Officer Casadei calls for a guard. "Check on the docks with Marinelli, what was on that ship that exploded and if there is more of it in any of the warehouses. If there is, inquire how they keep that from exploding too."
Search Posts
"It is not hard to find out where it came from and where it should have gone to. I'll send someone to inquire with the companies at the docks."
"How does this gunpowder look, and how does it work?"
"Personally I'm really curious what happened there, as it was rather spectacular. My office has a nice view over the sea and the guard towers offer an even better one. And I haven't seen something like that before." Kasadei replies. "If you ask me in my official role, I can tell you that the title is 'City Watch Captain' and not 'some foreign ship out on the sea captain'."
"Good morning. What does my favorite visitor bring this time?"
"Good morning. What does my favorite visitor bring this time?"
"What is it? Will it cost me money?" Kasadei inquires as Menan greets her.
"Exactly that. They investigated the area and the house. Then they advised to fence off the area and put up 'beware of the ghost' signs basically." "The explanation went along the lines of: You can't destroy a shost, only have it cease to exist once its unfinished business is concluded. And it might as well be an eternal grudge that cries for retribution in blood, then that is not an option." "You being the first in the decades anyone remembers let's that look like a reasonable solution."
"Hiring guards is a valid response. But 'taking things in their own hands' can lead to them being on my bad side. I don't know what exactly you mean with that phrase, but if they consider kicking in doors and beating up people, tell them to not do that. Anyone you catch red handed calling demons though..."
Kasadei invited Menan into her office. There she asks for the letter. After the details about what happened are exchanged she offers "I can tell the guards of the night shift to have an eye on those shops. That it happens the same day and at all of the shops makes it clear that this is no random event. But also it is hard to pin that on anyone specific."
Kasadei comes from the training yard to enter the building again. Seeing Menan she comes over. "Good morning. What happened, to bring you here again?"
"You mean that is not covered by the pay for the investigation of the goblin issue?" Kasadei asks with a smile. She opens her drawer, unlocks the cash box and counts out five more gold.
"We have a training ground. If she can persuade someone to train with her, she's welcome. But don't expect too much. These are city guards. No experienced warriors."
"I guess I'd call the church to send an exorcist or something. I have to check on that."
"Thanks for the heads up." Kasadei sighs. "And your offer?"
"Hello Mr. Variel. What brings you here?" Another opportunity to lighten my funds by five gold?
"Ah, the old castle. Good work, here is your pay. We'll take care of it." Kasadei replies putting the stack of coins out.
As Menan knows the way to Officer Kasadei. "Hello. You were successful already?"
"It's for an investigation. Best case you get the money for an hour long walk finding nothing. Different case, you are a good investigator that finds a goblin infestation without being noticed." "It only becomes dangerous if you notice the goblins once you're surrounded. People of that qualification I have dozens on my pay list." "But feel free to make a counter offer."
"Then the deal is five gold again for checking if there is a goblin tribe or any other threat hiding beneath the town, or using it to come in." Turning to Faerveren she adds. "How many subcontractors Mr. Variel employs for that endeavor is up to him."
"What exactly are you suggesting to investigate, and how much time do you think it will take?"
Another familiar face turns up. "Surprise surprise." Kassadei greets Menan. "You're here to offer your investigative services? I have to admit, you're fast."
"Ah, right." Kasadei bags the two coins. "Marinelli you say? Well, I haven't heard anything nice either, but so far also no real crimes are reported. Some of his workers started a brawl here and there, but nothing you wouldn't expect. Only usually that stays at the docks."
"I have bad news for your plan to further investigate the truth. Lady Aghasta Pembrooke found death by her own hand. She hanged herself from the bars of the small window in the door with a stripe of cloth ripped from her underwear." "The guard found her this morning when they brought her the food for the day." "All the guards on duty where questioned, but the door was locked, all guards patrolled in pairs as they should and nothing out of the ordinary was noticed. One admitted about telling Lady Pembrooke the 'good news', that she would be summoned before an inquisitor of Abadar today. Joking, that this would give her the rare chance to have her statement verified by divine magic." Kasadei sighs. "Yeah, my superiours agreed to use magic to find out what happened. Congratulations. But that won't do any good now. I reported her death like I told you and they took it as an admission of her guilt." "With that, her claims about her hand being forced are considered a lie to cover herself. So with the path of action you suggested, you brought to pass what was our deal. So here are your five gold."
"Like I told, come back tomorrow, until then I'll have that information." "As for questioning Lady Pembrooke further, without magic you'd never get her to admit to murders years back, but for everything that would help proving her innocence, she will cooperate. And substantial claims can be cross checked. That's what we muggles do. And it works quite fine." "Because every lie you tell is a debt you take from reality. And one day reality comes to collect.
"You remember our agreement? You either proof she is crazy, or you find witnesses, or hard evidence that someone really forced her hand. Like her making a deal with the devil." "And the real sweet part of the deal was your offer, that if you can't come up with one or the other, I'd owe you nothing." "Now you brought some suspicions, that she might be a serial murder. But you're not willing to wait if my superiors are going to spend the money to investigate this further. You brought up another lead with the dagger, but you're not willing to follow up on that either." Kasadei states and pauses. "It was solid investigative work, and therefore you can have two gold, despite not delivering, if you want to quit now." She puts two coins on the desk for Menan to take.
