John and Merle
You say your farewells to the staff of the Blue Birds and you take another carriage to Central District's Pardwright University. You rush through Central District past large and prestigious university buildings. At the Biology building foyer you are told Professor Kindleton is teaching a class in the University Morgue, so rush there instead, passing one of the oldest and most run down of the university’s scattered buildings: the Hall of Occult and Local History Studies.
At the University Morgue Alfred Bellastair has just arrived with the corpse of Nilesa Hume. He crosses his arms and glowers when he sees you, expecting you are here to see him.
Professor Kindleton is just finishing her last class of the day and the receptionist insists you wait for it to end. You enter the morgue as she is explaining to a students forensic techniques to identify a corpse's blood type. 'Almost six o'clock so that's all for today', she tells her class, finally. 'Don't forget your homework or the seminar tomorrow morning in my office.'
The students stream out and then you follow Belastair and the receptionist into the morgue. 'Professor Kindleton' the receptionist gets in first before you or Belastair can speak. 'There's another body here and you have a LOT of VERY IMPATIENT visitors' she says with unnecessary irritation. 'The RHC, here, but first a police officer arrived about ten minutes earlier...' she checks her notebook. 'Officer Porter. He's...' she looks around. 'He was right here a minute ago. Where did he go?' Kindleton, a serious grey-haired woman, ignores her, beckons Alfred to bring in the corpse, and furrows her brow. 'Another Ragman victim?' she assumes. 'Put her in Cold Vault Fifteen. Can this wait until the morning?'
Savan and Mithas
with the children of now second-generation factory workers. The elderly goblin matron greets Savan with a smile on her face and eyes the half-orc with suspicion, and then says, "My boy Savan, you done came backs for a visit,mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? and Whose this tall'n'?" referring to Mithas.
Angus
the gossips / the rumors and of course anything about the recent stuff that has bee going on at the consulate.
Also angus will ask her about why she wanted to talk to him outside the consulate since she is not obviously that attracted to him.
Angus
Johnathan says to Merle, "Probably a long shot, but you could try and catch this Porter while I talk to the Professor."
He then turns and smiles to the Professor.
"As far as we know, 'Officer Porter' isn't a real policeman, but a fake. Which is why he vanished when we showed up. Contact us if you see him again."
"Apologies, I'm Constable Johnathan Eli Holbrook. This is Constable Merle."
Johnathan offers a lean hand to the professor.
"Out of curiosity, what are is the 'Ragman'?" Johnathan shifts the wrapped-up rag in his pocket, thinking there's a connection.
"Well, on to business. We're trying to track down Dr. von Recklinghausen. He's connected to a murder at the Danoran embassy."
John and Merle
She looks aghast and says, "Wolfi is a Medical Doctor, he couldn't have murdered anyone, I have known him for such a long time."
Belastair coughs and says "The murder being mentioned is of this woman right here, which I brought in for an autopsy."
"This is Mithas, and he is my partner. He is a good hardworking officer like me. Sad this not social visit. Need info good an true bout girl live in factories rob danorans and try magic fly but shot dead, also what gives noisy protesties out factory way? Talls not happy gain no good? Bad times be havin now now." The slide from controlled rissuri primal into broken goblin chatter is all together subtle at the beginning and shocking at the end. Each word seems to speed up the rate of the next word and drag up the previous one in short staccato.
Mithas + Savan
Cretien travels about the city on his cart, the cart being pulled by the mechanus. He drives from place to place, picking spots that he might run into the other PCs at.
Although in Central district and Bosum Strand, the people have grown accustomed to the spectacle, in other areas, the average folk of the city clear a path for the strange mechanical creation as it travels at the fore of his cart.
Johnathan smiles, trying to be disarming.
"No, we know who the killer was. We're investigating the circumstances and your friend is connected. He's only wanted for questioning. You should know that this false-policeman, Mr. Porter, is doggedly hunting the doctor as well, and we don't know why. It could be with intent to kill him."
"It's in your friend's best interest if we find him before 'Officer Porter' does."
John and Merle
Lynn Kindleton admitted she and Wolfgang had - a long time ago - been intimate. They studied and worked together, and years ago he tried to get her to move to Arrovia with him. From the way she says it she still cares about him. 'Even if he did contact me, and even if I did know where he is, wouldn't it be much safer for him if I pretended not to know?' she points out. 'He's safe so long as no-one knows where he is. If you try to find him won't you just lead this 'Officer Porter' right to him - since he now knows you are interested in the case?'
