Gunther Thesing prologue:
:
Standing alongside his lovely wife, preparing the meal to be served this evening, Gunther wondered how the night's events would unfold. He hoped, for his beloved daughter's happiness as well as for her well-being, that he did approve of the young man that would be dining at his table, eating the food he worked so hard to provide for his own family.
"Gunther?... Husband?... Is everything all right? You seem distracted.", Fiona questioned with concern.
"Yes, my wife. Everything is fine. Just concerned for Jordan and this boy she seems to like, is all.", Gunther replied, smiling softly at her to mask his true concerns.
Taking in the news he heard last evening has his mind on more serious concerns than the neighborhood boy. Talk of plagues, epidemics, and mysterious drownings have his mind on the overall safety of his family.
Perhaps the deal he made with the gentleman at the inn came at the perfect time. Now he can remain home for an extended time and concentrate on his family rather than business. At least being home, he can personally be around to guarantee the safety of his wife and daughter.
Meanwhile, in her bedchamber, Jordan primped and prepared for what she believed was going to be one of the best evenings of her life. Brushing her long golden hair in long fluid strokes, she sang softly to herself as she waltzed around her room.
Lorenzo Cappelli Prologue:
"I have taken the liberty of having the body prepared for transportation today. Once I leave the body should be here with an hour or two. I have another contact I was reaching out to but it takes longer to get a hold of him and I thought time was of the essence so I sought you out first. Thank you very much Dr."
He informs you of the fee for such a service, the rate is roughly the same that it was when you were practicing. Dr. Arrigino bids you a good day and looks forward to hearing from you once you have made your determination.
He informs you of the fee for such a service, the rate is roughly the same that it was when you were practicing. Dr. Arrigino bids you a good day and looks forward to hearing from you once you have made your determination.
The Volkov's:
You both wait in Greetings Tavern. The place is like a ghost town compared to the evening last night. The barkeep serves you stew to break your fast but is not much of a talker. Francois sits patiently not syaing much. And you wait.....
Gunther Thesing Prologue:
Storyteller Shadow:
Thinking to myself, What have I really gotten myself into. I have no way out now so I pray I can survive this little adventure. When I am done I must finally meet and speak with this Sadir. Why does he care if the sun is coming up? Either way he can be sen by a spyglass? What an odd and dangerous fellow. I give the man a sneer, look around quickly and try to determine how many men are up on deck, then head down below.
Lorenzo Cappelli Prologue:
After Dr. Arrigino leaves, Lorenzo continues on with his daily business and thinking, I must be more careful, too many people are starting to find out about my experiments, must be more careful indeed.
xing shi:
After waiting so long with no answer she makes her way to his friends house where she first saw him go. This time she will not approach the door but instead keep an eye or for people around and look for familiar face from the night she found him.
After waiting so long with no answer she makes her way to his friends house where she first saw him go. This time she will not approach the door but instead keep an eye or for people around and look for familiar face from the night she found him.
Michele Querini Prologue:
As you sit down below in a small cabin you finally feel the motion of the ship as it begins to turn about and head away from the city. Soon after the Captain comes downstairs, he looks at you and smiles.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Captain Domingo Consuelo, well met".
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Captain Domingo Consuelo, well met".
Lorenzo Cappelli Prologue:
Perhaps an hour after Dr. Arrigino leaves there is a knock on your front door. Two men with a wagon stand in the street expectantly both are dressed like common working men of Venice. Their smell is unmistakeable, charnel house workers. "Signore Dr. Arrigino bade us deliver this unfortunate soul to you, is there somewhere specific that we should place him for you?"
Xing Shi Prologue:
You quickly move to the friends house. You are rewarded for your quick thinking as the man leaves around 9 am heading somewhere looking rather well dressed.
Michael Santos:
Michael thinks to himself. Michael heads towards his most trusted mode of transportation and starts up the river. Singing
Xing Shi:
Xing will follow him as non obviously as possible to see where he is headed.
Xing will follow him as non obviously as possible to see where he is headed.
Lorenzo Cappelli Prologue:
"I do not really have an appropriate place anymore," he says, neglecting to mention his laboratory on the lower level, "I suppose you can place the body in the parlor for now."
