Genera, the City of Gold, stood gleaming on the banks of the lake Effluvia, its tall spires and minarets gleaming white and gold in the crisp autumn air. A strong wind whipped the pennants on the guild towers carrying mixed odors of incense and the faint sounds of chanting from the mall of gods over the lower city as the wind rushed out to sea. Genera filled the serpentine valley from the White Citadel at its apex to the Black Forts at its mouth. The White Citadel Stands tall at the valley head, its back to the glacier that gives the city life. The White Citadel was carved out the mountain itself forming an arch straddling the river Effluvia. A fortified wall with guard posts every few hundred feet split from the White Citadel and followed the valleys crest’s terminating in the Black Forts one on either side of the valley mouth, protecting the port inside. The city of Genera flowed down alongside the lake beginning with the Gables, home to the nobility and the rich. Next came the Guildhalls the merchant center, on the north bank and the Mall of Gods, home to the city temples and cloisters, to the south. The lower city sprawls across the rest of the valley ending at the Black Forts. Genera is the port of call for all ships traveling the Golden Coast bringing great wealth and exotic item and people to the city. Tall wide bridges of stone cross the river at regular spans that link both sides of the city into one, the bridges are built tall enough for all but the largest ships to sail to the docks that line both sides of the lake and wide enough for a column of soldiers to cross without breaking formation.
Genera is an ancient city thousands of years old but existing its current form for only a few hundred. Originally it was a dwarven mining outpost for a few hundred years before being conquered by orc raiders. The raiders held the valley until the fey drove them out. The Fey ceded the valley to the Empire of the North and when the Northern Empire collapsed the nobles fled to the secluded valley and Genera in its current form began. Each wave of new occupants built upon the ruins of the last and hidden tunnels, sewers and dwarven mining sites abound under the streets of the city above.
Folk tails tell of a primeval city lurking in the lightless depths of Lake Effluvia, where the deep ones lay in torpor awaiting an unknown sign to awake.
The streets are on the verge of panic, for the last four months people have been disappearing. Genera is a violent city murder and kidnapping are common, people are shanghaied others leave the city fleeing debt, taxes or marriage but this is different it’s the scale of the disappearances that is causing the panic. Hundreds have disappeared over the last four months and the disappearances are not limited to the lower city. Nobles, clergy, merchants, watchmen and commoners have all vanished no bodies have been found and no demands for ransom have been sent. The Redcaps are stretched to the limit just maintaining the peace. The guilds are causing uproar in the council demanding a solution and the nobles have sealed themselves inside the Gables and tripled their guards paralyzing the High Fane.
Monday morning, dawn, you are ordered to a meeting with Petor vanOverwalle chief justice of the courts. You are ushered along halls lined with marble columns and portraits of past and present judges of the court. You are led deep into the hart of the High Court and led to Chief justice’s vanOverwalle’s chambers. When all five of you arrive you are led into the Chief Justice’s chambers, vanOverwalle Sat behind a large desk made of exotic woods and the walls of his office are lined with books written in dozens of languages. Beside him stood Ulric DeVeries the vice-chamberlain of the guild Triumvirate and Markgraf Hinrich Geller a noble who has championed causes for the poor in the lower city.
vanOverwalle motions you forward, there are no other chairs except for the one he is using so you are forced to stand. “ You five have been called here for one purpose and until you have finished all other duties you have are superseded. We three, gestures to DeVeries, Geller and himself, have formed an inquisition of five to look into and resolve this plague of disappearances. We have culled the choices to you five, as you represent the best of your station. You are as of now under an order of silence and are not to speak about your findings or of any information received in these chambers to any one outside of the seven of us”.
Markgraf Geller steps forward handing Galvan Ironhorns a large leather scroll case marked with the seal of the Redcaps. “Last night under heavy guard three members of the Hollier family vanished from their mansion in the Gables. If it weren’t for Sgt. Ironhorns and his crew we would have no clues as to how they disappeared, while on patrol he discovered a group of dark dressed individuals scrubbing a magic circle off the Hollier mansion, when ordered to surrender they drew weapons and attacked the patrol, in the melee that followed all were killed along with two Redcaps”.
