"Killing magic hidden or riding another spell, one normally meant to prevent death, cunning and ruthless are the terms I would use."
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"Some form of spell that would kill the bearer depending on what they did or said, a harsh but effective counter-interrogation technique...Spindleshank was lucky, and I would not trust to my sleep venom as proof against this foul tactic. Alan seemed to grasp much more of the arcane details of the whole situation than I, my magical knowledge is rather limited."
::Amelia smiles and stops for Alan:: "Of course Ser Alan, I will wait here for you to finish with your current business."
”I will return here after my...business at the firm is complete, unfortunately I cannot copy or take firm documents to provide to the Watch. I will however use what leeway I have as a consultant to the Watch and a junior partner of the firm to share pertinent facts and give what insight I can. To be quite honest I would much rather be joining the both of you for that drink.” ::Amelia leaves the main Watch office and heads for the offices of First & Basil::
Amelia was torn between using her connections in the firm, and continuing to work with the questioning of suspects, her presence had already helped yield important information and saved a life, but still, First & Basil had extensive files, files the watch did not, files she dared not share openly. ”My venom should only render Spindleshank under for a short time, I feel strongly that haste should be made to undo these fell magics that affect our suspects, and the right questions asked swiftly thereafter. I need to...need to confer with the firm, and I have some research I wish to do. Officer Roedar, should you find Special Operator Stillwater, tell him to meet me at my apartment this evening if he can, I should be there by an hour to midnight at the latest. The threads are becoming a disconcerting weave, if I can take a small measure of dramatic license.” ::Amelia lays a hand on Roedar's shoulder and smiles warmly:: ”No thanks needed...but I was glad I could help, Officer Alan's vigilance and knowledge of magic played not small part as well.”
Amelia thinks for a moment.
"Pitax the country Officer Roedar, famous for its bard king and bardic college. Mivon and Pitax have a long and unsettled history between them. Spiegel has told me a few stories of his time in the Mivon army and of border war with Pitax, he did not speak of those experiences fondly. You could ask him about them, though I would do so with the utmost tact, and a good dark beer on your tab."
"Alas, it would be both unwise, and unsafe to continue our work until the suspects are cleared by you senior magic users. I could not save another with my venom this day, the font is tapped, so to speak."
Amelia brightens, smiling despite the ruckus, pleased to see that Watch Officer She continues to be on point and exercising her keen mind and deductive reasoning skills. "I could not have made that statement better Officer She, I'd like to think that you and I are proving to make quite the pair. Your reasoning and perceptive talents do you proud She."
Amelia frowns and sits in one of the chairs in the interview room. Someone is going to quite a good deal of trouble and expense to keep their identity and motives hidden. Someone or a group of someones who are willing to kill any agent who may reveal them. This bodes ill Officer She, I loath to say it, but we are likely in more danger than we know. But it also strikes me as odd that Mr. Wheeler did not suffer the same fate as Spindleshank, perhaps that is a line of questioning we should pursue as soon as circumstance allows, your thoughts Officer She?
Amelia checks to see that Spindleshank is alive, using her kukri to check for breathing, thankfully it seems the elf was only unconscious as his breathing fogged the cool metal. Amelia lets out a long sigh of relief. Spindleshank is alive...thank Irori that worked. ::Amelia dabs at her injured lip with a kerchief:: Ser Alan...do you have an idea of what just occurred here? That was no invisible attacker...it was something more arcane I suspect, though I know not what.
Amelia tries her best to ignore the sheer wrongness of the scene before her and figure out some way to help Spindleshank. She had no magic of her own...but there was one option, desperate though it was. ::Amelia bites her lower lip hard enough to draw blood::
”This is NOT because I am at all attracted to you Spindleshank...in fact I rather dislike you, now try and hold still and don’t fight this...you need to...let my blood into your mouth. ::Amelia lets the blood well up from her bitten lip, and then kisses Spindleshank::
Amelia frowns as Spindleshank starts choking, something was very wrong with the scene before her. "Someone call for a healer, quickly! Amelia knew something of magic, she was not a wizard, but had taken an extension course in law school regarding identifying mystic spells, which was helpful when dealing with mages and their like on the stand.
