Spiegel walks briskly and with purpose to the First & Basil security force barracks, and enters, assuming he is not waylayed en route. He searches out the armory master first.
Amelia hears Lt. Callahan, and seeing that Alan is now engaged by his commanding officer nods in Alan's direction, and looks to She.
"It would appear the others have made it back from their assignments, we should inform the Lt. of what we have learned from Wheeler and about Spindleshank thus far. Besides, I think there is some room beside Alan, we should go squeeze in."
::Amelia can't hide the smile as she notes that last part::
She Who Always Tries nods in agreement with Amelia and moves forward to talk to Lt Callahan.
"Ma'am, Wheeler is willing to talk in exchange for a pardon. It appears that he was the one running the Rough and Tumble gang. He says he'll explain the reason for the gang activity, and a bigger threat to the City. I'm sure it will take some time organise things, during which we can pay a visit to the tea shop."
Lt. Callahan, it is my professional opinion that given the knowledge of true leadership we now have regarding the Rough and Tumble gang, Spindleshank is the most malleable at this time if we question him with the pretext that we believe he is still the gang capo, and then catch him in the first blatant lie he makes on that or another subject, he will then have lost his perceived position of control, and may well offer additional information beyond what Mr. Wheeler has provided.
It may also be of use if, during the interview with Spindleshank, we avoid any mention of the possible deal Mr. Wheeler wishes to cut, and admit only that Mr. Wheeler has stated he is in fact the capo of the Rough and Tumble gang. Thus, even if Spindleshank does not know anything more than his real boss, we may yet be able to cross check facts and statements against what we have learned from Mr. Wheeler thus far, limited as the details may be from him at this time.
Roedar scurries over to Sven's desk, "You're writing a report already? We still have to question them!" He bounds around Sven, peering over his shoulder, and trying to get a look at his report, but then he pauses, "I guess we should let the department know what happened. I'll write mine up, too, and meet you back here to go question Elbin and Spot."
Before heading back to his desk, Roedar finds Murtaugh, "You know Elbin best. What do you think he has in mind when he talks about 'protection'? Hey! Sven and I are going to question Elbin when we're done with the reports. Join us!"
Roedar returns to his desk and begins his report:
Murtaugh, Tackleberry, Mahooney, Sven, and I proceeded to the docks to meet with Elbin, Murtaugh's contact. Our intent was to simply speak with Elbin and get information about the bard that supposedly has been spreading rumors to weaken the existing gangs. However, while making introductions, we were set upon by an organized group assaulting us from 2 directions. Murtaugh, Elbin (with his dog Spot), and I took shelter in a basement that Hightower opened up for us. Tackleberry, Hightower, and Sven fought the group, knocking out several, which we arrested and brought here. They are former members of the Watch Guard and need to be questioned. They appear to be the new gang taking advantage of the weakening of the existing gangs.
The fight with the 2 groups posed a danger to Elbin, so I offered him our protection during the fight by having him join us in the basement. He ran out through the back of the basement and came to the station. Because of the altercation, we were unable to question Elbin at the docks. He did inform us that there is a new drug that strengthens those who take it, making them much more dangerous. We need to find out more about this drug and what involvement the bard has in all of this.
Summary:
* Bard involvement is still unknown
* New gang consists of former Watch Guard members
* There is a new drug on the docks, strengthening those who take it. Need specifics on suppliers and users
* Need to question Elbin re gangs, drugs, and bard
* Need to question former Watch Guard members re new gang
"What a fine report!" Roedar thinks to himself. "Time to go a-questioning," and he ambles over to Sven's desk.
Lt Valasca Callahan to assembled watch
"Okay so as I see it we have two cases, the gang violence and the murders. We got witnesses of the gang violence issues to question but just a fairly sketchy lead that might be a trap for the murders.
In my opinion we have a few approaches we can take. we can go on good faith and try the tea shop, or since we know Fagen has been involved in crimes we bring him in and force out more details.
Recommendations?"
