Janis walks down the steps and is confused. Friends friends. What is going on? He asks of the Hellknight and the imodaens.
Wabbit describes what the priest has been saying and what Wabbit has seen with his powers.
"Oh... Norgorber has left him. He said too much, turned against the tenates of his faith. A feeling I know too well." she says with compassion, even for one such as him.
Cleo goes to the man. "All the gods have a place in this world of ours. Faith in them leads helps us See life's joys and helps us protect it. Just in different ways. Mine is through protecting family, yours is through protecting strangers." she looks at him. "Your high priest, the elf, did he talk about another place, another person he met with at times that could help us understand the importance of your mission?"
Andreste gets a thought, and begins copying down the final pages of the ledger, working her way backwards. She scribes as fast as she can, wanting to get as much script as she can down so she can work on the cipher even without access to the book.
She considers momentarily tucking the spellbook into her pack, instead placing it nearby with the intent of asking Salia about the possibility of borrowing it.
Senzo...How are the marks chosen? Who chooses? The Father?
The now ex-priest Senzo replies to Cleo first.
"I get what you mean. Norgorber is a very misunderstood god. I don't know why he's forsaken us, but I... I can't have faith in him if he doesn't have faith in me. Hahaha oh how things change in the blink of an eye! Now my so-called brothers lie dead in front of me. Maybe my doubt is the reason why I'm still alive. I don't know anymore! But yes, I'll help you find the answers. My secrets are yours. Just let me live is all I'm asking here. Such a small price.
My - not mine anymore. The Father is Ironbriar. He is the Listener of whispered names. And Father Skinsaw is the Whisperer. So, you could say there are two Fathers. One in the flesh, one in Axis.
On the night of Oathday, there was a stranger who visited during our ritual. She was a frightening creature of wicked beauty. Father Ironbriar didn't seem to care what she saw of us. All she did was deliver a bloody sack, then left without a word. Father didn't say anything about it."
Then to Wabbit
"Father Skinsaw whispers the names to Father Ironbriar, who is the listener. Then he gives the Big Brothers their marks. Each one had a different way of doing it, but the point was to bring the mark here alive and unseen. The Big Brothers were Crossbow, Shadow, Buddy, Deathblossom, Admiral, Mumbles, and the Divine Daughter got marks sometimes as well."
---------------------------------
Andreste hurriedly starts copying the text, just in case she loses the book. Thankfully there's spare parchment, ink, and quills around.
---------------------------------
It takes a while for Janis to make it down the stairs, now that his flight spell has ended, but when he reaches the ground level and out the doors he sees quite a few figures. A Hellknight in full plate armour, three Iomedaen knights... or squires more likely, four guards of the regular city watch, and an Abadarian inquisitor. The Hellknight is in an argument with Saila, while Gallus and Pictus are shouting against the Iomedaens. The city watch looks grumpy, but aren't in the middle of any arguments. The Abadarian is coldly observing, but Janis can see that he could try to slip in if no one pays attention.
The two that have always worried Janis are Hellknights and Inquisitors. They care both capable of detecting lies. Most of these types have at least a little bit of magical capability.
When Janis speaks, he gets assaulted by many loud answers all at once.
He only makes out two groups:
In a deep voice, loud despite the muffling of his demonic helmet, the Hellknight says "The Order of the Nail has a serious case involving this mill, and seeks PEACEFUL entry to investigate."
Janis figures he's telling the truth, but there's the hint of violence in his voice. The Hellknights do have a reputation of maintaining the law through brute force and intimidation. Janis also figures that this Hellknight doesn't really care what's happening at the moment, but wants entry only to further his own case.
Two Chelish women and a man, dressed in fairly basic gambeson and chain shirts. One of the women shouts at the top of her lungs
"JUSTICE DEMANDS WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING! STOP HIDING EVERYTHING AND LET US HELP!"
Janis isn't sure what the Iomedaens are actually up to, but they're using Justice and Helping as a means of getting access to the mill. He figures they have ulterior motives. The anger and desperation is ripe.
