"I'll be up directly." The inquisitor returns to the bookshelves and quickly flips through the books on ciphers (provided there aren't that many), looking for marginalia.
One of the books: Azilanthas' Occulting of the Phrase: A compilation of tools and theories on the making and breaking of cyphers has seen heavy use. Windle feels it can provide useful clues as to the method used by Hyve to encrypt his messages.
Grigor hems and haws over the letter...
Well... I think I know some of the symbols are... seen them used before, he turns his head and spits, heedless that he's indoors, in another case.
There was that library, he says thinking. Lets see if we can find a cypher...
He stops as Windle disappears into the library and then returns with the book.
Nice work. You want to take the lead and I assist with checking through the possible cyphers? If we put our heads together on this I think we have a chance.
"I only hope that the visitor didn't destroy or remove the key." Windle casts comprehend languages and applies himself to the problem at hand.
With mostly everyone involved, you get a shot at the cypher. It takes you about two hours to make sense of the scheme used, but you manage to force the cypher into revealing its secret...
My dear Arlend,
It is with great joy that I have received your last letter, and the news of the finding of the Manuscript. As you know, my agents have met with great success in recovering some of the ingredients mentioned in it. I am hopeful the Crown will be in our possession soon, a exhilarating prelude to His return.
Now, you’ve mentioned a certain reluctance to get for me the Manuscript, mentioning a project. I am certain this endeavour must be of great promise, but I must press the importance of Our cause. Simply sending me the list of ingredients to be gathered is not enough. I must study the manuscript itself, lest I miss an important subtlety in the phrasing. My agent is on his way to Ascanor Lodge, in the heart of Shudderwood. See that the manuscript finds its way there. Or if you wish, leave it with Baveshk. He’ll find me.
I am willing to wait, but not for long.
Your Master and Friend,
Adivion
Cleartext in hand, Windle begins to pack away the rest of the notes. "Grigor, can you have the guards stay here and protect this place? We have to get to Mayor Heggry immediately...I fear we may already be too late."
Windle's words barely have time to ring in the air before Grigor dashes for street and the troops.
Move then Windle!, he calls from the door as he exits the room.
"I want the evidence...we are about to accuse one of the Mayor's advisors, after all."
"Wha? What?" Valiard asks confusedly, following Windle and Grigor out into the street.
"According to the note you found, some person named Adivion was telling Myre to turn the Manuscript--the book we found in the catacombs under the city--over to an associate of (presumably) his, one Baveshk. Unless I have misunderstood the name, this is the same person who works for the mayor...and with whom Frater Kolnikov and I left the Manuscript. This Adivion does not sound like the sort who means well, so I would prefer to keep the Manuscript from him."
Iozef appears quite disturbed over the fact they left the Manuscript with a traitor. Keeping quiet for now--his anger likely to be misdirected if he says anything at this time--he lets Windle explain to Valiard what the situation is.
Mireza loses interest in the code quite quickly and lets her spider out to spin a web up in a corner of the old church and maybe catch a quick snack before the scholars have finished their work. She lies flat on her back in one of the old pews and sings quietly to herself.
Windle and Grigor steps out of the old church as they come face to face with Commander Feldk: "Sarenrae's burn, look at you! You look like you've just saw Asmodeus. What's going on? ... How can I help?"
Guard this house well Sir... and get us to the Mayor - Quickly!. Is there a wagon available?
"Take the horses!"
Iozef looking clearly uncomfortable with the idea of riding a horse, "You all go. Go on. I'll catch up with you." He says as he picks up his pace; the thought of the distance involved not even crossing his mind.
"Mireza, can you ride? I am not good on a horse..."
Valiard stops abruptly and spins on his heel looking around, obviously thinking.
Grigor winced, knowing his skill as a rider was small but he was nimble enough to mount a horse without too much issue and had a decent enough sense of balance, even in the Saddle.
He grabs the reins of a horse and sets off as a trot.
Valiard is confident that by going down Segar Alley, then turning left on Caliphas Ave, he should find a few carriages, as they often hover around Frash Hotel.