DeVeries interrupts “What was left of the circle was transcribed onto parchment and then removed to prevent the panic it might cause, also in the file is a list of the possessions held by the abductors. You have all the information we have, track these people down, find out what happened to the ones taken and stop them before the city implodes”.
vanOverwalle concludes “you have your assignment, report back to these chambers once when you have made progress”.
Sunaj nods in the direction of Geller who has met in the Assembly. He then solemnly raises his right hand:
"Speaking for myself, I hereby give my word that I am bound not to disclose to anyone other than those in this room matters which I may uncover in the course of this investigation."
"Chief Justice, may we know who among the Holiers family were taken? And if there are anyone of them still remaining?"
"The Graf Holliers twin daughters Uma an Estelle, 8 years old, have been taken along with their aunt Markie who was their caretaker".
"Their aunt was unmarried, yes?"
Markgraf Geller responds "Markie is a widow, her husband was Capt. Verner Hollier and was killed clearing the outer walls of an Halfling encampment that decided to live in our shadow. He was a good man and solider, he gave up his title to join the army only to killed by a band of vagrants. Markie was taken by his brother to take care of his new born daughters".
"Magic circle? Was there any blood?"
Although he has stood at attention for the entirety of the presentation, Thewl snaps to even greater attention, if that's possible.
*click* You can count on us, Your Honor. We'll track down these poor, missing children and their helpless aunt. *click*
He begins to turn to depart ...
*click* A question: The hooded figures, killed by Recaps. They were human? Local? *click*
DeVeries snaps "there is a sample of the substance the circle was written in, in the case, and the men where probably just riff raff picked up in the Shingles to do job for the night. Their bodies might still be in morgue if you have to see them".
Edit: Link to map of Genera.
*holds up scroll case*
"I'm sure that hiz onner put everthing we need in this file. Let's go find a quiet place ta look this stuff over. Thank ya fer yer consideration and yer time yer onner."
*nods in respect to the judge and turns to leave*
"A drawing of the circle is in the case, yes? We will inspect it soon."
Before he leaves, Isari kneels before the assembled leaders. "I swear, we will find the criminals who did this."
*click* Come. Let us repair to a nearby courtroom and inspect these clues. Every minute that passes is another minute that these innocent children suffer. *click*
Thewl strides from the room, expecting the others to follow.
(Before the courtroom events)
It had been a strange morning indeed. As usual, the Mage's Guild itself was bustling with activity; demand for protective magical items were at an all-time high- nothing too surprising since the rash of bold kidnappings and disappearances had started up within the city itself months ago.
"Ahem. Jonas Brightspell, was it?". Jonas looked up from his labors to see one of his senior supervisors sauntering up with a smarmy grin on his face and carrying a travel pack in hand. "Just the man I wanted to see"
Jonas should've known that something was up then- that particular senior supervisor had never mentioned him by name since he could recall; "Hey, novice" was the usual customary form of address that Jonas was accustomed to from that supervisor.
"Your immediate presence is required at the courts". Getting told to report to the halls of the courts, while getting the travel pack (an Adventurer's kit, as they were colloquially known) brusquely and unceremoniously shoved into his arms.
"You are to report to the courthouse at once- so get to it on the double, novice". At least some things were getting back to normal, as that supervisor went back to his normal grumpy self.
At first, Jonas reluctantly ventured forth from the guildhall towards the courts. But as he made his way down to the hall, he had change of heart. It was an opportunity, thought Jonas, to show his superiors that he wasn't just some unlicensed hedge mage nor a glorified librarian- that he was a true practitioner of the magical arts in good standing with the guild, through and through.
