"Very well," Cippiano smiles, "It was wonderful to meet all of you. If I can be of assistance in the future, please let me know."
Nodding agreeably - and agreeing to nothing - Miselle left the table.
"Yes, we are done."
Alice rises from the table, her irritation at Cippiano overpowering her regret for not having eaten, and walks away briskly, looking for a quiet place to contact Gale. Thugs, a crime lord and now a terrorist. It will be a miracle if I don't stab someone today.
As they walk away, Ellena looks back and forth between the others. "That... went well, didn't it?"
The dwarf completely misses the sarcasm. "Oof. If that is going well, I would hate to see going badly. Bloody stones, Alice, could you be trying to be a bit less hostile? Is not he deserves our trust - far from it - but we are doing ourselves no favors to make more enemies than we are having already."
"Anyway...for what is worth, we were being watched. From rooftop across from cafe. I did not see weapon, it seemed as if just being observed, but...still."
"He is our enemy already. Risur's enemy." hisses Alice, her lips thin. "I thought the Crisillyri were in this to oppose industrialization, but I was wrong, this is a mafia infiltration. They will pride themselves on being cleaner, more civilized and refined, but they are nothing but power-thirsty thugs, as hypocritical as the Clergy itself. And you of all people-" she turns to Miselle "should know better than to befriend someone pushing away from progress and industry, and back to that same tradition that had us lose the Fourth Yerasol War. However you think that you are viewed with suspicion as a Danoran in Risur, Crisillyr would never condone your technology and fancy gadgets. They preach the only way forward to be spirituality and inward perfection, while extorting their subjects for money."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"And you should know better than to treat someone so with no proof." Miselle shot back. "We are the Royal Homeland Constabulary. Our remit is not to judge, but to gather evidence and act upon it. And how do you think to get evidence from someone on the defensive?" Annoyed, Miselle's accent slipped slightly.
"You think me a fool? To act friendly with one I know is likely no better than a thug of the gutters for all his fancy shirts and fine coffee? That I do not know his countrymen, and many others, would see my workshop and creations burn?" She shook her head. "You understand nothing here. He wants to use us, probably to eliminate a rival. But that doesn't mean his information is useless. I will accept no bribes, and will report all dealings with one such as him. But nor will I turn my nose up at what he offers simply because he turns my stomach. For a dead womans justice? I will swallow dry biscuits."
The gunner tilted her head, and smiled a little. "And when he asks for something illegal, proof - actual evidence - of his crimes? Then he shall understand we are not simple policemen, thief catchers and town guard to be bribed or coerced. He places a foot wrong, and the might of Risur will be the last thing he and his Family sees. But until we have that proof - until we have that evidence against him - he is a citizen, entitled to our respect and our aid." She shook her head again. "We serve the law. We do not make it. We do not get to choose who it protects and who to look away from. One law. For all."
"You-" Alice swallows rage-born words, summoning up all of her restraint.
A debate is not a duel, unless it is made to be such. Being right is more important than being victorious.
"You make a good point." she finally spits out after a few seconds. "He disgusts me, but you are not wrong. And maybe I was hasty to judge you. But associating with such shady folks, even if you plan on deceiving them, is dangerous. Dangerous because you may grow dependent, and because you could look closer to them than you actually are. If you think it wise, geal with him as you see fit, but I will take no part in it. I won't lie, pretend or deceive, ever."
"I know you won't, and it is a good thing," Miselle admitted with a small smile. "All the good intentions in the world will not help if the wrong choice is made. But I cannot let a useful tool go to waste because of what he is. The people we serve derseve the best we can give them." She shrugged. "What I ask is you to hold you feelings when meeting such as he. And if we ever take a step down the wrong path, be there to help. Or stop. As needed."
"The real world isn't as clear as war and seeing anyone not wearing the uniform as an enemy is a dangerous outlook." Corynne adds. "We are as likely to find that the people we believe we are protecting, like the Duchess, are actually the enemy. There are many enemies all around us, better we don't create more before they decide which side to fall on."
