"I'll be happy to talk to the gang members again, Ma'am. It might be worth it if the cases are linked"
She glances over at Amelia before continuing
"Perhaps our consultant can give guidance on how much I'm allowed to encourage them to talk?"
”I would be glad to offer whatever aid or council, be it legal or investigative, that you need in questioning the suspects from the Belladame incident, and given that I was there and conscious during the robbery and subsequent fight, I have added insight from a 3rd party observer's view of the event. If you would like Lt. Callahan, I can start assisting in the questioning of the suspects immediately.”
@ She Who Always Tries
"I would be glad to advise on the matter, though I can already tell you, pain makes people tell you what they think you want to hear, but that is not truth. No, empathy and careful study of what a suspect says and HOW they say it is far more telling. I am at your disposal Watch Officer She Who Always Tries."
"Amelia should be safe here among so many Watch members, so unless you object Lt. Callahan, I would like to accompany Watch Officer Sweetchuck as added defense on his attempt to lure out the bastard or bastards that are painting the city in blood, plus killing kids just isn't right, not by a long shot, short folk neither."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Amelia's face shows nothing but a sincere desire to see justice done even under Roedar's careful observation, as do the words she speaks. Her voice is even and sure, and her manners betray nothing but earnestness, with no sign of the behaviors that normally accompany someone dissembling or attempting deception.
Roedar relaxes just a bit and feels a little more at ease. "Perhaps this is just what I've been looking for, a place where I can make a tangible difference without having to question the motivations of everyone around me."
If the murder case and the gang interrogation are under control, I'd be happy to start investigating the bard provocateur. Setting the gangs against each other to create an opening is very clever. I'm sure he's not doing this on his own.
Okay as it looks like we're going to be spintering the party into different team actions (don't worry NPCs will fill out and even it up) y'all should declare what scene you'd like to be in because I'm going to spoiler tag based on Teams.
So Far:
Amelia and She Who Always Tries are taking another crack at the gang you imprisoned to see if they truly know something. Anyone that joins them is Team Oz.
Spiegel are Sweetchuck are Team Murderbait which thus far have no PCs though Sweetchuck will actually ask Alan to join him and watch his back as well.
Roedar and Teckleberry is going to the docks to try and gather intel on the bard that's been causing the infighting among the gangs Team Waterfront.
I will state I'm expecting combat in at least one of these scenes if not 2.
NPCs that might join any of the Teams:
Ellana Mahooney high charisma human (she’s a swashbuckler)
Ruth Hightower Half Ogre (Brawler/Urban Barbarian)
Gavin Murtaugh Elf (Ranger)
Adrian Mulancy Human (Cleric)
PCs yet to declare:
Milo, Alan, Sven and still hoping Fluffball reappears.
|
"Ma'am. I am at your disposal for any of these tasks, and feel that I would be a valued asset for any of these teams. I've skills in gathering information, and persuading others to talk, similarly I'm quite handy in a fight.
I'm concerned that Sweetchuck doesn't have enough back up, no offense to a professional such as yourself Mr. Spiegel. I suspect that either myself or Mulancy should at the least accompany this group, and the other might be best served down at the Docks.
Both of these assignments seem like they could go south FAST, and having someone on hand to pull someone back from Pharasma's grip, would be very useful.
As an option, regardless of which team I'm with, I'd suggest making be the 'obvious' protection detail, and having someone else shadowing as the less obvious back up.
We Abadaran's tend to stick out."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
We Abadaran's tend to stick out.
Roedar sniggers to himself, allowing only the slightest squeal to escape. Sure, when you walk around in blindingly polished full plate toting a supersized hammer, sticking out is all you can do. I don't think the silver key has anything to do with it.
Roedar regains his composure and gives the lieutenant his full attention.
Callahan: "Alan I agree with your assessment that you'd do well to accompany Sweetchuck. As that gives him melee backup that can heal and a ranged backup that can be stealthy. Perhaps we'll add an additional melee or perhaps one of our Twinklefoots should go along to balance you out.
