Captain Napoleon Able surveyed the group before him. He was an imposing presence, his flaming red hear contrasting with the dark blue-green tunic that was the uniform of the First Guard. Through the open window drifted the various sounds of Azlanti Keep: the sound of soldiers drilling, the barks of their sergeants and the distant clangs of weapons being forged.
"Welcome" said Able "to the snake pit."
He turned slightly to the side, unconsciously drawing his famous dark-lensed goggles from a pocket and fidgeting with them.
"The laws of the city are clear." he continued. "The Primarch and High Council rules the city. The Nomarchs and Provincial Councils rule their various districts, and are responsible for the District Watches. That works well. Most of the time."
He focused his attention back on the group before him.
"The District Watches are fine at maintaining order, collecting taxes, and rolling drunks. However they usually lack the ability to investigate unusual crimes, or ones requiring special attention. Then it becomes a mess, and that mess usually ends up on the Primarch's plate."
"He is not a patient man. So he has ordered me to set up a taskforce to deal with such crimes. It's a political nightmare of course. The District Watches will resent the intrusion into their jurisdiction. The Noble Houses will suspect the Primarch of extending his power. The guilds will raise merry hell about their autonomy being undermined, and the High Council will watch every move."
"Since whoever I chose for this taskforce from inside the city authorities would upset someone, I decided to appoint outsiders. I decided to appoint you."
He fixed the group with a stare.
"Here's what I want you to do."
"You will be granted the honory ranks of Corporal in the First Guard, except you, Jack, who will have the honorary rank of Sergeant. You will have a suite of rooms in the Keep for your use, including, I understand, a cold storage area for bodies and a laboratory. There were several large packing cases marked "FRAGILE" delivered this morning. I assume that Mr Infernobucket will know what to do with the contents. You will also gain the right, of course, to trade in the Open Quartering, which will give you something to spend your stipend on."
"Remember your commission is to deal with the crimes that are assigned to quickly, effectively and quietly. You will not disrupt the business of the city. You will not cause trouble between the various factions, and most of all you will not embarrass the Primarch."
He looked at the group again. "Any questions?"
Jack's expression remains grim, his eyes fixed on the captain. When the speach is finished, Jack says "Politics often hinder those who seek justice, you made a wise move bringing us in. I intend to stay as clear of nobles and guilds as possible." pausing for a moment, he continues "You mentioned a stipend, what amount are we talking about and is it on a case by case basis?"
"It will be a pleasure to work with the Watch, sir. I trust all of the goods for a laboratory as well as special orders from my own shop are ready to be setup. I'll see to it as soon as possible." Rufus is currently wearing plain clothes. A lab outfit of sturdy pants, cotton shirt, canvas vest, and grey billowing overcoat. Small pieces of cork are tied to the outside of the coat with string. Dozens of them lay on the coat, swaying back and forth when the gnome moves. He turns to the others and gives a slight bow, "Rufus Infernobucket, owner and operator of CC&C, expert alchemist, at your service."
"You mentioned a stipend, what amount are we talking about and is it on a case by case basis?"
Two hundred measures a month, to be available when we need you, and to cover field expenses. Subject to review based on performance.
Able turned to stare at the young man. "Didn't have you marked as one motivated by coin, Jack."
---
[OOC: 'measure' is the Absalom gold coin]
Rufus pulls back the hood of his overcoat revealing his black hair and eccentric bright-red triple mohawk. "Everyone has to think about money, Captain. It makes the world go round. A good gauge for how serious they take our group is how much money they are willing to give up."
Demona Flint, somehow managing a sensual lounge in the uncomfortable, rickety wooden chairs of the Snake Pit, tosses out a quick chuckle. "True, true. 200 measures suggests they take us fairly seriously. With any luck, they'll be taking us a good deal more seriously after we work out a case or three."
