prefer
not to have get out and a cavalier belief in the right of the Blood to do as
they please. Could the meddling Master Poirot have known something he'd kill to
keep secret?
Harper
Journeyman Mimi
An unlikely suspect, admittedly, but this vivacious
young dance specialist still had no love for the deceased, a great deal of
loyalty to Jueann and Liesana, and is possessed of a devious mind.
Harper
Journeyman Reeba
One of the 'victims' of Poirot's infamous interviews,
this married lady didn't take kindly to some of his requests for 'help'. On the
other hand, her husband, Harper Tutor Jellem might be the
more likely suspect.
Harper Senior Apprentice Kirsyn
This young lady, while a self-acknowledged flirt, found herself over her head
and decidedly upset and uncomfortable about Poirot's interviews. As the mentee
of Liesana, who knows how much disregard for rules she's picked up?
Harper Apprentice Christatha
Master Jueann's protégé, this apprentice with her shy manners and beautiful
golden hair caught Master Poirot's eye most strongly. Indeed, he threatened to
take her back to Fort with him to Jueann. But would such a violent act occur to
such a well-bred young lady?
Harper
Apprentice Niara
The former fosterling of Master Liesana, Niara has
been steeped in the unorthodox and unconventional since she was a girl of seven.
Now a Harper Apprentice, her encounter with Master Poirot left her in tears.
Could she have decided that death was the best revenge?