::Spiegel pulls the collar of his dark green trench coat up::
I can play quiet ally cat pretty well for a gent of my build, I can do shadow to your plate and mail attention grabbing showman thing if you are in on this nasty bit of business."
::cants his head at Sweetchuck:: "First bait..::then looks to Alan:: Then hammer.. ::Spiegel grins and smacks one meaty fist into his other open palm then points to himself:: "And last...anvil in the shadowed corner."
Milo has been lost in pleasant thoughts of his 'study buddy', but pulls his mind back to more urgent matters with a sense of duty.
I'll go with Spiegel and Sweetchuck. He says. "I have a spell that may give us some information if we have a murder scene.
"I may not have Miss Rolshen's razor smarts or schooling, but I can follow a trail and learned a thing or two about reading what the evidence is trying to tell you when I served in the military.
::cracks his neck and shows his tusks fully::
"Time to shake the barrel and see what falls out."
Just waiting on Sven's choice, Fluffball is officially out (apparently it was very frustrating as he lost more than one post.)
Spiegel growls something in Orcish in a low voice, barely above a whisper.
Roedar glances over at Spiegel. He doesn't understand what was said, but to hear Spiegel talking to himself like that makes him think, "Does he talk to the rats, too?"
Spiegel quits jabbering after that, passing the time while the rest talk to clean, check, and load his blunderbuss and old beat up dragon pistol with rock salt rather than a slug or pellets, despite having both as well. He smooths out some slight burs and oils his sword when done with his firearms.
Milo glances over as Spiegel growls in Orcish. He raises an eyebrow.
"Well said."
Spiegel gives Milo a nod, his look thoughtful at the revelation that Milo speaks Orcish.
Amelia appears deep in thought for a few moments, before returning to the conversation at hand.
@ She Who Always Tries
"Perhaps you and I can have a small sit down talk about our pending questioning of suspects. While exact guidance regarding the legality and limits of certain types of interrogation will be useful, I suspect your knowledge of vanara culture and habits will prove invaluable to me as well. Is a strategy meeting, over good strong coffee on my coin, acceptable to you Watch Officer She Who Always Tries?"
She Who Always Tries gives Amelia a quick, friendly smile.
"I think that is a good idea, we should present a united face to those we are questioning, so that we do not appear unsure of ourselves. Hot drinks aren't really my taste, but otherwise I agree."
"Oh, I should also ask your preferred form of address while we are working."
Amelia returns She's friendly smile.
"Miss Rolshen will do just fine in the interview space, otherwise, it's just Amelia."
Amelia then sighs, her face taking on a serious look. She opens the leather briefcase she carried and removes a sheathed kukri and belt.
"I suppose I should start to get used to carrying this, given who we are dealing with, for me to appear both unarmed and unarmored would project too much of a sense of timidity or weakness on my part. I want the suspects to trust and be un-threatened by my presence, but at the same time, I need to command, as you Watch Officers do, some respect as well. Suspects perception of us is important, it can help or hinder how much we learn from them"
Amelia belts the weapon around her waist, taking several moments to get the weapon to sit correctly, clearly marking her limited familiarity with arms.
"Believe it or not, I am not much of a fighter, and I admit I have never been given cause to have to use this against another person, though it has been close a time or two. Of course, unless someone is clever enough to look at my palms for callus or other signs of martial skill, that doesn't matter as much. Manipulating someone's perception of a thing can have a strong effect, even if the underlying logic of the thing one is manipulating the perception of at close inspection says otherwise. The trick is to give the subject no reason to look any further than you want them to at the subject matter one is attempting to manipulate their perception of, if that makes sense."
Going to give another day then if Sven hasn't picked which group he wants to go with I'll simply arbitrate
Okay 3 scenes are going to play out,
Team Oz:
Amelia
She Who Always Tries
Adrian Mulancy
Team Waterfront:
Roedar
Sven
Ellana Mahooney
Tackleberry
Gavin Murtaugh
Team Murderbait:
Allan
Spiegel
Milo
Ace Sweetchuck
Ellana Mahooney
Ruth Hightower
I'd like to know game plans for each group, put them behind spoiler tags.
