Its Necro Magic and bad, human souls used to empower constructs
also, the doll has part of a child's soul in it. That soul was broken up into three, you have one of the dolls, where are the other 2?
To make the wax Zombies some 20 souls would be needed.
Able to read only a few languages, Seljak is unable to decifer the cript. But as he flipps through the pages he frowns at the images. "I can't read the text, but the pictures aren't very nice." He closes the book, leaving it on the table as he turns towards Khardon. "Sir.. er sarge... I mean Agent Khardon. I'd like to go with you too." He smiles a tusky smile remembering the overarching training of the instructors. "I'm much better at 'field work' than 'research' or 'interrogation'."
So you finish your brunch and head off to see the librarian who smiles a smile only someone who has had a sip or too of strong licker can.
He recognizes some of you and greets you by name.
But once he sees the book he sobers up real fast.
"This is not the kind of thing you see a lot. The knightly orders tend to burn them on finding them. I will place it in the evidence locker. Should you need to see it again her is a chit for it."
he hands you a numbered slip of paper.
Then when you're are ready you head to the City Asylum
You state who you are and who you wish to see, and soon
They bring the poor reach to you.
He is babbling to himself, alder than last you saw him.
Not understanding the babble, Jixxe dismisses the orderlies and then stands next to the door ready to attack anything that comes through before the "interview" is done.
All around you can hear the screams of the mad.
Butterworth now old looks at Kardon.
"Been a long time Sgt, what brings you to my home"
Then he looks behind him, then says to no one there
"YES I KNOW!"
He snaps
"Sorry Sgt Cooper wants to know who the there are."
Cooper was his partner until he killed him saying he was a spy for the 'corps d'elite"
In court, Butterworth kept saying Cooper has said sorry admitted to everything and was right there next to him. Hence the City Asylum.
Jixxe on of the inmates across from the cell you are in is looking your way.
Following the others to the Library, Seljak hands 'Libations' the odd book, accepting the numbered piece of paper. Tucking it in his pocket, "Thank you Sir." He flinches slightly waiting to see if the librarian would reprimand him for calling him 'sir' Haveing not stired the ire of the librarian he asks. "Would it be possible for you to take a look at it for us?" He leans in, putting his hand to his mouth. "I didn't understand it at all."
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As they enter the asylum Seljak stays near the back. He never felt comfortable walking in someplace where people were locked up. Watching as they bring the babbler in and leaves. He notices the prisoner seems to be talking to someone behind him. Scratching his head, Seljak leans down to Jixxe, "Who's he talking to and who's Sgt Cooper?"
In a voice just loud enough to be heard by those close to him, We have others attention now as well. Stay sharp! Jixxe states.
The drow's keen ears picks up the ratfolk's warning, and turns away from Butterworth to mind their surroundings.
"Long time. These are good lads I have here. We..." He stopped and looked around, before moving in closer. His voice lowered, he said "The corps d'elite. They've made a move. Bodies are stacking up, and they've done something to the soul of a child. It's...messy, aye? Ye be the only person I can trust outside of the people in this room who haven't been touched by those blue blooded bastards. Came to find out what ye know about them, so that we can hit them before we end up thrown in here by them as well. Ye willing to talk to us?"
His eyes went wide as he sees your telling the truth, your faintly here, you believe him, after all these years.
He looks around, nods a the space behind him.
"I told em, I told they were real, you're with the agency now I can see. They were the only ones who even asked me to a meeting."
He seems happy then sad,
"They are killing kids now, evil %£^£$@'S!, all right Sgt, I old that elf in the agency, you can only get at em into ways. One, get someone with real skills to join their ranks. But that's slow as they keep everyone in cells. The other way is go for the benefits. See they smuggle in stuff to the city, stuff you can't get unless you have the right contacts. Its all in my files, I know I could have worked out how they where getting stuff out to the cells if I had only had more time."[i]
He looks about again.
[i]"They got some stuff, but my true files are hidden, Start with them.
Then there is a rap on the bars, as the guards come back. He looks shocked and shuts up at once.
"TIMES UP, COME ON, BY ORDER OF THE GOVINAR, IT SAYS YA NEED TO GO. YOU'RE UPSETTING THE INMATES."
As the barded opens, he risks saying to Kharndon.
"Remember Mrs Millents cake shop at the corner of Wells Road and Millers street. Best coffee and Honey cake you can have."
Then you're ushered out. As you a moved along, the inmate opposite watches your every move,
"Oh no, if only we had a master of disguise..." Warlock Bones says somewhat dejectedly. Then he perks up. "Oh wait! We do!"
Warlock Bones's clothes change then, from his teal version of the agency uniform with the feathered cap, to a much more sophisticated outfit. A noble vest, a practical, yet still fancy coat with epaulettes, and of course, a bowler hat.