::Amelia nods falling in behind She:: I think that would be most effective yes, and of course, I will have him activate my enchanted pen, as to record his answers verbatim, for later detailed review.
Amelia nods to the Lt. Callahan. ”I am rather looking forward to pressing Spindleshank, given the leverage we have on him, I would think that learning anything he knows regarding this new gang war and the person or persons who are behind the shift in power on the streets is your first priority from the suspect yes? Watch Officer She Who Always Tries and I will begin the interview immediately.
It may also be of use if, during the interview with Spindleshank, we avoid any mention of the possible deal Mr. Wheeler wishes to cut, and admit only that Mr. Wheeler has stated he is in fact the capo of the Rough and Tumble gang. Thus, even if Spindleshank does not know anything more than his real boss, we may yet be able to cross check facts and statements against what we have learned from Mr. Wheeler thus far, limited as the details may be from him at this time.
Lt. Callahan, it is my professional opinion that given the knowledge of true leadership we now have regarding the Rough and Tumble gang, Spindleshank is the most malleable at this time if we question him with the pretext that we believe he is still the gang capo, and then catch him in the first blatant lie he makes on that or another subject, he will then have lost his perceived position of control, and may well offer additional information beyond what Mr. Wheeler has provided.
Amelia hears Lt. Callahan, and seeing that Alan is now engaged by his commanding officer nods in Alan's direction, and looks to She. "It would appear the others have made it back from their assignments, we should inform the Lt. of what we have learned from Wheeler and about Spindleshank thus far. Besides, I think there is some room beside Alan, we should go squeeze in." ::Amelia can't hide the smile as she notes that last part::
Turning to head towards the interview room, Amelia notices Alan (limeade guards are around and know just where She and I are, so..) ”Ser Alan, you appear to be searching for someone or something...can I be of any help?”
Team Oz: Amelia sips her limeade, looking thoughtful.
”Yes She, I believe we have let Spindleshank simmer long enough, and my throat is un-parched and tongue still silver. Let us see what we can learn.”
Team Oz: ”We should also, at least until the opportune moment, encourage Spindleshank to continue thinking we believe him to be the gang capo, and not Wheeler. I suspect we will know the right moment to "drop the hammer", as it were.”
Team Oz: Amelia smiles, her small fangs exposed, and she stifles a laugh.
”That sounds just about right...I really am enjoying working with you She, you have excellent instincts.” Seeing the guards blush, stammer, smirk, and appraise Amelia strikes a somewhat provocative pose for a brief moment. "Why...how polite of you Officer, a cup for myself and my friend She would be excellent...I would surely not forget such a gallant act, it is the small things that matter after all."
Team Oz: ”Is he now...Officer She...how long do you think we should let our ebony skinned elf stew before engaging him?”
Team Oz: ”Whatever you said to Wheeler in your tongue seems to have had quite the effect on him. Don't think for even a moment that his willingness to listen was all my doing. Well done She, I think we make a damn fine team all told. Also, while I am no expert of vanara men, I could have sworn he was giving you the bedroom eyes.”
Team Oz: ”Watch Officer Mullancy, would you kindly find Lt. Callahan, I believe Watch Officer She and I require her assistance in this matter, and I suspect she will want to hear this regardless”
Team Oz:
Team Oz: Amelia enters the interview room, she very purposefully pulls up a chair next to She and takes an ink pen, ink well, and several sheets of parchment out of her leather briefcase before she speaks. She dips the pen and sets it along with a blank sheet of parchment within Wheeler’s reach.