After the charnel house workers have left, Lorenzo rolls the body onto a blanket and slides the unfortunate toward the entrance to the lab. Once at the entrance, he transfers the body to the platform and pulley system that he has used many times before in his studies.
Michael Santo Prologue:
You reach Anya's house around 10 am and head up to her door. She greets you with red eyes, it is obvious she has been crying all morning assuming she got any sleep.
"Chiao Mr. Santo, I am not sure I feel up to meting with anyone today. Is it alright if I just stay here until you have word of my brother? Once I know what happened to him perhaps it will give me the peace to move on. You will know what happened to him today, won't you?"
"Chiao Mr. Santo, I am not sure I feel up to meting with anyone today. Is it alright if I just stay here until you have word of my brother? Once I know what happened to him perhaps it will give me the peace to move on. You will know what happened to him today, won't you?"
Xing Shi Prologue:
You follow him with little difficultyas he does not bother to look around him as he walks. After a short fifteen minute walk he reaches a cafe' on one of the larger canals. Sitting down he calls for someone to provide him with a meal. No one is there but him and he spends his time observing people who begin to little by little, trickle down the waterways.
Lorenzo Cappelli Prologue:
You get the body of the young man into your lab. He has the telltale signs of having been in the water for some time. From what you can tell he has been dead for a short period of time a day and a half at the most. There is no trauma to his body of any kind. Perhaps Dr. Arrigino was correct in his drowing assessment. Drowning deaths are difficult to confirm for good measure you open him up to check and make sure there was not something obstructing his breathing. His organs seem intact everything is in order but it quickly becoems apparent that something is very, very wrong, this man has almost no blood in his body at all.
Lorenzo Cappelli Prologue:
Lorenzo cappelli Prologue:
You step back in shock. You have never seen a phenomena like this before. It is almost as strange as the man who turned into dust. There must be a scientific explanation for this but you simply cannot think of one. You spend more time examining the body and confirm there are no entry wounds.
You have eliminated the impossible therefore it is quite clear that there is something more improbable going on here...
You step back in shock. You have never seen a phenomena like this before. It is almost as strange as the man who turned into dust. There must be a scientific explanation for this but you simply cannot think of one. You spend more time examining the body and confirm there are no entry wounds.
You have eliminated the impossible therefore it is quite clear that there is something more improbable going on here...
Xing Shi:
After a while Xing SHi will finally approach the man. Walking up to him casually she will lightly bump into him while he is drinking something causing him to spill his drink.
After a while Xing SHi will finally approach the man. Walking up to him casually she will lightly bump into him while he is drinking something causing him to spill his drink.
Oh, pardon me sir! I did not mean to make you spill your drink.
Xing Shi will blush at this and pick up a napkin to assist with the cleanup.
Lorenzo cappelli Prologue:
Clearly confused and fascinated by what he is seeing, Lorenzo studies the subject further.
Xing Shi Prologue:
The man stands up as his drink spills all over his lap, "You clumsy fool, I should"... as his gaze rises he realizes you are a woman and his facial expression changes.
"Padon me Sinora, I did not mean offense", he states as he grins at you stupidly.
"Please let me get you something to repay my rudeness".
"Padon me Sinora, I did not mean offense", he states as he grins at you stupidly.
"Please let me get you something to repay my rudeness".
Lorenzo Cappelli Prologue:
You run through the various scenarios and case studies you have read and you can think of nothing that is similar to what you have seen today or the other night for that matter.
Even a supernatural explanation escapes you but there is the nagging feeling that somehow, some way, the events of the last few days are linked.
Even a supernatural explanation escapes you but there is the nagging feeling that somehow, some way, the events of the last few days are linked.
Xing Shi:
I should be the one apologizing sinore. She speaks in Italian with her broken accent.
I should be the one apologizing sinore. She speaks in Italian with her broken accent.
I would gladly take a drink to quench my thirst on this hot day. My name is Izumi. she holds out her hand to him.
