Hennet grins broadly, "I found teeth as long as my forearm. Though my own research focuses more on the biomechanics of flight. Wingspan vs weight ratio and the like. Those beasties were supposedly capable of flying, but the math just doesn't support the legends."
The talk of flight makes one of Adam's eyebrows rise, "Surely not? They're supposed to be huge! Anyway since I'm talking to an expert, would you care to hazard a guess how poor Nilasa ended up impaled on a fence thirty feet away from the from the forth floor window? Obviously she didn't sprout wings, but in extreme situations ordinary looking people have been known to perform feats of incredible strength. Could somebody possibly have jumped that far?"
He was extremely dubious about the facts of the story so far, because obviously she couldn't have flown, could she?
Alsah looks over the musicians mentioned
Millicent nods at Hennet’s comments on his finds of dragons no less. It would be interesting conversation if not for the investigation of Miss Hume and her demise. The bard is surprised that Preacher mentioned her death but awaited the answer non the less as she spotted her colleague looking towards ‘The Band’ across the establishment. She too was eager to move on and see what actual information could be hand from them. She turned her attention to Hennet and his answer, if he had one.
The joviality drains from Hennet's face and is replaced with a look of shock. "Nilasa's been impaled! What do you mean? Is the girl ok?"
A murmur of shock and disbelief ripples through the bar, as the news quickly spreads.
Alsah strokes her cat's head as she watches
Millicent was worries that this would happen.
She does speak up in a calm and somewhat softer tone says, ”Unfortunately no. I am sorry to say that Nilasa has passed. Hence our investigation into the circumstances that lead to her passing. I am sorry for the loss of your friend.” she lets she shock of the matter settle into those assembled.
Bryn watches the room at the news of Nilasa's demise, seeing who's reaction contradicts the unfortunate news.
After the initial shock fades, Hennet and his assembled peers settle back down to business, a little more somberly than before. "Thank you for your kind words. She was really more of an associate, but a lovely girl none the less. I'm saddened to hear of her passing, and the tavern with be a poorer place for her absence."
To Adam he adds, "As for your question, without knowing the exact height of the building, I can't give you the exact numbers, but some quick napkin math suggests that it would be impossible for a person to clear that distance from that height without mechanical or magical assistance."
Adam looked deeply unhappy at this response, "Yeah, I think you must be right... We didn't see sign of either, although if it was magic it could have faded before we got there."
Gathering his thoughts he said honestly, "I'm sorry for your loss. I don't know what Nilasa got herself mixed up in, but nobody deserves to go out like that. If there's a case to answer we'll find it."
Unless Hennet has anything more to say, Preach will say good bye and head over to the group of musicians. "Well I guess you've all heard, we're the bearers of bad news. I meant what I said to Hennet, nobody deserves to die like that. If any of you knew Nilasa please accept our condolences, but I'm afraid we need to ask some questions about her. Would you say she'd been acting normally of late? Did she mention a foreign friend, a Dr. von Recklinghausen?"
The bard moves along with Preacher after once again giving her condolences to the Professors.
She keeps her demeanour and tone neutral as she keeps to the mans left, "As my colleague has mentioned, we are sorry for the loss of your friend. We are merely seeking information about Nilasa to discover the truth and discover the circumstances of her passing. Anything you can share, would be most helpful"
Jared, the halfling pointed out to you by Hennet, and apparently this leader of this group, puts on an obstinant look. "Ya that's rough about Nilasa, but we don't need to tell you nothing about nobody."
Hennet calls out from across the room. "Hey now, best to follow the forms of the ritual. They just want to know about your dealings with Nilasa, so play nice."
Jared gives the academics a sour look, but relents. "Nilasa didn't have any doctor friends. She was just a troublemaker and revolutionary that liked to associate with like-minded fellows." He raises his mug in toast, joined by the rest of the group, and downs his brew.
"I do know that she worked with a group of Brigands operating out of the Cloudwood. I think she was their face out in the city, out recruiting for the cause."
Cloudwood? Alsah perked up. though it seems to be a bit of a step up to go from recruiting to theft and drugging people
Brigands? And what cause?
At hearing Jared's answer regarding the Cloudwood and a group that she dealt with she attempts to recall coming across any such information in her time here in Flint.
Preach gave Jared a critical look before relenting, the man seemed to be perfectly earnest. At the mention of the Cloudwood his heart sank, this case was getting more and more convoluted by the minute.
With one eyebrow raised he replied, "Cloudwood, brigands... Sounds like Nilasa led an eventful albeit short life. I don't suppose you know any further details?"
The halfling shrugs, "She didn't really specify which particular band she was dealing with. As for cause, you know, the usual pro green-faith, old gods stuff that most of those groups espouse."
