Pelgrev grasps One With Shadows shoulder and bows his head momentarily. He then moves off towards the sleeping quarters.
One With Shadows returns the gesture and turns to rejoin his fighting buddies.
You find the bunks cool, clean, and just as spartan as before. The same sleeping robes lay ready for you atop perfectly made beds, and the occasional rumble of heavy stone construction can be heard. Your shared footlockers have not been opened (or have not been disturbed, at least) since you left so suddenly this morning.
There are a pair of buckets with lukewarm but clean water and a set of wash rags, one for each of you, against the back wall. The magic lights are still in place at the four upper corners and seem to have no fixture. They simply hover a few inches from the three walls' joint.
Seeing as Ariana and Noro was the only ones to arrive at the sleeping quarters ahead of her, Freia asks Korrith to wait outside while she cleans herself up with the rags and slip into her night dress. A few minutes later she invites him in again. She sits down in a lotus stance ontop of her bed and beacons Korrith and Ariana over.
"I reckon I could go first" she says as she retrieves her spellbook from the locker. The book is heavy and leather bound - sealed with a secure lock. Both the leather and the metal of the lock is engraved and well maintained and it smells faintly of oil in addition to the elementary 'old tome' musk. Freia retrieves the key hanging from her neck on a leather strip and unlocks the book.
On the first page there is several sketches and paintings - by the looks of it, they were made by a child - and an inscription: Property of Freia Gallowfield. The first three words are in an precise blocky handwriting while the last one appears newer - and written by someone with a more flowing style. After glancing at her old pictures and smiling for a brief moment Freia turns the page - beginning the tour of her spellbook proper.
Johnny retires to the bunk area and lays his head down trying to figure out why these murders are happening.
The elf is hunched over her spellbook on a bunk when Freia enters. She looks up, brushing black hair out of her eyes, going back to her reading while the tiefling cleans up.
As the other woman approaches, she speaks without looking up. I suppose this is for the best tactically. But it still feels..wrong..somehow.
She glances over at the tiefling's spellbook, arching an eyebrow at the drawing; a rare, slim smile spreading over her lips for the merest moment.
I suppose this is where we exchange notes and spend all night writing down new spells.. Despite her apprehension in sharing, she seems eager to learn more magic.
Ariana's own book is fairly new. The cover bears little wear although the pages within are...terrifying. The spells are all written in a complex, alternating code using geometric patterns, Draconic and Elven combined. Notes about various things are scrawled in every area of "free" space in between spells. Its a nightmare trying to decipher where a spell begins and a list of suspects or even grocery shopping ends. Names, pictures and notes about each individual spell litter the pages in no discernible order. The notes include things like using a pinch of powdered troll bone to add a greenish flare to color spray or the string of a worn-until-broken fiddle to sleep in order to add the sound of a sweet lullaby upon casting.
Frostbite: ,
Infernal Healing: ,
Shield: ,
True Strike: ,
Ariana frowns as she starts studying the spellbook before getting up. I'll..be right back. She wanders out of the room and looks for a Sorrow, walking right up to them and smiling.
Hello, we need some materials for writing spells. Would it be possible to borrow such things from the Quartermaster or equivalent? How would I go about doing that?
"I .. I can't see what is which in here ... Ariana - you have to help me"
Freia looks in dismay at the other womans chaotic scribble. While she recognized some of the arcane signs and their meanings they were all to mixed up for her to easily make sense of. Her tutor in the magical arts had always had a talent for order and structure, while he had many other faults, and that was something Freia too had learned to appreciate. She looks up to see Ariana leave Did I offend her? she gasps. But small fragments of the conversation outside makes it back and Freia exhales in relief - she merely needed some ink and tools. When she comes back Freia once again asks her to go through her book in detail - and there is one spell that catches her fancy.
"Grease? I can see how that could be useful ... For disarmament and apprehension especially! If you don't mind I would like to study that spell. But you have to help me decipher it - if you want I could do the same for my writings. I have some spare materials also if you need."
vs DC 21
vs DC 16
The elf nods when she comes back. Of course I'll help. I keep my book purposefully dense so no one else can decipher the order amidst the chaos. Each spell school has its own pattern. I'd love to copy from your book as well. I..confess, I have the desire to gather every spell I come across.
"Certainly" Freia smiles "It is an interesting goal you have. It won't be easy - but I wish you the best of luck"
Ariana - The sorrow you locate has the name "Ministrant" embroidered on his robes. You remember him as Absentia's companion from when you were first brought in. He hears your request without discernible expression (as per the usual) and replies in a steadily cadenced monotone.