”Mr. Wheeler, if you would kindly touch this pen, we can continue. Don’t worry, it is not a truthing device, it is simply enchanted to write down on it’s own what a person says, it is just more efficient than a secretary I find.” “Now, I believe you were saying something about walls and offers when I came in. Watch Officer She Who Always Tries is of course correct, you will find that as long as you continue to stonewall us, there is very little we can do to help you. You were brought in as muscle on the Belladame job, yes? However, both Officer She and I think there is more to you, Mr. Wheeler, than just a brutish thug. Boorish at the moment perhaps, but given your model behavior, and the restraint shown even during...altercations, I think there is an strong and even honorable vanara hidden beneath a venere of brutish behavior.” “If you were the violent and base bully boy your reputation among some says you are, you would not have prevented bloodshed. But...you did, and what I want from you currently is to help me understand why. Believe it or not, Officer She and I ARE trying to help you. What I see before me is a man fighting himself, trying to be something against his nature, and people do not do so without a very good reason.” “And lastly, if that were not enough, I also know that simple thugs do not paint with such skill as you demonstrate. Let the savage anarchist act drop and help yourself by helping us. You may want to ask yourself, Mr. Wheeler, why we are speaking to you when we have your capo, try to look past your cynicism and REALLY consider that fact.”
Team Oz: ”Adrian, while you and I are still outside the interview room, please inform She using your magic whispering to focus her conversation on the freedom aspect for the moment, and let her know, I am going to join her after the first few questions, and to remember what we talked about.”
Team Oz: ”Lead on Watch Officer She Who Always Tries”
Team Oz: ”If we play our roles right we are likely to learn that and much more She, Irori willing.”
Team Oz: ”That is an interesting point She, and it is very likely that his paints ARE something we can use as leverage, but moreover, I suspect the images themselves, your likeness included, have meaning to Wheeler, and thus are of interest to us.
I would ask you to take a close look at the content and context of his art, as you are far more likely to understand any hidden or cultural meaning than I. We may wish to use the confiscation of Wheeler’s art materials as a last resort though, as it is likely to provoke him, perhaps severely, or so my intuition is telling me. There is something more to Wheeler than just a thug...despite his poor choices, I do sincerely wish to understand his motivations, and if I can, to help him. I do not believe that he is beyond redemption, and he will be given the fair process and treatment due him under our laws.”
Amelia ponders She’s words for a moment. : Freedom...interesting. I think we are best served by discovering what other hidden issues chain Wheeler. He seems to be trying very hard to justify to himself that he IS free, by comparing himself to you. It may payoff to point out to him that he is in fact double chained by the actions of his boss Spindleshank, both as a prisoner of the Watch, and by whatever deal or motivation the strange dark-skinned elf has.
Yes, we need to make Wheeler realize he was not, and is still not free, despite his perception of freedom. Make him see you as far more free than he has ever been, exactly because you follow the rule of law. Wheeler thinks laws exist to limit freedom, but YOU are the example we need to show him that laws can and DO exist to in fact allow for freedom. It seems to me what Wheeler sees as freedom is in reality, anarchy, which might look like complete freedom, but as it lacks any form of structure at all, more often than not crushes freedom rather than encouraging it.
Amelia nods to She, impressed by how quickly she is catching on. : "Yes, exactly, and Wheeler is why your knowledge will be vital. What can you tell me about him, how do you think he views himself within the structure of the gang? And of course, as he seemed a warrior type, is there anything particular that vanara value in battle, or on the other side, can you tell me about what he may fear, as pain and death don’t seem to be it."
Amelia returns She's friendly smile. "Miss Rolshen will do just fine in the interview space, otherwise, it's just Amelia." Amelia then sighs, her face taking on a serious look. She opens the leather briefcase she carried and removes a sheathed kukri and belt. "I suppose I should start to get used to carrying this, given who we are dealing with, for me to appear both unarmed and unarmored would project too much of a sense of timidity or weakness on my part. I want the suspects to trust and be un-threatened by my presence, but at the same time, I need to command, as you Watch Officers do, some respect as well. Suspects perception of us is important, it can help or hinder how much we learn from them" Amelia belts the weapon around her waist, taking several moments to get the weapon to sit correctly, clearly marking her limited familiarity with arms. "Believe it or not, I am not much of a fighter, and I admit I have never been given cause to have to use this against another person, though it has been close a time or two. Of course, unless someone is clever enough to look at my palms for callus or other signs of martial skill, that doesn't matter as much. Manipulating someone's perception of a thing can have a strong effect, even if the underlying logic of the thing one is manipulating the perception of at close inspection says otherwise. The trick is to give the subject no reason to look any further than you want them to at the subject matter one is attempting to manipulate their perception of, if that makes sense."
