Dungeon World Zeitgeist

Game Master Sbodd

Retzack nods along with the others, and shares the data he has also gleaned:

- she had a parole slip, from the Parity Lake police, and a small empty bottle, each in a pocket of her dress.
- She had a wound on her face made by dark magic, then haphazardly covered up by clerical magic.
- The position of the gunshots wounds is all wrong.
- the wound on her face came first, then the glass, then the fence, then the gunshots.

Black Kappa

So, am I correctly picturing basically just a hand and forearm sticking down from the ceiling, lobbing knives?
Also: is there anything distinctive about your blades?

Three quick throws, and three of the six windows in the hall are shattered. But, you're out of throwing knives, and you hear people in the nearest offices starting to move. What do you do?

Adir
Two possible reasons leap to mind: the longer route did take an extra minute or so, and there were fewer people about.

Everyone but Kappa

You have time enough to discuss and plan, if you wish, before the following happens.

As you confer, the sound of breaking glass shatters the calm in the courtyard. Three windows on the second floor send a cascade of glass down. Crell just looks around, as Bree curses quietly and mutters, "What now?" What do you do?

Pretty much. Just to note something, though - it says a collection of knives, not 3 throwing knives. It's more like the infinite knives of Apocalypse World. If you look, it's got ammo tags, and isn't started like normal throwing knives.
It'd suck if it was just 3 throwing knives, because then I'd be out of weapons just from breaking those windows.

I do have a preferred design, with a ring in the handles of my knives, but otherwise they're pretty ordinary.

So it is. I assumed they were vanilla DW throwing knives. Well then, retcon: you broke all the windows, and still have some knives left!

Kappa would grin, if he had a proper face right now.
He quickly sets the vent cover back in its place (unsecured admittedly, but still) and starts checking if any of the rooms with windows that were occupied before have emptied out.

"Adir, shall we meet up with Burke to discuss this case?"

Adir shakes his head. His voice teems with suppressed emotion as he states, "I wish to investigate the room and window from which young Nilasa jumped. Unless someone has already?" He will head in that direction unless stopped.

Retzack shrugs and falls in step with Adir. "You know, 'tis a great likelihood that they'll not want us there. They killed a young woman and then tried, poorly, to make it look like self-defense. 'Tis likely we will encounter resistance. Does this...discourage you?"

Whoops, major retcon!

Tethys follows along, saying in a hushed but urgent tone "Retzack, keep your voice down! We don't want them to know that we're suspicious yet!"

"No, I told him I was going to investigate it," Adir nods in LeBrix' direction. "He didn't say 'no' at the time. What is that noise?"

Burke looks up from his conversation with the guards as the windows shatter. Burke draws his two pistols, but makes it clear he is not threatening the guards.

You need to authorize me to enter. I can help!

I am the Law: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 1) + 1 = 8

On a 7+, they choose one:
- Do what you say
- Back away cautiously, then flee
- Attack you

So, just for clarity, here's what I think just happened:
Everyone save Kappa went outside and conversed. Adir, Retzack, and Tethys went back inside, told LeBrix they wanted to go see the scene; he started leading you up a flight of stairs. All this happened before Kappa started breaking windows.

Black Kappa

You quickly find an office that's now completely vacant, and has a nice view out the side of the building. What do you do? If the answer is "remove vent cover, break window, move on", then give me a single Defy with Dex and that can cover 'break all the now-easy windows on the floor'. If you're doing anything specific to cover your tracks, try and make it easier, etc please describe it.

Burke

Crell just kind of nods. Bree thinks about objecting, but looks down at the glass, up at the windows, and back at you, then nods and steps aside. Assuming you go in The lobby is abuzz; you don't see anyone you recognize, but several people in the lobby are standing and looking confused, and more people are sticking heads out of doors. There are two stairwells visible, one each to your left and right. What do you do?

Adir, Retzack, Tethys

LeBrix leads you over to a stairwell, saying that the hallway is up on the 4th floor. He's just unlocked a door leading up from the 3rd when the sound of breaking glass starts. He looks conflicted, but finally says " It's right up here. Go ahead, I'll catch up. " He runs down the stairs, in the direction of the noise. What do you do?

Oh, what a joyful day to break some windows.