"Just because I don't agree on your course of action, doesn't mean you're done." Kasadei opens a drawer and takes out a dagger. A dagger, not a simple knife, but a fine dagger, with an engraved blade and a decorated cross guard. And dried blood on the blade. "She said, her hand was forced, and she didn't put the dagger in her purse. So, someone else did. Who? This dagger costs more than a guard earns in three years. Who would go to such lengths to have her kill her own son in such a graphic way with such an expensive weapon?" "You see why that would make some people nervous? Imagine a person who has the means to force someone's hand, and the resources to throw in such a dagger. And the guts to tell the whole city: It's not about the money, it's about sending a message. And who is the recipient of that message?" "Can you at least tell me if the dagger is hers? Because that would make her lame excuse much less believable."
"That is about the salary of a guard for a year. That's too much for now." "I'll ask if there will be a public trial and when. And I'll inform those involved of your findings. If they deem it useful to investigate further, then it's out of their coffers and they are much deeper than mine." "Come back tomorrow. Until then, I'll have that information."
"We do public beheading, but the effect is the same. And it would kill the rumors, if no other cases of 'the devil made me do it' occur." "I don't have those divine casters. And Abadar's clerics aren't known for their charity. How much gold are we talking for these spells you need? A year's salary of a guard?"
"So you suggest to put more money and resources on this case to open another can of worms?" "How would that help me to dissipate the rumors?"
Approaching the temple and seeing that nice follower of Abadar in shiny armor, he remembers, that the officer is found at the city watch, near the main gate of town. Once there he is sent in to Kasadei's office by the guard he met yesterday. "Oh, hello. Did you solve the mystery already?"
"You're funny." Kasadei laughs. Seing Menan not laugh, she stops "Oh, you are serious." She laughs even harder. "I'll send you with a guard who has seen most of it. If you're lucky he recognized some of the people around." She gets up, walks to the window and shouts out "Carl, I need you up here." Turning to Menan again she asks him to wait in the corridor.
"There is a library at the temple of Abadar. They should have a copy available to the public." "There comes no authority with that job. I'll tell one of my guards to bring you to the culprit for an interview. Otherwise, you ask nice and hope people cooperate."
"Well, in that case..." Kasadei replies with a smile. "We have a nutjob in prison who murdered her little son in bright daylight on the market place. Many witnesses, even the guard was there, so no doubts about what happened. But she told, the devil made her do it, or something along the lines. And that has made some people nervous." "I need something to calm some peoples nerves. If you can find evidence that she was crazy would help. Or if she was a witch who dealt with the devil, that might work too." "Just having that hanging in the air with the rumors running wild, that's not good. Five gold on that. But proper evidence and witnesses. No hearsay."
Inside the office and asking around some more, Menan ends up in front of the desk of an officer. After short introductions and Menan repqating his request about who hires investigators Kasadei iquires "You want to apply for a job on the watch?"
"You get lost, and if I see you loitering around here again, I'll lock you up!" the captain orders.
"So you are meddling in criminal affairs, that are under investigation by Captain Boverde Hoptler without informing the guard. And I don't see the owner of the Nobleman's Stitch around, and you brought a special 'key' of your own. So I assume, you didn't get his permission to enter his property either?" "Which leaves the question who your employer is, that likes to take justice in their own hands?" Captain Casaday inquires. She observes Grergof's reaction closely and no change in expression or twitch will evade her attention.
It takes a while until a captain comes along leading a small group of guards. A short discussion ensues why Carl is standing around instead of doing his guard duties. He explains that he is very well doing his duty by hindering those foreigners from trespassing into the Nobleman's Stitch. "Is that so?" the captain inquires from Grergof who is standing next to them. She has the 'choose your words wisely or rot in jail' look.
"Yes ma'm." Officer Kasadei replies and leaves with the other officers.
"Yes Ma'm." Officer Kasadei answers and takes the requested position.
The guards put the murder suspect on a stretcher and put a blanket over her. "Thank you. We'll leave now. Good bye." Officer Kasadei says and leads her squad out of the manor and back to the Arvensoar.
About half an hour later a squad of city watch guards appears at the manor. Knocking at the door the officer knocks and waits for someone to open. "Hello. We're here to receive the murder suspect." she greets.
Kasadei commands her men to follow and leaves without another word.
Kasadei gulps visibly and her men are getting uneasy. "Alright then. I'll talk to my superiors and they decide what to do here. Someone will come to talk to you about that." The 'hopefully not me' between the lines easily recognizable.
"Either you come voluntarily or I'll make you come." Kasadei threatens and gives her guards the sign to ready themselves.
"That is none of your business." Kasadei replies.
Kasadei looks at the gnome in disbelief "You payed a visit to Jaster Frallino, the head of the Gallowed?" She shakes her head. "But you can't run around town and start your personal wars. And we have a justice system. If you have problems you call the guard and we solve them. You have to accompany me to the Arvensoar for further questioning."
"It's Captain Kasadei. I have some questions. There were reports about a fight in Low Cleft. And your name came up in the investigation." Kasadei explains. "What was your involvement in that?"
As Tauriell, Jimmy and Gwenhwyfar are gone a squad of eight city guards led by Captain Kasadei arrives at the Shadow Clock. Kasadei shortly admires the brass name plate and knocks at the open door. "Is Abomentolor Goblindburner here?" she asks in a demanding tone.
|