"I'll go with the lot of ye to the waterfront. Somethiing tells me that we might need a solid shield down there."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
If it goes south he's grateful Sven is there to stand behind because he's too old for this s%*@.
Ace reluctantly admits he knows 2 out of 3 of the victims and that when he was younger he used to run with a gang. Both victims are members of that gang, he says he thinks he knows where the leader can be found and that maybe some of the members might talk to him.
The leader is a human with an odd fighting style that is deceptively fast. He's fat but don't be fooled he strikes as swiftly as a snake. Leader's named Fagen and he hurts the gang that works for him.
It's very clear Sweetchuck is very uncomfortable with this topic. He looks down a lot and sometimes involuntarily shudders.
Roedar walks up to Sven. "Glad you're joining us. I hear you're one for using your head. I am, too. Just hopefully not in the same way!" Roedar chuckles.
"I'll go with the lot of ye to the waterfront. Somethiing tells me that we might need a solid shield down there."
"Your shield will be appreciated. Appreciated most when placed between myself and them! (whomever them are, I don't discriminate). Here's to being a great team," and Roedar extends his hand for a shake.
"This is my first day. Have you had much chance to work with the others in our group?
"Well, Miss Rolshen, let's not give our suspects a chance to get a good look at what we do, or don't have on our hands."
She thinks for a moment before continuing.
"Wheeler seemed very sure of himself, even locked up, and he is strong, so we're not likely to scare anything out of him. Maybe we need a different approach. Spindleshank seems weaker, but I don't know very much about Drow."
To Mulancy, She says "I think those may be useful when we question Spindleshanks, assuming the gang leader knows more about things going on with their gang than the gang do."
Roedar makes a mental note to learn more about the team. If he has direct access to their records, he will get them himself; otherwise, he makes a request for their files to find out more about their capabilities, how they work together, etc.
He also looks for any information the department has on bards. He does this for bards in general and on individual bards that may have been encountered before, especially if they are associated with the dock gangs or the waterfront.
Sven regarded Roedar with a wary eye. "Usin' your head means knowing when to headbutt someone." He shook the man's hand, but before letting go, added "I can only stand in front of ye when the enemy comes from just one direction. Keep that in mind."
|
|
"Ace? I swear, I shall do everything in my power to keep you safe from those you have escaped from. I know it's difficult, but the more you can tell us about those involved, the better prepared we can be."
Alan remains quiet for a while, other than an encouraging word to coax more out of Sweetchuck.
Amelia nods to She, impressed by how quickly she is catching on.
"I can only stand in front of ye when the enemy comes from just one direction. Keep that in mind."
During the extended handshake, Roedar's face turns serious, "Good point. I'll be wary." Once his hand has been returned, Roedar shakes it out, muttering, "Nice grip."
He gives Sven one more look and scurries off to find Murtaugh and learn some more about that snitch.
Spiegel’s brow furrows and he gives an involuntary snarl when Sweetchuck discloses his past.
Mahooney is on the Dock team, forgot to remove her from Murderbait.
Mahooney- I'm capable with a sword I'll take the other side.
Murtaugh- Tackleberry can provide ranged support but me an' Roedar are gonna need to talk to the snitch. I know Sven can intimidate I saw that, Hightower I'm pretty sure you cna too as long as you don't talk too much 'cause you're too nice.
Ace Sweetchuck- I was always the bait. I seem weak and nice so they'd use me to distract folk while they pick pocketed or scammed them into an area where they'd get robbed. I'm not proud of it but it's what I had to do to get by when I was younger, I had no one else. There's good people in the gang but that Fagen makes them do bad things. I've seen him kill.