She moves to the body of Nilesa Hume and puts her gloves back on. She's a pro - so bringing her back the RHC seems unnecessary. 'Is there anything specific you wanted to know?', she asks pointing at the corpse of Nilasa.
Savan
Angus
Angus
J+M
Johnathan
RHC Flint Local Headquarters, Central Quarter Flint, 2nd day of Summer 500aov, 7.00am.
Unpleasantly sticky and heavily hot'.
The low-lying hazy smog from the Parity Lake factories hangs over Flint like some ominous cloud. Early dawn felt like dusk and even now the light is dimmer than it should be; it feels like everyone in the city's just waiting for the real sun to rise. Merle is sticking bits of colored paper onto the Investigation Board under five columns: Persons Of Interest, Leads and Witnesses, Clues and Evidence, Locations, and Victims and Missing.
Savan sits with his legs folded reading the paper:
responsible for four deaths over the course of two weeks. Flint police
investigate, and an impoverished Yerasol Veteran claims he saw the same
pattern of wounds on fellow soldiers in the last war.
Music. Randall Pell, a renowned composer from Slate, will be conducting
the Navras Opera House and plans to hold auditions for performers. This
has led to a boom in sales of “respectable” attire for amateur Docker
musicians, who want to make a good impression.
Mayhem. A rash of eighteen small fires in Parity Lake is believed to
be arson. So far the burns have killed over forty, but fire responders have
managed to keep them from spreading. The fires seem to target properties
of by factory owners, even the occasional factory out-building, and so are
believed to be the work of Gale.
Monsters. Citizens are warned to avoid the western bayous around
the Battalion school in Pine Island. The martial university has imported
exotic wild beasts from a Risuri colony in Elfaivar, and will be conducting
exercises in beast tracking and monster slaying.
Marriage. Wealthy industrialist and renowned son of Flint Guy Goodson
is getting married to a Crisillyiri noblewoman: Faith Unitas. The ceremony
will be closed to the public, but reporters are eagerly sharing every detail
of the arrangements. The intense interest has journalists excited about all
the papers they’ll sell when King Aodhan has his marriage early next year.
'Impressive', says Stover Delft, your superior. 'Fine work, and it sounds like you have a good grasp on this case. I agree that this mysterious 'Officer Porter' is a priority. He's a slippery fish. As I see it, we can either track down Porter directly, or try and track down the Doctor before Porter does and use him as bait to trap Porter.'
'The other slippery fish is the victim, Nilesa Hume. Did you notice how several of the witnesses mentioned her 'flying' out the window. Does that remind you of anyone is particular - any infamous Flint bandits high on the RHC list of wanted villains, known for 'flying'? Hmmm - I agree with Mithas and Savan and think it might be no harm to delve a little more into this Nilesa's life a little more today. You have a meeting with Nevard the Skyseer today, hmm he has leads to Gale this is really solid, I suggest you all go with especially John, the Cloudwood is a bit lawless'
'It's a real shame you couldn't convince Professor Kindleton to accept a guard detail or come to a safe house. It sounds like she has some sort of thing with the Doctor, and either knows where he is or expects to be contacted by him pretty soon. It might be worth posting a guard there to keep an eye on her anyway in the meantime.'
"I am a bit disappointed that you weren't very thorough at the crime scene, none of you thought it prudent to examine where Nilasa flew out the window. Professor Dufrene riding around on your chariot doesn't help out the investigation much, work with the team more would ya! However, it seems Lebrix could be an asset later, you should call on him within the next day or two."
"Angus, I went over the requisitions you made from Parity Lake Police department and the immigration bureau, I have set up a meeting at the prison barge to speak with Hume's accomplices this afternoon. I also think the apothecary is important. Gathering information from the owner may help in the investigation."
"To find the doctor, don't forget to try to find Dr. Camp he seems also a POI."
'In addition, I'll be speaking with the press about the case later this afternoon. Is there anything you don't want me to mention so that it doesn't hamper your case but as always I will be running things past Inspectress Saxby and then I'll send it on to the Danoran Consulate for them to check over before we go public.'
