|
Saul considers the thinning smoke in the sky, coming from the direction of the Victocoras estate.
Wonder what that family did, to bring down the anger of the new mayor.
Saul spends the afternoon poking around in the Greens, looking for Sir Archibald or any signs of him. That young dame had good advice. Tomorrow I'm going to find some fish and put out some bait, especially if I can find a promising location to lay a bit of a trap.
Searching around the Greens for the day finally something catches Gibson's eye. Something on the lawn of the Aulorian estate. It is not clear what it is, but there is something shiny that reflects the sun and some fur. It doesn't look exactly like a cat, and it is not moving, but from outside you can't tell more.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
More than a little terrified Salonius assures himself, this is fine, an opportunity for growth. You are an intelligent, man, and most criminals are not your intellectual match, so this should be easy. Peeko is here to, so everything is fine...
Once he and Peeko ensure nobody is near he casts prestidigitation and scours the cell and blanket from top to bottom. He makes a patch of the back wall smell of blueberries, and after triple checking there are no guards near, and having Peeko stand guard he withdraws his dissertation and shreds it into fine pieces before placing them in the chamberpot and urinating on them. He prestidigitates the resultant slurry until it smells like clean earth.
Settling down he contemplates whether he should have assailed the men who arrested him, a quick color spray? Perhaps it would have worked, but the odds were maybe fifty fifty, to many unknown variables... He would spend the next few days learning the arbitrarily imposed rules, and accessing the jail and his jailers; afterall one or more of his female relatives was bound to end up in here eventually. It is rather galling that I was the first to be arrested by these mouth breathing turd brained knuckle draggers.
To entertain himself he sits back and using prestidigitation creates a number of slightly deformed chess pieces and begins trying to teach the game, in whispers, to the attentive, but slightly bemused, thrush.
Later he takes the freshly prestidigitated straw and begins weaving it into a number of mats. Peeko's enthusiastic help, is almost useful, and for the most part things come together well.
This is really quite restful...
There is a high fence around the estate and a hedge behind it. The estate is patrolled by private guards. The only way in is through the main gate or the smaller western gate that is for delivery. But these are too guarded.
Hmmm. A few minutes after her conversation with the cat-hunter, Meliandri stops outside the opera. Just moments before, she’d been ready to walk right up and ask one of the ushers when it would be open again. Now, though, something didn’t seem right. After staring at the building’s familiar facade from across the street in Aria Park, she decides to reevaluate her day’s plan and slips back into the streets, heading back toward the Greens to see if Pavo Jhaltero is available for some fencing practice, perhaps a visit to a coffeehouse in Villigre, and a short evening out.
|
|
Saul considers the Aulorian grounds from outside the fence.
This place is locked up tighter than a bank in Old Kintargo. Maybe that is something useful in there, maybe it isn't. Either way, a 5 gold payday isn't worth getting served early retirement when I most certainly get caught. It's getting late. I'll come back tomorrow to turn on the sweet talk with an estate maid.
Saul returns to his ambling. He makes for the Temple of Asmodeus to attend the funeral proceedings. This gumshoe hits the pavement all day, but that's how I like it. Keeps these legs strong and head clear. I'm no spring chicken anymore, but the walking keeps me younger.
Pavo is busy with preparations for a presentation he shall give next week, about the history of some important noble families in Cheliax. But it is an easy quest for Maliandri to persuade him that he has enough time for that in the days to come and that him taking time for her is equally important, but more urgent.
One day she might be the end of his educational career. As she was for her own.
The church service in remembrance of the victims of the fire is merely lip service to the dead. It is obvious to anyone with half a brain that this is only a thin cover to keep the obvious from the eyes of those who prefer not to see. Gibson finds some of his acquaintances from the Thrashing Badger with the name tags placed on the coffins.
Surprisingly no one from the Victocora family is on display here.
Alamara also visits the service to find out what happened to her brothers and sisters in faith. To her horror, she finds most of them lying in state here. The only glimpse of hope in all of this is that Shensen is not among them.
|
|
So pointless, these deaths. I wasn't chums with any of them, but certainly exchanged a kind word or two over a few beers. This whole thing feels like a charade. More of a warning to us rather than a celebration or even mourning of a life. Like.... someone is telling us to shape up, or you will be next on the slab, surrounded by people too powerless to do anything about it.