She sits up a bit, switching the legs she has crossed. "Which brings up one question: when do we start and what's the first case? The kind of risk the Primarch is taking wouldn't have come to pass without the proverbial "final straw". What kind of weirdness has given him this final kick in the butt?"
Foggy stood at the back of the group. He was wearing a muted blue cloak over his undyed leathers. A bright yellow scarf framed the finger-sized black longsword on a chain around his neck. A cut-down longsword hung at his waist.
He listened respectfully to Captain Able. Perhaps with more than respect, after all the Captain had given him a chance to carry justice to wrongdoers when no one else would. The navy had turned him down, as had the regular City Watch. Captain Able had taken him on. He was determined not to let him down.
His companions the halfling eyed with eager curiosity. Jack looked a fighter with his chainmail and sword. I'll have to try something else. Rufus, the gnome, was a something of a mystery. Laboratory? That should be interesting. He doesn't look like much in a fight. But I don't either. The lounging Demona caught his eye. She'd be good in temple service, a real natural. Hmmm. Foggy snapped his eyes over to the last of his future partners. Another human, soft in the middle. Everyone else has chimed in. One of us should speak.
But Demona's question cut him off. He waited for Able's reply.
"Um. How's this work? You just shout when you need us to come and look at something? Or do we keep office hours here?"
"We'll call you when we need you, but for the money we're paying we expect you to be available. If you want to use the facilities here when you're not on a case, feel free. No-one else will use them"
"Which brings up one question: when do we start and what's the first case? The kind of risk the Primarch is taking wouldn't have come to pass without the proverbial "final straw". What kind of weirdness has given him this final kick in the butt?"
Captain Able smiles a narrow, grim smile.
"You're right. A body, found this morning on Cayden Cailean's Bridge to the Starstone Cathedral. District Watch say its a temple matter. The Caileans say that they have better things to do, and can I please stop shouting because they have a hangover. Traders' Guild just want the scene cleaned up because its putting off the tourists."
He returns his goggles to his pocket.
"I've ordered the body removed by cart and brought here. It should be on its way. Best get your team organized, Jack."
"Motivated by coin, No, but as you said, for field expenses and the more coin, the better equiped we can be, and I like nowing our limits." On news of the first case and Calatin's remarks about doing thins right next time, Jack grins, perhaps this team thing might wokr after all. "Nothing we can do about it now, the body is on it's way. Might as well get set up, get settled into out new rooms, then all meet in the lab so we cans see what we have available for supplies and talent wise." Nodding to the captain, Jack heads for their suite.
The suite of rooms available to the group are located in large, windowless tower, with the rooms and corridor being inadequately lit with a couple of everburning torches. There are four rooms:
A meeting room with a large table, wooden chairs and a small stove with a hotplate in the corner, on which sits a battered copper kettle. Next to the stove is a table with a canister of coffee beans, and next to that a spiggoted barrel of drinking water.
A larger room with a number of tables and workbenches. Half a dozen wooden crates stamped 'Fragile' are stacked on the largest table.
A smaller room, obviously intended for interrogation, contains a small table and two chairs, one either side.
The final room seems to be magically cooled, causing the team's breaths to fog. A single large marble slab dominates the room. There are a number of barrels of water of water standing next to a grated drain, and a single table with a scary array of medical instruments displayed on it.
Demona saunters into the suite of rooms, looking about. "Damn. I was hopin', when he said we had rooms, that there'd be a place to crash for the night, but other than that slab, I don't see any. Anybody else think it weird that they'll shell out thousands for a magic cold room, but can't spend a couple extra silver to get us a decent kettle?"
She plunks herself down in one of the rickety chairs and resumes her sensual slouch. "Name's Demona Flint, one-time petty burglar, turned informant for the Watch, turned bounty hunter, now turned Corporal Flint of the City Watch, crime scene investigator extraordinaire. It'll be good to get to know each other, like you, Captain Jack. Who'd ya sleep with to get put in charge of this little op?"
