"Yes, Councilor Eopal," Elen says cautiously. "It is about the sudden and apparent disappearance of Lord Taldaris. Might you have any insight as to why the district council abandoned the pursuit of assigning this missing inevitable case more resources?"
Kort rises to greet the pale councilor, offering his hand.
”Oh yes, an investigation! Of course! But before we get to that, did a birdie tell me that you were running for another office? How does that go?” Kort suddenly has a good idea of what to use the newly found bird-money on.
He looks uneasy and a little damp, ”Another office huh? I wonder how these rumors get started. No. I’m retired for the time being.”
"We're seeking out the inevitable Taldaris. He disappeared, but we think we can find out if he really disappeared."
He thinks a moment, ”I know a number of inevitables, but I don’t think I know one named Taldaris.” He thinks a little further, ”Oh, there was a Taldaris on the council years ago. He was on while I was not however. We never worked together.”
”Is that whom you’re investigating?” he seems to relax a bit.
Further, it does seem like he does not know Taldaris.
- - -
I wonder how difficult this would be to recreate at Betony.
Remember, Betony is already well known for it's gardens - plentiful and organized. That said, there are things here that give you ideas for improvement! And there is still some money in the fund...
"Yes, Councilor Eopal," Elen says cautiously. "It is about the sudden and apparent disappearance of Lord Taldaris. Might you have any insight as to why the district council abandoned the pursuit of assigning this missing inevitable case more resources?"
He thinks back, ”Missing persons cases rarely made it to the council. Time seems to pass more slowly here for many, so a disappearance of weeks, months, or even years, is not thought of automatically as a criminal offense. Hard to put resources into that when there is so much chaos in the world today.” he frowns, looking uncomfortable again.
”So my guess is it hasn’t been proven that your Taldaris is a criminal case as yet? A few circumstantial bits of evidence perhaps, but you can’t get past the local magistrate.” Shrugging he adds, ”Be persistent. Be patient. If your Taldaris is a criminal matter, they’ll eventually come around in accordance with the law.” He chuckles looking at you, ”But I suppose you’ll have the case solved by then!”
He stands, ”Well if that’s it then…” and tries to hurry you out.
Elen takes a look around and activates the mask.
"No, I don't think so. It is not 'it'. Fanalyx sends her best wishes to you. She misses you, and thinks that it would be great if you ran for another office. You should consider it -- it seems like you might be very -- isolated out here, though there are worse places to be isolated. What do you think? What can we report back to her of your thoughts on that?"
Is he being threatened by someone keeping him here?
Kort tries to help Elen in figuring out what is going on with the politician.
Sense Motive
Muri struggles, mightily, for what he can contribute to the conversation with Eopal. "The Lieutenant thinks you retired too soon, and that it relates to why the district council is not helpful right now. And you look uncomfortable talking about it."
The halfling encourages Underfoot to pad a little closer, circling the Councilor, but only a little.
"She doesn't like coincidences, she said. And a law person shouldn't have doubts like that. So if you would tell us more, enough to put her mind at ease, and give us more to follow, elsewhere, we would be grateful."
He sits back down amiably enough as the questions continue.
"No, I don't think so. It is not 'it'. Fanalyx sends her best wishes to you. She misses you, and thinks that it would be great if you ran for another office. You should consider it -- it seems like you might be very -- isolated out here, though there are worse places to be isolated. What do you think? What can we report back to her of your thoughts on that?"
”Ah yes, Fanalyx. She’s a righteous magistrate and that’s no doubt. I’m, uh, glad she’s thinking of me.” he says somewhat nervously. He keeps it together rather well really, but you lot have moved in some strange and powerful circles and can see through, barely, his ruse.
”I’m not planning further office at this time. But I don’t feel isolated. I have my staff, and visitors such as yourselves.”