Windle also mounts up.
"I've never climbed on a horse before," Mireza muses, looking up at the massive beast with interest, but if Valiard is going to take a carriage, she'd as soon ride with him as risk slipping off the high back of the animal into the muddy streets. "Young priest," she urges Iozef as he sets off, seemingly intent on jogging to Crown Manor, "come and ride in the carriage."
In but a few minutes, the group makes to the entrance of Rag Manor. A heavy rain is now pouring and the streets are mostly empty, but the courtyard is still buzzing with the coming and going of messenger. Quickly, rumours reach your ears of two buildings having collapsed and of great turmoil in the Filth, where a mob is keeping the Crows busy.
Before the party enters, Windle reaches out to cup a bit of rainwater in one hand, then casts a spell. "Grigor, if he is still here I would prefer to initiate our discussion with him."
You lead then, agrees Grigor.
Windle walks in and heads for where he and Iozef worked with Baveshk.
"I've never climbed on a horse before," Mireza muses, looking up at the massive beast with interest, but if Valiard is going to take a carriage, she'd as soon ride with him as risk slipping off the high back of the animal into the muddy streets. "Young priest," she urges Iozef as he sets off, seemingly intent on jogging to Crown Manor, "come and ride in the carriage."
Iozef stops and ponders it a moment. Straightening his vest, "Very well. That is more tolerable than riding upon such a creature as that."
"Are we all bullying in, or do you want us to stay outside? Also, is there a back door?"
Windle and Iozef lead you to Baveshk's quarters. All is quiet. His bed lay as thought it hasn't been used last night. A secret compartment in the flooring lay open, but empty.
On the desk, an envelope to Iozef and Windle...
Dear pharasmins,
I regret having to take away the book, but it will serve a greater purpose than the mere redemption of the Hill. Ustalav awaits!
Still, I did leave you Hyve's sword. He kept bragging on how he found it and, once I figured its nature, thought I would serve you well.
On a final note, I quite enjoyed working with you, so I say this meaning well: Don't be misled by your empty faith. There is no redemption in the Afterlife, only in this realm lies the true life, alive, or not.
Be well,
Baveshk
Windle reads the letter, his usual pleasant expression fading as he reaches its end and hands it over to the others. "He hid the sin in his heart well, but I will not be fooled a second time. When the monster is slain and the last of the Keepers taken, I will pursue this blasphemer and give him to the judgment he denies. I have no right to ask it, but will you join me?"
Valik just throws his arms over his head.
"I don't even know what we are doing here, much less why you are asking us to "join" you!" Valik turns and points at Windle. "You dragged us half-way across the city for a letter? Hold on a moment, perhaps you need a bit of adjustment:" Valik spins and points out the door. "Slime monster thing eating people and houses," he turns and points at the letter. "A letter. Allow me to ask, which of these spells eminent doom for the city that I live in? Hmmm. Hold on, I am thinking. Wow this is difficult."
"Can we go now? I think that you have a city to save."
"And before you ask or comment, when I said "you" I meant it. I am just a bloody herbalist, I am not equipped or trained for this sort of nonsense, but I will at least do my best to make sure that you bloody hero types are able to do your job, even if that means that I have to beat you with a stick until you are standing at the gates of the Asylum."
"Does anybody else have a side trip they need to make while Slimy eats a few more people?"
Grigor growls.
And what if the missing Kludge Sucker was controlling said Slimy or assassinating the town leadership? Would that make things any easier?
He turns again for the door.
I'm getting too old for this stuff.
Outside looks for someone who can give him a report of what happened.
As Iozef reads the letter, his eye begins to twitch as his anger reaches epic proportions. Doing all that he can to remain calm, he listens to Windle's offer and simply responds with an ever so quiet yet vengeful "Yes."
Mireza looks up from her perusal of the letter obliviously. "He's very polite. What's this about a book?"
Valiard follows Grigor back outside.
