"I like to theenk so." Lucien replies with a slight bow. "You are cleerly a man of taste and refinement Monsieur." He accepts coffee and pastries from the daughters of the house with a twinkling eye and a blown kiss before returning his attention to the real purpose of this meeting.
"I 'ave the honor of addressing Monsieur Cippiano I trust?" He asks politely. "Sante, monsieur!"
The man inclines his head. "Yes. Morgan Cippiano, at your service. I have friends all over the city, and when you managed to get involved in all that smuggling business, I became interested. I had my friends ask around after you, and I learned just how busy you have been these past few days. I admire your diligence--it is a trait that's very handy for both government employees and private entrepreneurs like myself. Now, I want to know if we might have more in common, so I'd like to begin our relationship by offering you some help."
Morgan leans forward. "In exchange, though, I would need some help from you. You see, some of the men you arrested last night are part of the friends I mentioned. I would like to see them excused for their indiscretions in allying themselves with that unscrupulous smuggler captain. If you can do that for them, then I can tell you exactly where to find Doctor Wolfgang von Recklinghausen."
"'ow about I offer a counter proposal monsieur?" Lucien replies, still smiling pleasantly. "You help us find monsieur le Doctor and in thanks for your civic duty we will ensure that we speak positively about your friends, should it come to it. You will 'ave to guarantee that zey will not continue to flout ze cities laws 'owever."
He sits back and sips his coffee. This is going to be difficult if Cippiano proves stubborn but he will play the smiling cop and let the ladies be the reasonable or dangerous ones as they choose.
Morgan takes another sip of his own coffee as he ponders the proposal. "Very well. I think I would be amenable to such an agreement. And are you two ladies share an accord?" He looks to Melanae and Thalia for their input.
Melenae nods, with a smirk. "Whatever Lucien wants, he usually gets - so yes, I'd say that would be agreeable. I think your friends sound positively delightful, and clearly they meant no harm with their actions and have learned their lesson to follow the law." She adds with a knowing wink.
Thalia inclines her head in agreement.
"Excellent. I am happy that we are all on the same page, constables. Doctor von Recklinghausen has taken refuge within an abandoned Clergy church built into a rocky cliff face in the Nettles." Morgan provides precise directions to the doctor's hiding place.
Melenae feels her mood dropping as she realises just how much of a pain this hiding place is going to be to access. "And what exactly can you tell us about it's security. Anyone else watching out for the good Doctor's safety that we should be aware of before dropping in on him?"
"Of course. Lorcan Kell's men are keeping a watchful eye on von Recklinghausen. For his 'protection,' of course," Morgan says. "There's another way into the church aside from the main entrance, though. An old latrine tunnel on an adjoining cliff should take you right up and into the privy. It's a tight squeeze, but it shouldn't be too filthy, since nobody's used it in a long time."
"This gets better 'n better." Mel sighs. "Well, if thats all you have to give us, then we better get goin' to prepare. Now we don't want you talkin' about this meetin' to anyone else. Understood?"
Mel turns on her heel to leave, cursing under her breath about the choice of rockface, or latrine tunnel.
As Lucien, Thalia and Mel leave, Mel adds, "I suppose it don't matter what time of day we go meet this Doctor eh? Might as well get it over an' done with. Think I'd rather go get a tooth pulled, but beggars can't be choosers."
"We are most greetful for your assistance Monsieur." Lucien says, taking care to pay for the man's coffee as well as his own. "Your asseestants will receive my 'elp at ze earleest opportunity." He departs with a bow to join the ladies outside.
"Indeed Melenae." He agrees. "Ze smugglers will not be processed for anuzzer day at leest. Ze Doctor must be our first priority. Fortunately I 'ave everyzing I need."
You make your way up into the Nettles, following Morgan Cippiano's directions. By the early afternoon, you arrive at the church at the abandoned church that he indicated. The front of the church shows years of neglect, and you could walk by without noticing the place through the tangle of brush, vines, and tumbled stones. Out of some sense of respect, the locals have given the church some space. The nearest homes are a hundred feet from the entrance, though if you ascend a cliffside staircase, the next tier of the hill is clustered with slum housing.
There seems to be a line of people standing outside, including sick children and injured family members. It seems word has gotten around that a doctor has taken up residence here, as they shout for him to come out to help them. Two burly-looking men guard the entrance, keeping the people at bay.
You spot the cliff higher up that features the latrine tunnel Morgan mentioned.
"So much for a secret eh?"Mel guffaws in an un-lady-like fashion.
"We could just pretend one of us is sick." She suggests, wanting to avoid this disused latrine tunnel as much as possible, no matter the assurances mentioned before.
Mel feigns a cough and starts fanning her face as if she is overheating. "What do you say?"