Roedar rises and stands at ease. "Lt. Callahan. I agree with She and Ms. Rolshen. We should question the current detainees before venturing out on another mission. Let's interview the detainees and witnesses; then we can go investigate the tea shop. If that turns out to be a dead end, we can backtrack and get the big cheese, Fagen."
Lt Valasca Callahan:
"Very well Roedar, you question Elbion, bring in Milo for an outside perspective. Amelia and She question Spindleshank. Sven why don't you, Murtaugh and Hightower see if those former guards know anything, Alan you should observe one of the interrogations, maybe wait in reserve as an alternate approach option."
Amelia nods to the Lt. Callahan.
”I am rather looking forward to pressing Spindleshank, given the leverage we have on him, I would think that learning anything he knows regarding this new gang war and the person or persons who are behind the shift in power on the streets is your first priority from the suspect yes? Watch Officer She Who Always Tries and I will begin the interview immediately.
Spiegel walks up to the entrance of the First & Basil company guard barracks, shows his ID to the the inevitable guards, and barring issue, walks in heading straight to the armory.
”I need to see the armory master on duty, I need to requisition additional weaponry for a special assignment I am currently working, swifter the better.
She Who Always Tries suppresses a grin as she acknowledge's Callahan's order. "I'm sure we'll have Spindleshank talking quickly enough, Ma'am."
Turning to Amelia, She asks "Shall I start things off, Miss Rolshen? Then you can pick up any holes in the questioning"
::Amelia nods falling in behind She::
I think that would be most effective yes, and of course, I will have him activate my enchanted pen, as to record his answers verbatim, for later detailed review.
|
Alan summarizes the suggestions listed in his report to the Lt and the associated Cadets, Guards, and others gathered at the briefing.
Currently open lines of inquiry: Tea Shop, First and Basil, revisiting Murder Scenes, using Ace as bait near the crime scenes.
"Lt. I'd be honored to wait in the wings to assist as needed. Would you prefer to have me reserve 'Good Cop', 'Bad Cop', or 'Worse Cop'? I know my strengths, but I know I don't always ... catch the more subtle things, the nuances of how a witness responds to a question. Make him answer, certainly. I excel at that."
Sven nodded. "Aye, works for me. I'd like to have the first go at it. Nay many people like my face. Should I fail to get the information we need, someone a bit more friendly can have a shot at it."
She Who Always Tries leads the way into the room where Spindleshanks is waiting.
"Hello Spindleshanks, my name is She Who Always Tries, you may call me Officer if that's easier. This is Miss Rolshen, you may remember her as the attorney from the party where you were arrested. You might even still have her business card."
|
|
Alan pauses a moment while on his way towards the interview observation rooms.
"If I may, could I please see the files for the former guards? I'd in particular, like to know the reasons for their discharge."
There's nothing worse than a failure to uphold the Law, when it is one's sworn duty to do so.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
@Allan, for the most part it's a general incompetence be it in one case taking a bribe publicly, one nearly killed a bistander in pursuit of a suspect, more than one washed out for failing 3 physicals, it's a mixed bag of failure.
Spindleshank sits in a relaxed pose, he hasn't quite put his feet up but it's close. The body language is smug.
"They sent you, that's quite funny. Where's the paladin? He was clearly in charge.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"The Palladin has better things to do with his time than come in here on the off chance you've got something important to say."
She pauses briefly before continuing. "As the one in charge of your little gang, I'm assuming you've got something to tell us that none of your associates know?"
Roedar snaps to attention when Lt. Callahan finishes speaking, "Yes, Ma'am." He sits down and waits for the meeting to adjourn. Returning to his desk, he grabs the report he just wrote and looks for Milo.
"Here is what happened out on the docks," he says, presenting the report to Milo. "One thing, though, Murtaugh says that Elbin is quite smart, and I believe him." He pauses, sniffs the air, and says in lowered voice, "His dog is, too. Don't say anything in front of Spot that you don't want Elbin or anyone else to know." In his normal voice, he continues, "Let me know what questions you have, but I think Elbin wants to help us. I say we ask him what we want to know, maybe we can get him to let us cast a truth telling spell, just so he'll know we won't have any cause to distrust him."