You know that cake shop, 'Honey cake' is used when others leave things there to be picked up. Could be this mad man left his files there.
Hearing Jixxe telling them to 'Stay Sharp' Seljak jumped to attention, as the wise Khardon begins to explain the situation to the prisoner. Smiling Seljak realizes that the dwarf's familiarity with the prisoner has loosened his tongue.
Hearing the rap on the door, Seljak turns looking from the guards towards the prisoner then Khardon. Surprised that the inmates would care, or that the guards would care that the inmates would care, Seljak tries to understand the guards motives. But, being a law-abiding citizen, Seljak complies with his fellow agents, but as they leave Seljak notices the inmate watching them. He looks at the inmate in return, again trying to understand what it is that motivates them,
Your not 100% but it seems they must have reported who you can come to see to the Governor of the 'Madhouse' and he seems to not like you being here.
With the inmates, they don't seem to care but for the one across the corridor, and he seems to be very interested in you.
Not sure what's up with the inmate, Jixxe runs off a gut feeling.
What ya looking at? He slams his fists together emphasizing his comment. Ain't ya never seen the interrogation of a criminal?
He flashes his agency badge belligerantly.
Identifying the inmate across the corridor as the only prisoner interested in what's going on Seljak realizes that Jixxe had come to the same conclusion. Moving up behind his small friend as the ratfolk flashes his badge, Seljak leans in glaring at the prisoner in support of his fellow agent. Asking, "What's your name inmate?"
Khardon remained silent as they were ushered out, lost in thought. He felt a deep sense of guilt for a sane man being committed, and couldn't help but fear that something similar might happen to them. They were up against very powerful people, to be sure. All he could do was wish his former comrade well before leaving. They, at least, had a clue to follow, though he waited for Jixxe and Seljak to finish their own impromptu interrogation before he moved on.
What ya looking at? He slams his fists together emphasizing his comment. Ain't ya never seen the interrogation of a criminal?
He flashes his agency badge belligerently.
He smiles a mad smile at you both. Eyes looking crazed.
"The flowers are watching us all, don't trust them, they see all"
Then he slinks back into the darkness of his cell.
The guards move you along and out.
Jixxe waits until they get out of the asylum and down the street a bit before revealing that he knows the cake shop. Honey cakes is the slang for leaving something there for someone else. Maybe we should go see what honey cakes this fellow left at the shop. He proposes
Rolling his eyes at the madman, Seljak follows the others out of the prison. Raising an eyebrow as Jixxe explained that 'Honey Cakes was slang for leaving something Seljak added, "Huh, I didn't know that. I thought it was just what Pa called ma when he was feeling frisky." Furrowing his brow he asks, "The other prisoner said 'The flowers are watching us all, don't trust them.' Do you think that was slang too?"
If you're not going to do anything more, you can make your way to the cake shop, OR the crafter's workshop where the wax zombies were made.
Outside the asylum, Lazastrahd talks candidly. "I'd be very interested to visit the crafter's workshop, and see what clues can be gleamed there."
"All the same to me either way," Warlock Bones says fecklessly as he continues to fiddle with his disguise.
The honey cakes were left so they can wait...if they've been safe till now they will be safe for a little while longer. Lets check out the workshop. Jixxe suggests
Nervously, Seljak, not wanting to contradict one of his fellow agents ask, "What if one of the guards or prisoners heard the code and knew what it meant. If these noblemen are so smart they may have had a spy there, listening to what was said." He looks to the others, "Maybe we should go get the honey cakes first."
As you talk around you is a busy street,
A teen girl with a basket just down the street is watching your group.
Lazastrahd casts message to relay something to both Khardon and Selijak.
Khardon nodded and motioned for them to turn into an alley or the like where there wouldn’t be any crowds. There was the chance, then, that the girl might follow them. It would be good to have the opportunity to question her.
Hearing Lazastrahd whispering in his ear, Seljak looks towards the dark elf. Resisting the urge to look back at the girl, he simply nods. Following Khardon into the alley, he tries to remember his training. When they were tailing folks, they were supposed to walk on the other side of the streets. Use the glass windows in shops to watch the tail, instead of looking directly at them. Also, using message to switch off every few streets so the perp didn't notice.
Pausing, Seljak realized he had no idea what he was supposed to do when someone was following him. He chuckled at the idea of running away from a little girl, maybe they should catch her and ask her why she was following. Havin turned the corner out of sight from anyone on the street, he asks softly. "Should we try and catch her?"
You wait for a short while then she just walks past the ally opening an on out of sight, not looking at you, as if she has other things on her mind, she just keeps going past.
"Why are we ducking into an alley? Are we going to mug someone?"
Very confused that the girl did not follow them, Seljak turn raising an eyebrow at Agent Bones, "Mug someone? Of course not, we were trying to tempt that little girl into following us into this dark alley."