"I am not skilled at deception, but it is worth a try," Thalia says. "Worst case scenario, I can try to hypnotize them while the two of you slip past them to get to the doctor."
Lucien puts an arm around Melenae, trying to look supportive as he leads her through the crowd.
"Excusez moi, excusez moi!" He calls, clearing a path through the crowd. "Monsieurs, I emplore you to call Monsieur Le Doctor. Zis woman must speek with 'im. Eet iz a matter of vie e mort!"
Melenae, playing along with the whole charade starts spluttering and moaning in pain, staggering against Lucien's side. She coughs a few more times to show she may just be infectious - maybe that will clear out the crowd!
The crowd parts to allow you to pass. The burly men do not move though, glowering down at you. "He's not taking visitors. Be on your way," one says gruffly.
"B-b-but we can pay. I really need to see the Doctor." She says, in her feeblest voice possible. "I'm sure he'll know what to do and we'll be on our way."
She fumbles around for her coin purse, feigning weakness and flashes a few gold pieces.
"Please, I really need to see him." She groans in pain and clutches her stomach, before spluttering some more.
"Hmm. Well, maybe we can make an exception in this case," the man says, holding out his hand in anticipation of a bribe.
The guards step aside and allow you into the church proper. Passing by broken and tattered pews, you step into the main chapel. It appears that this room was shaken in the recent tremors that have afflicted Flint, creating a broad flooded sump. Of the four pillars that held up the roof, one has crumbled and one has toppled.
A distinguished gentleman in his late thirties emerges from behind a curtain. He appears fairly innocuous, though his sharply-groomed goatee and the rapier at his hip give him a hint of menace. "Please, state the nature of the medical emergency," he says wearily, his accent hard to place.
Straightening up and losing all signs of her sickness, Mel smiles. "Oh, it appears I am feeling better by just layin' eyes on the Doctor after all!" Mel laughs, before taking out her RHC ID.
"Doctor, I heard you also helped Nilasa recover from her injuries, for a very short stint? I heard that you were keepin' somethin' safe for us that you were lookin' after ever so kindly after the poor little thing's death." She gives the Doctor a knowing smile, showing her understanding that her version of events that she just spun is complete bullshot but perhaps might be more palatable for the Doctor to own up to aloud.
Wolfgang steps back when Mel drops her facade. "Nilasa? I-I don't know who you're talking about," he stammers. His eyes flick to the RHC ID before returning to the gunslinger's. "How do I know that not's fake? Who are you, really?"
"Eet would be difficult to fake even one of zese." Lucien says, showing his own identification. "To do many would be neerley imposseeble. But, eef you still 'ave doubt Monsieur then let us speek as countrymen. You are from fair Danor are you not? Then I imageen you will 'ave 'eard of me, Le Comte de Fesch. I sink some still call me a traitor but our nations are at peace non?"
He gives the doctor a moment to process and then continues.
"Let me be frank Monsieur. You 'ave fled from the 'Omeland Constabulary and in doing, made your poseetion much worse. Zis Lorcan Kell, ze man oo you 'ope is protecting you. 'E will not, not unlees 'is own interests are served. You wish to know 'ow we found you? We paid ze doorman. Ten gold pieces, zat is all your safety is worth to 'im. Now, we 'ave questions regarding Mademoiselle 'Ume, but eef you come wiz us we can protect you, and ze Constabulary cannot be bought wiz a pocket-full of gold."
The doctor straightens his coat when Lucien asks if he is from Danor. "No, I am not Danoran. I am from Arrovia, a small nation in the Malice Lands. But I did study surgery in Danor, as well as spellcraft here in Risur. But that is beside the point."
Wolfgang considers the tiefling's words for several moments before he sighs. "Alright. I am inclined to trust you, so long as you extend me the same offer. Let me explain what transpired that day.
"I first encountered Nilasa Hume in the lobby while I was waiting for my visa appointment at the Danoran embassy. We chatted briefly before she went off with another man, offering coffee and chocolates to the staff. I met with a bureaucrat to acquire my travel visa to Ber.
"I was just emerging from the consulate and passing through the gate when Nilasa suddenly plummeted from the sky and was impaled on the spiked fence beside me! People nearby panicked, but I stopped to try to help the poor woman. She forced a bundle of documents into my arms and told me, 'Take this to Nevard.'
"There was a gunshot, then, from the fourth floor window of the embassy. The bullet hit Nilasa in the leg. I turned and fled. There was a second gunshot but I didn't see if it hit anything. I ran into an alley, where this thing, a man made of shadows, attacked me. I drew my rapier and fought back."
Wolfgang pats the hilt of his blade. "This weapon was forged in the Malice Lands, and as such, it has an innate power to harm unnatural creatures. A single strike stunned the monster, and my follow-up severed its hamstring, allowing me to make good my escape.