Angus
Customer: Royal Homeland Constabulary
Name: Nilasa Hume
Birthdate: 26 Spring, 471
Criminal ID #: 24680
Jurisdiction: Flint Division of Peace and Order
Race: Mularbora (human/elf)
Sex: Female
Height: 68 inches
Accent: Flinter
Hair: Black
Eyes: Green
Spellcaster: No
Known Aliases: None
Present Place of Residence: 47 Magazine Street, Parity Lake, Flint. Sechim’s Alkahest & Etchings.
Factory--workplace and home.
Past Places of Residence: (1) (Alleged) 3.6 miles east on Batata Road. 0.4 miles south on Flogging
Lagoon trail. Cloudwood. Greater Flint County. Flogging Lagoon musician
commune--transient lodging (departed Spring 499).
(2) 82K Fogwall Street. Parity Lake. Flint. Shared building--mother’s home
(demolished Winter 495).
Arrest Record: Juvenile Records. Juvenile records forgiven in accordance with Stanfield’s
Matriculation Act of 328. Juvenile record notes “various petty thefts,
confidence capers”; details lost during Parity Lake central office relocation.
Supporting Criminal Activities. (Misdemeanor.) Case No. 8176. (85 Spring,
500.) Released on bail, sponsored by Heward Sechim, 47 Magazine Street,
Parity Lake. Court date set for 4 Summer, 500. Suspect apprehended in
raid on known den of criminals, loc 12 Oxen Street, Parity Lake. Suspect
in presence of two men whom the arresting officer recognized as former
accomplices Ford Sorghum and Travis Starter. Lack of official records
detailing affiliation prevented holding suspect. Alleged accomplices plead guilty
to various warrants and were remanded to Goodson’s Estuarial Reformatory
"I was trying to find my associates after we had split up. It appears my detective skills need work. Regardless, the chocolate had obvious traces of fey pepper."
After meeting with Delft and sharing notes the party takes off for the Cloudwood for their meeting with the famed Skyseer Nevard Sechim.
The eastern outskirts of Flint are dominated by towering mountains,
their peaks constantly shrouded in clouds that feed lush rainforests and
verdant streams. The steep highlands are sparsely populated, but numerous
plantations and small farms fill the flatter terrain near the coast. Few
city folk venture out to these lands, believing that here the veil between
the real world and the Dreaming is thin. Local myths include countless
tales of farmers, travelers, and juvenile miscreants who wander into the
foggy woods and suffer wretched fates at the hands of capricious fey.
Angus figures it may be prudent to get the help of one of his comrades in arms, the roll their official RHC carriage up to the ranger's house and the grizzled Dwarf Flint Finubar walks out of his small hut smoking a fat cigar and says, "Angie, what you be doin' in the Clouds, bra?"
To the inspector's chiding tone Savan is stirred from his cogitations. "You want us to investigate internationaly sensitive case yes, we do this. You want us to do this without causing a diplomatic incident, we do this. You want us to investigate the crime scene, well that is impossible. Crime scene is not where she lands, tampered with and doctored. Isn't the body, was also tampered with and doctored, cleaned up and the story changed. Crime scene isn't the window, nothing to be learned from a window smashed out on purpose no clues there except the ones that where left to throw us off the trail. The real crime scene, the one we can't investigate is the office and safe where the document came from. More like it, the real theft. We have to come at it from the side, attack it from another angle. We will do this, but what do we do when we find out what they trying to cover up? We expose it even if it causes a war, or we bury it? Clean it up like they cleaned up that necro touch and then put a bullet in it just like that?"
Delft not a huge fan of insubordination and generally really supportive of his men says, "DID you go upstairs or not? Were you refused access? What documents are you referring to? The RHC does not dictate policy, we try to give our king the tools to make the right decision. Obviously this Nilasa was doing the dirt and she got killed for it. We need to find out why? We also need to find out who this fake policeman is. It seems that Nilasa was mixed in with the Gale's terrorists, which is also a bad sign. The old saying in the RHC is you need to have 'soft eyes.' You have done some really good work but I have this hunch that something must have been missed. I will send Carlao's team to ghost both Professor Kindleton and Dr. Camp. Make sure you guys follow up with the Professor and talk to the Dr. In addition, going to the prison ship is a priority as well. See the apothecary that Angus snuffed out as well. Keep me posted. I will meet you tomorrow morning."
Johnathan is quiet, through Delft's talk, and all the way to the skyseer. He seems lost in thought, toying with something resembling a single ivory die in his hand, though he hides it any time someone tries to see, so it's hard to say.