Stop stop stop. We can figure this out my friends, if we all go traipsing all over the mill we'll just get in each other's way and mess up evidence that could help us all solve our cases. He steps over to the Hellknight. Tell me about your case.
He looks over at the others.
And don't worry, I'll get to you all and we'll figure out a way to help each other.
The Hellknight stares down Janis, reminding him of some hulking shadow demon ready to charge. Yet Saila butts in and says "This is Lord Janis Scarnetti, working under authority of the Honour Guard as a private investigator. I have documents to prove his affiliation if anyone doubts it." This raises a few eyebrows, and the Hellknight seems to relax. It seems no one wants to mess around when the son of a Justice is involved.
"Very well." Says the Hellknight. "The Order of the Nail has evidence that this mill is the source of a high profile money laundering case. The Order is acting as a neutral force to handle the case without interference. As of this moment, I am experiencing interference."
This seems a bit odd to Janis, because even though the Order of the Nail was invited by Magnimar to help maintain the peace, the Order has always been focused around combating the wilds and savagery. Politics and intrigue have never been their strong point. They're much more at home slaying monsters than debating with nobles. Yet, if Janis knows anything, it is that Hellknights Never Lie.
Janis catches the Abadarian Inquisitor trying to slink by. The Abadarian realizes he's been noticed, and decides not to press the matter. He steps back to where he was and resumes observing.
"In a few minutes you will be out of our control." Cleo tells the former priest the truth "All I can promise is that I will speak for you, tell them you helped us. If that is enough, please tell me all you remember about this stranger. Please." she adds at the end, hope and worry weaved together in her plea.
"She wasn't human." Senzo begins as he gazes into his memory. "She was beautiful, and terrifying. Her hair was stark white, but her skin was pale in some places and red in others. Her hands were clawed, and she had a third eye on her forehead. She wore rough hides, with a kukri on each hip. The bag was small and bloody. I think it was a baby, and the woman must be some sort of Outsider from another plane. Father was powerful. Maybe he summoned her to do a task that even the Divine Daughter couldn't do?"
Thank you Senzo....That description plus what may be her name (Xanesha) might be enough to divine her whereabouts.
Wabbit looks to Cleo at a loss for what else to ask the man before they are interrupted by someone from the commotion near Janis
"We can ask Andreste about it later." Cleo nods looking at Wabbit. "If... " she pauses "Is there anyone we should explain things to for you? Family?"
Senzo looks around at the singed, slashed, and stabbed bodies laying around him. He shakes his head and calmly says "No. I don't have family anymore."
Cleo the kind-hearted pats the evil but sad man on the shoulder then waves Wabbit out "Watch him please" she asks Aggah. Outside the room she says to Wabbit "We should see if the other one knows anything more about Xanesha. You are much scarier then me, would you do that while I'll go check on Andreste to see if she needs any help?"
Yeah... Go ahead and help Andreste... I got this
Wabbit goes into the next room where Furnok is guarding Crossbow. Lets switch...Senzo there shouldn't give you any problems
Hello Crossbow...Senzos filled us in on what's been going on here. Lets see if you are smart enough to cooperate and add to his story
Eyes glowing with Paladin-dar
[ooc]bleh[/dice}
Edit... Oops didn't see Cleos post... Looks like Wabbit is playing bad cop alone (badly)
Crossbow looks down upon the Halfling, a faint aura of evil surrounds him. He says
"I await a fair price."
Meanwhile, Cleo going into the office to help Andreste. She's frantically copying the ledger from back to front, and is paying no attention to the stretched out face of Vandra on the side of the desk.
Cleo's eyes dart to her friend.
What once was her friend.
The sheer brutal despair hits her every single time she thinks or sees it. Numbing and tearing all at once. Pure hate nearly strangles her... but she fights it HARD, remembering his laugh, the way his eyes twinkled when he talked to the twins, the...
erastil why?
She pulls her moist eyes away, for the hundredth time and tries valiantly to concentrate on copying, KNOWING doing so might save others, where her misery and gnawing fury will only hurt more.