Amelia appears deep in thought for a few moments, before returning to the conversation at hand. @ She Who Always Tries "Perhaps you and I can have a small sit down talk about our pending questioning of suspects. While exact guidance regarding the legality and limits of certain types of interrogation will be useful, I suspect your knowledge of vanara culture and habits will prove invaluable to me as well. Is a strategy meeting, over good strong coffee on my coin, acceptable to you Watch Officer She Who Always Tries?"
”I would be glad to offer whatever aid or council, be it legal or investigative, that you need in questioning the suspects from the Belladame incident, and given that I was there and conscious during the robbery and subsequent fight, I have added insight from a 3rd party observer's view of the event. If you would like Lt. Callahan, I can start assisting in the questioning of the suspects immediately.” @ She Who Always Tries "I would be glad to advise on the matter, though I can already tell you, pain makes people tell you what they think you want to hear, but that is not truth. No, empathy and careful study of what a suspect says and HOW they say it is far more telling. I am at your disposal Watch Officer She Who Always Tries."
Amelia's face shows nothing but a sincere desire to see justice done even under Roedar's careful observation, as do the words she speaks. Her voice is even and sure, and her manners betray nothing but earnestness, with no sign of the behaviors that normally accompany someone dissembling or attempting deception.
Amelia takes stock of the Lieutenant, trying to judge her command style, and if she is a true adherent to the Law, or an officer who prefers gold over true justice.
I won’t waste any of your time Lt. with idle banter, to get right to the point, I know there are two issues at the moment with which Spiegel and I are likely to be of the most assistance with. The current gang violence plaguing the city, and a string of murders, whose victims have all been of small races, or children. While we will assist where and as you direct Lt., I am personally moved to assist with the string of what I am starting to suspect are serial murders. I defend those who have committed crimes for a living, but the unsub or unsubs that are committing these murders of small folk and children are not just criminal, they are monstrous, and I would see the person or persons answer for their atrocities before the eyes of the Law, and pay the penalty should indeed guilt be proven.
Amelia and Spiegel report to Lt. Callahan a few weeks into the increasing gang violence and serial killings of small individuals. Spiegel avoids speaking any more than absolutely needed during the meeting, always standing a few paces behind Amelia, refusing to sit down, his only concession to decorum his removal of his smoked glasses, which he folds and places in an interior pocket of his suit coat. Amelia however more than makes up for her bodyguard's stoicness. Lieutenant Callahan, my employer, the prestigious law firm of First & Basil have provided myself and my associate opportunity to assist the Watch in a consultant capacity. As Mivon’s need is great at this time, and in light of recent events, we are reporting for assignment at this time.
Amelia has a hard time concealing her pleased look as the evenings excitement dies down. After taking her leave of Tracy Amelia heads home to her loft apartment, picking up and greeting lovingly her pet asp, Montrello. Have you been a good boy Montrello, who wants a ratty num num...I bet you do! Amelia pulls a live rat from a cage containing several of the creatures, and then places it in Montrello's enclosure, which takes up nearly 1/3 of her smallish residence. Sorry little rat, you have been found guilty of being delicious to serpents, dinner Montrello, come and hunt it sweetie. Amelia sheds her evening dress and formal attire, replacing it with a simple sleeping shift. She pours herself two fingers of something from a dusty bottle, and nestles herself among the many pillow that make up much of her furniture. Hope this lucky streak I seem to be on holds, cause Mama needs a defendant to make her some gold, so she can get Ma and Da into someplace better. They worked hard to help get me where I am, I owe them that much at least, if not much more. Yawning Amelia finishes her drink and drifts off to sleep, dreaming of legal fees and courtrooms where duels were fought with words and laws, not steel and blood.