When he arrived at the courts, Jonas discovered to his chagrin that he was the last to have arrived. What got him slightly more antsy inside was the look of the others gathered, waiting before the court halls.
There was an imposing minotaur, wearing the accouterment of the Red Caps, and was that an honest to goodness drow, the renegade branch of the elven family, in their midst? One of the forged, a race built for battle but recently emancipated not all that long ago, standing silently at attention and there was only other normal member of his group, a fellow human- no doubt a warrior judging by the hand and half sword that he carries. Jonas then found himself thinking "This surely must be a dreadful mistake" as he sidled up to the group.
(The present, inside the Chief Justice's chambers)
Now with those words uttered by the triumvirate, the sinking feeling of despair in the pit of Jonas' stomach settled with final certainty that this was going to be anything but business as usual.
Sunaj nods in the direction of Geller who has met in the Assembly. He then solemnly raises his right hand:
"Speaking for myself, I hereby give my word that I am bound not to disclose to anyone other than those in this room matters which I may uncover in the course of this investigation."
With short pause after Sunaj makes his declaration to the assembled triuvmvirate, Jonas addresses to the gathered officials "and I, Jonas Albrecht Broissant Brightspell of the Mage's guild, will agree to abide by the, um, restrictions set forth, as well".
DeVeries snaps "there is a sample of the substance the circle was written in, in the case, and the men where probably just riff raff picked up in the Shingles to do job for the night. Their bodies might still be in morgue if you have to see them".
Upon hearing the Vice-chamberlain speak, Jonas puts forth a query of his own to DeVeries, "Begging your pardon, Vice-chamberlain DeVeries, but surely a matter of this importance would warrant the attentions of someone with a much higher standing within the guild- as opposed to say, someone like myself?"
*holds up scroll case*
"I'm sure that hiz onner put everthing we need in this file. Let's go find a quiet place ta look this stuff over. Thank ya fer yer consideration and yer time yer onner."
"A drawing of the circle is in the case, yes? We will inspect it soon."
Jonas turns to address Galvan, "Sergeant? Might I take a look at the copy of this magical circle fragment as well? Of I'm certain that no one the Mage's guild wouldn't have anything to do with such scoundrels", Jonas added in as an afterthought
*click* Come. Let us repair to a nearby courtroom and inspect these clues. Every minute that passes is another minute that these innocent children suffer. *click*
Jonas mutters quietly under his breath "I suppose it couldn't hurt to help out this investigation then".
Upon hearing the Vice-chamberlain speak, Jonas puts forth a query of his own to DeVeries, "Begging your pardon, Vice-chamberlain DeVeries, but surely a matter of this importance would warrant the attentions of someone with a much higher standing within the guild- as opposed to say, someone like myself?"
DeVeries fixes you with an icy glare and with not a small amount of condescension in his voice "It most assuredly would..." before he can continue vanOverwalle cuts him off "That will be enough DeVeries. The five of you have been chosen based on your records alone, do not let us down".
A very nervous court clerk leads you to and unused meeting room and asks if refreshments should be brought before hesitantly bowing to the group and leaving.
Examining the contents of the case you find; a rolled up parchment with the finely detailed copy of the remains of the circle inscribed on it, a small envelope containing five amulets resembling what looks like a snake tied up in a knot, a crystal vile with what looks like a silvery paste inside and an inventory of the items found on the perpetrators.
Inventory;
5 short swords
5 silver amulets
5 set matching clothing, black
2 fishers knife
1 holy symbol, Melora
"I'm Sarjunt Galvan Ironhorns a' tha City Watch." *points to his red cap* "I got no 'lusions 'bout myself. I'm a head-knocker and brawl-breaker. Investigatin' is not my strong suit."
*snorts*
"I don't like what's been goin' on lately. I lost good people ta other day too. So, up front, I ain't a' quittin' this until we get who's doin' this."
"Just so's ya'll know: my crew and I tried ta bring 'em back alive. Heck, one a' 'em I just grazed with my knuckles. I KO'd him fer sure. But after tha fight was over, he was dead as the rest."