He’ll notice you fidgeting with your mask (or really facial tattoos), and if he makes his saving throw, he’ll suspect perhaps that you did something - though he won’t know what it was. It’s unlikely he’ll make the save, but confirm that you wish to proceed and I’ll let you know what he thinks…
- - -
- - -
Muri struggles, mightily, for what he can contribute to the conversation with Eopal. "The Lieutenant thinks you retired too soon, and that it relates to why the district council is not helpful right now. And you look uncomfortable talking about it."
"She doesn't like coincidences, she said. And a law person shouldn't have doubts like that. So if you would tell us more, enough to put her mind at ease, and give us more to follow, elsewhere, we would be grateful."
He looks a little taken aback, but rallies a bit, ”Now see here. I know nothing of this Taldaris. If I was still on the council, I could perhaps look into it, but what would be the point now? I’m sure there are many who have wandered off since my departure from the council. Am I involved in those disappearances also?”
He thinks a minute, ”I am only a Petitioner. Even on the council I was only the Councilor of Gates - the lowest ranking member. How would my opinion have swayed matters?”
For the sensing motivations among you, it seems clear he’s telling the truth here. He doesn’t seem to have a direct connection to Taldaris. Though there’s something going on.
Kort switches tack a bit.
”Not interested in running again? Well, that must be because you are enjoying your retirement? How are you spending your leisure time?” Kort asks stiffly, wanting to know as he wants more ideas for what he might be doing once this quest is over.
The Night Swan steps forward, standing over the former politician. ”There is something underhanded going on in this town, and we will find out who is responsible. I guarantee that. When we inevitably do, would you rather be implicated as an accomplice or applauded as a witness? The choice is all yours.”
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Silent for too long, Kamari joins the discussion.
"You might not be on the council anymore, but you are a citizen of this realm and something is askew in this place. It might seem insignificant to you, but it will fester and grow. You recognize it, but others might not before it is too late. You served this realm once on the council, but now you could serve it again by assisting us so that we might deal with the problem."
- - -
”Not interested in running again? Well, that must be because you are enjoying your retirement? How are you spending your leisure time?” Kort asks stiffly, wanting to know as he wants more ideas for what he might be doing once this quest is over.
”No. No interest.” ”I am enjoying my retirement actually.” He relaxes a bit as he talks about his various pursuits, all recent, but varied. He’s carving a chess set currently. Rather handsome pieces so far.
The Night Swan steps forward, standing over the former politician. ”There is something underhanded going on in this town, and we will find out who is responsible. I guarantee that. When we inevitably do, would you rather be implicated as an accomplice or applauded as a witness? The choice is all yours.”
"You might not be on the council anymore, but you are a citizen of this realm and something is askew in this place. It might seem insignificant to you, but it will fester and grow. You recognize it, but others might not before it is too late. You served this realm once on the council, but now you could serve it again by assisting us so that we might deal with the problem."
The man hesitates, steepling his fingers once again. ”Investigators huh? You should be politicians.” he smiles.
When the Night Swan and Kamari press him, he resists their coercion, and strongly too! However, he seems to reconsider, not on their points per se, but on their commitment. Perhaps they can discover what’s going on… he thinks.
Further, he does not appear to be lying (failed that save too), well, except where I noted above, but he doesn't hide that one well. He has no spell casting capability.
- - -
He pauses a moment more, before reaching into the small drawer of an end table at his fingertips. He withdraws a letter bearing a broken yellow wax seal stamped with an eye. It looks nearly identical to the one in your visions (link) and also plans (link, #6).
The politician watches you, to see if you recognize the seal. Feel free also to make perception checks.
"The letter -- from the vision -- how did you come by this?"
Elen notices a trap on the letter!
Eopal’s letter bears a magic trap that triggers if it’s opened or read by anyone other than the intended recipient. The trap mentally shocks the offending creature and erases the letter’s contents.
"The letter -- from the vision -- how did you come by this?"
"It came in the post, like all my letters. It was among other mail as I recall. I receive a lot of correspondence."