Disturbed, Saul returns to his apartment and office before curfew starts.
Maybe tomorrow will be better. Couldn't get any worse. I think.
Frustrated at the lack of response from the neighboring shopkeeper, Alamara can only gather back her arms and armor and move along with her day. She goes to work at the laundry, but its clear that her mind is elsewhere, remembering the joy of the community during the dawn rooftop sessions and the fulfillment she felt when she heard the good word of the Dawnflower during basement services. Now that part of her life was over, and there were no answers as to what happened to her friends or the leader, Shensen.
When she hears of a memorial service for those who died in the oddly random fires of the night before, she attends, dressed in her finest black dress. Seeing the names of many of her friends in the simple wooden coffins, she cries despairingly. When she can, she makes the simple sign of Sarenrae on the coffins, sending them to the afterlife in the warm embrace of their goddess as best she can.
"If Shensen is not among the dead, and not at the Star, then where is she?" the paladin mutters to herself as the sham of a service continues. She endures the Asmodean rituals but not without grinding her teeth in anger and loathing.
While at the service, she looks about to see if there is anyone familiar in the room, or anyone who stands out to her. How three such random places were all burned in the same night, leads her to believe they all might have had something in common, but what? Maybe someone here has a clue.
|
|
The next morning, Saul wakes up with fresh insight. He goes to his desk, pulls out a small pile of parchment, and scribbles down a handful of words. He does the same on the next piece of paper, and the next, and the next, and so on, until he has ten parchments with the same words. Checking it over, Saul nods and smiles.
They don't teach this stuff in gumshoe school. I guess I am just a genius. At a time like this, this will bring in more business and maybe give me the leads to help me get to the bottom of things.
After wolfing down a stale breakfast of field rations- the detective's normal fare- Saul hits the pavement on a path that is quite familiar. He makes his way through old Kintargo, through Jarvis End, past the temple of Asmodeus and to the Redroofs, and then over the bridge to the north side of town. Passing the docks, he stops by a fish market for some fresh mackerel; salted and wrapped tight. Finally, a good while after he started, he comes back to the gate of the Greens.
Left in his wake are ten posters affixed to the side of buildings, reading:
"Saul Gibson, private investigator. Missing items, persons, and pets found. Cheaters caught. Price negotiable. Office Hours: 6-8 of the clock, after noon. Fees negotiable. Office: 16 Scrag Street, Old Kintargo."
Under the eye of Asmodeus' priests the visitors of the church service are not very talkative.
The rest of the day passes with a heavy weight on everyone's mood. Kintargo isn't the same any more. The grip of House Thrune has the town at it's neck.
With the night over a new day dawns.
It is a tense morning. The market starts late due to the curfew and everyone moves around expecting the worst. But after a while it becomes clear that at least nothing big has happened.
But a new proclamation is called out in the streets:
Proclamation the Second: All places of public business must display in a position of prominence within the first room accessible from the building’s primary entrance a portrait of Her Infernal Majestrix Queen Abrogail II. Said portrait must measure no less than 11 by 17 inches.
Salonius has a very uncomfortable night. In the morning he is dragged out of his cell, and chained at a wall. Meanwhile the guards search his cell and empty his bucket. They make fun of him, as they enjoy their power over this high society boy. Finally he is put back into the cell. There are two more prisoners here who go through the same procedure.
Once all cells are done some barely edible porridge - a slimy tasteless mass cooked with water - is handed through the small window in the door.
While Salonius decides if he should eat that, another pair of eyes watches him through the slit. A pair of eyes that seem to weep blood. But after a short moment they are gone.
Then another cell is opened again and another prisoner is dragged out screaming and kicking. A stone cold voice tells "Another carrier of lies. I smell your falsehoods. I will aid you in stripping them from you." The screaming ends as a door is closed.
Meanwhile someone else lives through a horror. With all the people missing and dead in town since the night before, Professor Lidia Glenell is worried as her preferred assistant isn't there in the morning. Even without breakfast she heads out to his family.