Furnok strolls back over to Senzo, looking casually at Crossbow as he flicks some left over brains off his hammer.
Bacon, stop eating that dead one, you'll get a stomachache.
Andreste thinks about the rookery as she copies. As Cleo joins her, she says, "I've been thinking of the Ravens. Likely they are used as messengers. If they can be sent here, to where will they return?"
She continues to furiously scribble, adding "If I send Scrate to follow in elemental or bird form, he could likely find out. I don't suppose you could be a dear and mend his wounds before I try? I'm afraid I had to have him hide outside the blast zone of the negative energies those priests were emanating, and that also put him out of range of your divine blessings."
"Oh, of Course!" Cleo jumps up and cradles the little wounded dear, chattering away with him for a minute she apologizes for not noticing his wounds.
"The... man downstairs... the one still alive talked about a woman visiting the Justice." she describes it as the man did
"He said she delivered. A small bloody sack, he thought held a... a... baby." she shuddered, eyes drifting over again before she snaps them back. "I do not understand our world at times." she sighs then gets back to the task and question at hand "Any idea what she might be?"
Crossbow looks down upon the Halfling, a faint aura of evil surrounds him. He says
"I await a fair price."
Wabbit relaxes dropping the intimidate act, sensing it's just not going to work on Crossbow. Alright...What would you consider a "Fair Price"?
"Letting me go right now, breaking me out of prison, or ensuring a light sentence outside the Hells. I can provide information to match what you're willing to pay. Information that Little Brother Smiley was never privy to."
"Letting me go right now" NOT gonna happen
"breaking me out of prison"yeah lol...nope
"ensuring a light sentence outside the Hells. I can provide information to match what you're willing to pay. Information that Little Brother Smiley was never privy to."
Thats not within my power to promise but I'll see what the Guard can do
"But you do have the power. You just don't use it."
"But you do have the power. You just don't use it."
Wabbit sighs OK Crossbow explain to me how have the power to guarantee you a light sentence outside the Hells.
"You could destroy evidence of my involvement, testify that I wasn't at the mill. It would be even easier if you just let me go.
Sorry that's not going to happen
Wabbit continues to guard the prisoner and keep him separate from Senzo whose contrition he does not want to risk with close contact to Crossbow.
I see. Well I'm sure you can agree a murderous cult is more problematic, but anybody they're laundering money for is very suspicious. And you my friends? He asks the iamodeans
"On the contrary." The Hellknight intones. "If the Honour Guard ransacks the mill for their own case, there will be no evidence remaining for the Order to collect. I am peacefully requesting access to the mill, effective immediately, before the Honour Guard is finished their own investigations. If I come across evidence that will benefit the Honour Guard, but not the Order of the Nail, I will respectfully turn that evidence over. I do not expect the Honour Guard to do the same, which is the problem."
And why don't you trust the honor guard my friend? It's in all of your best interests to work together.
Andreste tries to figure out the creature from the description given.
Knowledge Arcana
Knowledge Planar
As Skrate is patched up, she speaks with him. "You are to follow the bird, but stay behind a fair distance. As soon as you see where it goes, return." She shakes a finger at the squirrel. "No heroics."
She casts a spell of transformation, turning the squirrel into a small air elemental.
The she scribbles a small note and attaches it to one of the caged birds and lets it fly. Skrate follows as instructed.
My Love,
The pests have been taken care of. A bit of tidying up to do here. Await the day we embrace again.
Father S
Andreste is very puzzled by the description. Certainly planar and an outsider, but some things don't add up. The stark white hair and pale skin sounds Celestial, likely Angelic. The red skin and clawed hands could be Infernal or Demonic. The third eye is also unusual. It is a religious symbol signifying the ability to see the truth. It appears frequently in religions regarding knowledge, but many faiths regard their path as the one true path to see the truth. In any case, an outsider with a third eye would likely be using it to see through illusions and other deceptions.
The raven squawks before flying out, and Skrate follows after it. Most of what Andreste feels from the empathetic connection is joy for being a free flying cloud, and curiosity likely from whatever Skrate sees. The spell ends just moments before he returns, and he glides into the window opening with ease. The raven has not returned.
