Adir shares what he learned before his episode.
Kappa
You find one access where whoever is on the other side is having issues with a stuck valve - it's only partially closed. You can squeeze by, but you'll have to blast the valve back open (which would alert whoever's trying to close it that something just happened). Or, you can stay up here and find some other way out. What do you do?
Downstairs
Several other members of the staff had the smell of Fey pepper on them, but faintly - consistent with having consumed a mild dose.
Crell, the guard Burke spoke with outside. (More strongly than the others.)
Phillipe duNadria, janitor and cousin to the consular.
Edouar Henru and Mirine de Lac, both secretaries.
Therin Harvard, a Risuri consultant.
And there were the two other guards sent home previously, as well. All of those present will mention having partaken of Nilasa's pastries.
Tethys turns to the consular and says "Ok, it's not like Nilasa was dosing anyone of privilege or high power, other than yourself. Perhaps she wanted control of a guard, to get access to restricted areas? Regardless, can you think of any reason *why* she would dose you all with fey pepper?"
Adir, would you join me outside?
Burke will lead the Druid to the site of death if Adir agrees.
"Indeed."
Burke shares the description of the man that stole a package from the victim as well as a description of the package and the direction he fled.
It is a long shot, but if anyone could track him, it's you. Do you smell any fey pepper?
Adir is relieved to be outside, though his expression is still very hangdog about the incident. "After what just happened you want me to try again? That was not a proud moment for me. I know that we've talked about this some, but I really lost control there."
If Burke insists, Adir will accede and Track.
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• On a 10+, hold 3.
• On a 7–9, hold 2.
• On a miss, hold 1 in addition to whatever the GM says.
You may take on the physical form of any species whose essence you have studied or who lives in your land: you and your possessions meld into a perfect copy of the species’ form. You have any innate abilities and weaknesses of the form: claws, wings, gills, breathing water instead of air. You still use your normal stats but some moves may be harder to trigger. The GM will also tell you one or more moves associated with your new form. Spend 1 hold to make that move. Once you’re out of hold, you return to your natural form. At any time, you may spend all your hold and revert to your natural form.
Burke puts a hand on Adir's shoulder. We all make mistakes Adir. Truth knows I make more than most. Truth also knows I wouldn't have asked if I didn't have faith.
Better not to blast the valve. It'd get him down, but then they'd know he was down there. Best way to throw off suspicion was to find another way down and meet up with the others.
Kappa starts looking for other ways to get down undetected. He wasn't averse to going down via the outside of the building if he had to. With all the broken windows, it was probably a convenient way to get down quickly without making further mess.
Kappa
Shortly after you turn back, you hear a clang behind you - you suspect whoever it was managed to get their valve closed. As you look for exits, you have a near miss as someone removes a vent cover a few feet from where you are. A hand reaches into the vent and inserts a small rod, which begins to emit a green smoke a few seconds after the vent is closed. Behind you, the last few openings were all into a hallway; you'd have to run a fair ways to make it to a window or the stairs. If you pass through the smoke, the next few vents are all window offices opening on the back side of the building. What do you do?
Tethys and Retzack
"If I were to guess, you'd keep the dose low to avoid drawing attention. If everyone were as bad off as Crell , it'd be instantly obvious what was going on. But I think you're exactly right. She wanted the staff to be focused on anything but her. And it worked, almost."
Adir and Burke
The trail is easy enough to pick up; there's only one strong scent leading away from the body around the side of the building, and it has a little of Nilasa's smell to it as well. In the alley , the trail gets a little muddled, and another scent mixes in - rot and burnt grease. The thief's trail leaves through the far end of the alley, and emerges two blocks later onto Westman Street; it disappears at a carriage for hire stand half a block from the alley.
Wolf Adir looks to the carriage stand, and then to Burke expectantly.
The options he was faced with weren't great. He avoids the smoke, he gets flushed out like they wanted. He'd be able to mist himself so that they couldn't see him specifically, but they'd know where he was, to say nothing of the trouble that'd come about in future from what they could see. And that was without considering actually getting away.
Then again, that smoke could well do all sorts of nasty things. Harm him, tag him, leave a trail behind him...sure, he'd have an easy passage out if he got past it, but was it really worth it to let that stuff near him?
This sucked.