"I'm Sarjunt Galvan Ironhorns a' tha City Watch." *points to his red cap* "I got no 'lusions 'bout myself. I'm a head-knocker and brawl-breaker. Investigatin' is not my strong suit."
*snorts*
"I don't like what's been goin' on lately. I lost good people ta other day too. So, up front, I ain't a' quittin' this until we get who's doin' this."
"Just so's ya'll know: my crew and I tried ta bring 'em back alive. Heck, one a' 'em I just grazed with my knuckles. I KO'd him fer sure. But after tha fight was over, he was dead as the rest."
*click* Perhaps one of you might have access to some information regarding these amulets, whether in a library or somewhere less savory? *click*
Thewl eyes the drow (if he had eyebrows, one would be raised).
*click* That might be a place to start. I suppose we might also ask if the temple of Melora is missing any acolytes. Is there further information to be gathered from these supplies? *click*
"You want something," Sunaj asks of Thewl as he notices the latter staring at him. Sunaj's attention is then captured by the silver amulets and he starts to examine them.
"You want something," Sunaj asks of Thewl as he notices the latter staring at him.
*click* No, no. I just thought you might have some insight into the workings of the less-than-legitimate workings of Genera. I can't imagine why. *click*
*click* What is this circle? Does it look familiar to any of you? *click*
It is clear that Thewl is disregarding his own avowed disinterest. He can't keep from being involved and trying to manage the investigation.
*click* No, no. I just thought you might have some insight into the workings of the less-than-legitimate workings of Genera. I can't imagine why. *click*
"What less-than-legitimate workings are you thinking of? Remember I am a member of the assembly." Sunaj mutters as he continues his examination.
"What less-than-legitimate workings are you thinking of? Remember I am a member of the assembly."
*click* Of course, of course, Master Fellhand. I don't know what I was thiking. Please, forget I said anything. *click*
"Can't hear you. What were you saying?"
"You want something," Sunaj asks of Thewl as he notices the latter staring at him. Sunaj's attention is then captured by the silver amulets and he starts to examine them.
The amulets are not magical (you would need an Religion check to gain information about them) but the circle is the physical component of a ritual, probably passwall, but the circle is duel layered with another travel ritual that you can't quite make out.
DeVeries fixes you with an icy glare and with not a small amount of condescension in his voice "It most assuredly would..." before he can continue vanOverwalle cuts him off "That will be enough DeVeries. The five of you have been chosen based on your records alone, do not let us down".
Quailing under the Vice-chamberlain's withering icy stare, Jonas is thankful for the brief respite when the Chief Justice himself verbally intervenes. But despite the relief bought about the that short reprieve, Jonas finds himself not a little bit unnerved at the Chief Justice's ominously final spoken words of "do not let us down".
Examining the contents of the case you find; a rolled up parchment with the finely detailed copy of the remains of the circle inscribed on it, a small envelope containing five amulets resembling what looks like a snake tied up in a knot, a crystal vile with what looks like a silvery paste inside and an inventory of the items found on the perpetrators.Inventory;
5 short swords
5 silver amulets
5 set matching clothing, black
2 fishers knife
1 holy symbol, Melora
"Now this looks like an interesting vial", Jonas remarks as he uses his at-will mage-hand to get a view of the vial at all possible angles. Arcana check on vial (1d20+9=15)
*click* That might be a place to start. I suppose we might also ask if the temple of Melora is missing any acolytes.
"A holy symbol of Melora, now?" Jonas blinks as he goes over the inventory. "If I recall correctly, she's a nature goddess- more specifically a forest and sea goddess- worshipped by hunters, sailors, elves, and, well, really just about anybody involved with her domains. I am familiar with the Mall of Gods, having been there myself a few times- though admittedly not as an adherent to Melora's faith, mind you."
