Darkest Corners volume 2

Game Master Harakani

Castor accepts the card.

"I am afraid it could be seen as unseemly if we accepted this gift. It was our duty to make sure as little damage as possible was inflicted on the property of the citizens of this city. I do appreciate the gesture but I am afraid we have to decline." he points at the stack of platinum coins. He notices one is still missing and looks at Mia with one eyebrow raised.

Sorry, meant to put something in that last post that implies that's what Diene says after he leaves.

I would say that was kind of obvious anyway ;-)

The good thing about exclusion is that false politeness is not required. Ophelia thinks merrily to herself as Viktor said his goodbyes. Outward the construct merely followed the spectacle with blank eyes.

Cogs were already spinning in her head, making and discarding theories. This was an interesting puzzle - but maybe she had a glimpse of the full picture? She had to think carefully how to phrase it of course - humans were so strange about recycling. They could merrily recycle their plants and metals, she had a few pieces herself that she suspected were not original, but when the push came to shove they were adamant in their refusal to take part in the process personally. Very strange and picky they are!

Once Viktor was safely out of earshot Ophelia animated again and spoke.

"Most curious business this. Shall we retire and discuss our leads? I only need to speak to Abel for a moment first, I would wish to send a letter with him."

Ophelia heads off to find their former leader, hopefully before he has gone too far. Once she does, she'll ask him to postpone his eventual departure a few hours so she can send a letter with him.

Then she'll head back to the sqauds meetingroom and start drafting her letter (As above. Any suggestions? :)). When/if the others drop in (maybe they are already there?) she'll share her thoughts.

"Are you aware of what the biggest challenge with the creation of intelligent constructs, and all life for that matter, is?"

"The spark of sentience. Usually, such sentience is bestowed by the Gods at the conception of life - but for constructs, as they lack a typical birth, another source is required."

"Some constructs are animated by bound elemental spirits, others come from yet stranger fonts of power. The construct Hossiter hosts a shard of a mortal soul. Now, such a procedure is not without a challenge; binding and containing the soul is a costly and advanced procedure. Should one skimp on that expense, one might find the soul ... slipping...? In a metaphysical sense, if not perhaps practical."

"The process of such a binding would of course not be simple; one would require, I suppose, a vast knowledge of Necromancery. This school of magic deal with the recycling of both the corporeal and insubstantial components of mortals, a practice sometimes associated with the godess Urgathoa."

"A copper for your thoughts?"

Ophelia falls silent again. This is probably the longest she has ever spoken, while not reciting passages of the law of course!

Diene's mouth hands slightly open, a slight slack about her face and a vague, not confusion, but lack of understanding, a dull blankness about her.

She recovers in a moment. "Um, so, he might be a necromancer dude and we should check to see if he's been stealing souls?"

When Castor stares at her, Daria rolls her eyes, then hands the coin over to Victor as he offers her his card:"I'll get in touch when my schedule allows!"

After he is gone...mostly towards Castor and Isama: "What was THAT all about?"
Upon hearing Ophelia's Theory, Mia crawls up to sit on the table(always looking up is painful for the neck), then seems to be lost in thought for a moment:"That does sound quite reasonable. If only we knew more about his techniques. Gosh, I wonder how that could be accomplished." Her voice is almost dripping with playful(not spiteful) sarcasm as she glances at Castor.

** Before Ophelia speaks **

Isama gives Daria the same look she gave the halfling before before raising her arms and shrugging.

Look it just don't look right to take money from a suspect or take his invitation to dine in some fan-cee res-tau-rant is all

** After Ophelia speaks **

Isama scratches her head as Ophelia talks about sentience and constructs.

If Wordwriter is sticking goblin souls into constructs then I suppose there may be missing goblins somewhere?

When Mia brings up the meeting, Ophelia nods sagely and misses most of the sarcasm.

"Urgathoian practices sometimes include cannibalism, so I think it would be prudent of you to go easy on the meat, just in case. And I could take time to prepare something to make you taste less appetizing if you want."

"Coincidentally, maybe such a practice could provide a surplus of disembodied souls?"

Alright - sounds like this scene has concluded. There's a few days until the next major case. That'll mean about an hour or two's stressful work per day.
Is there anything specific people want to do during downtime? Otherwise we can run the downtime system for two days (including the tower).
We need to get people's traits set up. I thought we'd done Diene but when I looked at her sheet and back through the history I realise it was not conclusive.
Can I get people to post their two special traits in the discussion thread please. If it's not official, or you haven't got one (or two) just post BLANK.

Downtime - Make sure Ophelia's machinations work. Sending Hossiter and Abel north that is, and perhaps even steer Abel in the direction of 'please make sure this suicidal construct doesn't screw itself over. Maybe your goddess would be pleased if it were to become less depressed?'.

Downtime. Check in with Varongel shrines, and the goblins see if goblins have been going missing. If there are few of them around, and fewer still that focus on the worship of Varongel, those missing might stick out.