Ever curious, try to discern how the cooling effect is accomplished - Spellcraft d20+8 - then wander around looking at the medical equipment.
Oh, and finish off the pastry. Wipe fingers on robe, wander back to the meeting room and get a brew on.
Calatin eventually tracks down the source of the cold to a smooth, round, flat fistsized black stone attached to the wall. This is undoubtedly a chillstone, a item that radiates magical, if not actually damaging, cold. Although naturally-occuring examples are occasionally dug out of glaciers in the far north, ones this far south are almost always manufactured. They generally last a few years before needing to be replaced. They are greatly in demand amongst merchants who deal in perishable goods.
Foggy waits for the others to file out, then approaches Captain Able. "Captain, thank you for putting me on the team, sir. I'll try not to let you down." Bowing slightly the halfling turns and trots after the others.
He follows quietly, observing the rooms and his new companions.
***
Oh, and finish off the pastry. Wipe fingers on robe, wander back to the meeting room and get a brew on.
Foggy sees the portly mage pick up the kettle. "Here, let me get that for you." The halfling deftly slips the kettle from Calatin's hand and fills it.
She plunks herself down in one of the rickety chairs and resumes her sensual slouch. "Name's Demona Flint, one-time petty burglar, turned informant for the Watch, turned bounty hunter, now turned Corporal Flint of the City Watch, crime scene investigator extraordinaire. It'll be good to get to know each other, like you, Captain Jack. Who'd ya sleep with to get put in charge of this little op?"
"I'm sure the sergeant won the post through Captain Able's assessment of his intelligence and courage." Foggy tries to smooth over what could be an awkward moment. "I am Fenmore Grey. My friends call me Foggy."
Inside the halfling is grinning. She's prickly as well as silky. What a prize.
Foggy pulls a few sticks of wood out of a nearby box and begins making a small fire in the stove.
regarding Demona coolly, jack says "It's sergeant, not captain. And those who seek justice earn their respect. And while the Captain seems willing to trust all of you, I'll reserve my judgment for now." he pauses then lets out a long sigh "I've been trained at the temple of Iomedae, worked as guide/tracker/guard for merchants, and bounty hunter for a number of organizations. My entire life I've sought justice, in one form or another."
"A bounty hunter, eh? Sorry if I ever knicked one of your marks on you. Business is business, after all, right Sergeant?"
"So, Sergeant Jack is our intrepid leader and bringer of justice, I'm here because I can get information out of anybody, friend or foe and know all the ins and outs of Absalom. Calatin's here to examine all things biological and mystical---oooh, if you're making a pot, I'd love a cup, thanks doll----what do the rest of you do?" She nods at Rufus. "I'm guessing you have something to do with all those boxes of clinky things."
"Two-hundred measures, that's not as much as it sounds...Chanticleer here cost me three," he says gesturing to the elaborately carved repeating light crossbow. "We'll need to be careful with what we purchase. I can craft any alchemical items or weapons that we need for the cost of materials. Weapons are a bit of a hobby usually have a piece or two working at the shop in my spare time. Alchemy though, that is my true love. Why, I once made a flask of acid in twelve hours."
After arriving at the lab the gnome begins to inspect the "fragile" crates checking to see that everything needed is there, "I might need a hand with some of the heavier pieces..."
Jack stalks over to the interogation room, gives it a quick survey and nods. Moving abck to the common room he says " Adding some cots here would not be a bad idea. I have a feeling sooner or later we might find ourselves working late into the night."
...
"So, Sergeant Jack is our intrepid leader and bringer of justice, I'm here because I can get information out of anybody, friend or foe and know all the ins and outs of Absalom. Calatin's here to examine all things biological and mystical---oooh, if you're making a pot, I'd love a cup, thanks doll----what do the rest of you do?" She nods at Rufus. "I'm guessing you have something to do with all those boxes of clinky things."