- - -
"Well, if anyone but you tries to read it, they'll get mentally shocked and the text will disappear. So, what does it say, can you read it aloud?"
"Well, if anyone but you tries to read it, they'll get mentally shocked and the text will disappear. So, what does it say, can you read it aloud?"
He explains that he began receiving immoral offers of money in exchange for his voting a certain way. He refused. Soon after, the requests became demands, which became threats. The notes came by mail, never in person. Still, he took them seriously, though he was not swayed. Initially.
Then, the day before he resigned, he received this letter, threatening the lives of many local friends unless he either quietly complied or resigned without comment. The threats are specific and detailed, and somewhat horrifying. It certainly left an impression on him. And he had no idea the letter was trapped! Naturally, he hasn’t shown it to anyone, but he worries what might have happened if he had.
”You’re investigators under the magistrate. What do you plan to do about it? Will you investigate? I still won't go public with this, and admonish you to show me the respect of doing the same. I do not want to test this fiend with my friends lives.”
Kort tries to cast Detect Magic and observe the magics on the letter, out of both curiosity and caution.
Spellcraft/Arcana as needed
"Perhaps we can help find whomever is attacking you. Do you have any ideas about that? We have a certain set of skills that might help...and might be intertwined with our own investigations. So much weirdness here," Kort offers stiffly, wanting to examine the magics involved.
So handling or reading the letter will result in charisma loss and the erasure of everything on the document. That's a lot of juice to keep the contents a secret.
- - -
"You’re investigators under the magistrate. What do you plan to do about it? Will you investigate? I still won't go public with this, and admonish you to show me the respect of doing the same. I do not want to test this fiend with my friends lives.”
Muri lowers his head a little, as the man's story unfolds, the threats, the trap, the demands put upon this politician. "I'm sorry I demanded things from you, too. You don't know us, but I hope that you will be glad you met us, once we're done with our investigation."
The halfling and dog trot back towards the exit, take position, and listen for any further conversation between the Councilor and the others.
Kort explains that he can't undo the magics protecting the missive, shaking his head stiffly.
"Yeah, we're mostly pretty good about helping," Kort says, backing up Muri.
"Perhaps we can help find whomever is attacking you. Do you have any ideas about that? We have a certain set of skills that might help...and might be intertwined with our own investigations. So much weirdness here," Kort offers stiffly, wanting to examine the magics involved.
”It’s really hard to know. I was a councilor for over a year, and so I suppose I could have made enemies there. More likely they want to put someone else up in my spot. One councilor can block things, so government could grind to a halt with the right person.”
He goes on to list maybe two dozen folks who might have done something like this, but none of the leads are very appealing. It’s clear he’s given this much thought, but he’s not come up with anyone.
Muri lowers his head a little, as the man's story unfolds, the threats, the trap, the demands put upon this politician. "I'm sorry I demanded things from you, too. You don't know us, but I hope that you will be glad you met us, once we're done with our investigation."
He waives his hand, ”A trifle, think nothing of it.”
"Yeah, we're mostly pretty good about helping," Kort says, backing up Muri.
He looks at you seriously, ”I hope so.”
You’re left with the impression he’s a generally trustworthy person who cares for his friends and doesn’t want to see them harmed. He believes the threats in the letter, but doesn't know the source. He feels like a cog in some monstrous machine - but he can't see more than his own position.
- - -
Kort ponders, looking around.
"Didn't the constable say '“Lastly the letter. I talked to the neighbors, and none remember any letter like that. I did not get a chance to go over to the post office however. I suggest you do - the mail carriers should have a record of any mail bearing the seal you described.”?' Maybe we should try the post office next, get a lead on the common seals matching the letters, Kort offers and if everyone is done here will proceed in that direction.
Before they depart, Kamari thinks to ask, "What was the agenda of those who tried to influence you? What things did they want you to vote for? Do you think other councilors are being threatened or are complicit?"