Spindleshank smirks, still confident in his position.
"Very well, tell your betters that the theft was a commission. We were paid to..."
Spindleshank starts choking. His hands instinctual go to his throat but there's nothing there.
Spellcraft if ya got it.
Elbin consents tot he spell.
"The nasty bard is two bards a girl and boy both pretty and looking almost the same. They will talk to gangs and after gangs get more violent, ambitious, and angry at one another.
They talked to those ex-guards trying to make security work. Instead they ended up forming a gang. There's blood on the street because of those two but what they don't know is that I saw...
They have been careful but Elbin likes music, knows instruments. Maker's mark on the boy's banjo is Pitax, masterwork possibly magical instrument."
Amelia frowns as Spindleshank starts choking, something was very wrong with the scene before her.
"Someone call for a healer, quickly!
Amelia knew something of magic, she was not a wizard, but had taken an extension course in law school regarding identifying mystic spells, which was helpful when dealing with mages and their like on the stand.
Spiegel walks up to whomever is currently working as armory master, offering a tusky but well meaning grin.
”Armory master, Special Operator Spiegel Stillwater ::shows his security badge:: here to officially request the requisition of arms. I am currently acting as security detail for Junior Partner Amelia N. Rolshen Esq., and have been tasked with aiding her in consulting with the Watch. In the course of our work, I have encountered a threat that requires cold iron to deal with effectively. A cold iron melee weapon, battleaxe or longsword, and if the firm can spare ‘em, which I bet they can, as many cold iron pellet grenades as can be provided. I will fill the forms out in triplicate, and yes, I am aware I am liable for any damages or injury I cause to bystanders using said grenades.”
|
|
Alan meanders between the observation rooms for each of the interviews in progress, trying to be handy if any of them need his heavy handed skillset, when he hears Amelia's shouts.
He quickly relays her cry for help, and then hurries to see if he can serve as a healer, or to subdue a threat.
Upon seeing Spindleshank being murdered by actions unknown, he hurries into the room, closing the door behind him.
Amelia tries her best to ignore the sheer wrongness of the scene before her and figure out some way to help Spindleshank. She had no magic of her own...but there was one option, desperate though it was.
::Amelia bites her lower lip hard enough to draw blood::
”This is NOT because I am at all attracted to you Spindleshank...in fact I rather dislike you, now try and hold still and don’t fight this...you need to...let my blood into your mouth.
::Amelia lets the blood well up from her bitten lip, and then kisses Spindleshank::
Spindleshank falls asleep thanks to some quick action and thinking on Amelia's part.
Amelia checks to see that Spindleshank is alive, using her kukri to check for breathing, thankfully it seems the elf was only unconscious as his breathing fogged the cool metal.
Amelia lets out a long sigh of relief.
Spindleshank is alive...thank Irori that worked.
::Amelia dabs at her injured lip with a kerchief::
Ser Alan...do you have an idea of what just occurred here? That was no invisible attacker...it was something more arcane I suspect, though I know not what.
"If it was magic, it gives us another question to answer. What sort of power is required, and who is capable of doing it? And if it wasn't magic, what was it?"
|
|
Alan grimaces after hearing the Amelia relate the events that lead up to the attack.
"While there are more than a few things that could have caused this, I suspect the most likely is a contingent spell effect triggered by the confession Spindleshanks was making. We will need to warn the others doing the interrogations immediately, and bring in a potent spell weaver to examine each of our recently acquired captive's for spells and curses.
For examples, there's a Mark of Justice, that I may yet one day be able to bring about, that has a similar style of contingent weaving, but is unable to bring death to a transgressor like this one did.
I'll go see who I can find, and interrupt the other interviews. Nice work on saving our informant! Sounds like we could get quite a bit more information."
Alan leaves the interview room, and interrupts any other interviews in progress to warn of the possibility of the subject spontaneously coming down with a severe case of dead, and then goes looking for a Senior member of the Twinklefoots to examine those in captivity, and then potentially Break the Enchantments that bind them.