Xing Shi Prologue:
"Pleased to meet you Signora Izumi". He kisses your hand and bids you to sit down. "If you do not mind me asking, I have never seen someone of your... complexion before, tell me where do you hail from?"
Storyteller Shadow:
Xing Shi Prologue:
She takes a seat next to him.
She takes a seat next to him.
I am from the far east and have recently came to your beautiful city.
She looks around a bit and then addresses him again.
I'm here on business and navigating through this city can be difficult at times. It's beauty is quite distracting. She smiles at him.
Lorenzo Cappelli Prologue:
Frustrated by the nagging feeling in the back of his brain, Lorenzo sets off to speak with Dr. Arrigino, in order to try to learn more about the victim.
Michael Santos Prologue:
"That would be fine whenever you are ready you can find me at my place of employment. up the River, and yes I am going to seek some answer about your brother later today. I will inform you of any findings. Good Day"Michael Santos tips his hat and makes his way to the Riverboat
Michele Querini Prologue:
You realize that the man sitting before you is an infamous pirate who has been sentenced to death by the Grand Council for attacks on Venetian trading ships. If you were known to be on this ship much less caught on this ship you would be lucky to be exiled from Venice. His sentence was passed down before you joined the Council a few years ago.
Xing Shi Prologue:
The man stares at you for a few seconds then recovers himself, "Business you say? What type of business?"
Lorenzo Cappelli Prologue:
You head out to Dr. Arrigino's home which is on the other side of the city to speak with him regarding the circumstances of the young man's passing. He greets you at the door and invites you inside to explain what he knows.
"Two nights aho I was sleeping soundly when I heard a ruckus at my front door. I yelled out the window for the people to begone until the next morning. They informed me that they had a dead companion with them and were seeking to have someone look him over. Despite my reservations at answering the door so late at night I allowed them inside. The client Michael Santo owns a gondola business and the man who passed is his employee. He told me that the employee did not show up for work and he was forced to work his shift. To his great sorrow when transporting a client to their destination later that night his pole dislodged the man from his location in the canal and the body floated up. They assumed he had died drowning but the next day the sister requested that I take a closer look before disposing of his body. I informed them that I was involving a colleague with greater expertise in such matters but of course I did not give your name".
"Two nights aho I was sleeping soundly when I heard a ruckus at my front door. I yelled out the window for the people to begone until the next morning. They informed me that they had a dead companion with them and were seeking to have someone look him over. Despite my reservations at answering the door so late at night I allowed them inside. The client Michael Santo owns a gondola business and the man who passed is his employee. He told me that the employee did not show up for work and he was forced to work his shift. To his great sorrow when transporting a client to their destination later that night his pole dislodged the man from his location in the canal and the body floated up. They assumed he had died drowning but the next day the sister requested that I take a closer look before disposing of his body. I informed them that I was involving a colleague with greater expertise in such matters but of course I did not give your name".
Michael Santo Prologue:
Lorenzo Cappelli Prologue:
"Under normal circumstances, I would agree that the cause of death was drowning, and it still yet may be the cause. The confusing part of the whole thing is that the body has been exsanguinated with no real evidence of a wound that would cause near complete exsanguination of the body. I can not determine at this time if the removal of blood from the body was done before or after death. Any thoughts come to mind Dr. Arrigino?"
Storyteller Shadow:
"Well met, I am Michele. Lovely ship you have here. I apologize for skipping the nicities but I was just informed that this excursion was going to take 9 days. Can you fill me in on some details as this was a surprise to me. Sadir never spoke of this along with such a noteworthy captain."
Xing Shi Prologue:
Xing Shi bats her eyes and looks the man over as if evaluating his worth.
Xing Shi bats her eyes and looks the man over as if evaluating his worth.
A girl never kisses and tells. She smiles blushing slightly.
But I can tell you there is a lot of money involved and a woman in this strange beautiful town doesn't know how to make proper use of it all.
Lorenzo Cappelli Prologue:
Dr. Arrigino sits quietly for a few moments considering the statement. "There was no evidence of leeches? Other than that I do not have any idea what else it could be. Perhaps I should meet with these people and see if there is something more sinister going on". [/b] Dr. Arrigino looks troubled and he turns to you. [b] "I expect them to come here at some point today, once I have spoekn with you I will let you know what they say. I do not want to trouble you any further".