Isama spends two days at the Academie helping to regrow the vines with her druidic presence/spells and seeing if there's any other general way she can help out with restoring the burned building hopefully making some friends in the process

Well, depending on Castor's answer to the above, and his ok, I would dine with Victor...depending on THAT outcome, I dunno what I'd do on day 2. Maybe visit his workplace or something.

And for that diner, Ophelia will hook you up with an Infusion of Invisibility. Just in case : )

Diene gains friends and influences people, by yelling at them and transforming into a giant goblin-wolf.

Influence Downtime: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23
Influence Downtime: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23

Apparently goblin worshipers of Varongel respect that kind of thing.

4 Influence gained

Murderhouse! Woho...

"The remnants of the slain were found in one building, one place? Interesting."

reposting from discussion - sorry
Two days in Castor comes back from the sergeant’s briefing with a grim look.
”We’ve got a serial killer. Struck the last six nights - in different parts of the city. Warlock’s Walk area kept it quiet, but when the West Wall found the bodies in a storeroom and reported them they made the connection. No citizens yet, so the brass doesn’t care much."
"I’ve volunteered us to take a look. Whatever this is - it isn’t pretty. "

In response to Ophelia's question he explains further.
"Victims are missing from two sites - Warlock's Walk and West Wall. Bodies were stored in a building in each area. The Walock's Walk guard kept it quiet. West Wall reposted it. When Warlock's Walk heard about that they came clean."
"Could be one killer with two sites. Could be two killers, but if so it looks like the M.O. is the same."

In response to Isama's question
"Apparently the state of the bodies was pretty similar."

"The remnants might be collected for later use - either practical or whimsical. It might also be a way to simply keep the evidence from being noticed too quickly - stockpile the remnants somewhere with some sort of tampering seal and as soon as the seal is broken one moves the operation to another area." Ophelia speculates. "What was the state of the bodies? Might just be more precise for us to look ourselves."

"Heh, never trust anyone's peeper's but your own. Or at least a good friend with discernment."

"I've made plans for us to investigate" Castor agrees. "We're going to be out of jurisdiction, but we've got the Captains' agreement."
He shakes his head "I think they were more annoyed at the killer for crossing ward lines than the murders."

Castor - please come back! I'm not good at speaking for your PC!

"Well, we can't have our murders out of bounds now? That'd just be darn improper." Diene puts on a exaggerated stage impression of highfalutin' gentleman speech, using a strand of her hair plastered on her upper lip to make a fake moustache to twirl.

"That might be an obvious question, but...was there something linking the victims together? They were all non-citizens, but beyond that? Gender? Religion? Race? Jobs? Anything at all that could narrow down the target group of our killer? That is, anything that Warlock's Walk and West Wall managed to find out yet?", Daria asks, seemingly doubting that these wards came up with something useful but still managing to sound optimistic about it.

Don't know much about those guard posts but seems like the West Wall guards are good folk while Warlock's Walk don't like outside divisions messing with their territory? I'd say we figger out what's going on by talking to West Wall first.

"It's political. As for what they've found out - they're each sending a Sergeant to 'advise' on the case."

A cough from the doorway draws attention to a young messenger. "Sergeant Castor? This is for you."[/b]

Castor reads the message and groans "Now? They want to do the sergeant's interview now? In fifteen minutes time?" He looks around and points at Diene. "Okay, start the investigation when they get here - don't want them sitting here waiting around and arguing. I'm putting you in charge, Diene, you're good at keeping people in line - don't make me regret it."

Once a temporary sergeant is chosen, Castor literally runs out the door.

"Aye aye sir!" Diene salutes Castor on his way out.

"Woooh, acting sergeant." Diene gives a little boogie shake down.

Know(Local): 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 7 + (1) = 13

"Congratulations Acting Sergeant Diene." Ophelia remarks, eyeing the victory dance curiously. Hmm. Positive information seems to have sparked some physical response. A tell maybe? Interesting. "It would seem as if you are to lead this cooperation. As a suggestion to our course I must echo Guard Isama and Guard Sorcerer Castor - let us see what the other divisions have to say."

Guard: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Isama grins and gives Diene a (very lazy) salute. Well chief. I do know the two posts don't like each other one bit. Hope you got a plan

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

"In that case, the plan is talk to them each individually, give the impression we're just talking to them and disregarding the other ward without outright committing to saying it. Mia, Ophelia, think you can handle that?"

I'm a pretty friendly sort. Could help out with that. Warlocks are posh. West Walls ain't.

Isama's pretty great at diplomacy. Of course now that I say that she's going to roll a bunch of ones and piss everyone off

Indeed, but you're not the bluff-meister.

Fair enough

hmm. Ophelia is very got at lying, but diplomacy is sorta mediocre. Tag-team? Or maybe that would risk the ruse ?