Furrowing his brow, Seljak didn't remember any instructors covering what to do when someone wouldn't follow you. So stepping out of the alley he called to the girl in question. "Hey girl, were you following us?"
Warlock Bones looks at Seljak incredulously. "I'm of the opinion that we shouldn't judge people for their various... proclivities. But I'm afraid that I can't in good consciousness let you continue to tempt little girls into alleys."
”We are facing an organization which has reach and power beyond anything I’ve dreamed of.” Khardon said. ”We must assume that they eyes and ears everywhere.” He stood next to Bones, remaining in the alley. ”We should expect both legal trouble and underhanded attacks to come.”
Warlock Bones looks at Khardon blankly for a few seconds. Then it finally clicks. Dawn breaks over Marblehead finally. "You mean the girl... rival organization... subtlety..." Turning back to Seljak he profusely begins to apologize to the orc. "I am so sorry. I misconstrued what you said, and made some unsavory assumptions. I really should've known better, but... well, I'm sorry Sel. Keep up the good work!"
So stepping out of the alley he called to the girl in question. "Hey girl, were you following us?"
There is no girl there, just a basket on the floor.
The drow looks on suspiciously. "Strange that she would leave the basket. Be right back."
Lazastrahd attempts to run over and examine the basket.
NO PEEKING IF YOUR NOT Lazastrahd
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You look inside, it's full of flowers, as if ready for sale
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As you look closer, Fort save place CD 14
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IF you fail you sump to the ground unconscious
Lazastrahd pulls out a handkerchief and places it over his nose. The drow picks up the basket and arms length and returns to the group gingerly, standing 5 feet away.
"This has a powerful poison that nearly knocked me out. Do we take it back to the manor for study or destroy it's contents?"
Furrowing his brow at the disappearance of the girl, Seljak turns from the flower basket lying beside the road to Agent Bones. Going from one confusing moment to another, Seljak blinks and tries to smile as the Tiefling apologized about something he misconstrued. Seljak was pretty sure he knew what 'Misconstrued' meant, as well as 'unsavory assumptions' but he had no idea what the forked tongued agent was talking about. But his mother always told him there was no reason not to be polite. Nodding to his fellow agent he smiled. "Thank you Agent Bones, I will do my best."
Hearing the Lazastrahd's declaration, Seljak turns, seeing the dark elf with his handkerchief over his nose. Following suit, he draws out a large bandana covering his large flat nose. Not knowing anything about poisons, he looks from Lazastrahd to Agent Bones then his eyes rest on their leader, Khardon. "Is the manor on the way to either of the locations were investigating?"
"We should take it back to the manor for study." Khardon said. "It is evidence and at the moment it doesn't endanger our lives. I want to know who left it for us and why. Answers we will likely only find with the right person looking into that basket."
it is
"...and as the manor is on the way, let's stop by there. It's a good idea." Khardon said, giving Laz a nod. "But everyone be on guard. This feels like a trap to me. There's a very good chance that we'll be ambushed on our way, which most likely would have sprung should the trap have worked. Perhaps even more dangerous, I'm sure that we're being watched. See if ye can spot any of them."
Knowing he would be of no use investigating the poison in the basket Seljak nodded in agreement with Agent Dourstone. Raising an eyebrow as the dwarf talked about traps, ambushes and being watched, Seljak had not considered the investigators might be being investigated as well. It was good that they had such a savvy leader. Nodding his head, Seljak instinctively wrapped his sausage sized fingers around his shotgun stock. Realizing that was no way to walk through town, he released the gun handle, stepping further out of the alley. Turning back towards Khardon, "Back to the agency." Giving a toothy smile. "I'm too tall to hide, but it puts me above the crowd so I can see good." Moving down the road towards the agency, keeping a keen eye out as he goes.
"Hey Khardon, should I play the drunken fool on the way to put any pursuers at ease? Or would you rather I just stay quiet for a bit?"
Through a muffled handkerchief, Lazastrahd asks, "Bones. I would appreciate if you or more agents could walk in front of me, creating a perimeter, as I transport the basket back to the manor."
"Of course dear Lazstrahd, but do consider that if I was going to try and snatch someone off the street, I'd probably go from behind."
On that happy note, Warlock Bones happily flounces to about a pace in front of Laz, and starts whistling merrily. By using his rather unique tongue, he is capable of whistling two notes at once, and as such, he attempts to harmonize with himself.
You get to the manner house and are soon in its crime Labs.
Willber the Alchemist who runs it comes to you at once and takes the basket.
"Well this is odd, those look just like Lillies, they are not harmful at all. Come back tomorrow and I can tell you what these flowers are."
He smiles and sets to work
"Later, Mr. Bones. Later. Whomever left this likely still has eyes on us. If ye act the part now, they'll see it. But later today? It could make for a right good trap. For now, let's do as Laz suggests, Best to keep this safe."