He needed to think. What that smoke did was important here. So, he thought. What was that smoke? What did it do? What would happen if he broke the rod?
Burke flashes his badge at the poor employee manning the carriage for hire stand.
Burke Hoffa, High Constabulary. I'm looking for someone who hired a carriage within the last hour. He quickly repeats the guard's description of the fleeing member. I need to know where his carriage was going and I need to know it now.
|
Retzack coughs a few times. "Excuse me," he mumbles and steps out for a moment.
He catches up the empty vial from the dead girl and clandestinely brings it to his face. His recent...feeding grounds of the Sweet Doomed Angel has brought him in contact with some of the seedier peoples of the land, so he's developed a brief familiarity with a few mind-and-body affecting drugs. If this is one currently in vogue, he thinks he might stand a chance of recognizing it.
He takes a good sniff, then runs his finger around the inside and touches it to his tongue, seeing if he's run across if before.
Alas, either this is not enjoyed by his current stable circle of friends, or he just plain doesn't recall much about it.
Kappa
These are a Danoran invention. Based on a standard alchemical smokestick, they incorporate particulate soil from the heart of the Malice Lands, and the resulting cloud can suppress or dispel magical effects.
Breaking the rod would cause it to generate a small intense cloud before the reaction ceased (less total smoke overall, but a particularly intense effect at the moment you broke it.)
Burke and Adir
The worker gives the wolf a wary look, and answers nervously. "You're the second cops to ask about him - just what kind of trouble is that doctor in? Anyway, he went to House of Blue Birds, up in North Shore. Two kells each if you need a ride. ".
Retzack
As it turns out, it's not a drug; it's an invisibility potion. They're quite illegal without the proper license, and Nilasa definitely didn't have one on her. Your boss would love to know where she got it.
Apparently, even the residue that was in the bottle still had some potency... As you look at your hand, you notice small patches of yourself disappearing and reappearing. It's...somewhat unsettling, really. At least, the mortals will probably be somewhat taken aback.
Thank you citizen. Two Kells each it is. Burke hands over the coin. As the worker prepares the carriage, Burke continues asking questions. What makes you think he is a doctor? Did these "cops" give you names and a department?
+1 because we definitely have at least 3 facts that are connected :
The egg is a fake.
It was only touched by LeBrix.
The order of wounds on Nilasa is odd.
The stench of necromancy on Nilasa, and in the alley behind the embassy.
So, in addition to any connections/conclusions we can make from all these, who's really in control?
Burke and Adir
"Well, he said he was a doctor, anyway. Had some blood on him, said he was in the middle of a surgery, needed something from his hotel. Though he should've been back by now, come to think of it. The cop didn't say much, just asked if I'd seen the other fellow. His uniform said "Porter", I think, from Parity Lake." He finishes preparing the carriage, and gestures for you to climb aboard. The driver nods at you.
Tethys and Retzack
In a quiet corner, you compare notes. The fake egg doesn't fit, at first glance; it seems likely that the fake was in place in that display case for a while.
As for the rest: The consular said someone convinced her to try to cover up, and she outright stated she didn't want you to know that documents were the target. The egg was just the most valuable thing up on the 4th floor. And there was necromantic magic that she didn't know about. It seems likely there's someone she's taking orders from, and you're guessing it's not the ambassador in Slate. Further, she was decidedly vague on who actually intercepted Nilasa; whoever it was may have magical abilities the consular doesn't know about.
Burke turns to Adir as he enters the carriage. Perhaps our 'doctor' is the one that covered up the dark magic. Should we go grab the others?
Kappa prepares to move through the smoke. Now, he didn't want to go through something like that, given his unique biology...but in this case? It might just be worth it.
Kappa surges forward, prepared for the worst, and makes for those easy exits.
Adir shakes his head no and turns a circle, indicating his impatience.
Burke directs the driver to proceed at all speed to the destination of the "doctor".
Adir howls as they move forward, hoping to "encourage" the team of horses to move quickly.
Burke and Adir
The carriage driver gives wolf-Adir dirty looks as he takes you across the district, especially as you start howling.
It takes about ten minutes for you to arrive at House of Blue Birds, one of the lower end hotels in the North Shore (meaning it's merely pleasant, clean, and well appointed). As you exit the carriage, the bellhop gives Burke a broad smile and says "Welcome to House of Blue Birds. How may I help you?" (Adir, the two-legs reeks of sweat-nervous-fear after he spots you, but hides it well.)