Amelia gives Watchman Alan a respectful bow finished with a sly smile. Your service and courtesy are both appreciated Ser, but the only noble between us is Lady Belladame, I am common born, daughter of eel fisher folk, and proud of it. For my part, I will simply wish you the Master of the First Vault's continued favor. The granting of leave taking is her honor alone. Amelia winks at Tracy. Perhaps we should drink to Abadar's good judgement in agents this eve' m'lady?
Amelia raises her shot glass a self-satisfied smile on her lips. "Must be a good toast, you are considering it rather carefully"
::Ameila slides over one of the shot glasses carefully to the Lady Belladame:: "As this evening was supposed to be in your honor, the toast is yours, what shall we drink to? Or whom perhaps... ::she occasionally glances at Alan as he rounds up the failed crooks:: "While this is not anywhere near what I expected out of the evening, oddly, despite the row, I am feeling rather good about it." Acid or tar...I think Peacock may have inadvertently avoided a much worse fate by putting his face in the way of that Watchwoman's weapon. Remind me never to test your patience Lady Belladame."
::waves Tracy over:: "Why don't you join me at the bar Lady Belladame, the view is better, and spares us of the wounded Peacock's visage, such as it is."
Amelia walks behind the bar which had previously housed the duplicitous Half-Orc bartender, the same who had served her earlier in the night. ::She pours two shots of Oldlaw whiskey from the same bottle she had started the night with. She sets them on the bar with exaggerated care and pomp:: Lady Belladame...shall we drink to your good health and the bravery of the Watch. while this fellow ::jerks a thumb at the tender:: is a cad, he was good enough not to ruin fine whiskey with poison. Seems even criminals have their lines." Amelia walks back out from behind the bar, passing next to the bartender likely as he is being placed in Watch custody and places a First & Basil business card in his pocket along with a gold piece. The gold is for not ruining the whiskey, I am sure you know what the former is for already. If your boss has coin and brains enough, maybe you will see me again. Gods know you bunch are in need of good legal council at this time. Consider that advice free. Upon catching sight of the Viskanya serving maids also being arrested Amelia adds in Vishkanya loud enough for the conscious three to hear. If you understand Vishkanya:
"That goes doubly for you three, I am disappointed to see intelligent women, of my own race no less, wasting their skills on burglary and assaulting Watch members. Which might I add was very unwise of you, the addition of assault of officers of the law, to your list of charges." Amelia settles herself on a bar stool.
Amelia places a First & Basil business card in the pocket of the unconscious criminal formerly known as Prancing Peacock. "I hope you can afford the firm's fees, you are looking at some serious charges I suspect Peacock." Amelia heads for the bar, careful to not step on any unconscious party goers. Looking back she winks and throws a smile at Tracy. "Hey, you want a drink, there is no line at the bar"
Amelia takes a deep breath and offers the Half-Ogre a flashed smile as she turns to the muttering guests. She speaks calmly and loud enough to be heard but does not shout. "Officer I thank you for your courageous defense of my person and that of these innocent bi-standards. By the River Freedoms this cad clearly could not hold what he has, and came as a sneak thief, albeit a poor one, resorting to magic, a trumped up bungling burglar, turned attempted murderer upon the souring of the job."
Amelia opens one eye to catch sight of the pushy man from earlier planting a blade in the back of the large female watch member. A spark of anger bursts to life in Amelia as she rises to her feet. ::gets up from prone:: Amelia fixes her glare on the pushy fop, her voice drips with scorn. "Hey you, Prancing Peacock, you had best quit this fool's errand before the private security from First & Basil gets here. The Watch will spare your miserable lives if you give up now, the firm's hitters will gut you and smile!
Amelia keeps her eyes tightly shut, still trying her best to appear unconscious and dead to the world. Her mind focused on the terrifying fact she was about to be caught in a fight.
Amelia feigns unconsciousness.
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