"Plausible. Individual variables still apply of course." Ophelia nods, probably agreeing.

Depends on the GM ruling.

"Alright, let's do this!" Diene head out the door

so you're attempting to intercept them individually before they get here?

Being residents of the area the guard team hurries to intercept the Warlockswalk sergeant, leaving a message for the West Wall sergeant that they'll be back in a moment.

Recomputing

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Know Local: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Pfft... Where are those puppies in combat..

Diene points Senior Guard Sergeant Kristoph, see first spoiler."Anybody got the low down on this guy?"

Prof:Guard: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Prof:Guard: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Local(to find out earlier spoiler): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Local(to find out about the sergeant): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

"Sorry Ma'am, never heared of him. Judging from where they come from, he is probably the kind of person to like looking down on people, but I doubt I want to give him that satisfaction. So if I'm to talk with him, I want a crate to stand on."
Daria will help wherever she is told to, but clearly expresses her preference to talk with the West Wall guy.

Figger he thinks of himself as a noble first and guard second chief. But that's all I got. He's the one who was keeping the murders quiet too.

I thought we were basically splitting and taking one guy each : )?

Perception: 1d20 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 14 + (4) = 19

Know(Local): 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 7 + (2) = 15

"Relations of length matters little to me. I can converse with him." Ophelia remarks once she spots the Sergeant. "Isama will you accompany me? There are is a chance that the Sergeant will take offence if only I are there to greet him."

"Yeah you two got this, some little, 'We wanted to get the info straight from you without the other guy getting to interrupt' spiel. Mia, we'll head back and be there as not to be rude to the other guy. Good hunting." Diene bows slightly before heading back to base.

My bad, I misunderstood.
You'll see him first, feel free to write an introduction (he only knows Castor).
Feel free to read the first post once he's been identified.
if we're splitting the group, should we try to run both scenes in parallel?

Diene and Mia arrive back at the station just in time to greet the West Wall Sergeant. He's a big, weathered looking man with an even bigger rifle on his back.

Seeing them he nods

"Donatello of Martel. Sergeant of West Wall. Here to see Castor."

"Acting Sergeant Diene, Caster was called away for his sergeant interview." Diene faces the man confidently, head high, looking him dead in the eyes.

Isama moves with Ophelia to intercept and snaps out a crisp salute. Senior Guard Sergeant Kristoph Sir. I'm Junior Guard Zenj. We were sent to watch out for you sos not to take up much of yer valuable time Sir.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

"Hmmm. Well, I guess Central is contributing about as much as they ever do. Nice to meet you Diene. Call me Don."

"Thank you Junior Guard Zenj. Admirable consideration. I have an appointment for later in the day. Shall we proceed to the station so I can meet your sergeant?"

Ophelia follows Isama's suit and salutes the sergeant, but does not give her name. She suspected that Kristoph might not care for it, given his probable accustomization with constructs as servants.

"Protocol would dictate that we should." Ophelia nods then does her best to assume a tone she hopes conveys the appropriate mixture of sadness and apology. "But the Sergeant has been trapped with the representative Sergeant of West Wall for quite some time now, whom seems to have little else to bother with then unloading grievances at quite the volume and with impressive tenaciousy. The projection is that this course of action may carry on for an undetermined time longer."

Ophelia pauses for a little while so that Kristoph had ample opportunity to put together a picture. Then she gestures towards the nearby coffeeshop/cafeteria/bakery ect (basically what is available and of decent class). "As previously stated our imperative is to avoid wasting too much of your day. May we suggest we retire to a more convenient location - devoid of time consuming ramblings? We assure you, this one is fully capable of transcribing your information."

Bluff (lie/omit/modify truth): 1d20 + 20 + 1d6 ⇒ (11) + 20 + (1) = 32

Using 1 point of inspiration on the roll

@Bluff - basically: The West Wall Sergeant is going to suck out all the hours of your day. Luckily our wise Sergeant has machinated a nice and cosy way for you to avoid that!

Daria gives a giggle at Donatellos openly voiced opinion about centrals contribution:"Junior Guard Sorceress Daria Hearth, at your service!", giving as perfect a salute as she manages before continuing:"I will be assisting acting Sergeant Diene during this process. 4 Ears and 2 Brains tend to pick up and identify more relevant information and connect the right dots, after all. Pleased to make your aquaintance, Sir!"

Diplomacy to make a good impression and imply we're on the same page regarding Warlocks Walk and Central(without clearly stating any such thing): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

"Hello Mia. Alright, grab a notebook and I'll tell you what I know. I assume you're going to want to see the site?"

"Well. That's unusual. Still, I suppose it's acceptable. Donatello is a difficult man to deal with." He looked at the indicated establishment, and blinks "You know your ward best, of course. Still, this is a grisly crime. I can't imagine its going to go over too well with customers. If we are to speak, perhaps we should consider a different language or a quieter location?"