"Oh, the usual. Little things on votes I might have voted for anyway. They hook you with the small stuff, then slowly widen the net, then threaten to reveal what you've done so far. Pretty soon you're doing whatever they ask."
"I don't know if others are involved. I have only told you about the letter, which is already a risk." The letter did of course threaten not go to to the constable or anyone else.
"Well, so far the letter is still intact -- make sure it stays so -- do not show it to anyone or tell anyone about it. We'll head to the post office and do some more investigating. Hopefully soon we'll unravel this, vanquish the threat -- and you can run for office again, should you desire of course."
Unsatisfied with the answer, but doubtful there's anything more to learn, Kamari is ready to head to the post office.
Councilor Eopal seems, at least slightly, more relaxed on your departure than he was on your arrival. He wishes you good hunting in your work and hopes for the best.
You make your way to the central post office for the district. It’s an enormous stone building running alongside a canal. Tons of traffic in and out both on the water and on land course though the building like some living breathing thing. You watch the rhythm of the place a while - seeing the lawful processes inside the apparent chaos of the comings and goings.
Eventually you make your way inside - an enormous arch over the open entrance indicates its Post Station #7. The building is immense and employs hundreds of analysts, clerks, delivery people, sorters, and more!
You start with a simple clerk at a clerk’s window amid the hustle and bustle around you. The clerk, a medusa of all things, smiles as you enter - and none of you are turned to stone. Her snakes pay little attention to you, and rather spend their time writhing together atop her head. They are hissing and snapping playfully with each other. It’s not a sight you’d thought you’d ever see.
”How may I help you travelers?” she asks - for it’s clear you are not Petitioners or Inevitables, and so unlikely to be locals.
Know (Arcana).-
Kort avoids looking too closely at anything, like when someone is making an ass out of themselves.
”Hi, uh, we’re undertaking an investigation <provides paperwork>, and was wondering if you could help us track the providence of this seal here <shows seal>,” Kort asks and explains.
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”Provenance, Major. Not Providence.” The Night Swan smiles under her mask, enjoying a bit of teasing.
Still flesh and blood, Kamari finds herself staring at the medusa for a time while the others talk.
Muri can't stop gawking at the den above the medusa's face, after he realizes that they aren't in danger of petrification. His mouth is slightly ajar, even as Underfoot slowly lowers herself to the floor when she feels not the slightest intention of getting closer sitting in the saddle on her back.
"I like what you have done with your, uh -- hair," Elen says, trying to get over her shock and checking on the fact that she can still speak. "That is a fun style."
"I like what you have done with your, uh -- hair," Elen says, trying to get over her shock and checking on the fact that she can still speak. "That is a fun style."
”Why thank you.” she smiles widely. The snakes themselves seem to preen as well at the compliment.
Her eyes glow slightly (image), ”Oh. An investigation? I’d better let you talk to my supervisor. Wait here.” She closes her window and leaves, leaving you behind to wonder if she’s ever going to return. She is evil after all…
After more time than you’d like passes, while you stand in the bustling post office lobby, the shutters open again and a very solid woman stands behind the medusa, the writing of a Petitioner all over her body. She smiles coldly, asking you your business. Using proper Taldan this time (perhaps) you explain again what you need and show her a drawing of the seal. (Remember, you don’t have the actual seal - Taldaris’s letter was viewed only in your visions, and Eopal’s letter is trapped.)
She frowns, ”A yellow wax seal stamped with an eye huh? That should be unusual enough to track, but it will take some time, and we cannot devote many resources to it. This is a busy place you understand. As investigators, you can however assist in the search if you wish.” She gives you a look like she’d prefer it if you didn’t.
What do you do? Do you leave it to the bureaucracy or do you assist?
It's just before lunch.
Kort's eyes light up.
"We...get...to...help...with...*bureaucracy*?!" Kort asks, clearly intrigued. He *loves* a good paper trail and is happy to dive in to help.