Smash!: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 2) + 1 = 9

As he goes, Kappa makes sure to replace the covers properly. If he couldn't screw them back in, he could at least make it look like they were never removed in the first place.

Back they go, quickly now.: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 2) + 1 = 9

Retzack idly meanders around the space, looking about with a practiced eye...

Discern the Realities!: 2d6 + 0 ⇒ (4, 5) + 0 = 9
What here is not what it appears to be?

...but not truly taking in the scene. His mind is already ahead, thinking about the young, used paramour, wondering how to use him further.

He hears glass breaking and smiles at the inside joke. He has a thought to neither help nor hinder, simply let the play act on, progressing to the second act in its own time.

Tethys looks around the room, looking for incongruities.

What can I see here that no one else can?

She looks at Retzack's lack of reaction to the sound of breaking glass, and says "What's going on? Do you think we should help?"

"We can check things out without his interference. I say we go up." Which is what Adir does.

"Hm?" Retzack comes out of his revelry long enough to follow Adir up and address Tethys. "Ah, oh, I don't know, I just have a theory. Think you, where is our erstwhile comrade Kappa? Have you seen aught of him since we got here? And do you think that our hosts, who went through so much trouble to cover up their murder, would start wantonly destroying their property with us still snooping around?

More like methinks that we are doing our investigation...and he is doing his. No, the best we can do is what we are doing. A soul as uncomprehendingly old as his can only follow his own path."

Retzack nods at Adir.

Pssst. DM Sbodd. Let's have my racial move: Long-lived:
When you enter an important location (your call) you can ask the GM for one fact from the history of that location. Anything you care to tell us about our current location? =)

Black Kappa

As you proceed, you hear an increasing number of voices coming from the hallways beneath you. One voice manages to command enough of the staff to take up positions that you can't get to the last couple of windows on this floor safely - the doors are open, and there's someone with a clear view, who could react quickly to anything you tried. What do you do?

Adir, Retzack, Tethys

The stairwell opens onto a gallery. Benches line the walls, and a long runner covers the length of the floor, leading to a now-broken stained glass window. Several display cases are located between the benches; one of them is empty, but looks like it would've held the jeweled egg. Four doors open off the gallery, being nameplates of the Consular DeNadria (head of this embassy) and other top officials.

Retzack, the minute you walk in you can smell it - blood. A few moments' examination reveals a bloodstain, fresh, on the floor under the rug; if you had to guess, this rug probably wasn't here a few hours ago.

As for your recollections - Nilasa was, oddly enough, not the first person to die from gravity outside this very window. Thirty years ago, as the Fourth Yerasol War between Danor and Risur was breaking out, the ambassador was tossed out this same window. He didn't make it to the fence, though.

Tethys, that empty display case catches your eye. The lock on it shows no sign of having been opened with anything but its key. The door to the consular's office, on the other hand... Someone definitely tried to pick that.

What do each of you do?

Burke

Crell just kind of nods. Bree thinks about objecting, but looks down at the glass, up at the windows, and back at you, then nods and steps aside. Assuming you go in The lobby is abuzz; you don't see anyone you recognize, but several people in the lobby are standing and looking confused, and more people are sticking heads out of doors. There are two stairwells visible, one each to your left and right. What do you do?

Burke doesn't hesitate, but holsters his pistols as he enters the lobby, hands ready to draw. He sweeps past the gathered crowd as if he owns the place, and stops at the two stairwells. He listens closely for sounds of any more glass breaking.

Discern Realities: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 1) + 1 = 3

Burke wishes he had worn earplugs to all the concerts he attended during his rebellious years.

Tethys announces to her teammates "I don't think the egg was the target of the break-in at all, but the consular's office - see the scratch marks around the lock on his door?"

Sbodd - is the door to the consular's office unlocked? Or are we in it?

Burke
The glass breaking keeps happening, another instance every minute or two. As you stand at the base of one of the stairwells, you see LeBrix on the landing above, whispering to two of his guards. He drinks a potion and vanishes, and you hear his footsteps heading up the stairs; the two guards follow moments later. What do you do?

Tethys
it's definitely locked. Also, all of you know that breaking into the consular's office could easily become an international incident.

Burke calls out. LeBrix! It's Burke of the RHC. Are we under attack? I can help.

