Supernatural Society of Cedrana (Inactive)

Game Master GamerAim

Silgrad City Stables, Night
One month ago, you were introduced to your new boss, the mysterious owl-masked Director of the newly-formed Supernatural Society of Cedrana, and to each other. Each of you had particular talents or knowledge that would help in the hunt for supernatural entities: a telepathic investigator, a sorcerous conman, a warlock vigilante, a half-plant hedgewitch, and a gunslinging inquisitor, and together you would comprise Taskforce X.

You were instructed via a letter from the Director to meet at the Silgrad Stables at midnight, and here you are in the shadow of Mount Silgrad and the dwarven halls of Mezchufliten, the air surprisingly cool for such a humid summer night. And the stables surprisingly empty, with only a short, thin man holding a lantern to keep you company as you await the arrival of the Director. "The Director will be here shortly." he said, not once giving hint at his name or identity.

After waiting roughly half an hour, two horse-drawn buggies pull up, and from one of the buggies steps out a tall and fit human woman, approximately 40 years old and wearing an owl mask and an elegant white dress - the Director of the SSC. Her voice is calm but demanding as she directs you, "Thank you for patience, agents, though I feel excitement will come soon enough." She extends her hand towards the lantern-holder who had been silently keeping you company, and he hands her a newspaper, which she then hands to Felix. Circled in red ink is an article:

Groundbreaking on a new factory just outside of Edrev was halted today, after two workers were killed in a mysterious attack on the construction site. Both victims were employees of Edrev Industrial, although their identities are being withheld pending notification of their next of kin. Extensive damage was done to the site’s construction equipment, including broken glass and hundreds of strange semi-circular dents made with an unknown instrument. Gadrin Steelcutter, owner of Edrev Industrial has offered a reward of one thousand gold coins for information leading to the arrest of the culprits. "Mysterious attack," "strange semi-circular dents," and "unknown instrument" have all been underlined.

After you all have read the article, the Director speaks up, "Our contacts in the area report that local law enforcement are unaware of any supernatural involvement and suspect local criminal gangs were the culprits, but due to the mysterious nature of the attack and lack of evidence supporting the claim that gangs were responsible, I'd like you to investigate it. You leave for Edrev tonight, so if you have any questions, ask them now before you depart."

If no one has anything to ask, we'll move along.

Thomas mutters to himself as he reads.

Denting steel says strong, but wanting to damage equipment says it's possibly intelligent... Do we know of any competing interests in the area?

"How big were the semi-circular indentations? A hammer striking a malleable surface at an angle could create such an indent if it were small enough of a dent. If it is a large indent, then are they perhaps consistent with bite marks?"

All this played throw her mind and she stood in the dark cold air of the Silgrad Stables. The others who where to be her fellow agents in view or close. She could feel thire minds, feel thire moods shift and wain as they waited. She went no deeper, just the out mood was more than she could take right now. Many thought that being able to read the minds of others would be power or fun. The fact was it, it was distressing at best. It was something one did not do for fun. Feeling a mind die as she sunk her blade into someone body, seeing her self thought thire eyes. She shuddered, yes it could get a lot more painful than just distressing. She locked that memory away, with the others she did not think about.

The others where a mixed group, she herself had deiced not to hid who she was. They would know at some point, her uniform was the of the IIRC rank of inspector on it breast, she also had on a mask, hers was white alabaster simplified copy of her own face, nether happy or sad.

IMAGE HERE

Simple but very well made. Belt with pouches and a pistol, a small dagger in one boot. She had come armed. Yet she had on no armor, not that may use it in this age of firearms.

She looked around inspecting the others once my one, placing there faces in her memory. Then the sound of horse-drawn buggies pulling up.
She watched as from one stepped a tall and fit human woman, 40-ish an owl mask on her face. She know who she as having done some reserch and seeing the mind from of confidence. The mysterious Director of the SSC.
She spoke in a voice that had command and nobility with in it.

As the paper came round she read it

Once done she handed it on to another.

Now she had a basic set of actions to be taken she let her mind drift back to the here and now. Time sped of and she waited to hear what the others sort.

Leon had taken a perch near the edge of the stable's roof, sitting on the edge of a stall where he could keep an eye on the outside as well. His hat was pulled low, nearly obscuring his face, and the red-tinted glasses he wore. His long coat hung around him, and his gloved hands held the lit cigarillo he smoked idly as he waited for the time to pass.