Know (Local)
"Major, I'm a bit hungry and could use some lunch. How about we let the professionals do their job and return after a relaxing meal?"
Muri recognizes the enthusiasm in Kort. He's heard about older people roused from their gray-eyed haze by music they listened to in their youth, and here presents a chance for the Professor to delve into an investigation with as close to first-person accounting as one can on a distant plane of existence.
"If I can help, I will."
"Major, I'm a bit hungry and could use some lunch. How about we let the professionals do their job and return after a relaxing meal?"
Kort turns his gaze to look at Kamari.
”What? And give up the chance to see how beings of law and order do bureaucracy? Are you being serious right now? We have been practically invited to help.”
"Major, I'm a bit hungry and could use some lunch. How about we let the professionals do their job and return after a relaxing meal?"
”Oh no. This could take days.” the stout woman says and the medusa nods.
She’s not happy the party will be helping, but she assigns the medusa, named Tsemani to assist you in your search. ”We’ll have to close the window, which will result in delays…” she says unhappily as if saying, I hope you’re happy. For reference, her name is Licarios.
Kamari feels she’s being sincere. She may be prickly, but she wants the post office to run smoothly, and you’re throwing a wrench, if a small one, into her well oiled machine. But as investigators, you have the right to, and she won’t challenge that.
Like some kind of postal savant, Major Kort, with help from all of you, but especially Muri, delve into the documents and learn things in a few hours that would have taken the bureaucrats days.
You learn a few things as you work with Tsemani behind the scenes in the post office. First, the mail sorters include magic-sensing safeguards. These safeguards are intended to minimize dangerous content through the mails. One of the things they look for in particular is explosive runes - which is not common knowledge.
Tsemani says it’s strange that your letters use different methods than explosive runes to deliver their payload. But she also notes that the sensors should have still picked up the magics upon the letters anyway and flagged them for a manual check. Any manual check should have uncovered that the letters had dangerous traps built into them - subjecting them to further scrutiny.
They might have still been delivered as they weren’t hostile to the recipient, but they would have been flagged in the system - and they weren’t. In fact there’s no evidence the letters were cleared through the normal channels at all. It’s as if they were placed in the delivery bags of the mail carriers directly.
You are able to talk to a few mail carriers, some of whom remember delivering missives with that yellow-wax seal with the eye. But no one ‘upstream’ of the actual delivery personnel seems to have touched them. Very unusual.
This leaves few options - but the most likely is that they were placed there by the postmaster herself. You track down the other options (like magical intervention, sleight of hand, etc.) and find them all far less likely. Everything seems to point to the postmaster and the medusa isn’t sure what to do about that fact.
Licarios checks in frequently on your progress through the afternoon. When confronted with this information, she does, reluctantly, mention that the postmaster was a little inefficient a short while ago. So much so that several auditors and managers felt they had to intervene and there were special training sessions. The postmaster, Reschotpal ultimately accepted responsibility and things smoothed over. But it was an odd bump in an otherwise smooth and long career.
”O.K., I think we should ask if the postmaster Reschotpal herself received a very special letter with threats and or instructions.”
Once the group is in private, Elen suggests, ”Later when we are in private in our accommodations I wonder if we should buy Nabil a book and give him a continual light ioun stone – just so he has something to do in the pouch. Maybe show him the ring, see if he recognizes it?”
”O.K., I think we should ask if the postmaster Reschotpal herself received a very special letter with threats and or instructions.”
”Yeah, that’s an interesting idea. That’s something that I didn’t think about,” Kort says, having come to a very different conclusion. He supports Elen’s desire to keep Nabil happy, and wonder if puppets poop and how much poop might be accumulating in the Night Pan’s secret pouch.
When it becomes time to ask Reschotpal about things, he will pay lots of attention to both what is, and what is not, said.