Roedar gets a couple treats for Spot and a cup of water for Elbin before making his way to the room. Before entering, he discretely casts Enhanced Diplomacy. Once inside, he presents the water and treats to Elbin and Spot saying, "I'm glad you both made it back here safely. Wasn't sure what was going to happen back there for a little bit." Roedar pulls up a chair and motions to Milo to do the same. "This is Milo, an associate of mine. We need to see how you're doing and find out what is going on down at the docks."
"What do you know about this bard that's stirring up trouble?"
Roedar listens as Elbin speaks. "That is something. Two bards, not just one. Maybe siblings? Or twins? Hmm..." He pauses, making a couple chattering sounds while in thought. "Are the bards always together? Ever work separately? Someone's sending them in... Who's behind them?" Having just heard the latest reports from the meeting, Roedar thinks, "Fagen? Is he behind the bards? Someone is trying to move in on the docks..." "How old do these bards look?"
Ater Elbin is done speaking about the bards, Roedar continues, "What about the drugs? Do you know where they're coming from? Are the bards connected to that?"
EDIT: The above was my plan, unless it is interrupted by Alan...
Amelia frowns and sits in one of the chairs in the interview room.
Someone is going to quite a good deal of trouble and expense to keep their identity and motives hidden. Someone or a group of someones who are willing to kill any agent who may reveal them. This bodes ill Officer She, I loath to say it, but we are likely in more danger than we know. But it also strikes me as odd that Mr. Wheeler did not suffer the same fate as Spindleshank, perhaps that is a line of questioning we should pursue as soon as circumstance allows, your thoughts Officer She?
"Either there is a lot more to Wheeler than we know, or Spindleshanks knows things that Wheeler doesn't and whoever has been pulling their gang's strings is more worried about these things than about what Wheeler knows.
I think we need Wheeler's information as a clue to what's going on, but what Spindleshanks knows may be more important for who or why."
Amelia brightens, smiling despite the ruckus, pleased to see that Watch Officer She continues to be on point and exercising her keen mind and deductive reasoning skills.
"I could not have made that statement better Officer She, I'd like to think that you and I are proving to make quite the pair. Your reasoning and perceptive talents do you proud She."
"Alas, it would be both unwise, and unsafe to continue our work until the suspects are cleared by you senior magic users. I could not save another with my venom this day, the font is tapped, so to speak."
Hearing Alan's cry for help and seeing him immediately hurry into the interview room, Roedar follows. He is quite surprised to see Amelia bloody her lip and kiss the struggling Spindleshank. The oddity of the situation sets him to chattering, but he is impressed by her resourcefulness. "If it works, it works!" he thinks and makes a quick check to see how the patient is doing.
"Get him up on the table. Make him comfortable and give him some air!" Roedar rolls up his cloak and puts it beneath Spindleshank's head, checking his pulse and the dilation of his eyes.
Roedar makes a note to pull Wheeler's and Spindleshank's files to better understand who these people are. Clearly not common members of a common gang.
When the excitement dies down, Roedar reflects, "It certainly is nice to be surrounded by such competent people. Maybe we can really make a difference. Speaking of..."
"Were it not for the interview moratorium, I would offer to assist in any further questioning, but you seem to handle it quite well. However, perhaps you could help me out. Are any of you involved with or knowledgeable in music? Ever hear of a banjo maker named Pitax?"
She Who Always Tries nods in agreement with Amelia "Although Wheeler has already told us more than Spindleshanks, it's probably a good idea to get him examined before we ask for more."
Looking Roedar up and down She asks "What do banjos have to do with this?"
Amelia thinks for a moment.
"Pitax the country Officer Roedar, famous for its bard king and bardic college. Mivon and Pitax have a long and unsettled history between them. Spiegel has told me a few stories of his time in the Mivon army and of border war with Pitax, he did not speak of those experiences fondly. You could ask him about them, though I would do so with the utmost tact, and a good dark beer on your tab."
Roedar squeaks in surprise at She's question. "Sensitive? Surprisingly harsh," he thinks. "Why absolutely nothing! That's why I prefaced it with a request for you to help me."