*click* What is this circle? Does it look familiar to any of you? *click*
"If I may take a look at the copy of the circle"
Arcana and Religion check on circle (1d20+9=22, 1d20+9=11)Nature check on circle (1d20+6=21)
*click* Perhaps one of you might have access to some information regarding these amulets, whether in a library or somewhere less savory? *click*
The amulets are not magical (you would need an Religion check to gain information about them)Sunaj's attention is then captured by the silver amulets and he starts to examine them.
Arcana Check to learn info about silver amulets1d20+7=24
"What intriguing amulets...." Religion check on amulets (1d20+9=20)
"Just so's ya'll know: my crew and I tried ta bring 'em back alive. Heck, one a' 'em I just grazed with my knuckles. I KO'd him fer sure. But after tha fight was over, he was dead as the rest."
"Dead you say? Might it be possible that the one you grazed was a bit more delicate than his compatriots? That combined with your strength, which must be very considerable, could very well have led him into his present state."
"I'm just sayin' there's gotta be anudder reason. I know what it takes ta knock somebody down and what it takes ta kill 'em."
*snort* "I ain't so strong that I can't hold an egg. If that perp died from tha tap I gave 'im it's 'cause there was some'in else wrong with 'im."
"I'm just sayin' there's gotta be anudder reason."
*click* Ha. 'An udder' reason. *click*
*click* Excuse me. Sometimes my sense of humor can be a liability. It seems clear that a journey to the local shrine of Melora, whatever flavor of deity that my be, is in order. *click*
*click* What is this circle? Does it look familiar to any of you? *click*
"If I may take a look at the copy of the circle"
Arcana and Religion check on circle (1d20+9=22, 1d20+9=11)
Nature check on circle (1d20+6=21)
Isari looks over the circle with Jonas.
Isari and Jonas look over the drawing all conclude the underlying ritual is most likely 'Linked Portal'. The amount of skill need to perform just one of those rituals is far beyond any of your abilities even if it was preformed off a scroll it would take a lot of skill to interlink the circles.
Jonas, the contents of the vial is a glittery-silver oily paste also you remember seeing something like the pendants in the mall of gods but you don't remember which temple or pantheon it belongs to.
"So what have you guys learned about the ritual?" Sunaj asks of Isari and Jonas.
"So what have you guys learned about the ritual?" Sunaj asks of Isari and Jonas.
"It was a Linked Portal. We're nowhere near skilled enough to produce this sort of effect. Since Galvan was not lit aflame, we can only assume that the men he faught were only hired to copy the circle exactly, and an arcanist would complete the ritual at a seperate time."
*click* Must it have been an arcanist? I have heard that priests can also perform various rituals of travel. Might this be another clue that points toward the shrine of Melora, or no? *click*
*click* Must it have been an arcanist? I have heard that priests can also perform various rituals of travel. Might this be another clue that points toward the shrine of Melora, or no? *click*
"This ritual generally requires at least some arcane knowledge to preform properly. Of course, there are wizards that worship Melora too."
*click* Good point. *click*
Thewl makes a note that this human is quite clever and that his opinion should be valued in the future.
"A linked portal... interesting."
For UberDMench
Sunaj:
"I'm just sayin' there's gotta be anudder reason. I know what it takes ta knock somebody down and what it takes ta kill 'em."
*snort* "I ain't so strong that I can't hold an egg. If that perp died from tha tap I gave 'im it's 'cause there was some'in else wrong with 'im."
"Well then in that case... hmm, poison- perhaps by way of an hollowed tooth? No, never mind, you'd still have to be aware and conscious to make use of them. It seems that there's more to this than meets the eye", Jonas shrugs apologetically.
Isari looks over the circle with Jonas.
Isari and Jonas look over the drawing all conclude the underlying ritual is most likely 'Linked Portal'. The amount of skill need to perform just one of those rituals is far beyond any of your abilities even if it was preformed off a scroll it would take a lot of skill to interlink the circles.