Sense Motive
Kamari is also up for a direct conversation with the postmaster. It seems as if the party is still only penetrating the periphery of this conspiracy, so she expects to find yet another person who fell prey to outside machinations and not a member of whatever cabal lurks in the shadows.
Tell us the truth! We can handle the truth!
Kamari runs through possible approaches to their next subject.
Licarios sends the medusa back to her tasks and escorts you to postmaster Reschotpal’s office. She knocks and strides in with you lot in tow behind her… but the office is empty. ”That’s strange,” Licarios says, ”She’s on duty. This is her station.”
She leaves you a moment before striding to the outer office. She returns a moment later with a ledger indicating the various commands and tasks set by the postmaster. The most recent is troubling. Reschotpal summoned a young vortex dragon regularly employed for long-distance deliveries. They met for a few minutes and the dragon left with a seven foot long mail bag. The postmaster did not leave, but she is not here either.
A further inconsistency is that there is no set destination for delivery. Further, the postmaster lives to the south, and not far. Licarios turns to you, ”This is most unusual. We’re missing our postmaster. That hasn’t happened in an age.”
Driven by bureaucracy, and faced with something outside that bureaucracy she’s flustered and stands there a moment, mutely looking at you in befuddlement.
"Reschotpal is responsible for many things. All of the Major's work suggests that Reschotpal is responsible for the yellow-wax deliveries. So we can talk out a couple of things, right? Either the postmaster is evil, and doing things for herself, or she's being forced to do evil things for someone else. Either she disappeared, because she's done and on the run, or... she's been disappeared..."
Muri doesn't like any of his thoughts, but he trusts the Major's work, and the conclusions coming from it.
"Is Reschotpal taller than 7'?"
Further, the postmaster lives to the south, and not far. Licarios turns to you, ”This is most unusual. We’re missing our postmaster. That hasn’t happened in an age.”
"Can you help us locate them? Can you ask if anyone has seen them recently? I mean, something is wrong...*with the mail*!" Kort asks stiffly, with emphasis. "What does Reschotpal look like? Medusa? Angel being with infinite eyes? A cube with exactly 4 eyes and 4 appendages?"
Vortex dragon?
Kamari still finds herself giddy with excitement about seeing something else new and wonderful--even if potentially dangerous.
"What does Reschotpal look like? Medusa? Angel being with infinite eyes? A cube with exactly 4 eyes and 4 appendages?"
Good question. I need to be sure I don't assume we're looking for someone humanoid anytime we get a new lead.
Kamari's heels long to click together and chase the dragon, but the postmaster's home is likely an easier lead to follow at this point. She waits to hear the description of the postmaster and where exactly their home is.
"Is Reschotpal taller than 7'?"
”Y-yes. She’s a half-elf. Unusual in her lawful approach to life. But an expert postmaster most of the time.”
"Can you help us locate them? Can you ask if anyone has seen them recently? I mean, something is wrong...*with the mail*!" Kort asks stiffly, with emphasis.
She quickly provides the address of the postmaster’s home. She also notes that dragons are as uncommon here as they are elsewhere, so a vortex dragon should be easy to spot by just asking around.
"A seven foot mail sack, eh?" Elen says, raising an eyebrow in suspicion. "Well, then -- let's go ring up the postmaster..."
Know (Arcana) -
Kort is ready to move.
Vortex dragons are the undisputed masters of travel across the galaxies, serving as messengers and observers for the greatest outer dragons and godlike entities in the great beyond.
- - -
"Is Reschotpal taller than 7'?"”Y-yes. She’s a half-elf. Unusual in her lawful approach to life. But an expert postmaster most of the time.”
To be clear, the woman is struggling with the issues. The half elf is NOT taller than 7'. She's standard half-elf sized.
And it has nothing to do with my confusion on the question. Nope. Not at all!
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Kort will relay what he knows about vortex dragons (the spoiler above), and offer a second, if extended, commentary about his lifelong fear of unnaturally tall half-elves and his relief that the party is not dealing with one now no matter how confusing things are.