"Not really. She was a firebrand, always pushing for less talk, more action. Always gave us grief about us wanting to spark change with our words, instead of our deeds."
So a radical of some flavour. But I do sympathise a bit.
Did she have any friends here? They should be told of her passing.
"The green faith? That doesn't sound like it would line up with the folks here. What are your thoughts on it?"
"If she didn't know any doctors, do you know who else she might have crossed that might have posed as one?"
"Friends? I mean she was friendly with everyone. Would usually come here with her boss and coworkers after shift, or with her boyfriend, some Danoran guy."
At Bryn's comment, there's various snorts of derision from the table.
"Really? A bar full of anti-establishment types wouldn't support an anti-establishment ideology? Please. Technology isn't doing anything but lining the pockets of the factory owners. As for Doctors, the city is lousy with them. Bunch of quacks, if you ask me."
Feeling a little jittery, Preach ran his hand through his hair and replied, "This one certainly seemed to be a quack... Anyway I think we've troubled these good folk long enough. We should get a move on, they're going to want a report back at base."
Preach didn't relish the prospect of that, all they'd uncovered so far was a list of questions with no answers.
Good idea Adam and Alsah starts heading to the door
Many questions, few answers. Well we are only starting this investigation
The bard nods to The Band members, "Thank you for your time."
She looks to her fellow Constables, "Agreed. Let us head back, it has been a busy day."
She departs from the tavern while reviewing her notes.
The party tired from the long day, swings by the office to drop off their samples for analysis and to return their issued equipment to lockup. You scatter to your respective domiciles for the evening.
The region generally uses a simple calendar devised over a millennium ago by the skyseers of Risur. This calendar divides the year into four 91-day seasons, each starting on an equinox or solstice. After the 91st of Winter, one extra day is used to celebrate the new year. The most common celestial rhythm is the cycle of the moon over 29 and a half days. People might say something happened “a month ago,” but individual months are not named. Instead dates are referenced in the format “17 Spring 473 a.o.v.”
The next morning finds you bright and early at your desks finishing up paperwork regarding the events of the past day. Morning meeting time rolls around and the office's constables gather for Assistant chief inspector Delft to go over the day's new assignments. He points out a bespectacled dwarf. "This is Dr. Runemace, one of the boffins from forensics, he's been burning the midnight oil analyzing the samples you brought in last night. I'm temporarily assigning him to field work to help out on this case. His expertise might prove to be useful to the investigation."
Analysis of the fey pepper laced candies revealed various phenolic compounds found in citrus, suggesting that the drug itself would have flavor notes of grapefruit.
Analysis of the blood sample from the alleyway found it to be heavily infused with necrotic energy.
The sample on the handkerchief from the hostel was a strange mix of burnt oil and human blood.
Paperwork always felt like it took forever and Preach had been dreading it, especially since they had more questions than answers.
After listening to Dr. Runemace's analysis, Preach asked, "Thank you doctor. How potent would you say these fey pepper candies are? Would they significantly affect an average person's judgement? What's the onset time like?"
Short but very solidly built, Dr. Runemace has red hair and beard and is wearing a lab coat. His expression is serious and wears multi-spectacles, which he flips up to address you.
He gives you all a short bow.
”Iz good to meet you Team Seven. I am Doctor Kortemir Runemace.” He said in a thick Drakr accent.
He passed out folders to each of you. Then he put up a large paper on a stand and pointed to various diagrams and formulae with a pointer stick.
”First report: {tap} Analysis of Candies found in a box marked with the icon of the Thinking Man’s Tavern found in the victim’s room. We have confirmed that they have been laced with Fey Pepper; an illicit, mood elevating drug. As you can see, here, {tap} there were also various phenolic compounds that are typically found in citrus. This suggests that the drug itself would have flavor notes of grapefruit.”
He flipped the paper over.
”Second report: {tap} Analysis of oddly coagulated blood in a smear of mud, sample left in the alleyway a person of interest was seen fleeing through. {tap} The faint coppery smell is very suggestive of fey blood, but we can’t pin it down with the amount we had to analyze. {tap} However, we WERE able to determine that the sample was heavily infused with Necrotic energies.”
He flipped the paper over again.
”Third report: {tap} Analysis of the sample on the oily pocket handkerchief from the person of interest’s room at the hostel. {tap} As you can see here, there is a certain amount of a light oil that we confirm as high quality weapon oil. Also, {tap} as you can see here, {tap} the other substance on the handkerchief is black and viscous and has the odor of burnt axle grease. However, a close analysis shows that the substance is an unusual mix of burnt oil and human blood.”
Dr. Runemace frowned in thought at Preacher's question and went "Hmmm".
Burnt oil and human blood? Was it also influenced by necrotic energies?