As they also don't know where he is, the family is close to panic. Prof. Glenell leaves, thinking about who to ask, or where to search as she runs into a dark skinned man, that pins posters here and there. Skimming the text she tells Gibson "You have to find someone for me."
|
|
Saul gets to the Aulorian estates, and proceeds to the delivery entrance, knocking on the door. Getting whatever is in the yard is going to take honey, not stealth or force.
Luckily, it is a young footman who opens the door, rather than the stiff butler that Saul was fearing.
"Hey, Mac. Saul Gibson, private investigator. I have been asked by one of your neighbors to find a lost cat. The thing went by the name of Sir Archibald, and had a really fancy collar. Now, cutting to the chase, I was out looking for the blasted creature and eyeballed something shiny in your fenced-off yard. I'll give ya 1 silver if you would just go check it out for me. I'll give ya 5 silvers if you come back with the collar or something connected to the missing flea-bag. Five minutes for some easy simoleans. "
The young man looks skeptical, so Saul offers to double the money in order to get some results.
********************************
Saul visually takes in short, scruffy woman. Looks like the posters have worked faster than I thought.
"Ma'am, normally I ask for a person to be gone for forty-eight hours before I take a missing person case, but if he or she disappeared after the events of two nights ago, I will make an exception for you. Details please. Name, profession, physical description? Did your missing person have any enemies? Do you have any reason to believe that this person was possibly troublesome for our illustrious new leader?"
What is wrong with these people is this some sort of sadomasochistic show of dominance for the City? I hope so, that at least implies we would be released. Salonius decides to "play" the role of a thoroughly terrified citizen, straining to strike a balance between profoundly terrified, and not annoyingly noisy.
Just as he is forlornly contemplating his gruel, and what magic might make it palatable Salonias raises his head to check if the coast is clear. His stomach lurches as he spies the blood weeping eyes and he scrambles back pressing himself against the wall breathing rapid and eyes wide.
As he hears the chilling woman talking of "stripping lies" the young botanist contemplates just what she might be asking and whether any of his personal peccadilloes will bite him in the rear. How do Asmodeans feel about homosexuality? Is there anything I should not reveal? Could I conceal anything if I tried? I mean even the Alabaster Mirror is more a game than anything genuinely seditious... Honestly I am no kind of threat to these people... I am no threat, I am an innocent botanist. I am an innocent botanist.
He considers sending Peeko out to let people know of his plight, but such an effort could be dangerous and he can see little benefit; his family protesting would be ineffectual and dangerous, the Academy to was unlikely to carry any sway. Besides Peeko was a comfort and he operated better with him around.
"Peeks I want you to keep hidden in the straw, if that... "Lady", comes to talk with me you need to keep calm and remain hidden. If I am not back within a day then you act like a normal bird, keep high against the ceiling and escape. Find Father and tell him everything, make sure to tell him not to take any risks with the family. You need to keep calm, it is possible I might be tortured, but the best option is to endure it, you can only make matters worse if you try to intervene."
After whispering these instructions to Peeko he carefully checks for observers again before quietly casting prestidigitation and making the porridge taste like fudge for himself, and worms for Peeko. Then he sits back and begins considering a way to develop frost proof fruits to survive late cold spells. A continued interbreeding between sweet and hardy varieties might do the trick, but it would be a long term project...
After a solid half-hour of fencing, Meliandri is forced to admit she’s just not fast enough to duel Pavo, who’s been training for years. She shoves her blade into its sheath and drags her friend to the nearest coffeeshop, where they stay until the sun starts to set. A mad dash through the streets of Kintargo follows as the time of the curfew sets in, and Meliandri squeaks through the gates of her family manor only a few minutes before the bells ring.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The new proclamation doesn’t turn out to bother Meliandri at all. After all, Cheliax is Thrune territory, and Kintargo is, at least geographically, part of Cheliax, and she has plenty else on her mind. ”Sure, the political situation in Kintargo ‘as not been the most traditional, but Mother and the rest of the Court of Coin are not disloyal per se. More...different.”
Mels has her door locked and her slave, Ashana, inside her rooms this morning. As Ashana looks around the room, her face slides into despair. Fancy dresses litter the floor, Meliandri’s sword lies half-unsheathed on the bed, and a quarter-full bottle of something sickly-sweet, minty, and alcoholic is propped against the pillow along with a book: On Government, by Dark Jubannich. Meliandri notices Ashana's face and shrugs. ”In the long term, Ashana, the mess in my rooms does not matter all that much.”