Janis' efforts were to buy time for the investigation, and eventually time runs out. The Hellknight grows tired of talking, and the Iomedaens begin squabbling. Soon the guard is back to containing them when the Abadarian scoots into the mill. Then the Iomedaens break in, and the Hellknight barrels through. Soon everything is a mess as different orders squabble for evidence and information. Bodies are pulled, books are taken, masks are taken. Things nearly come to blows, and each order summons backup. Paralictor Darean Halst of the Order of the Nail, Chaplain Tira Ronnova of the temple of the Inheritor, Commander Ismeir Odinburge of the Honour Guard, and Proctor Jyronn Imikar of the Cathedral of Abadar are brought in. Even a Calistrean priestess shows up. Amongst even more bickering, Lord Justice Bayl Argentine, speaker of all Justices, dragged out of his bed from the other side of Magnimar at 3am, appear. He is furious.
Somewhere in the darkest reaches of Axis, Norgorber must be laughing. Only he would know of the crime that must be taking place, as all legal orders of Magnimar fight one another for dominance.
Finally, as daylight begins to shine, a truce has been formed.
The Honour Guard gain first access to the property for investigation for 24 hours. They gain access to the ledger and letters for 48 hours, afterwhich both will be transferred to the Cathedral of Abadar, then the church of Iomedae, and finally to the Order of the Nail.
The church of Iomedae will house the weapons, armour, and items intended for combat.
The church of Pharasma will house the dead, and each Order can visit the church to interrogate the dead upon donation of no less than 50gp. The church of Pharasma gets to decide who gets access to who at what time.
Prisoners will be held at the Bastion of the Nail. Tomorrow the church of Iomedae will have visitation rights, followed by the cathedral of Abadar the day after, and finally the Honour Guard the day after that.
All other items and animals will be held in the Cathedral of Abadar. Orders can access these items at any time.
Saila looks ready to die, but she says
"Thank you for your hard work. There's still plenty to be done, but you've all earned a very long rest. I'm going to take a shot of lesser restoration, and get back to work. You're all welcome to join me if you're crazy enough to do so. It's really up to you what you want to do. I will lead the code-breaking on the ledger and letters, and I'll send out an investigator to the mill. We'll need to discuss proper compensation some time this week. I want to make sure you're paid handsomely. There's no way we could have done this without you, even if it's a complete mess right now. The cult is dead."
Janis walks up behind her and runs his hand over her rear. "Don't work too hard. I'm well acquainted with how lost you become, and if you need any relaxation, feel free to call on me.
Cleo is a bit floored with the mess it all is. To no one, in particular, she says so "They all want the same thing, right? Why can't they work together without the hours discussing that took." she shakes her head.
"We couldn't have done that alone, Saila. Without you, Pictus, and Gallus we'd have been buried in that place. Janis and Andreste as well." she listens to all that still needs to be done and sighs "I need a bit of sleep first, and a proper meal but later I can try and help with the journal. I've always liked puzzles."
I think Janis is going to get a major slappen from that.
Under any other circumstance, Janis would get a major slappen from that. Saila doesn't have the energy, both physical or emotional, to make that happen. Janis receives a firm push back and a redirection to the rest of the group that she's speaking to.
"I get it, Cleo. Whatever time you need to take, go for it. If any of you want to help out today, here's what I would recommend. You can join me in the tower for code-breaking. You could accompany an investigator to look over the mill for secret caches and whatever those barrels are. You could visit the dead if you have that divination spell. You could inspect items at either the temple of Iomedae, or the cathedral of Abadar. Or you could do your own thing. Just let me know what you decide to do so I can allocate resources appropriately. I'll pay the fee for the Pharasmins if you let me know ahead of time."
She gives a weary wave and a tired smile before walking back towards the tower. Gallus says to the group "Thank you for all your help, and for those wondrous magical powers as well. I hope to meet you all again when we figure out where that mistress is hiding. I'll be taking a short leave to spend time with the missus, but until then, take care of yourselves."