"I wasn't thinking straight, so I simply ran to the nearest carriage and demanded the driver take me to my hotel. I packed my belongings and fled out another exit. I had heard stories of criminals hiding in the Nettles, so I came here on foot, in hopes that I might find similar asylum.
"I made contact with one Lorcan Kell's representatives and paid for bodyguard and a safe haven, with a promise to pay more if they could get me travel papers into Ber. By nightfall, I was holed up here in this church. I've written letters to my friends to try to seek alternate solutions to my problem, but to no avail. By now, it's become clear that Kell's men are trying to extort me for more money, and they're ready to sell me out if I can't pay."
Mel nods at the man's tale taking him at his word.
"And could you tell us about anybody you saw in the embassy at all whilst you were in there? Was there anybody looking out of place, any hushed conversations that were unusual, or more activity going on than usual?"
"Per'aps zis conversation should wait for... better circumstances?" Lucien interjects. Some of the features in the doctors tale, talk of a shadowy figure in the street for example, are a little too close to what Gale has spoken of to be casual conversation.
"Monsieur, we 'ave two options at zees point. We can simply take you past ze guards, eef you zink ze could be 'persuaded' to look ze ozzer way, but zere is still a large crowd outside. Your exit would be most public. Or we can use ze secret exit, alzough eet might be a little... unpleasant. It will 'owever be disceet."
"I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary," Wolfgang says to Melanae. He turns to Lucien. "Kell's goons won't just let you walk out of here with me, not even for a hand-out. I can deal with a little unpleasantness. I'd suggest the secret way out."
"Very well." Lucien says, watching Mel's frown with a slight smile. "We must find ze privvy sat is no longer in use."
Mel grimaces but says no more as they search for the alternate exit.
Just as you are about to leave the church, the doors to the chapel burst open! There, standing in the doorway, is the sinister form of a man seemingly made of shadows. His body is inhumanly angular, one hand twisted into the form of a wicked claw! You are certain this is the same man you encountered atop Cauldron Hill, and Wolfgang's shriek of terror indicates that it is the same man who attacked him as well! Two smaller black-swathed humanoids accompany him, and as he gestures towards you menacingly, they draw daggers and prepare to attack!
Lucien pulls his sword from its curved scabbard and clasps one clenched fist over his heart. Light coalesces around him, leaving him armored in a long corslet of chain-mail.
"Deepart at once!" He commands stepping in front of the Doctor (and his fellow constables). "Zis man is under ze protection of ze Homeland Constabulary!"
Thalia's eyes go black and fill with stars as she calls upon the power of the heavens. Her spirit owl hoots and spreads its wings as a hypnotic pattern of swirling colors washes over the shadow beings.
One of the smaller creatures is fascinated by the swirling lights, but the other one resists. It concentrates, conjuring a globe of darkness that counteracts the hypnotic pattern and restores the normal illumination of the church.
The shadow man approaches Lucien cautiously, sizing him up. He swipes at the tiefling, but holds back some to focus on his defense. Lucien easily dodges the slash!
Lucien replies with a bold stroke of his own, since his foe is allowing him the advantage!
Mel loads her pistol before aiming and ensuing bang echoes all around them.
Thalia steps up to the edge of the darkness and fires a color spray to keep the smaller foes contained! One of the shadow creepers is stunned!
Lucien slices into the shadow man, landing a powerful strike. Melenae's bullet lodges into his side as well, eliciting a growl of pain. A thick, oily substance drips from his wounds. He swipes at Lucien again, but it proves to be a feint, and the shadow man takes advantage of the opening to rip at the tiefling's belly!
Meanwhile, the little shadow creeper that resisted Thalia's spell rushes at the shaman! She backpedals away from its swinging dagger!
Lucien clamps a hand over the wound for a moment. "Most under'and Monsieur!" He declares rather indignantly! His personal valor and righteousness lends his next blow extra power, but unfortunately no accuracy!
"S%$@, Lucien!" Mel exclaims, aiming and firing once again.
Thalia hurries to Lucien’s side, channeling healing magic into his injuries. Both Lucien and Melanae miss the shadow man, but he feints and slices up Lucien again, nearly scoring a critical hit! Only divine intervention prevents a fatal blow.
The shadow creeper tries to stab Thalia again, to no avail.
Cursing as she misses, Mel follows up quickly, trying again.
Lucien's sang froid is intact, although the palor of his face suggests that he can't afford to lose much more blood.
"Nozzing to worry about Mon Petite!" He calls and does a decent job of proving it with a truly heroic strik!