Foggy nods and reaches for the second cup on the counter. I'm invisible. That's what I can do. He looks through the lower cupboard. Some cleaning rags, a bucket. I hope no one else wants some. I'll have to climb on the counter to look in the upper cupboard. Tomorrow I'll bring a step-stool.
Demona takes the cup and smiles at Foggy. "Thanks, doll. What's your role, here?"
Demona takes the cup and smiles at Foggy. "Thanks, doll. What's your role, here?"
Foggy turns to face Demona fully, putting his back to Jack. "I'm here to help." He touches the tiny sword on the chain at his neck. "My Lady has an interest in seeing wrongs put to right."
The introductions are interrupted by a crash as the door is swung open with some force. A burley guardsman, face reddened with effort, backs into the room, steering a large wooden wheelbarrow. Slumped, completely undignifiedly, in the barrow is the body of a middle aged human male, dressed in traditional wizard robes. The front of the robes is drenched with blood from a gaping wound across the man's throat. It is obvious that the body has been handled without much care by the guardsman - the arms hang over the side of the barrow and the hands scrape along the floor.
"This the special investigations team?" sniffs the guardsman, lowering the barrow with a crash. "Where d'you want him?"
Demona's satisfied grin from the tea turns to an open smirk of amusement. She carefully rearranges her chair to get a good view of the guardsman and comments to Foggy, "Oh, this aught to be good."
Then she leans back and waits for the show.
Foggy dips his head and whispers,"Oh I agree. Who will speak first do you think, Jack or Calatin."
yes, thats us. Calatin the body is here, is that ice room ready? " jack then turns to the guard and asks "Were you the one that found the body?
"That was disappointing." Foggy whispers to Demona.
The halfling jerks his head in the direction of the examination room and follows in the wake of the wheelbarrow. Pausing at the door he trots back to the kettle and scoops up the coffee he had made for the mage.
Once inside the examination room, Foggy sidles up to Calatin. "Your coffee, sir."
"Very," Demona says with a grimace as she pushes herself out of her chair, carrying her coffee over to follow Foggy into the cold room. She lays her cup of coffee on the slab at the dead man's head and studies the face (upside down). She looks up at Calatin, "So, doll, recognize this bloke from the College? I suppose you can't know everybody there, it might still be a good place to start."
Demona casts prestidigitation and summons a transparent illusion of the dead man's face hovering over her upturned palm. She studies the face as best she can to further refine her illusion until Calatin and the others agree it's a good match.
"Indeed, let's see what we can find. Perhaps a cause of death? says Rufus while gathering his medical tools from his back pack. "Calatin, would you be kind enough to assist me with checking for wounds? While we do that, does anyone here have any know how or contacts with the locals? I can never place the faces of those who visit my store."
While looking over the body he speaks up, "My eyes are not too keen, but I'll let you know if I spot anything on his person or clothing that might be useful."
The burly guardsman is of little help. All he knows is that the body was reported at first light by a member of the public. The section of the grand plaza where it was found is still cordoned off, despite the increasing protestations of the merchants who run souvenier and refreshment stalls there.
Calatin and Rufus examine the body, although Rufus's interest is soon diverted to his robes. Despite being drenched in blood, there are a number of patches and stains that appear to be chemical reagents of some kind. He can collect samples, but would need to put the laboratory together to run a complete analysis.
Rufus finds a number of interesting things. Firstly, a number of the man's bones are broken, including both legs. Secondly, the man has a pair of large bruises, one on each shoulder. From the marks, it would seem that he was gripped tightly there by someone with exceptionally strong, bony fingers.
Foggy decides that the mage and gnome have the examination of the corpse well in hand. He would not be very useful. Besides blood stains would not look well on the blue cloak.
"Catalin, has a point. Maybe the three of us would be most useful looking over the scene or interviewing whoever found this poor soul."
He'll ask the guardsman if he could accompany them back to the site where the body was found.
"excellent idea Foggy, I doubt the merchants will be kept at bay forever. If demona can continue that illusion magic, we might just find soemone who knew him. ANyhting in particular you two want us to check for? he yesll over to rufus and calatin.