Burke hoofs it in pursuit of the guards, pistols holstered with no attempt to be stealthy.

Retzack, with the brazen curiosity of one immune to diseases, kneels down and...licks the floor. He needs to be sure that this blood is the same as that blood.

That done, he nods at Tethys. "That...is almost certainly root of the conundrum. However, breaking into the consular's office could easily become an international incident.

Your call."

"Is it hers?," Adir asks, once he has some understanding of Retzack's action.

Yes, that's Nilasa's blood. It's got that same taste of necromancy that you noticed before, too.

Kappa narrows his eyes. Fine, have it their way. He didn't have to do it all at once.

Deciding to make use of the distraction he'd created, Kappa heads back to the blocked vent on the third floor, and tries to blast it free with a deluge.
Deluge: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 6) + 1 = 13
Don't draw attention, don't mess up anything important, and blast the HELL out of that vent.

Tethys mentally weighs the options in her head, then says "I'm not up for something that could go so south so quickly...today. Someone's bound to come looking for us soon. Too bad Kappa's busy elsewhere, he could probably fit under that crack between the floor and the door."

Retzack nods at Adir as he rises. "Oh yes. Indubitably. It even has the same tang of dark magic that had inflicted the girl's first wound.

Well, if you want to go wander and find the lad, then I'll be happy to stay here and save our spot, so to speak. Just bring him as soon as you are able. You know under normal circumstances, I'd recommend returning at night, but right now we have the honest weight of law with us. That just makes it...yummier."

He grins, flashing his white, white teeth.

Sbodd, do we have *any* legal recourse to get into the consular's office? Like, getting a warrant or something?

Mmmmrmph. If the process takes any time at all, then they could easily move the file/artifact/real egg or what have you before we come back.

"Dark magic?," Adir growls. "Any ideas on that?"

"Hm? Had I not mentioned that? The girl's first wound, and possibly the fatal one, was a blast of dark magic to the face. This was what caused her to be hurtled out of the window onto the fence below. The gunshots were post-mortem, designed to play a role."

Retzack smacks his lips, concentrating on the flavor of the dark magic, rolling it around and wondering if any part of it could be identified by his intellect. He doubted it, but the effects of the Torpor are oftimes unpredictable.

He chuckles. That creature called Retzack the Black would no doubt have known of this...wherever he is.

Spout Lore: 2d6 - 1 ⇒ (6, 2) - 1 = 7

Sometimes a comma can make all the difference. =)

I was thinking one of us could go get the warrant, while the others stay behind to prevent any shenanigans...

I was thinking the exact same thing. =) I have the best charisma, so that would make me a good candidate to stay and keep them baffled with BS. Do you or Adir wanna go get the warrant?

Wait a minute. Is a warrant even possible? I mean, this is basically foreign soil. This would be like the FBI getting a warrant to search the Russian embassy (unless I'm mistaken).

Wait a minute. Is a warrant even possible? I mean, this is basically foreign soil. This would be like the FBI getting a warrant to search the Russian embassy (unless I'm mistaken).

^

Technically, you should get a warrant for searches or arrests; most of the time, you'd be able to get away without one, but the wealthy or powerful could make trouble for you if you're not following procedure. The Danoran embassy definitely qualifies as both.

That sort of implies (but does not confirm) that we *could* get a search warrant for the embassy...

Sorry for the delay. Pesky "real life!"

Retzack

It's very strange. The aura of magic is stronger than it should be - the wound wouldn't have taken that much power to create, and a small spell should've faded by now, its energy drawn back to the Bleak Gate. Whatever caused this must have a more permanent attachment to this realm... Possibly an elemental, or someone similar to Tethys.

Black Kappa

Your blast dislodges the vent cover, and the box underneath it; fortunately, neither of them make too much racket as they fall. It looks like you're in a storeroom, boxes line the walls. From the labels, it's mostly an assortment of office supplies, and some industrial gear. Some of the boxes have a thick layer of dust on them. If there's something useful that would fall into either of those categories, feel free to find it in a box.

What do you do?

Tethys, Retzack, and Adir

You could try and get a warrant, but Burke's basically spot on - you'd need approval from the Danoran ambassador in Slate. You could instead try to get permission from an RHC higher up, which would at least keep the heat from falling on you (the Lady Inspectress Saxby at your office would be the ranking member locally). Best case would be a few hours for either of those.