"So what have you guys learned about the ritual?" Sunaj asks of Isari and Jonas.
"It was a Linked Portal. We're nowhere near skilled enough to produce this sort of effect. Since Galvan was not lit aflame, we can only assume that the men he faught were only hired to copy the circle exactly, and an arcanist would complete the ritual at a seperate time."
*click* Must it have been an arcanist? I have heard that priests can also perform various rituals of travel. Might this be another clue that points toward the shrine of Melora, or no? *click*
"This ritual generally requires at least some arcane knowledge to preform properly. Of course, there are wizards that worship Melora too."
*click* Good point. *click*
"A linked portal... interesting."
That the only other fellow human in the room would know of the workings of the arcane art was eye-opening for Jonas- clearly this man was no mere sword-swinger- but the consensus reached by the both of them was of even more astounding and held an graver import- an arcanist, such a one that Jonas wasn't even sure if they could be counted no less than all of his available digits in the entire city if not more, capable of casting such rituals would be dangerously hard if not outright impossible to take on/confront... even with the strength of the minotaur sergeant or the durability of the forged or the swift adroitness of the drow or the lethality of the swordsman's blade.
Taking a moment to use his at-will presdigitation to wipe the perspiration off his forehead with a briefly conjured kerchief, Jonas takes the moment to compose himself while Isari addresses the drow's query; "It just wouldn't do to let the panic in my voice seep through while speaking with my esteemed colleagues in the room." the flustered wizard thinks to himself.
After Isari finishes speaking- and addressing the Thewl's concern, Jonas added "agreed- indeed, such a person- or persons, for that matter- would be quite daunting to face."
Jonas, the contents of the vial is a glittery-silver oily paste also you remember seeing something like the pendants in the mall of gods but you don't remember which temple or pantheon it belongs to.
Musing silently and wondering if there wasn't time for him to privately speak with a priest of Ioun, even if only to consider the possibility of a "pre-last-rites-just-in-case something unexpectedly unpleasant happened", Jonas has a chance recollection of seeing such similar accoutrements/regalia to the pendants before in the mall of gods
"Why of course," Jonas pipes up, "I think I've seen something like these silver pendants around in the mall of gods before- but for the life of me, I can't recollect any of the particulars about them". Jonas throws up his hand in frustration. "At any rate, having been there a few times before, I can lead us the way to the Mall of Gods if need be".
Btw, who would Jonas know of on the Ioun worship side of things and how would you envision the relationship between the clerics and mages in Genera? And what would Jonas know, if anything, about the Melora congregation?
Every one: Religion is a complex matter as each temple and church has an unique internal hierarchy. The mall is broken up into quarters one each for the three major pantheons and the fourth for the "Small gods" that don't belong to the other pantheons.
The largest pantheon is the Wyattian gods (4e) and their demi-gods and avatars and saints.The second largest is the Faruion gods (FR) and their demi-gods and avatars and saints.
The smallest is the Gygaxian gods (Greyhawk) who share many of the same gods and devils as the Wyattian Pantheon but don't worship them in the same ways.
The best examples of the "small gods" are the Traveler, god of roads and waterways, and the Tin Vagabond, god of beggars and itinerates.
Jonas:
"A linked portal...interesting."
"Most certainly, but your observations about that passwall was a major help in determining out that the Linked Portal was a part of the circle.", Jonas hastily adds to the Drow assemblyman's musings.
"If they have the 3 Hollier family members, what would be the purpose of the portal, if not to allow our suspects to either get more Hollier members or to reintroduce them back into the estate? Personally I suspect the latter."
"In any event, we must decide on a division of labor on this assignment so we can accomplish more in the least amount of time. I submit that those who are magically-inclined should head to the Hollier estate to investigate, while the others should contact the Meloran Church. Agreed?"
"Any other leads we should consider?"