"Wheeler seems to put a lot of store in freedom; he told me I'm chained by rules and law, and he's not. As he's already locked up, I'm not sure how we can use that against him."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Amelia ponders She’s words for a moment.
Yes, we need to make Wheeler realize he was not, and is still not free, despite his perception of freedom. Make him see you as far more free than he has ever been, exactly because you follow the rule of law. Wheeler thinks laws exist to limit freedom, but YOU are the example we need to show him that laws can and DO exist to in fact allow for freedom. It seems to me what Wheeler sees as freedom is in reality, anarchy, which might look like complete freedom, but as it lacks any form of structure at all, more often than not crushes freedom rather than encouraging it.
When the team is assembled, Roedar proposes, "How about a plan of attack? Tackleberry, you like being a lookout, keeping us safe? As you were saying, Murtaugh, we need to talk directly with your contact. You can make introductions; I can see that he tells the truth. If Sven or Hightower can be in on the conversation, they can help convince him to not waste our time."
"Also, I should warn you, just in case something comes up. When I get overly excited, I stop talking. I mean..." Roedar pauses. "I mean, I lose the ability to talk." Roedar looks around uncomfortably at nothing and everything except those he is addressing. In a quiet voice, "I actually can only make rat-like sounds." He pauses once more, gathering himself as he now looks directly at the group. "Just thought you should know..."
"Anyway, Murtaugh, is there anything you can tell us about your contact that might make a difference going in? Have any friends? Peculiarities?"
Sven smiled at the compliment, though it was lost within his beard.
Milo nods but doesn't seem to be worried by Sweetchucks revelations.
"Very unpleasant, but why would this Fagen be murdering members of his own gang?"
My snitch is a goblin hobo named Elbin. I pay him in elven food and fireworks. He's actually pretty smart and watches everything but no one pays him much mind. He panhandles around the docks but the gangs don't really bother him on the count that he's rumored to have explosives.
He speaks at least 5 languages and he reads which if you know goblins is a rare thing. Oh and he calls this large rodent thing his dog, it behaves for him so don't attack it.
"I don't think it's Fagen, Fagen doesn't skin people. He used the threaten us that'd he'd leave us out for the fairies to kill. He said they hunt people for sport sometimes like its a game. HE taught us this rhyme:
The first chap, kills with a sword
He'll blood his cap,peasant or lord.
Hear his whistle while you walk,
you'll be dead soon you're his stalk
Next there's the flayer, he starts off small
His claws are the slayer, he targets all
You'll see him as a friend,
Which is how you end.
One was so quick, he's hard to see
His weapon tricks, and he makes three.
Fall for his trap,
Land in Pharasma's lap
"Hey, everyone. Mind if we stop by my place and pick up something?" Roedar asks with a little apprehension (even his moustache seems to twitch a little). "It may be useful."
Once at his place, he leaves his partners outside while he quickly retrieves the 3 small rats he's been raising and training. He places them in a small container with airholes and secrets it in the top of his backpack.
"Thanks, I'm ready. Let's keep going."
Milo blinks at the rhyme. "How... charming." He mutters it to himself. "Fairies? The Fey in other words. The first sounds something like a Redcap, but I'm at a loss what the others could be?"
Milo thinks over what he knows of the Fey for any hints as to what could be doing the killing?
"If Wheeler is behaving himself, and not using his strength, he might be waiting for something that will let him free soon. We should try to find out what that might be.
Oh, one last thought before we see him, he was painting pictures in his cell, including pictures of me. I wonder how he'd feel if he wasn't allowed to paint."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I would ask you to take a close look at the content and context of his art, as you are far more likely to understand any hidden or cultural meaning than I. We may wish to use the confiscation of Wheeler’s art materials as a last resort though, as it is likely to provoke him, perhaps severely, or so my intuition is telling me.
There is something more to Wheeler than just a thug...despite his poor choices, I do sincerely wish to understand his motivations, and if I can, to help him. I do not believe that he is beyond redemption, and he will be given the fair process and treatment due him under our laws.”