"And let us not be looking to make enemies of each other while we're at it. This is a tough enough case as is without trying to turn each other into demons. Stones, we have spilled blood for each other more times than I remember."
Alice nods to Miselle before answering Corynne and Azaghal, somewhat more calmly. "I only considered him an enemy when I made the connection between his "Family" and the Crisillyri mob. Yhose people will never be on any side but their own, and especially not law and justice. And I certainly don't want to make enemies of you, but if I think that something is dangerous or unethical, I'll be vocal about it. Now that we are speaking of unsavory partners, who wants to look silly and ask the wind where we can meet the eladrin terrorist?"
Shortly after you speak into the wind, the canary begins to sing and flies a short distance away. It guides you to the Cloudwood, down wild trails and up lush hills, before finally stopping at the top of a 300ft-high waterfall with a clear view of the eastern horizon - the Bridal Veil, a romantic icon of folk poetry and the site of several famous weddings.
The river feeding the waterfall rolls over an 80ft-wide cliff, spreading the cascade into a thin sheet. Wildflowers wreathe the cliffs and dot the few boulders that hang near the fall's edge. Hummingbirds flit about, and they seem to pay close attention to your presence. Gale emerges from the treeline on the opposite shore of the waterfall, holding out her hand. Your canary guide flies to her, perches atop it, and vanishes. Gale then steps off a high rock and glides a few feet above the surface of the water, stepping on three boulders over the 80ft river as easily as if hopping a narrow stream. She lands on the shore a short distance from you and nods in greeting. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ellena's moth opens a little in shock. "Umm... So you can fly, then?"
Miselle opened her mouth, and paused. "I admit, I was going to open with 'hello', but I must confess I'm intrigued too."
As much as Alice may dislike Gale, her methods and all she stands for, she was raised in the Old Faith, the folk creed of respecting and worshipping the face lords of the country. She extends a hand towards one of the hummingbirds, as if prompting it to come to her, while her senses scream danger and fey magic, and smiles while passing a hand over her cold iron rapier.
"Air magic, is it? Summoning wind to hold you aloft, allowing you to glide as if weightless. Apparently, Nilasa Hume attempted something similar, but to little avail. So, Miss Soliogn, why did you want to meet?"
Gale shakes her head. "I don't know where my gift comes from, but that's not what I wished to discuss with you. Based on what Nevard has told me, you and I both desire the same thing: that Nilasa's murderer meets justice. Perhaps we can help each other."
Corynne gazes up at the stunning eladrin, clearly impressed, and at the same time, understanding what it meant to be in the possession of powers others found unnerving.
"That would be good, for everyone involved, and for Nilasa herself." she says quietly.
The dwarf gives a firm nod. "As saying goes, enemy of my enemy is my friend."
"And I'm sure you realize that, being among Flint's Most Wanted, it would be our duty to capture you before you burn yet another factory. I'll go out on a limb and guess you weren't behind yesterday's attempt, but nevertheless your offer would have to be in Risur's best interest, to have us put off our duty for today. Although I'm certain that you took countermeasures in case we tried to arrest you."
Alice looked around. Were the birds Hidden Court agents? Were there invisible fairies around? She breathed in deep, familiarizing herself with the scents of the place.
You don't see or smell anyone other than the five of you and Gale. The lack of apparent security around the terrorist is either extremely troubling - or a sign of good faith on her part.
Alice nods. "I believe that once you hear what I have to say, you'll realize that there are much more important things happening than a few burnt factories. I have a contact, a courier to the Unseen Court who lets me call him Ellik. He's an eerie creature, dwells in shadows, but is loyal to the court and has a fondness for this nation which treated his people well for so many years.
"Just over a month ago, when the last new moon was aligned with the planet Nem, Ellik arranged for me to walk with him into the Bleak Gate. I will spare you the details of that journey's emotional toll, but during the few hours that night when I could see into the dark side of the world, I discovered something.