Michele Querini Prologue:
The Captain looks back at you and chuckles, "Details? From Sadir? I never receive any details, what I receive are large sums of coin, I am paid not to ask questions Signore but I will tell you what I do know. Sadir has commandeered a Venetian Galley, on this galley are goods which he very badly wants to smuggle into the city with absolutely no questions asked by the Venetian authorities. I assume that is why you are here. So tell me more about you, exactly what is it that you do that will allow you to accomplish such a feat?"
Xing Shi Prologue:
The man's eyes widen and you hear his breath quicken, "If you are a stranger in this place I can certainly help you become more familiar with, everything..."
The Volkovs:
Lorenzo Cappelli Prologue:
Volkov Twins:
Storyteller Shadow:
"My particular skill set and my family connections with the Holy See and the Venetian council affords me the opportunity to work with Sadir. It is good we have met in case I have need of a man of your talents in the future. What is the best way to contact you for possible jobs?"
Lorenzo Cappelli Prologue:
"No, no signs of leeches what-so-ever. If you would like an extra pair of ears to listen to what these people who brought you the body have to say, I am willing. I must say this particular case has my interest piqued."
Michele Querini Prologue:
"So you are an important citizen? It's too bad Sadir sees use in you, I am sure I could ransom you handsomely back to your family". The Captain sighs wistfully. "Truthfully I don't generally deal with you people, you make pirates look like honest men when it comes to business. Perhaps if this deal goes well I would consider contacting you if I have need of something. Now that we have dispensed with the pleasantries how would you like a drink? We will be on this trip for the next four days and this is the only cabin in which Sadir has allowed me to let you stay so we will be getting to know one another quite well."
Lorenzo Cappelli Prologue:
[b] "You would not mind? I would appreciate it greatly if you would stay, the circumstances make me a bit nervous. I believe the man who hired me is coming by today to check on my progress. Thank you so very much for doing this for me I am amazed at how quickly you have completed this work!"
Lorenzo Cappelli Prologue:
"Completion of this work is why I have offered to stay. I am not satisfied with the drowning explanation for the man's death."
Storyteller Shadow:
I let out a hearty chuckle "It would seem that we both have our uses and hopefully one day they will intersect." As I narrow my gaze "Just do not underestimate the money we could make together.....A glass of red wine would be most excellent. Many thanks."
Michael Santos Prologue:
Michael heads towards the Inn owned by Gunther Thesing.
Xing Shi Prologue:
Well then perhaps our bumping into each other was destined by the gods. She smiles.
Well then perhaps our bumping into each other was destined by the gods. She smiles.
Michael Santo & the Volkov's:
It is mid-day Michael and you head down the winding canals of Venice enjoying the brisk weather of the day. The sun is shining and it is good to be alive. You are sad at the grief that Anya is currently feeling but you hope that your help will guide her through this tumultuous time.
The city is teeming with life abuzz on a MOnday morning though you do see that many of the people have anxious facil expressions, no doubt the trouble between the Doge and the Pope is foremost on their minds. Luckily your business is immune to such problems as no matter what happens in the world around them, Venetians and its tourists need transportation on the cities waterways.
You arrive in front of greetings and head in through the front door. The place usually full of life is devoid of well anyone with the exception of the barkeep and the Volkov's along with their companion whose name eludes your grasp.
Katriana looks as lovely and serene as ever while Sergei looks impatient, this seems to be his general demeanor.
The city is teeming with life abuzz on a MOnday morning though you do see that many of the people have anxious facil expressions, no doubt the trouble between the Doge and the Pope is foremost on their minds. Luckily your business is immune to such problems as no matter what happens in the world around them, Venetians and its tourists need transportation on the cities waterways.
You arrive in front of greetings and head in through the front door. The place usually full of life is devoid of well anyone with the exception of the barkeep and the Volkov's along with their companion whose name eludes your grasp.
Katriana looks as lovely and serene as ever while Sergei looks impatient, this seems to be his general demeanor.