"Do you think that something has changed? I heard people shouting about more attacks on the way in, something about the Filth...I wonder what buildings were attacked in the Filth...or if they just collapsed from neglect."
The news from the courtyard is that a mob of citizens from the Filth, having had enough of buildings collapsing, have taken to the street and ask for Heggry to fix it, asking with sticks and stones. A lot of Crows are down there to try and push them back. It seems the situation is quickly spinning out of control.
"Well this just keeps getting better and better. I suggest we give an attempt to calm the citizens down. If we don't find a way to stop this now, we are going to have bigger problems than some thing destroying us one by one." Iozef immediately heads toward the commotion.
Grigor heads to the nearest mob and crows and attempts to bring Order to Chaos by lending his experience and leadership.
Profession Watchman
Get Along Home Or I'll Have You In The Nick! Don't Think I Don't See You Yuri!
Turning his attention to Grigor, "Mr. Vachkov, threatening to arrest everyone is not going to help." Turning to the unruly crowd,
You stay out of trying to do my job and I'll promise not to preach from your pulpit, Grigor snarls from the side of his mouth.
Turning back to the crowd, he directs one of the crows to grab one of those who seems to be a trouble maker stirring up the others. He pushes he way to the area with the loudest agitators and pushes hard.
You are keeping us from killin' the thing you idiots - you want it taken care of? Stop keeping us busy with all this nonsense and either go home or head out the Hill for a day or two.
The mob will take a while to get under control. Soon after you get there, Commander Feldk arrives behind you: "Vachov! You have orders! Get your ass to the Asylum and make sure you make it back alive so I can flail your ass for insubordination! Now move Crow!!!"
Iozef just shakes his head in exasperation as he realizes the Crow and this mob will not be deterred. "We can accomplish nothing here. The quicker we take care of this issue, the better. Time to go."
Having her own professional reasons to avoid angry mobs of Ustalavan peasants, Mireza waits well back from the action for the Crow and young priest to return and make their way to the Asylum.
As Iozef makes his way back to the others, "To the Asylum. We've work to do." He says as he dusts off his sleeves and straightens his vest. He then turns and heads toward the Asylum.
Grigor clinically shoves a shouting face deeper into the crowd before heading off for the asylum.
"Nothing like a near-riot to spice up the day. Murder in the morning, a riot for lunch. Supper should be fun..." Valiard shakes his head.
"Well should we hop in the carriage and see about heading to the Asylum? It looks like Grigor is walking, but he may change his mind after a block or two of slogging through the mud."
You make your way to the other side of town. The rain is now a heavy downpour and the sky gets torn and sliced by blue lightning, followed by the low rumble of thunder, reminding you of the power the world can summon.
Crove Asylum is located at the bottom of the Tangle, on the eastern side of town. The building is the only one made of stone in this part of town. A neoclassical Ustalavan design, with obvious Chelish inspirations, it stands low, with a single floor, but wide, his north and south wings extending far through the park surrounding it.
The gate is unmanned but locked and you see no orderlies or patients in the courtyard. Grey clouds seem to congregate around the asylum, almost disappearing in its dark grey walls, as if swallowed by the gargoyles adorning its walls.
Very few windows can be seen from where you stand, and they are all high perched, narrow, and covered with bars, definitely designed to keep things in, not out...
From the gate, a straight path leads to the main central entrance.
After tying the horse to a part of the fence, Grigor looks long and hard at the gates, then comes to a decision.
Gather round close to me and give me some light, with some of you facing outwards... don't want people to see this.
He then digs under his cloak and pulls out a leather roll of hooks, probes and other paraphernalia that lawmen the world over call "Thieves Tools", but what others in the 'trade' may refer to as 'The hooks and rakes'.
He takes his time studying the lock.
"Do you think that we should take a look around before deciding how to go about this?" Valiard whispered. The thunder, bleak skies and eerie surroundings had him on edge, there was something about this place that just gave him the feeling like someone was walking on his grave.
Of course it could be noon, with the birds singing and the sun shining, and I still wouldn't want to go into that building. Valiard thinks, eyeing the Asylum.