Lucien’s blade cleaves through the shadow man! He shrieks as his body dissolves into a mass of insubstantial shadows, which quickly fly out of the church’s doors. Melanae shifts her aim to the shadow creeper attacking Thalia. Her bullet finds its mark, and the creature detonates in a flash of light, leaving only empty rags and its blade behind. You take down the final creeper before it recovers from the color spray.
”Thank you for protecting me,” Wolfgang says, ”We should leave now, before more foes show up!”
"Yes, I agree but what the f+~@ was that thing?" Mel asks in disbelief as she holsters her pistol. "Since starting this particular line of work we have come across one unnatural thing after another. Was this the same thing that attacked you when talking to Nilasa?"
Lucien nods, "Indeed, alzough I wonder if zese zings 'ave left ze front door open..."
He glances at Mel, who is much better at looking at things stealthily than he is.
"Eef not we must use ze privvy."
Not one to argue with a reasonable, and beneficial, request, Mel does as she is told and checks it out.
Wolfgang nods. ”Yes, that was him. I cannot mistake the stench of his black blood.” Indeed, the fluid from the creature’s wounds smells of a mixture of human blood and burnt engine grease.
Slipping through the shadows of the church, Melanae sees that the other people who were waiting to see the doctor are gone, along with Kell’s goons. Instead, a dozen steel bars have somehow been embedded across the entryway, preventing anybody from getting out. Past the bars, the gunslinger sees a half dozen black-robed figures keeping a watch on the entrance. Behind them, a well-dressed man relaxes in a metal folding chair. A metal plate hovers nearby, holding sliced cheese and a bottle of wine.
A wounded man stands beside the relaxing one, and while he appears to be human, his wounds drip black blood. ”According to Kell there’s only one way in or out of the church. The air vents are too small to climb out through,” he says.
The man in the chair nods. ”Very good. You can go tell your boss that the situation is under control.”
The wounded man grunts before staggering off. The seated man smirks as the metal cup of wine hovers over to him and he reaches out to take a sip...
Mel holds her breath as she watches the whole ordeal, not daring to make a sound before heading back to Lucien, Thalia and the Doctor.
"That is definitely not an option." Mel says, in an unusually hushed tone. "We're goin' down the privy tunnel whether we like it or not, and we're goin' now. The good news is that they have no idea it is here."
"Let us search then."Lucien agrees.
The latrine tunnel proves to free of any traps or obstructions. It's a tight squeeze, but you manage to squirm out along its length and emerge on the cliff nearby. The people keeping watch on the main entrance don't notice you as you quickly slip away into the Nettles and escape whatever trap they had planned for you!
It is late afternoon by the time you finally make it to the safety of RHC Headquarters. Assistant Chief Inspector Stover Delft commends you for your good work and offers Doctor von Recklinghausen temporary asylum as you get to the bottom of this case.
Finally getting a chance to look through the documents that Nilasa Hume stole from the Danoran embassy, you discover numerous reports and notes written by Security Chief Julian LeBrix, which reference financial irregularities of Danoran-owned factories. He posits that there’s a campaign of smuggling that explicitly targets Danoran enterprises, though the huge number of reports—covering hundreds of witnesses from dozens of factories—makes it hard to synthesize an accurate narrative from all the data.
With a cursory read-through, you can determine that all the smuggled items might be going to a single construction project, probably something like a large warship. It will take several days to fully parse the documents, though.
There is also a detailed report of LeBrix visiting factories and discovering flasks of strange black oil with floating motes of white light in them. It was soon after finding these that his investigation was shut down.
Wolfgang tells you that he recognizes the substance. "It is called witchoil. Various alchemists have learned to refine it from the energy of the Bleak Gate--the Shadow Plane--that bleeds into this world. Normally they can only create a few ounces, nowhere near the pint or more LeBrix discovered. The oil, if burned, can stand in for costly spell components, but no moral man would use it, since it is composed of souls that were awaiting their final rest."
"Mon dieu!" Lucien exclaims, upon hearing the news. "Zis iz not good! Mademoiselle 'Ume was murdered to keep zis conspiracy under ze wrappings non? Per'aps we should speak wiz Madame Gale once more if she can be found. Persons unknown are making use of zis Bleak Gate... and what are zey building?"
Mel, not usually one for paperwork, this time indeed helps to examine all of the documents they discovered. This was not standard paperwork but an investigation nonetheless.
"Witchoil. If its as hard as it sounds to make, then wouldn't it be even more pricey than the other spell components? Not that I know much about magic. How'd that work Thalia?"
Nodding at Lucien's own conclusion, Mel adds; "Clearly, whatever they are building is very important to them - for profits or political gain d'you think? Its usually one of the other aint it? Maybe both?"
"Eef it iz a warship zen ze motive might be eizzer." Lucien agrees. "I imagine ze peace wiz Danor would be ze target. Many people make plentee of money in war time."