”Well, no, I suppose not, but should the young miss be drinking so early in the morning?” Ashana makes a move to clean up the bottle, only to be stopped my Mels’s hand.
”What is important is the health of the people en masse!” Mels raises her voice, lying on the bed and ranting half-drunkenly. ”And the most important part of the health of the people en masse is the health of the government. When the government…” She peters out for a moment, burps, and continues. ”...is effected by changes, Jubannich and ‘Osetter say that the people must rise.” Another pause, as Mels looks at the door. When she continues, she’s much quieter. ”Ashana, I need some water. Be a dear and go get some?”
With that plea, Mels buries her head under the pillows as Ashana quietly opens the door and leaves, heading down to the Aulamaxa manor’s kitchens for a pitcher and cup.
The 'Mac' holds out his hand. Five silver is quite the sum. Once he got the money, he closes the gate and walks to where Gibson points him. He comes back empty-handed and opens the gate again. "You come and get that 'cat' yourself. Looks like the new guardian got it." He leads Gibson to the spot.
There lies the bloody fur, or what is left of it, all the meat is gone - probably eaten. But there is the ripped apart collar. Picking it up you find 'Archibald' sewn into the leather. For five gold Gibson doesn't hesitate and grabs the bloody bundle with his hand, thanks the man and is out again. Due to a lack of backpack he stuffs it into the pocket of his coat. He can't walk around with that in hand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prof. Glenell tells "He probably was out through the curfew? Only way to be as he was neither in his room, nor with his parents." She leads Gibson back to the Barradin family and introduces them. There is a family portrait, where he is part of that is shown to Gibson.
Once the professor is calmed down a bit she asks "One gold?"
"Our master got a three headed dog as a gift from Lord Barzillai Thrune, calls it cerberus. You don't want to see it, it haunts you in your dreams." Mac replies. "You have to go now, before I get into trouble."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'm no spoiled noble." Glenell tells. "Five gold is my food for a week. I'll offer you two, but then only on success."
Eldonna Aulamaxa intercepts Ashana. "Is our black sheep back?" On confirmation she demands "Keep an eye on her. She is trouble were she goes, but in these times, I don't need her attitude to bring unwanted attention to our family. Put that in her drink. This will keep her well asleep until morning. It is better than nailing the window shut." She hands Ashana a thimble with some white powder, and leaves.
Ashana continues into the kitchen and gets the pitcher full of water. She brings it back to Meliandri and puts it on her nightstand together with a fresh glass.
|
|
To the footman:
"I...see. Good luck, Mac, in not following the fate of this cat."
Barzillai Thrune gives devil dogs to the nobles? Oh holy hell balls, I nearly snuck into that yard. There wouldn't have even been enough of me left to lay out on a slab at the temple of Asmodeus.
----------------------------
To the professor:
"Ma'am, you have a deal. I will get right on this; nearly finished the Case of the Spoiled Cat, in fact, so I am free. And I have some pretty good ideas on where to start. Broke curfew, eh? I know the family's house now... I'll come back when I have something for you."
Glenell pauses for a moment, but decides not to insist on him coming to her. Instead she tells Gibson goodbye and tries to haggle with the family over sharing the cost of the detective.
Gibson makes the next logical step. He visits the Jarvis family estate, approaches the delivery entrance and asks for Margaret. "Mr. Gibson, what are you doing here without a Archibald?"
|
|
"Well, gorgeous, you may reconsider that drink with me after you see this. This ain't no Sunday School picnic."
Saul carefully puts the mess of fur and the broken necklace from his deep coat pocket.
"The Baroness will be sad to learn that her cat is now up in the big kitty litter box in the sky. I found it in the yard of a neighbor, at Aulorian estates. Can't call it an accident, though. When a neighbor accepts demon dogs from the Lord Mayor and allows it to roam the joint, this kind of thing is bound to happen. I don't suppose he gave you one too?"
Cased closed on the Case of the Spoiled Cat. Still got it Saul, you still got it.