Burke

As you reach the door to the second floor, you hear LeBrix's voice. " Who... Never mind. Something's breaking our windows. From the inside. Head up to the third floor, see if you can catch whatever it is if it moves up. And... Thanks."

What do you do?

Burke nods and continues up to the third floor, following any sounds of breaking glass. During a silent moment he yells at the top of his lungs.

This is the RHC. Stop at once!

Bump! And Kappa, you can easily hear Burke just outside the door of the room you're in.

Retzack chuckles and shakes his head at Tethys and Adir. "Alas, to do this properly, with warrant and papers and all, would be an impossible task, and would do us little good if we did. The red tape for a true warrant of this nature in this territory is legion. And, while we pursued it, they would simply scrub the scene and remove or destroy any evidence of value.

Hence, let us stop stalling. One of you open the door, by guile or force. I'll play the rearguard. Be swift, but take your time, as I can be..." he smacks his lips,"very persuasive!

Unless, of course, you truly wish me to enter the door? I'm not as perceptive as you might think, but I'll play the spy, if that is your wish?"

"Retzack, is it true that vampires can take a gaseous form? If so, you could slip thru the crack between the door and the floor, without anyone being the wiser."

Adir grunts. "We uphold the law. Doing such violates the agreement we have with the people to safeguard them. I recommend against this course of action and will not participate." Knowing that each person must make their own decision, Adir patiently waits for their response.

As Tethys voices her question, the smile runs away from Retzack's face, and he frowns, staring at the floor. "I...a...that...." He takes a great sigh, as if resigning himself to a massive endevour. "I am...older than I can say. Older than you would beleive. So old that I grew powerful enough to become bored with power. One day, by accident, I discovered how to control my Torpor--the sleep any vampire goes into when, ah, critically damaged.

I pray that you forgive me."

That said the smile returns and he faces Adir. "And that is what we propose to do! Tell me, when a man attacks you and you face him in combat, do you give him every courtesy? Do you leave your sword undrawn while you give him time to contact his next of kin? Or make sure that his will is drawn and ratified? When you slice his arm do you cry Hold! and tend his wound with soft bandages?

Alas. I see that the blood of Men is not so thick as perhaps it is on other plan--erm, countries. I shall play the spy. Please at least do me the courtesy of crying out a warning before you turn tail and leave me in the lurch."

That done, Retzack takes one last look around and crouches down at the lock, seeing if he can gain entrance without leaving a sign.

Defy Danger Dex?: 2d6 + 0 ⇒ (6, 1) + 0 = 7

"If a war starts over these actions, how many lives will be lost? A pebble dropped in a pond sends out many ripples."

Kappa slips out into the room, and takes in the sight of all the boxes, noting the one he'd sent tumbling to get in.
Seemed like the obstruction was more mundane than he'd thought. Ah well.
He's in the middle of loading up on ink and fancy pens (but mostly lot and lots of ink) when he hears Burke outside the door.

Oh, come on! It had to be him, of all of them!
Odds were, Burke was looking for him, though he wouldn't know it yet. So a confrontation wasn't ideal, especially if Burke was doing his crazy lie detector thing again. Better wrap things up here.
Kappa searches the room, dusty boxes and all, for anything that might be relevant to what he was actually supposed to be doing as far as the others were concerned.

DR: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 2) + 1 = 7
What here is not what it appears to be?

"A life has already been lost. Do you care so little for her?"

Kappa: just what *are* you supposed to be doing?

Retzack: The lock seems to still be sound, despite the previous lockpicking. How are you trying to get the door open?

...searching the storeroom for strange things that might be tangentially relevant to the case or hint to other peculiar things, and stealing copious amounts of ink?

Adir smiles sadly. "A life already lost weighed against those that are still found. The scales fall in favor of the multitudes."

"Guys, wait! Jeez, you're making me feel bad for pointing out that the door had already been picked. Retzack, I've picked my fair share of locks in the past, but I've got to agree with Adir on this one. Even tho the staff is distracted by all the breaking windows, I think the odds are just too high that someone's going to get back to us soon, and getting caught *would* cause a major scandal. Let's let it rest, ok?"