When the Director arrives, he gracefully clambers down from his post, and wordlessly takes and reads the paper. "We'll take care of it, ma'am." These are the only words Leon says, although he nods when the others ask their questions.

She watches Leon as he comes down,

Perception 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30

Seems to know his guns she thought to herself.

Then from the shadows she looked over at the Director, Lady Alyln's voice is very well spoken, speaking volumes about her background and the keenness of the mind that crafted the words.

"Director, While my new colleges wish to interrogate you on the minutiae of this attack. I surmise you probability know just as much as us about what actuality happened there. That is unless you already have a agent on location, which I doubt, as you would have also told of their report along with showing us the news item."

She takes a few steps out of the shadows and towards the Director.

"I suspect however you may know a little more about the local political situation, possibly background information on this Edrev Industrial, its need for this factory and what it was destined to manufacturer. So I agree with my collages question Do we know of any competing interests in the area?, lastly do you have any contacts there we could use."

as if as an after thought she adds.

"One more question Director, what will be our modus operandi for this mission. Is this to be a completely covert investigation? if not, as the SSC's Taskforce X, what authority can we employ or mimic to compel or request the local powers that be assist us in our investigation of the events, or at lest not get in our way?"

"I'll have to agree with the lady De-La-Qill. It's far too early to make assumptions. Better to discard any preconceived notions and look into this with fresh eyes."

If you wait for all the answers before you start trying to solve the mystery, you'll never get those answers.

she looks at the others as they state their views.

"So while the director thinks over our questions, shall we introduce ourselves. As The Myserious Master Crane or should I say master... Then again that would spoil the fun, so as Master Crane has inform you. I am the lady De-La-Qill and My particular specialty is... well lets just say delicate sometimes surreptitious investigation and getting to understand the minds of others very well, very well indeed. But I am sorry to say I'm not one for a physical fight, I normally let others handle that."

She flick her cloak back and shows her pistol for a moment, it looks clean but not well used.

"So lets not be bashful what talents do we have at hind my fellow agents. I have hunted the paranormal and demonic for longer then most of you have been alive. I say this not out of pride or hubris but as an offer of knowledge and experience to the Taskforce. So lets not be bashful what talents do we have here."

She looks from one to another, a light tone in her voice.

Diplomacy1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

I am playing this as if none of use know what any of us can do.

Alyln: When I said the barest of introductions, I meant that everyone in the party is familiar with each other's names and talents (that which wasn't hidden from the SSC or otherwise deemed need-to-know basis) during orientation. This, however, is their first assignment (for the SSC and as a team). Sorry if I wasn't clear on that.

Smooth but assertive, the Director pipes in, "I can see you're all eager to move on, so I'll be quick with your answers. As Agent De-Le-Qill surmised, our intelligence on the case is minimal, but I can shed some light on the more mundane matters. Edrev is located in the desert, but is relatively fertile as it sits alongside the river. It was ranches until about 50 years ago, and 100 years prior serviced soldiers at the old military base. Now it's an industrial town, thanks to Edrev Industrial, who hopes to once again revitalize the town's economy with a new factory that is to produce unknown goods - but presumably textiles and other mundane goods. There are no known competing interests, but perhaps you will find something in your investigations that suggests so. We have no contacts to use out there, and you are to conduct your business as quietly as possible, but as always," she continues, but her voice and demeanor turn more serious and ominous than professional, "the end justifies the means."

The Director once again reaches out to grab something from the lantern-holder, who seamlessly hands her a map without the Director ever once having to glance at him. She then places it in Felix's hands, "I trust you can get there alright, Agent Crane." You'd almost think she were smiling as she said his name, had the expressionless mask not hidden it.

There might be a similar smile on the agent's face as well, but who could tell? His long-nosed mask held sturdy on his face, and his tone scarcely betrayed a hint of emotion.

"Of course, Director. You've assembled an excellent team, and I have a good deal of trust in them."

Arr ok got ya GM, I will, and a hate to do retcons but I will retcon the whole of that last post sorry guys.

Hears out that the Director has to say, placing it in her memory to go over later, Crane looking after details as was his job, her she felt was to think and advise, so she did her job.