Without the Silver Star around for Alamara to do her morning rituals, the young woman is at a loss. She gathers her sword and shield and heads to Aria Park, to do her early morning practice. Along the way she notices an advertisement for a detective specializing in missing persons. She puts it out of her head, but as she does her meditative forms the idea that someone, a professional even, could help her find Shensen, won't leave her head. It keeps her from concentrating on her stance and form, like a klaxxon bell it keeps ringing in her head.
Finally, leaving the part behind, Alamara grabs one of the handbills and heads for the address indicated in Old Kintargo. "Fees negotiable," Alamara said to herself as she walked. "Yes, I certainly hope so..."
Eventually the girl arrived at the indicated address. The run-down building surely couldn't be the place where this masterful detective worked. She double-checked the numbers. "Perhaps it's just a matter of professional camouflage", she thought, "I mean, a detective has to be discreet doesn't he?". Eventually, she found the right door and knocked. Disappointingly, no one seemed to be in, so Alamara took a seat on the step, waiting for Mr Saul Gibson to arrive.
Margaret looks with disgust at the remains of Archibald. She closes the door, and returns a moment later with a wooden box, like you would use at the market for groceries. "Put it in here." she tells. Putting the boxed cat-shred aside, she counts out the five gold. "Well done. I'll keep your address. Have a good day."
She closes the door and and leaves Gibson standing outside.
As Alamara does her meditation with the open display of Sarenrae's insignia, a group of Thrune/Asmodeus fanboys come along. The five of them surround her and start bullying. "Hey nitwit, what do you think, you're doing here? The Chelish Citizens Group will not allow that. Get your ass out of our park and go hiding in the hole you belong to!"
Pushing Alamara around the get her going. On the way out of the park, they shout profanities at her and throw pebbles to make the armor clang. This gives her something to think about on the way to the private eye.
On his way through town Gibson picks up a rumour or two. With some women standing together for a talk he overhears "The Thrashing Badger burned down a few nights ago. They’re saying it was another bar fight gone too far, but they’re just a bunch of drunk old professors and barristers..."
"Seems like a lot of places are burning down lately, between this, the Silver Star, and the Victocora estate."
Which is no news to Gibson. Another thing is: "Shame they closed down the opera house - I was looking forward to seeing Shensen in the role of Aolar in Huntress of Heroes. Of course, they say she’s gone missing too—wouldn’t surprise me if she got herself thrown in some Thrune oubliette, the way she’s gone on about the government."
Once he is sure the coast is clear and believes the torture 'Lady" to be otherwise occupied Salonius decides to risk interacting with those in nearby cells. In a whisper, gradually increasing volume if he gets no responses, but never too loud, he calls,
"Hello, my fellow prisoners, could we exchange names? If one of us manages to be freed at least that way someone would know the others were here. I am Salonius Barridan, of the Alabaster Academy."
"SHUT UP!" a guard shouts and throws something at Salonius' door.
In a fit of pique Salonius takes a foolhardy risk before he has a chance to talk himself out of it and casts charm person on the guard through his door slit. Eyes wide he swallows nervously waiting to see if his enchantment lands.
Salonius is lucky, and he doesn't get the beating of his life. At least not yet.
"Could you come over for a moment friend? I would be extremely grateful if you could tell me how long you plan on holding me? As well as for any information and advice about this place, and the, uh, torture Lady, you can give me. I only want to do my time and cause you gentlemen the least possible bother." Salonius speaks warmly, his heart beating like a drum as he frantically recalls the limitations of his charm magic.
The guard comes over. "Well, I don't know for sure, but your kind is usually out within a week. That is if you're lucky and Ghenemahl doesn't choose you. I don't know what she is, but she scares the s+#& out of me. And everyone she chooses to bring into that room doesn't come out alive. Just a dead body and a lot of small parts that got cut off piece by piece."
"Well that does not sound fun, is there anything I can do or not do to keep her from choosing me in the future? If you were to escort me out now do you think anyone would question it? Would you be able to persuade your colleagues not to intervene? How do you determine when to release a prisoner like me?" Salonius asks his new pal, mentally filing away the name Ghenemahl and the guard's opinion that she is not human. Presumably those were her eyes before... I do not want to meet her!