"I can usually get it mostly right. I lose a few of the details as time goes by, but not usually enough to prevent anybody from recognizing the face. Of course, I can also use the spell to imprint the image on a few sheets of paper, but the image only lasts until the spell runs out."
She'll rustle up a few sheets of paper for Foggy and the Sarge.
Using some iron vials Rufus gathers any unique liquids or residues from the clothing and body. "It would appear this man was severally beaten, legs are broken. Bruising along the shoulders indicates he resisted and someone didn't want him to go anywhere. Possibly torture? He's also covered in something...not sure what, be careful handling him."
"I'm going to need this lab setup before I do anymore work. You'll have to investigate the bridge without me." His work with the body done for now the alchemist gets to setting up the laboratory. "When the lab is ready I'll try to get an identification on this stuff."
Demona looks up from securing her pack.
"Hey, we think this guy was a wizard, right? Aren't there some mumbo-jumbos you wizard folks can use to escape situations like his? If we knew what he could have used but was unable or not powerful enough to use, it might help us identify him."
While unpacking a thought occurs to Rufus, "Calatin, I've heard that mages can see the leftover essences of magic, do you have such a spell or training? It might help to figure out if this man is actually a wizard, or just wearing their clothing."
Calatin and Rufus can't find anything else interesting about the body - Rufus needs to spend some time setting up his lab before he can get some information on the materials recovered from the victim's robe.
Calatin can find all the tools he needs for an extended autopsy of the body.
---
Meanwhile Jack, Demona and Foggy persuade a grumbling guardman to take them back to the Plaza of the Starstone Cathedral where the body was found. The streets, as is typical for Absalom, are packed with an eclectic mixture of peoples from all over Golarion, and the roar, clash of colour and mixture of 'interesting' odours constantly assaults the senses.
From the height of the Keep district the spires of the Starstone Cathedral can easily been seen soaring above the rooftops. As the group approaches, the crowd thickens even more, and the guardman has bark sharp orders for the populus to make way. Groups of religious pilgrims, seeking to pray at one of the places in the world directly connected to the gods, throng the streets on the approach to the Plaza. Naturally, food vendors, trinket sellers, beggars, mistrels and buskers are also there to serve the tourists' needs.
Eventually, the group make their way through to the Plaza. A picket of half a dozen guardsmen surrounds a cordoned-off area at the near end of one of the bridges that span the bottomless moat around the Cathedral.
"This is where the body was found." says the guardsman escort. He points at a chestnut vendor, tending his brazier nearby. "He was the one who found the body."
Jack thanks the guardsman for his help, then squats at the edge of the scene scanning for anyhting unusual. In almost a whisper he says,"Iomedae let us see what others have failed to notice, that we might bring justice upon those who would sacrifice honor and righteousness for greed."
[occ] perception check [/ooc]
Foggy turns to the escort guardsman and smiles, "Please make sure he stays around. I'm sure Sergeant Jack will want to interrogate him."
Diplomacy take 10 + 6 = 16
Then he stands next to the squatting Sergeant and looks over the scene.
Perception to Aid Jack
Demona inspects the area around the railing where the body was found.
Perception check:
She comments to Jack.
"If this was a dump job, it's a pretty good spot. Not too much going on late at night, the locals too drunk to remember much if they do see something. But you know an even better spot to dump this body?" She points at the other side of the railing, making a falling gesture with her hands. She looks for signs that somebody tried to heave the body over the railing. "If the killer was trying to get rid of the body, he might have been interrupted. Otherwise, the body's been left here for somebody to find."
There is not much blood around the area where the body was found, just a few smatterings, and none leading up to it from either direction.
With Foggy's help, Jack finds a tiny scrap of some black substance sticking in one of the blood stains. It is light and whispy, and looks like a scrap of feather, although it glistens with an oily sheen.