Now walking to a spot under the highest part of the born she says,

"Maximum discretion it is the Madam Director. No open displays of or gifts, no identifying ourselves. My I suggest a cover story be used. We could say we are researches from an academic institution or yet more news reporters looking for a shocking tail. Even a wealthy amiture author and his or her entourage seeking the local history and tales for his her next book. Each would allow is to ask questions openly with out seeming to be official. Now if only we know someone who could forge letters of reference."

She looks over at Thomas a moment making her point, then she held out a hand and something small with glinting legs fell from the roof and into her palm. She slips her psycristal with one move on to its belt mount, and folded her cloak over it. When done she walks over to the second carriage, placing her hand on it.

"Two carriages... one being for us?"

Harkell looks away for several moments, as if having a separate conversation no one can hear. He turns back, looking at the assembled group.

"Unknown goods, huh... That's never good. Usually what is to be produced is known before the building is erected. Edrev Industrial doesn't have a reputation for a particular sort of goods? The municipality would have had to approve the plans for the factory, presumably with some knowledge of what it would produce, unless they've got an 'in' with the local government. Assuming such, I imagine the law may not like us poking around, though they may be overly helpful if we seem to be there to get the factory back in working order, especially if the company's got the town in its pocket. It is very odd that the goods are unknown, however."

Harkell Greenbeard looks nothing like one would assume, given the file on his abilities. He is known to have immense knowledge, and often presents as fact things that no scholar of this age should know, yet they often prove true. He claims to speak to spirits. His armor appears to be an indiscriminate amalgamation of fallen tree branches. He often moves ponderously, though is capable of speeds of a man half his age while simultaneously looking as haggard as a man twice his age. He wears a fine green cloak with a leaf motif, and it enshrouds the bulky man. Wrapped around one entire arm is a strange gauntlet of boiled leather scales from which numerous blades protrude, ideal for slashing as if with claws. He holds a staff, sometimes leaning on it as if he were venerable. The staff appears to be considerably thicker at the top with a metal spiked head on the end, though the spikes mostly point in the same direction, like a forked spear. Atop his bulky form rests a head wreathed in long green-brown hair and a beard, as if he had fallen asleep next to an ancient tree and the moss entwined itself within his brown hair. His eyelids give the perpetual appearance of fatigue, though his gaze remains sharp.

His place of birth and age are unknown.

Leon frowns as talk of a factory run by Edrev Industrial comes up, and it becomes more and more apparent that the town is in the pocket of modern industrialists--or at the very least, these businessmen had some sway over the place. The Hunters were far from anti-technologists, but Estig had always preferred the frontier, people living off the land, rather than urban society. The inquisitor takes a final drag of his cigar and flicks it to the ground, crushes it under his heel.

"Well, if we've got somethin' strange goin' on, we'll take care of it. Used to workin' without contacts, diggin' up the info myself, anyway. Whole team o' smart folks workin' together, long as we play it smart, we'll catch whatever's raisin' the fuss." He settles his hands on the grips of his pistols, slung on his hips from a pair of bandoliers across his chest. "Don't care for the smell of it, myself, but I suppose if I did, that'd be a sign there's nothin' for a Hunt."

Now that he's spoken more, it's easy to tell that Leon has a frontier accent, although his plain speech is offput by a thoughtful delivery. There's an old saying about taking the boy out of the frontier, and it seems to hold true for this Hunter, at least to some extent.

Thomas says nothing more, but nods at the suggestions that eh team set out.

Greenbeard's right. There's no way nobody in town knows what they're gonna be building. That makes three obvious leads to start: the bodies, the sight, and City Hall.

Tugs open the carriage door and enters

"So Shall we"

she says going in and taking a seat by the window looking forward.

The Director steps back into her carriage, offering some final words before she departs, "You're a talented group of people, I trust you can figure out what needs to be done and do it." After the lantern-holder and the driver of the other buggy enter hers, it departs into the darkness, leaving just the five of you, a horse and the buggy.

You seem to have a couple of ideas on where to go, so let me know where you go first once you've decided.

from her seat Alyla gave a little wave as Madam Director and her party left.
She then slipped off her mask and placed it in one of her belts pouches.

She looked at the others out the window.

"So dose anyone know how to drive this thing?"

She asked with a smile.