Pictus bids farewell as well "Hey uhm, thanks for keepin me on my feet. That was a f%#%in hell hole and I... yeah I got more trainin to do. See you later. Get some rest and all that."
When the group starts shuffling off Janis waits behind. Saila, seriously, you work too hard and you're gonna make yourself sick. Get some rest, find someway to relax, something. At the end there, I hadn't seen you in weeks. I figured we were done. Just don't forget to take care of yourself while you're taking care of the city.
"I'll just be a short name, mam. And all bring along some bacon sandwiches along with me."
"The missus? If we have time, I'd love to meet her to tell her what a hero you were during all this." she tells Gallus and pats Pictus on his arm "Erastil provided the healing, I am just the delivery method."
Saila looks Janis in the eye, but she's too tired to be angry. "I... I didn't know that. Look, it's not the worst idea I've ever heard, but was this really the time? You can't just go around doing that when I'm on the job. I worked really, really hard to secure this job, and I'm constantly being ridiculed, ignored, or harassed. And... we just killed nearly two dozen people, terrible cultists, but I'm not used to seeing that much death. And then we had all that shit with the other Orders. How the hell am I supposed to feel horny right now? I'm glad you care, and you're not just trying to get another piece of me, but I just, I can't turn on like that on command." By this point, tears start welling up in Saila's eyes. She leans on Janis for support.
---------------------
Gallus places a large hand on Cleo's head, giving her a good pat. "You're a sweetheart, miss Cleo. I would like to just have a bit of time with her and the kid. I was thinking of them while in the mill, and I don't feel like I give them enough attention."
Pictus nods a few times, then sort of shuffles off with a look of deep thought on his face.
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Moonday, the 1st of Neth, 4711AR
Dawn occasionally peaks out of the grey clouds, illuminating them in brilliant reds and yellows. There is a chilly air moving at a steady pace, but not enough to make a significant effect. Today is Moonday, which is usually a hard working day where people catch up from what they didn't do on Sunday. Some faiths hold ceremonies in the night today, such as Desna and various Empyreal lords.
Janis pats her back. Which is exactly why you should go do something to relax. To take your mind off it. Go drink, f%*+, sleep, something. Go read a book that has nothing to do with cults and guarding or whatever. Take a few hours to not be a guard before digging into all this.
Saila sighs. "I suppose. I need to sort out a few people first, but I could sneak a power nap in there somewhere, maybe a bit of light reading."
Cleo asks the other members of their little group if they are ready to go back. "I could use a nap or three, and I will then probably eat all the bacon... that isn't cute and adorable... they have in the house."
BWEEEEEE!
Bacon sniffs the barrels and plans to get in touch with his contacts at the market about what has been going down in town.
Wabbit is simultaneously amused confused appalled disgusted by the cities competing "law" agencies. Exhausted at watching this farce he retreats from the spectacle.
But not before speaking with Saila Is there anything I can do to help lighten Senzos sentence? Write a letter asking for leniency? I felt the evil leave his soul. He's had a hard life. And while he needs to pay and atone for his crimes I feel he's capable of turning his life around into something worthwhile.
Cleo asks the other members of their little group if they are ready to go back. "I could use a nap or three, and I will then probably eat all the bacon... that isn't cute and adorable... they have in the house."
Food GOOD! Wabbit says with a smile...the diminutive halfling being capable of outstanding feats of gluttony without ever putting an ounce of fat on his lithe frame
Janis looks at Saila. Very well. He bows flipping his cloak out. Well, I've got business to attend to. Good night. Janis leaves his mind on the seemingly innocent hooker he previously spent the night with.
Andreste seems slightly concerned by the appearance of Hellknights on the scene, but says nothing to them directly.
"I do hope I have a chance to peruse the spellbook for useful enchantments for our future endeavors, but, frankly, this awful calamity has me a bit shaken. A rest would, indeed, be in order." she says to Salia before heading towards the door, her copy of what notes she could take carefully tucked into her own spellbook before descending from the office area to present her acknowledged weariness.
Skrate has tucked himself back in her cloak's hood.