"I don't know who gets to decide that. Warden Sabo tells, who to let out. She is from the temple of Asmodeus, the gods know why she, and I can't help you pal. Everyone not staying in line gets an offer for a Ghenemahl treatment, and I'm not going to apply for that." the guard willingly shares.
Salonius nods, "Well that makes sense, I would not want to get you, or me, in trouble. But do me favour I found this bird in my cell could you take it outside and let it go without letting the others see, I do not want to risk someone hurting the little fellow. He seems quite obedient and will just hide himself on your person"
"Sure, no problem." the guard tell and accepts the little thrush. "It's shift change soon. I'll take it with me then." He returns to his post with the bird tucked away in his pack.
Half an hour later, the next shift comes and he leaves with his pack and the bird.
Peeko bursts free from the pack as darting away, Ahahaha! Peeko is free! Peeko is on a mission! Peeko will save Master and eat... ! Peeko saves Master! How does Peeko do that again? Master said find his father!
Flapping his tiny wings madly the thrush races towards the Harridan family home. Flitting in through an open window he rushes up to Salonius's father's study and faced with the closed door bellows,
"Peeko needs to get in! Let Peeko in! Peeko needs to talk to this old man! Peeko is out here still... Why have you not let Peeko in! Peeko is here! Are you dead? Hurry, hurry!"
Pellus Barridan, a late middle aged man with coarse mostly orange hair and a slight paunch, opens the door to his large book crammed study; where a hugely obese cat glowers at Peeko from atop the desk.
"Master got taken by the bad guard men! Peeko to! But they did not see clever Peeko! Peeko is clever! Master got arrested for eating an apple in the dark in the Park! They took Master, and Peeko, to the smelly cells with the nasty murder torture Lady! Peeko was the bravest... Master not so much. Then Master made a guard his friend with magic and he tells him that his kind are usually out within a week. Peeko was surprised they had experience of homosexual botanist wizards!"
By this time half of the Harridan womenfolk have gathered and are listening to Peeko's loud announcements.
"Peeko tells you Old Man because others will cause trouble! Master does not want you to get in trouble! Master promised that you would give Peeko... sev.. no nine worms! Peeko is very brave, and very clever, and very good, but mostly very hungry!"
|
|
The door gets slammed in Saul's face, but at least he got the five gold, first.
She didn't answer my question if they have a devil dog...The dame's got moxie, though, I'll give her that. I do hope she'll show up at my door again, cause I'll wear her down, eventually. Saul Gibson grows on ya. Though the ex said it was the kind of growing a disease does.
On the way back to his office, Saul picks up bit of idle chatter here and there. People are talking about the fires, of course, and wondering about it just like he is.
But their perspective on things is troubling. I wonder how many other people think like this? The bar didn't burn down from a bar fight, I was there... it was those devil creatures and some men. And then the announcement of a new mayor, martial law, and the strange proclamation. And now I find out the mayor has given devil dogs to at least one noble. Doesn't take a genius to put the pieces of this puzzle together. The mayor is behind things. The burning buildings are probably his way of getting rid of unauthorized religions in town... bunch of the Thrashing Badger crowd were Milani worshippers, and whole bunch of people in town knew that there was a shrine to Saernae in the basement of the Silver Star. And I'd bet coppers to dollars that the Victocoras also worshipped something that was not Asmodeus. Mayor Thrune seems to be instituing a state religion. Of an evil god. That uses devils to do his work and who have no problem killing the populace.
His musings distracting him, Saul doesn't even see the young paladin sitting on his doorstep until he almost steps on her. Sure been walking into a lot of people recently. Get it together, Saul!
Meliandri nods in thanks and, in only a few minutes, curls up under the blankets and falls asleep.
As a man approaches, Alamara looks him over and decides that's not Saul Gibson, master detective. Must be an informant or some other denizen of the underworld. As he nearly stumbles over Alamara, she moves back with grace avoiding his step. "Excuse me, but would you know when Mr Gibson will arrive? I am waiting to meet him on an urgent matter."
--------
Earlier in the park, as a group of hooligans begins pestering Alamara over her religious symbol, she tries first to ignore them, and then when that becomes impossible, she grits her teeth, determined not to react in a negative way. One of the tenets of her faith is peace until peace isn't an option. Deciding instead of making a scene to just move on, she leaves the park, even as the ruffians chuck rocks at her, plunking them off her armor. "The Chelish Citizens Group I wonder what that means? Maybe this detective will have heard of it."