"There is activity in that mirror image of Flint. Not much. I never saw anyone other than my guide. Most of the buildings are hollow, like abandoned shells of dead sea creatures. But there are no echoes, and no wind blows, so you can hear footsteps from miles away. And in that distant gloom I saw torches and lanterns, lights that the denizens of that world would never need. Their path ran along the canal, to the still analogue of Parity Lake, and then up toward the Nettles. I did not have the time to get close, but I heard churning there, and saw smoke and steam drifting into the starless sky.
"They are working, assembling something, hidden right where we can't see it, on the other side of our shadow. My Nilasa found a clue. I sent her on a mission, and she found the truth, and they killed her for it. I am furious at her murderers, but Nevard has made me realize that this conflict is larger than my selfish desire for revenge.
"Unfortunately, I can't return to the Bleak Gate, nor show you what I saw. The same alignment with Nem will not repeat for decades, and I have not yet found another way into that world. But I do have proof of my own."
She produces a tiny vellum book from her belt and offers it to you. "This is a copy of a spell that will detect certain kinds of planar energy, though you have to have been exposed to what you're seeking. Worthless to most people, but I have been to the Bleak Gate, and I believe that when you were with Nevard, so did you - or at least, you touched the veil.
"I've flown across this city, trying to find sources. In some places the stink of it bleeds through naturally, especially on Caludron Hill, but I've followed trails. The night after Nilasa was murdered, I found a strong source at the consulate, and I tracked it across three districts before I lost it. And too often I've found it clinging to factories, or in the foyers of rich businessmen.
"There is a conspiracy afoot. The Danorans were involved, and industrialists in the city, and some third force in the Bleak Gate. They've already killed to protect their secrets. We need to find out what their goal is."
"The Bleak Gate?" Miselle shook her head. "But to try and use that power would be madness at best. If this is true, then it must be stopped."
Considering, she added, "We have many questions, I am sure. I shall start with asking details of your spell. Is it as a scroll, and a single use, and does it require a spellcaster?"
Ellena blinked a few times, trying desperately to keep up with the conversation. The Bleak Gate... the city's shadow... what? Still, at least the outlines were clear. "So this 'Shadowman', he's from the Bleak Gate? Or maybe made a deal with something that is?"
"It does require a spellcaster, yes, but it will not be expended when used."
"I'm afraid I don't know who your 'Shadowman' is, but creatures from the Bleak Gate are often touched by shadows."
Nodding, she added, "And what can you tell us of Ms Hume's life? Friends? Confederates? Anyone who might have known more details of the clue she found?" Knowing more about the victim was never going to hurt. "How did she leap as far as she did, like she was flying?"
Gale gives a mournful sigh. "Nilasa was one of my operatives. She was attractive, friendly, and had an established job as a factory worker, so nobody would suspect her of stealing documents from the Danoran consulate. I used what she brought me to plan operations and create leverage in case I ever needed an insurance policy. For protection, I had given her a magical canary pendant. If it turned black, it meant danger was imminent. There was also a more powerful effect that allowed the wearer to ride a beneficial wind to rapidly escape."
"But it ended badly. Should we assume that Doctor Wolfgang von Recklinghausen is one of your associates as well? We are looking for him as a person of interest, but couldn't yet find a location."
About the ritual, Alice knew little: her knowledge of planes and magic didn't go further than the RHC required readings and Gale's dossier. So she pressed on to the case, more understanfdable to her even with its weirdness.
"I'm afraid I've never even heard of the man."
"A gentleman on the edge of Nilasa's demise," Miselle replied, "Who we think can bring more details of her last moments to us. He has gone into hiding, alas." Considering the situation, Miselle looked for other questions. "Were any of the placesyou noticed this leaked energy ones that did not fit the pattern? Can you give us an example of a place so touched?" They would need to run the spell past the more magically inclined members at the Headquarters to make sure it wasn't Detect Danoran or some such. Having a known target that was not Cauldrom Hill would be useful to test it with.