Good day to you Dr. Runemace. Glad to have you on the team." The bard says in a welcoming manner. As the dwarf rattles off his discoveries, she makes notes of the finds within her notebook.
Why don't we put out an alert to the local forces to find and hold Dr. von Recklinghausen as a person of interest Alsah says. We can focus on the factory owner then. They may not find him, but negative information can be useful
"That sounds like a plan that gets me away from filling out paperwork. Let's do it," says Brynn, tossing his pen on top of the current pile.
"...How potent would you say these fey pepper candies are? Would they significantly affect an average person's judgement? What's the onset time like?"
"Hmmm..." Said Dr. Runemace, stoking his pipe thoughtfully . Well, it is a mood elevating drug. Fairly popular, not particularly addictive or dangerous. At the levels present in the candies, it would have put the affected individuals in a relaxed, agreeable state."
"Burnt oil and human blood? Was it also influenced by necrotic energies?"
"Hmm. Nothing indicated by our tests."
He flipped the paper over again.
"Fourth Report; {tap} Analysis of the liquid left in the vial taken from the clothing of the victim.
{tap} From the residue, it once contained a potion of invisibility. Creating or possessing such a potion is a crime without the proper permits."
Less paperwork is good
Alsah replies to Dr Runemace. Since she is dead, I think we can overlook that crime. But it is interesting information.
Millicent nods and writes the information down. She looks up and comments aloud in her thoughts, ”So some of the staff were drugged to feel more compliant as the young woman appears to have consumed an invisibility potion to do a task of some type within the Danoran Embassy, is somehow seen by the Chief of Security and is chased perhaps thrown out the third floor flies for a short duration, is shot, and falls upon the fense of the Embassy. An, odd matter in deed that needs more answers.”
”Shall we head out, appears we will be busy hunting down more answers to many questions?” she asks of the group.
Preach nodded "Yes, I think we should pay this Heward Sechim a visit..."
"Do we have a map of the embassy? Which areas would only be accessible to an outsider via invisibility?"
Filling out the necessary forms, you arrange to send word to the district precincts to keep an eye out for the good doctor and request any information on the suspect be forwarded to the office.
That handled, you prepare to head out to visit Sechim’s Alkahest & Etchings in the Parity Lake district.
Grabbing a carriage, you make your way to Nilassa's place of employment. When you arrive at your destination, it’s obvious that something’s a little different with Heward’s factory. It is part of a whole section of lake-side factories all contributing to Risuri military and naval resources, but the Sechim factory is the only one not being protested.
The factory to its left, which uses various drills and bores to finely machine cannons, guns, and steamworks, is surrounded by a small mob of women singing traditional Risuri folk songs. Thick metal chains are wrapped around the double doors leading into the bore factory, and the entrance is guarded by burly men.
An identical scene fronts the factory to the right, which employs hundreds of people to manually sift firedust into different grains and package it into charges with bullets for firearms. And across the street three smaller factories all have comparable crowds.
Previously small groups of dockers had come to argue for better working conditions for the workers. Momentum had built and there was talk of having a worker walkout. The owners retaliated by locking their factories in the middle of a shift, and they refused to let anyone leave unless they produced their quota, and even then only if a new worker came in to replace them. Also, they’re not paying any workers until the protests end.
Now the women are protesting to try to get their loved ones free. Similar protests dot the district, since many factory owners coordinated their actions.
Despite the lack of protest, there is still a trio of guards standing in front of the Alkahest factory.
The guards are police. Off-duty work. She shrugs They don't get paid a lot so, okay
But what's going away
The woman gives a Witch a nod at her observation of the men playing guards
"Cannot fault the good woman there, protesting for their husbands, sons, and brothers, when all the workers are asking for is better working conditions. Heck, if someone tried to lock me in, from leaving, I would riot too! I cannot believe such practices are legal."
The woman has a frustrated look on her face, wanting to help, yet is presently here on another matter all together. She approaches the Sechim’s Alkahest & Etchings, looking to the trio before them, "Excuse us, we have business with the proprietor ." And starts to move past them not really awaiting for a response.
Quietly Preach observed, "Nobody is protesting outside Alkahest & Etchings. I wonder why..."
He had a feeling this might be important but he couldn't put his finger on why.
Dr. Runemace descended from the carriage, carrying his gently clinking work valise. Donning his top hat and coat, he followed his new companions across the street to Sechim's Alkahest & Etchings.
Maybe he is not trying to lock up his employees?
Preach replied, "What I mean is, most business men are cut from the same cloth. They're all about maximizing profit, fiduciary duty to their share holders and all that. I'm wondering is this Heywood Sechim different or is his business so profitable he can afford to treat his employees better?"