Edited:
Sunaj;
Thewl:
You also know The Melorian Temple is very vocal among the Hauswirte, calling for a ban on logging and expansion of farms outside the city walls. They are also very vocal about maintaining and improving Genera's sewers.
Jonas:
Meloria's temple is located on the river's edge, it's compound is heavily forested and unpaved trails are the only paths between the turquoise and coral hued buildings.
The head of the temple is a Gunter Albrecht, a paladin know is the Warden, and is advised by eight Proctors, each proctor represents one of the carnal direction or the four elements.
The Melorian Temple is very vocal among the Hauswirte, calling for a ban on logging and expansion of farms outside the city walls. They are also very vocal about maintaining and improving Genera's sewers.
Ask me for any specific you want to know about them.
"If they have the 3 Hollier family members, what would be the purpose of the portal, if not to allow our suspects to either get more Hollier members or to reintroduce them back into the estate? Personally I suspect the latter."
With that remark from Sunaj, Jonas purses his brows thoughtfully as he verbalizes the thoughts pouring out from himself.
"A chance to kidnap more members of the family, presumably right under the noses of the Red Caps and their personal guard... and reintroducing them- look-alike spies or even worse? But if so, why go through all the trouble of scrubbing off traces of the circle used.. or being used- will be used again? Hmm... the scrubbing did bring about the attentions of our saergent here", Jonas briefly nods in the direction of the Minotaur before continuing on.
"...Perhaps the arcanist or arcanists in question are very extremely, ah, wealthy? Rituals such as a passwall or a linked portal certainly aren't cheap to come by....A third party then? Another group working at crosspurposes.... but what would be the point of all that?"
"In any event, we must decide on a division of labor on this assignment so we can accomplish more in the least amount of time. I submit that those who are magically-inclined should head to the Hollier estate to investigate, while the others should contact the Meloran Church. Agreed?"
The idea of splitting up the small group into two smaller components sits slightly uneasy with Jonas- if only due to his natural inclination for safety in numbers (however small as the group is), but on the other hand, Jonas believes both locations should be relatively safe, as far as one could be normally safe at this time in the confines of the city proper- or so he hopes.
"The idea of splitting up our meager numbers doesn't fill me with much confidence," Jonas begins tentatively, "but on the other hand, it would make things go a bit quicker. I just hope both locales are secure- from any, ah, unpleasantness. Erm, nonetheless, who will go to where then?"
"Any other leads we should consider?"
Another thought pipes up for Jonas as the wizard then blurts out "Come to think of it, whom else has been kidnapped- erm, among the more well-off and influential of the citizens that have dissappeared?"
Jonas: ** spoiler omitted **
Another thought pipes up for Jonas as the wizard then blurts out "Come to think of it, whom else has been kidnapped- erm, among the more well-off and influential of the citizens that have dissappeared?"
Galvan:
the nobility and the clergy both have keep very quite about any disappearances, the guilds on the other hand have been very vocal about who has vanished.
Iro Brandt, Konrad Schuster, Egbert Fronhoefer disappeared from the bankers guild hall
Peter Baeke, Alwin Siggel of the teamsters guild disappeared off the docks
Lt. Mauritz Betke of the Redcaps disappeared from the north lower city jail
Soeren Baade of the bakers guild disappeared from his home in the gables
Bruno Stry of the bakers guild disappeared from his bakery
Simon Eisl and Egmont Goettert of the Gewöhnlicher disappeared from their chambers
All of them are very prominent members in their areas.
"If they have the 3 Hollier family members, what would be the purpose of the portal, if not to allow our suspects to either get more Hollier members or to reintroduce them back into the estate? Personally I suspect the latter."
*click* Ahem. I see what you are pointing at. However, if I understand the purpose of a Portal circle, I imagine it was intended to transport some of the kidnappers along with the kidnappees to a specific location where they will be detained. *click*
*click* I suspect that the folk that our illustrious Redcap here [nods to Galvan] encountered were simply trying to destroy the evidence. *click*