Roedar turns to Amelia and lowers his voice. "Ahh, that makes sense. This is not widely known, but apparently, the gang provocateurs are using musical instruments with the mark of Pitax. This may be very sensitive..." Returning his voice to normal, "Perhaps a drink with Spielgel is just what I need. Thank you for your help, Ms. Rolshen."
Roedar will do some research on banjos in Pitax and see if they are favored by any particular group.
Amelia was torn between using her connections in the firm, and continuing to work with the questioning of suspects, her presence had already helped yield important information and saved a life, but still, First & Basil had extensive files, files the watch did not, files she dared not share openly.
”My venom should only render Spindleshank under for a short time, I feel strongly that haste should be made to undo these fell magics that affect our suspects, and the right questions asked swiftly thereafter. I need to...need to confer with the firm, and I have some research I wish to do. Officer Roedar, should you find Special Operator Stillwater, tell him to meet me at my apartment this evening if he can, I should be there by an hour to midnight at the latest. The threads are becoming a disconcerting weave, if I can take a small measure of dramatic license.”
::Amelia lays a hand on Roedar's shoulder and smiles warmly::
”No thanks needed...but I was glad I could help, Officer Alan's vigilance and knowledge of magic played not small part as well.”
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
She Who Always Tries considers Amelia's comments and Roedar's reply. "So there's a connection to another country? That could explain where the magical power is coming from."
A slight smile appears "This is certainly more complicated and confusing than we first thought."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Sensing that She's question is just a bit of awkwardness combined with Roedar's paranoia, Roedar relaxes and responds to She's comments, "Yes, we must proceed deliberately and carefully... After a round of drinks! I'm heading out for a bit of relaxation. Care to join?"
Roedar takes a look for Spiegel Stillwater to extend a similar invitation to him. Finding him absent, he asks at the front desk if any saw him depart or knew where he might be.
Roedar approaches Spiegel and invites him out for a drink, "Heading out for a drink. Join us! It's been quite the day, and I think we could stand to lose the edge."
Roedar heads to the bar, hopefully with officer She.
Spiegel walks out of the First & Basil guard barracks just in time to bump into Officer Roedar, who seems to be looking for...him.
::Clips the two cold iron pellet grenades to his belt and slings the cold iron battleaxe in it's baldric over his shoulder::
"Cold beer you say Roedar, count me in, getting armed up is thirsty work."
"There's probably very little we can do until the prisoners have been examined for dangerous magic, so we should plan what we're going to do next."
She Who Always Tries begins to follow Roedar then pauses. "Should we be leaving without making sure we can be contacted?"
”I will return here after my...business at the firm is complete, unfortunately I cannot copy or take firm documents to provide to the Watch. I will however use what leeway I have as a consultant to the Watch and a junior partner of the firm to share pertinent facts and give what insight I can. To be quite honest I would much rather be joining the both of you for that drink.”
::Amelia leaves the main Watch office and heads for the offices of First & Basil::
::Spiegel gives Roedar a hearty clap on the back, the promise of cold beer brightening his otherwise sour mood::
"Has Amelia gotten that bugger Spindleshank to give up the goat and start talking yet? That strange elf ain't a match for her, I would bet a week's wages on it."
::gives She a nod::
Why not just toss a local kid a copper or two to leave word with your commanding officer? Easy enough to do from a bar stool as anywhere else."
She Who Always Tries decides to follow the others; Lt Callahan will find us if there's a problem,.
"There was a slight problem with the questioning. Miss Rolshen managed to stop Spidleshanks dying immediately though."
"Why the extra weaponry Mr Stillwater?"
"There are murdering fey loose in this city, I would rather be over-armed and not need them than wishing I had brought them. This tea house is supposedly neutral...but I don't trust supposedly. Besides, I will likely just be providing cover, so I need not go inside, plus, I can't stand tea."
"Wuhhh...wait...dying...how in the hell did that almost happen? Amelia fought an assassin? She is a smart one no doubt, but her combat prowess is....err...poorish, no offense intended, she is a lawyer after all, not a soldier.