The ranger leading the way showing the carriage drive which road to follow you set off further into the Cloudwood. In the steep, tangled terrain of the Cloudwood only a few roads are
well-maintained enough for carriages to travel, and most traffic is on foot
or horseback. Four miles from Parity Lake, Nevard’s henge lies near the
end of one of the roads, as does a community of musicians who act as
the main contact this region has with outsiders. Bands of brigands roam
the forest, and they get their supplies from this outpost in exchange for providing protection.
As your near Nevard’s henge, you’re nearly two thousand feet
above sea level, and the humid, sweltering air is thick with low clouds
that cut visibility to as short as a few feet at times. The road ascends on switchbacks toward a forested plateau, and when you reach this area
you hear the panicked neigh of a horse galloping toward them. The animal
streaks past, an arrow in its shoulder and a snapped carriage harness
trailing behind it. Then you hear a woman’s muffled cries and intermittent
sounds of gunshots and bowfire.
"Merle," Johnathan says, flatly, when the horse passes them.
Johnathan takes a moment to cast Mage Armor.
"Looks like we've got trouble, gentlemen. Let's go investigate."
Cretien follows the group after unveiling a strange crossbow with an attached tripod.
It takes a few rounds to get within view of the unfolding battle. A carriage leans precariously at the corner of a switchback, its wheels stuck in undergrowth. The door to the carriage hangs open and three men
huddle near it, reloading poorly-made pistols and looking around as if
trying to spot their enemies. A fourth man, the driver, sits dead atop the
carriage with an arrow in his chest. Just as the party arrives, an arrow
streaks in from the south hill and kills one of the men, and the other two
scramble to the opposite side of the carriage. The woman’s screams continue from within the carriage, which seems to slowly be sliding toward
a thirty-foot plunge.
Initiative: Chretien , Mithas , Johnathan , Savan , Angus , Merle , Pistoleers , RW , CF , CB
Round 1
RW, CF, Johnathan, Chretien, Pistoleers, Savan, Mithas, Angus, Merle, CB
The woman screams "Help!"
One man sends an arrow into the side of the carriage.
Another summons a swarm of blood red hummbirds.
Johnathan
Johnathan's mind works fast, his heart racing when he hears the panicked scream in the carriage.
"Mithas, Merle, you two cut the horse from our carriage and ride to save the woman, you're strongest and can maybe stop that carriage. Cretien and Savan, engage the men on that hill."
Johnathan points hastily up at the two thugs on the nearest hill.
"Use our then horse-less carriage as cover."
"When their heads are down, Angus and I will run up the road, then come at them from their flank--unless you manage to kill them first, we'll mop them up quickly and hurry to help Merle and Mithas with their foes."
Johnathan looked at them, serious for a moment but then embarrassed, averting his eyes.
"Un-unless someone has a better plan."
Unaccustomed to the quite youth taking charge, and lacking a particular plan of his own, Cretien moved up the road with his mechanus (a move for Cretien and a double for the mechanus to keep pace) and set up his crossbow turret.
Johnathan gives orders.
Chretien and his mechanus move.
The two men crawl in a more concealed position behind the wagon and the hill.
The man from ontop of the hill to the southeast yell to the two behind the carriage, "Give me back Morena, you lowland thugs!!!"
The two men scream "Help this man is crazy!"
Savan
Savan stares at Johnathan for a breath. "Why would we kill them, we are officers of the law.... apprehend them yes no?" As he speaks he pulls his musket, quickly loading and shouldering it. As he breathes out he smoothly pulls the trigger firing at the nearest bandit. He then shouts out"Cease and desist, you are all under arrest in the name of the king."
-2 for range increment I think so 22.
Just grazing the target.
quick draw weapon, move action to load due to rapid reload and a cartridge.
Savan puts a shot into the man.
Mithas, Angus, Merle,
Mithas spends his time disconnecting the horse from the harness as Johnathan said to do.
Angus
round 1
Cast Shield of faith and move next to Cretien while drawing weapon
Merle
Merle double moves.
One of the bandits double moves to another crest.
Round 2
The wagon with the screaming women moves five feet to the west and closer to the edge.
RW sees an opening and fires his longbow hitting the side of a tree.
The swarm of humming birds go over one of the men causing
CF fires his longbow at one of the men hitting for
Johnathan Chretien