Harkell will climb in and sit in the seat opposite Lady D-L-Q.

The obvious solution is to investigate the crime scene first, but at the same time we probably won't be able to do that without raising the suspicions of the company management, so we go in two teams, then reconvene and check our findings. Leon, Crane, and Alyla go and talk to the bosses and find out what they know, ask the usual questions, find out if anyone would want to sabotage them. Greenbeard and myself will investigate the scene and see if any workers have anything interesting. We'll reconvene, compare notes and then find a way to get a look at the bodies.

with a huff she said,

"Well looks like I better try then"

Pressing the leach of the door it swung out, she hefted herself out the door and up onto the carriage and into the drivers seat. She at there a moment as her clothing changed into the of a couch-mans. The closing her eyes a moment she pushed her mind out the the animals tethered to the carriage. Feeling their base emotions. Always a good idea to know what your dealing with. She took her mind back to when last she had done this years ago, picked up the rains and set them off.

Taking 10, on handle animals, DC is 10 as she is not pushing them, she has +3 on AH so 13. And as long as nothing goes wrong may be ok.

Soon they where off into the early morning. She took time to look at her map-case and work out a root to their destination.

GM how long, also anyone want to ride shot gun?

Once off McFaddy laid out the basic idea of a plan of action.
Form above she said.

"As good a plan as any, Master McFaddy. Now who should we say we are, possible investors, looking to broaden our portfolio. That may work with the company management. But what of you and Greenbeard, how would more reporters sound, or possible insurance assessors, that could work."

On the road she never seemed to sleep, when she did it was only for a couple of hours, and then back to driving.

"Insurance assessors would require knowing the name of the company they are insured by. Reporters... well, I do not look like a reporter. He could probably pull that off, and I could play the role of the bodyguard protecting the reporter from frontier dangers."

"All of this depends on how long we intend to stay in Edrev. I can gather us some contacts, but I'll need the better part of a week. If not, I might have to throw together a new identity on the fly."

::"Gentlemen if I may ask, her ladyship wants to know do you wish to stop at an inn for a nights rest?"::

Telepathy

Comes a voice into the minds of her fellows.

It came from some kind of device she has with her that called it self, Soruss. It had the ability to project its words out to others. She had used it before when they had 1st all meet up. It was an effective way to communicate in unheard.

Leon shrugs at the talk of disguises and cover stories. "I'm more used to just sorta showin' up an' dealin' with the problem. Go 'round sneak-like, sure, lie my way in when need be, but disguises aren't a strong suit. Guess I could pose a troubleshooter pretty effective, though. Seein' as I am one, and all."

At the question from the strange being, Leon frowns and shakes his head. Still not used to that. Don't like people in my head. The shake also goes for the idea of stopping, though. "You want some rest, I'll climb up top and keep us goin'. I know how to stay up all night without gettin' too tired. Just let me know when, and we'll ride straight on there. Sooner we get there the better."

::"Thank you Master Hatcher, her ladyship says she would like that"::

They switch places as Alyln comes in she sits back where she was, closes her eyes and is till, in the elf rest, they call sleep.

As the carriage comes close to town Alyln wakes. She pulls out from her semainly bottomless belt punches. Bread, cheese
and tomatoes for everyone to share. She also brings out the means to make hot coffee and makes everyone some. As the others eat or drank she altered her clothing to look like a secretary to Crain. Sipping some black coffee she says.

::"As we will be in Town soon Mr McFaddy would you mind if I linked my mind talking device to you. This will alow you to communicate to us in town and use to you."::

if agreed she will mind link to him 1pp cost

Then she waited as Thomas and greenbeard were dropped off.

Then as they got into town she followed Master Crain in his disguise just as a dutiful employee would.

Everyone gets 1 hero point. You can use your hero points as normal, but start with 0 (not including the one I just gave you), don't gain new ones at every level, can't take hero point feats, spells, or magic items, and can have a maximum of 6 points. I'll be awarding them for completion of certain tasks and all players will receive them, regardless of involvement in the particular scene.

As the carriage neared its destination, Felix took a few moments to remove his disguise and prepare to conduct business. There was no reason to suspect that Crane might be needed, and it would do well to make a friend or two in the unfamiliar city.

Yeah, psychic link is fine.

Sorry. Problems IRL.