Gale shakes her head. "I haven't been able to determine a pattern to the sites. With the exception of Cauldron Hill, the energy fades too quickly to be able to track for long unless there's a particularly strong concentration. The last time I sensed it that strong was at the consulate after my Nilasa was murdered."
"I have, ah, this is a bit of an awkward question, but... do- could you give us a list of all the factories you've burnt down? It's just... it's not just you doing it, and the Danoran's mentioned something, and-" Ellena forces herself to clamp her mouth shut before she said way too much.
"It should be able to track the energy I discovered with the Shadowman's things. If he surfaces again, it should help." Corynne says to Miselle quietly.
"Ah, fine thinking, Princess. Tracking the fires would be easier if we can check which ones are actual tied to the mob."
Alice itches for a cigarette, but the beauty of the nature around has her resist. Yet another compromise with an outlaw? Is she any different from Cippiano? But she has spoken plainly, she hasn't tried to buy us and there doesn't seem to be anyone standing in ambush... If he was a wolf in sheep's clothing, she doesn't hide being a falcon.
"Let's suppose that we help you. I assume that you wouldn't agree to turn yourself in in exchange, so how about this: as long as we are tracking this conspiracy, you refrain from murder and arson. If you find evidence of misdeeds, you can bring them to us and, as my word is my bond, we'll see them through. But I won't work with someone who murders on suspicion alone, or destroys the livelihoods of blameless workmen."
Gale considers, then nods in assent. "Very well. Help me find Nilasa's murderer, and I'll do my best to calm my people and stop the factory attacks. In return, I ask that you please look out for Nevard. I know that he had a vision last night. While I do not know its contents, I fear that it may threaten those who we are seeking. We live in dangerous times." She takes off a feather bracelet, removes a feather, and hands you the rest. "Use this to contact me if you learn anything."
"That we do, and there are many on either side of the veil that would see the world we all hold dear brought to ash." Corynne says poignantly.
"If you learn anything, please let me know. I will do the same." With that, Gale steps backward and plummets off the edge of the waterfall. Two hundred feet down, you see her fly away, and she's soon out of sight.
"...so that's a thing that has happened," Miselle said in awe as the woman flew away. Shaking her head, she nodded to the book. "We should confirm that is what she said it was and then...well, I suppose it is either track down the Doctor or visit the Alchemist that supplied the potions."
"Should we go back to headquarters, and let them know that this happened? If the Doctor wants to send us a message, he may have sent it there as well."
"Show-off" grumbles Alice, twirling the feather bracelet within her fingers.
"Reporting this will be enough paperwork to put the Anthras Mountains to shame. But unless Doctor von Rieklinghausen has contacted us, the alchemist is the best lead we have. That, or we try again to get something out of the lizards."
"I am thinking reporting in can wait until we have something more to report than 'We made deal with a wanted terrorist'." the dwarf chimes in.
"We came to an agreement with a person identifying themselves as Gale, a wanted terrorist," Miselle replied. Phrasing was important. "But yes, perhaps a more...happy report will help that one go down."
"There isn't technically enough to warrant an official report as yet." Corynne suggests.
"No, not yet. But I'd drop a note to ACI Delft at least, to avoid suspicion. Report that we made contact, had reason to believe her information to be important for this case, and didn't think we were in the condition to arrest her."
Miselled nodded agreement. She had no wish to hide this from the boss. She simply wanted to be in a different area of the city when he found out.
"...alright. Should we check in with Professor Kindleton as well?"
"Might be a good idea."
Azaghal nods his assent to the others. "I am thinking is good idea, too."
After sending a note to ACI Delft, you head to Professor Kindleton's residence to see if she has any news for you. Instead, you learn that the Doctor never sent a response last night - which is somewhat troubling. "Even if he didn't trust that he'd be safe with you, I'd have thought he would have sent something."
Corynne frowns as she considers the implications. "Either he was inspired to go to ground, or is unable to communicate. Neither option bodes well."