Gibson asks Alamara to come inside to talk about her urgent matter. Shortly after Gibson took a seat and offered the one across the desk to Alamara there is a hard knock at the door.
Gibson gets up and opens. He is surprised to find a group of Dottari Guards outside, who immediately push in. Looking around the leader tells "Not following the law I see. This is your first and last warning. When we come again you have the portrait of Her Infernal Majestrix Queen Abrogail II. in your first room of business, or you will be fined or worse."
Turning around to leave he adds with a smirk "Our wise Lord Mayor Barzillai Thrune has made available such portraits at a mere 10gold, if you're wondering where to get one. Have a nice day." The words dripping with sarcasm. Then the group is gone as fast as they appeared.
|
|
Saul and Alamara watch helplessly as his office gets raided and he is told the steep price of the painting.
Hell's bells, and confound it all! Ten gold is almost my entire rainy day fund. Without the cat money, I would be running on coppers. What is Hawkes going to say.... Hawkes! He was supposed to meet me here at the office today. Forgot all about him in the hubbub of activity, but he never misses! Confound, did he land himself in trouble just like that old woman's student? The man always had too big of a mouth.
"Well, ma'am, you picked an eventful time to come see me. Missing people left and right, apparently. Buildings burned. Strange proclamations. The first didn't worry me none, but you just saw what happened. I can barely afford 10 gold. I'm guessing shops who are struggling will go under entirely."
I want to say something against this Mayor Thune, but not to strangers. Hawkes, Hawkes, did you land yourself in trouble too? Where are you?
-------------------------
After their conversation, Alamara agrees to come back in the morning after curfew. Time is pressing, and neither want to get picked up by the Thunes.
The streets empty quickly as the start of the curfew comes closer. At nine o' clock Kintargo is a ghost town. Only the Dottari who patrol the street here and there make their marching steps echo through the empty streets.
New day.
The new day starts again with another proclamation from Lord Mayor Barzillai Thrune.
Proclamation the Third: Anyone who captures, alive and unharmed, a feral dog of a weight exceeding 50 pounds is to be rewarded with a payment of 2 silver pieces upon transfer of the dog to the dottari. Such noble guardian creatures should find homes worthy of their kind!
|
|
"Well, ma'am. It is my office hours. How can Saul Gibson Investigations assist you today. If it is a missing person, I have to let you know that I already got 2 on my plate. Not sure if I can handle another." [/b]
***********************
Confound it and blast it all to the hell's, I can't believe the first thing I am doing is going out to spend 10 gold on a worthless picture of an evil queen.
Saul heads out to the market, trying to get the picture before Alamara shows up again. He purchases it with the intention of hanging it in the office. Confound it and blast it!
While out, Saul listens and asks a few innocent sounding questions to those he is familiar with. Since he is near home and has lived here his whole life, he is a familiar sight. "So what happens to people who stay out past curfew, anyway? "
Meliandri wakes after a long night of sleep. With the help of Ashana she gets ready for her day. As she moves through the common rooms she is surprised to find her foster mother Eldonna Aulamaxa sitting at the table and waiting for her. Once Meliandri takes the offered seat Eldonna starts "You have now reached the age to be a grown up and responsible member of our family. Times are changing and your lifestyle - which I mostly ignored until now - is endangering you and our family as a whole. I want you to become a presentable and honorable member of the Aulamaxa family. Which would mean that you take over representative duties and in the long run, to find a good catch to marry. I won't bore yo with details now, but please accept as a sign of me being willing to accept you as family, just as my own kids, this ring, that we're all going to wear."
She sets a small box with a yellow-golden ring - which has an A engraved on top layed out in red gold - in front of Meliandri, for her to take. Eldonna wears the same ring.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
Saul finds a talkative retired man who is eager to talk about that. "You know that beggar, that sits in the park and sleeps there too? Haven't seen him since the curfew. Your guess is as good as mine what happened to him."
"But they reactivated the Holding House. I wouldn't be surprised to find some of those missing in there."