Normally, no. However, as your unit is tasked with a special assignment on order from Sorrow Califrific, You are authorized to use such items as if loaned. Their cost will be tallied and will accrue interest at a rate of 10% per six months. Follow me.
He strides through the maze of the base until you arrive once again at the main gates and the desk of the frazzled elf. You think you might have gotten the hang of that route now.
The elf looks up and starts bowing his head so rapidly it looks like he is bobbing. Ministrant doesn't greet him, simply says, Supply any crafting supplies to Number 447306: Ms. Rosencruz under the ELTP by my authority until the end of the week.
The elf mutters quickly Of course, of course, by your command. then looks at you expectantly. Ministrant stalks off and the elf visibly calms while listening to your request.
Thank you, Sorrow Ministrant. I'll only need... She attempts to tally the cost in her head. Forty gold worth of inks, silver-dust and.. Ariana rattles off a list of about fifteen odd arcane ingredients for inscribing spells before taking the stuff and walking back to spend the rest of the night scribing.
After several hours, a deep bell peals four times through the complex. The halls empty rather quickly and about 5 minutes later the four Light spells that illuminate your room go out, leaving it a tangible black.
As youall wake the next morning, you can feel that this morning started later than the last. Absentia arrives just seconds after the lights kick back on (Oh! The pain!) and instructs you to meet her at the gates in five minutes. She then turns and disappears down the hall.
The halls are crowded today with bleary eyed Tears parading a dizzying variety of tattoos. One man barely has a bare patch of skin on him, but most cover no more than an arm or chest. Just about every crime imaginable is here, but noone seems to care what anyone else did. They are all yawning and shuffling forward. It's just another morning.
Johnny gets up stretches slightly and then moves to the meeting place.
I hope we can get a clue as to what is going on with these murders today. The longer the trail goes cold the harder it will be
Zayid rolls out of bed, still in his clothes from the day before. Sitting on the edge of the mattress to put his boots on, he reaches down and strokes the still-sleeping kitten softly before standing and heading out to the hall.
Yawning Freia sits up in her bed and stretches her arms. 5 minutes - that isn't much time. She looks around in the room before once more diving beneath her blankets to change into something more work appropriate. That means her fathers old uniform once again since she only had the foresight to pack her rain and winter clothes, but not her everyday wear. I guess there are worse things to forget. A minute later she is fully dressed and standing beside the bunk checking all her gear before sneaking Zayids kitten a quick petting session and heading to the gate.
Noro was snoring a bit loudly through the night drooling on her pillow, her hair a total mess.
Lou, her kitten asleep at her feet.
When it came time to wake up she sits up rubbing her eyes. she climbs out of bed heading to the washroom. not very lady like scratching her butt.
after a bit she emerges a bit better. and gets dressed, fixes her hair in her traditional pig tails (a bit off center).
Turning to everyone Sho, what are we to do today?
Pelgrev splashes some of the cold water leftover from last night's wash pots over his head.
We find killer?
He chuckles a little and heads out to meet the Sorrows.
Absentia meets you at the front gates with a force disk of your turned in gear and an arm full of silver masks. She instructs you to gather your things before lining you up and installing your masks for the day.
We are scheduled to depart in one hour. I suggest you preform whatever morning rituals you deem best. Breakfast will be delivered in thirty.
She then walks up to Zayid and discreetly hands him something with a whisper.
Exactly thirty minutes later, like clockwork, four Tears with masks affixed march into the room with platters of toast, butter, biscuits, boiled meat, and two large pitchers of cow's milk. They lay it out before you and hastily depart, saying not a word.
As you wait/study, you notice other groups departing with other Sorrows. Sorrow Ministrant, Absentia's counterpart from your first day, leads out a trio of small people you can only assume is Casper and his posse. It is here that you get your first glimpse of Sorrow Bloody Dismemberment. He/She is a massive person standing nearly, if not over, 8 feet tall with shoulders and arms to match. The wind of his/her passing threatens to flip the pages of the poor frazzled clerk's books. He does manage to save them, just barely, and thus staves off complete mental collapse for another five minutes.
The masked Zayid recoils at the sight of the item, shaking his head slightly and trying to refuse it.
He takes a ragged breath and lets it out slowly, his eyes closed and his face drawn up in a grimace, unwilling to meet the Sorrow's gaze.
Freia is obvious to the exchange between Zayid and the Sorrow. Instead she focuses on her spellbook - there was no time to mess up the spell preparation. When the food arrived she absent mindedly snatches a few samples of what is closest and chows it down.
Johnny quietly sits trying to observe everything around him. Seeing the exchange of the dagger he wonders to himself what it was all about.
Noro takes her share of the meats. when the milk comes around she takes a sniff, makes a face indicating it isn't the kind of beverage she normally would consume.