Kappa
As you start to move through the smoke, what at first feels merely unpleasant becomes an excruciating squeezing sensation, as the effect seems to contract your external membrane; you make it through, but feel as though you've literally been through a wringer (based on the amount of water now outside of you and trickling out the vent, that's not a wrong analogy. Mark off 1-Rain.) There's a vent right in front of you; you should have a clear path out a rear third floor window. What do you do?
Tethys and Retzack
Burke greets the bellhop warmly and flashes his badge. Burke Hoffa, High Constulabury. I need your assistance. I am searching for a person of interest in a murder investigation. He was dropped off by carriage here less than two hours ago. Burke describes the man. Any assistance you can provide will be appreciated. Any resistance you provide will not. Have you seen this man?
Burke glances briefly at Adir, confident his colleague has already begun to track the man.
Which is exactly what Adir does.
Tethys asks to speak to the consular in private, and accompanies her into her temporary office with Retzack, closes the door, turns to the consular and says, "Ok, it's time to put our cards on the table. Who ordered you to cover up the theft of the documents with the phony egg? And who took out Nilasa, we'll want to talk with them to hear their side of the story."
I'll use the one "what here is not what it appears to be" question to evaluate her answer to my first question for truthfulness. I figure we can confirm her answer to the second question easily enough by questioning the embassy staff.
Tethys
She stares at you for a minute, then sighs. " Very well. I'm facilitating sensitive business negotiations between certain Risuri and Danoran interests. A representative of the Risuri partner was here, and was the one who both interrupted the girl, and suggested trying to keep you distracted." At several points, the consular seems slightly surprised at what she's just said - you recognize it as a sign of magical compulsion; certain secret-keeping spells cause the affected person's statements to change almost unconsciously. It's almost certainly true that there was someone else here, and that they did interrupt Nilasa and give the cover up order - the rest is highly suspect.
Burke
"Doctor Reckling? Sure, he's been staying here for a couple weeks. Just came back an hour or so-" He breaks off as Adir enters the building, clearly torn between answering you and not letting a wild animal into the lobby.
Adir
Yep, he was here alright. One trail, headed into the hotel from near where you exited the carriage. You follow the trail inside; several two-legs in the lobby react as you enter. The trail heads up a flight of stairs, ending at a closed door. Two other things jump out at you: the most recent trail left by the two-legs you're following goes into the room, and there's another smell that you recognize from the consulate that also entered, more recently; this other person left the room afterward. What do you do?
"Consular, I am certain that you are under a magical compulsion to lie. Are you a willing participant in that? Do you want the one who has cast a spell on you unwillingly to get away with that? If not, I suggest that we get you to one of our police mages, who can remove the compulsion. Are you agreeable to that?"
Adir, as a large white wolf, paces in front of the door, waiting anxiously for packmate Burke to show up.
Once it is clear that Adir is on the trail, Burke tips his hat to the doorman and follows.
Burke smiles when Adir indicates the room. He draws a pistol and kicks the door open.
RHC! Everybody on the ground!
Tethys and Retzack
"I appreciate your concern, but it's quite unnecessary. Honestly, my concerns right now are ending the disruptions to my office, and recovery of the stolen items." You don't see any hint of the magical interference in those statements.
There's a knock on the door. "Is there anything else?" she asks.
Burke and Adir
The door flies open, the lock sending a small chunk of the frame flying into the room. There's nobody inside; the room, however, is a total mess. The mattress is cut open, the dresser drawers are strewn about, the chair and table lying on their sides. A breeze from the open window stirs the curtains, and some loose papers scattered through the room. The bellhop (who had been a few steps behind, following Burke) gasps, as does one of the hotel's cleaning staff (one of the Bernese catfolk) who was cleaning the room opposite.
Adir barks at Burke to get his attention and goes after the other trail.
Burke yells at the bellhop, Secure this room by order of the RHC!
He then takes off after Adir.
"...but, ma'am! I'm telling you that your mind has been magically messed with, and that doesn't bother you?"
Well, that was distinctly unpleasant. All that water might well draw attention to him too if they got the opportunity to examine him well enough, but it was just normal water. He figured he could deflect if he had to.