What ish thish shtuff? Nothing gosesh better with boiled meat than a good ale. Can I get shome Ale over here? She asks as she dives into the meal. it would seem it has been some time since Noro has eaten a decent sized meal.
Sho, any new thoughts on thish killer busshiy..nesshsh. Noro struggles with the last word as there are too many 's' sounds for her to say properly. staring a challenge to any that may think about laughing at her. shtuff. she finally ends with instead. (simple words for simple people).
Freia looks up toward Noro, pausing a moment from her books to see what substance has her mystified. "Milk. It com..." The exact description of where and how cow milk is made probably wouldn't but Noro in an accepting mood, so Freia instead continues with "You should try some, it's not half bad. Said to be good for your bones too"
She pours herself a glass of said milk and goes back to her books. She didn't really mind the way her new friend spoke all the time. It was not that hard to understand, and besides, she did not judge a book by its cover (or sound). Or atleast she tried to start looking at things that way - as she would be preferred to be judged.
Zayid frowns and turns away from the Sorrow.
Absentia disappears for the rest of the hour. When she returns, it's all business. You are promptly lead to the ships and she marches right up the gangplank of the vault's ship without missing a stride.
She approaches the safe and produces a scroll. A few seconds later the spell is cast and bloody writing appears on the wall beside the ship's bloody secret.
Who are you?
I be Maggie...
What are you?
I be a Fisher's wife. From the Docklands near Underbridge.
How was your blood shed?
I was cleaning the boat and... Oh gods! Knives and pain and fear! I didn't even see her face!
When was your blood shed?
2nd day o' last month? Ya, about a moon ago.
That would put the murder the day after the ship arrived in port, according to those logs you found, same day as the other two came in. Absentia comments absently.
Freia shudders at the sight of the bloody writing. Sure, it was helpful and all, but it was also unnatural and unnerving. She makes the sign of Phasmara to ward of any lingering spirits. But at least they knew whom the victim was.
"We have a name of one victim then - shall we try and see what she looks like?"
She kneels down next to the body and motions Ariana to come over, so they could dispel the magic they identified yesterday.
Ariana will have prepped Daze and will help Freia.
Pelgrev's backs away from the writing. His bearing makes his discomfort clear.
Blood words... Evil spirits...
Noro keeps her distance as the words in blood appear.
Sho it sheems we know who, now we need to know the why.
she looks to the others Any more bright ideash? maybe find thish Maggie's hushband or shomething
Noro is a bit bored with this investigating, talking about stuff.
Didn't Johnny or someone go through the ship lists? Let us find all the Maggie's and investigate. Most cultists and serial killers have a reason for what they do or have a specific type of target they like. This will give us some information.
Freia, come, let us destroy the magic on these corpses and reveal more information.
While the magic is being dispelled, Absentia talks to the rest of you.
This case has so far produced many leads. It would be efficient of us to split up into two groups. I can keep tabs on both groups from afar, so I will comprise a third "group". With whom would you like to travel? I will send one group to investigate any leads from the shipping logs and another to see if they can find anything about this "Maggie" the fisher's wife.
Freia kneels down next to the corpse and follows Arianas instructions on how to unweave the spell.
Zayid backs away from the writing as well, narrowing his eyes at it behind his mask. He nods silently at Pelgrev's pronouncement, taking a bit of comfort from the other's presence. When Absentia speaks, he turns toward her, his brows furrowing beneath his mask. Shaking his head as if to clear it, he answers slowly and quietly, "I could probably help with the shipping logs. I'm... somewhat familiar with the docks."
I can't let her get to me. I don't know what she's trying to do, but... no, don't think about it now, not with this mask on. She might be able to read my thoughts. Think about something else... NO! Not that... he's dead... they took the dagger... and then she gave it back! Why would she give it back? Stop thinking about it!
He shakes his head again as he tries to dislodge unwanted thoughts.
I'm going to murder the lizard if it keeps that up. Possibly make a pair of boots. At Ariana's words and a brief flick of the fingers, the small terasaur usually perching on her shoulder suddenly flies over to Korrith and buffets him in the face with its wings before flying out of reach of the small kobold.
Know: Arcana
Spellcraft
I find book people.
Pelgrev takes a quick glance at the exit.
Away from blood magic.
Pelgrev's comment makes Freia wince a little. While she could understand his stance on blood magic she believed - and hoped for her own sake - that it wasn't inherently bad. Right now it was helping them to solve a murder. Then again, appearance matters ... Sighing she cleared her head of the doubtful thoughts and refocused on the task at hand.
"Ariana, it's Ariana. And I don't think Absentia would let you turn him into boots." she adds absent mindedly.