After checking that nobody's there, Kappa heads out of the vent and out of the window. He needed to find the others.
Kappa
You make your escape, cleanly as far as you can tell. Looking at your handiwork, probably be three fourths of the windows have been broken. The alley appears deserted; you could easily head around and knock on the front door, if you wanted. What do you do?
Tethys and Retzack
"As I said, that won't be necessary. Sometimes such spells are used voluntarily, after all. "
There's another knock at the door, this time with a specific cadence - two pairs of taps, with a brief gap in between. "I really must go; please excuse me. Beatrice can assist you with anything else you require."
Unless you stop her, she leaves the office, and heads down a stairwell after exchanging a few words with Bree .
What do you do?
Burke and Adir
The bellhop stammers out an "Okay" as you head back out. The trail leads around the side of the building, outside the window to the doctor's room. From there, it meanders south and east; Adir occasionally also picks up the doctor's scent, as the trail leaves the North Shore and crossed into the Parity Lake district. The new scent appears to be moving somewhat less directly than the doctor did.
Tracking becomes harder as the industrial smells from the district get stronger. The trails eventually end up outside a rundown brick flophouse, across the street from a (very loud) factory of some kind. Both trails lead into the building, come out, and then disappear, at slightly different points on the street; Adir's guess is that both the doctor and the other individual boarded carriages, probably about twenty minutes apart. This part of town doesn't have the same public carriage business as North Shore does, however.
You both have the distinct feeling of being watched, a feeling that only intensifies as Adir's transformation wears off.
What do you do?
Standing alone in the consular's temporary office, Tethys looks at Retzack and says "Well, drek - what do we do now?"
Adir rubs the well-worn wooden amulet sewn into his wristband as he steps close to Burke, so that they are in close proximity, but essentially looking over each other's shoulders. He looks around surreptitiously and quietly says, "If I had to guess, they boarded carriages here, separately, and at different times. Do you also have the feeling we are being watched?"
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Adir has encountered a man named Brill, who is as unsavory as his appearance implies. The man is unwashed, reeking of stale sweat and filth, with stringy hair, a lazy eye, and a heavily pockmarked face. He usually serves as a messenger between criminal elements of the area and has no affection for Adir.
Burke nods in agreement.
So we've lost them then. We should contact the others. Could you get back to the others quickly while I keep an eye on this place?
Burke carefully scans the area, looking for signs of the secret watcher(s).
Adir nods, leaping into the air in a sudden beating of wings. He will circle twice to find his bearings and commit the location to memory before flying to the embassy.
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[dice=Shapeshift: Snowy Owl]2d6+1[/dice]
• On a 10+, hold 3.
• On a 7–9, hold 2.
• On a miss, hold 1 in addition to whatever the GM says.
You may take on the physical form of any species whose essence you have studied or who lives in your land: you and your possessions meld into a perfect copy of the species’ form. You have any innate abilities and weaknesses of the form: claws, wings, gills, breathing water instead of air. You still use your normal stats but some moves may be harder to trigger. The GM will also tell you one or more moves associated with your new form. Spend 1 hold to make that move. Once you’re out of hold, you return to your natural form. At any time, you may spend all your hold and revert to your natural form.
Burke
As your eyes sweep the area around you, you spot a figure in one of the windows, briefly - Enzo Nezi, a member of the new IronHand gang the RHC had captured not long ago. He's not supposed to be on the streets.
A few minutes later, you also spot Brill slipping into a nearby alley.
The Embassy
As Retzack and Tethys head out of the embassy, they spot Kappa, as well as a snowy owl swooping down from above.
Adir swoops down next to those coming out of the embassy, shifting just before he lands. Standing up from a crouch, he greets the others and quickly informs them of what he and Burke have done since they left. "...and he's waiting for us there."
Burke waits patiently until the rest of the gang appears. Not much movement here. Enzo Nezi of the IronHands showed his face up in that window. He points. And Adir's old buddy Brill is also slinking around nearby. I think it is time to see what is in here that interested the good doctor.
He walks to the building that their quarry exited before loading up in carriages and kicks his way in the door. RHC, drop your weapons and show yourselves!
His pistols feel solid in his hands, and he smiles.