Diablotin 1 session 5

Diablotin 1 session logs Previous Session 5 Next

Summary

Third-month, 2196:

• 4th: Dizon is transferred to another squadron; Falke Sathin joins the group.
• 6th: They find the body of Tria and uncover the Secret of the Scarlet Sign - A sheen house run by Orain Talavera.

Logs

Session Start: Mon Oct 28 17:50:16 2002

• Logging #changeling to 'logs\diablotin5'

(Narrator) Now, if we end late tonight, we know whose fault it is ;)
(Narrator) We'll start now, and Pavo can just catch up when he gets here.
(Boden) ok

• Loch is ready to play

(Narrator) The frigid grip of winter has finally eased around the city of Diablotin. It is the start of Third-month and the weather is still cool, but not the bitter cold of the past months. The ice in the river is beginning to break up in large jagged sections and make its way to the west, to the Ocean of Sorrow. The streets of Pearl City are dirtier than usual these days, as the debris of the winter makes its way to the surface of the melting brownish snow.
(Narrator) Two days ago, Lt. Svodoba announced rather abruptly that Dizon was to be transferred to another squadron. Her manner was unusually curt, though you soon found out the reason why.
(Narrator) A squadron patrolling Rhenea had become involved in a confrontation that left two of them dead: Cadoc Thoma, a rather hefty sorcerer from the House of the Cat, and Eleana Azvedo of the House of the Bear, a cheerful young woman who often entertained the barracks with her songs and stories.
(Narrator) Although you did not know the two deceased guards very well, their deaths still saddened you. Dizon, due to her seniority, was assigned to the remnants of their squadron in order to help them recover from the shock. She bade you a kind farewell, with a reminder that she would never be far away if you needed any help.
(Belden) Goodness, what a shame.

• Belden will pray for their families. -_-

(Narrator) New recruits are a fact of life in the Imperial Guards - people are injured or die, or else they retire to raise a family in a more secure profession, or (occasionally) they are promoted.
(Narrator) One of those new recruits, a young man by the name of Falke Sathin, was assigned to your squadron yesterday. Though only a few months ago you were green newcomers, you already feel somehow older and wiser compared to him.
(Narrator) (C, you could describe Falke to them now, as much as they might have observed about him in a day, at least. Do you want people to describe their characters for you?)
(Falke) (yup)
(Narrator) (Okay, then everyone can describe)

• Falke is of average height and, is slighlty on the slim side of average build. He does not really stand out in a crowd. The most striking features about him might perhaps be his green eyes and dark brown hair, which is shot through with streaks of silver.
• Falke 's face is as yet unlined and young-looking but with the greying hair, it's hard to really pin down an age. He seems to be very quiet and very pleasant. When he speaks, it is with a calm, softspoken sort of voice. He prays at night and he also prayed this morning.
• Falke hasn't said much; he seems to be gauging the group dynamics perhaps and trying to figure out how to fit in. If you catch him looking at you he smiles a shy, friendly sort of smile.
• Falke is wearing the standard uniform as well, is also well-groomed and so far you haven't really seen enough of him to decide if he's ill-mannered.
• Falke seems to consider the shortbow, morningstar and dagger as his weapons of choice.
• Falke does stay at the barracks. He doesn't seem to have much in the way of possessions; the trunk at the foot of his bed contains his uniforms, weapons, and one or two sets of civilian wear; not anything fancy.
• Belden is what some people would call 'a handsome woman'. Her features are strong and striking... prominent cheekbones, full lips, and a strong jawline. Belden typically wears her clerical robes over her armour, with her holy symbol on a chain or beaded belt at her waist.

(Belden) (You wouldn't have seen her outside of her robes and stuff really, so you can only guess at her build, but her hands are those of someone who has worked hard most of her life, strong and weathered)

• Belden looks to be in her twenties.
• Belden has not been around the barracks very much. when not on duty she is usually out doing... something, you know not what
• Loch is in his mid twenties, stands 5' 6", and is proportionally built. His hair is a mess of short cropped straw blond hair, eyes a deep blue, and a well tanned complection.
• Loch usually carries a spear and a crossbow and is alway accompanied with his little hedgehog named Willam, who is usually perched on his shoulder or hidden in a belt pouch.
• Loch tends to be quiet. He doesn't shrug away from physical tasks, and like Belden has well caloused hands.
• Boden is a huge man. He stands 7 feet tall and weighs over 300 pounds of muscle. But he seems light on his feet despite his size. Not very fast in the head but he is amiacable. He always wears a gauntlet on his left hand. Always.
• Boden looks about 18 or so...
• Kalman is a man with dark curly hair and an olive complexion.
• Kalman is not exceptionally tall at 5'11, and manages to be muscular without being stocky.
• Kalman wears the standard uniform, but is well groomed and well mannered and has been in an exceptionally good mood of late ;)
• Kalman looks to be about 19 or 20
• Kalman does not have calloused hands, persey, except on his left hand (not it isn't what you think ;)

(Loch) (lol...)

• Kalman doens't stay at the barracks
• Pavo is sexay. He wears the simple uniform, dressed for the weather. He has a lean build, like a swimmer. Short hair, light brown. Brown eyes.

(Narrator) (Okay, thanks all :)
(Narrator) This morning is grey and cloudy, with occasional light showers of cold rain that make the cobbled streets somewhat slippery. In some areas, large brackish puddles of meltwater and mud impede your passage as you make your way to Pearl City.
(Narrator) The streets are quiet this time of morning. You have a bit of a chance to talk, perhaps try and get to know this new addition to your squadron.

• Falke is looking around at things as everyone slogs through the mud.
• Boden will roll a cigarette and have a morning smoke.

(Loch) I'm not sure if this is worse than the snow
(Boden) Its harder to keep a smoke lit, dats for sure.
(Belden) Just imaging what it must be like outside the city!

• Belden says cheerfully. Spring is coming! :)

(Kalman) hmm
(Boden) Yeah
(Boden) pretty soon they'll be planting.

• Kalman seems to have othert things on his mind ;)
• Falke looks interested and focuses his attention on the group.

(Boden) setting up patrols to clear the kobolds out of the pasture land...
(Belden) We don't have so many kobolds at our farm...
(Boden) oh,
(Belden) I guess because we're not really near any forests...
(Falke) Are you both from outside the city limits?

• Falke asks Boden and Belden.

(Boden) This time a year's real important in gouge.
(Belden) They live in the forests, don't they?
(Boden) no, mostly caves,
(Boden) lots of caves and holes and stuff.
(Boden) Gouge is close to the mountains.
(Belden) Yes, my family has farmed the same land for generations.
(Loch) Myself, Belden, and Boden are
(Boden) not a lot of land, so we farm the flat land and use the hills for pasture.

• Falke nods.

(Boden) gouge is pretty far away.

• Belden nods.
• Boden says almost sadly.

(Belden) I think it will be a good year for the crops, on the plains...
(Boden) thats good.

• Falke smiles quietly to himself.
• Boden takes a long drag from his smoke.

(Belden) If you're ever homesick, you can come to my parents' house, Boden.
(Belden) I'm sure they would love to meet you.
(Belden) Or any of you! :)
(Boden) I might just do that.
(Belden) Just let me know...
(Belden) We can go if we get another set of days off in a row.
(Boden) When the real work starts, I'd be happy to trade a bit'o work for a farm cooked meal.
(Boden) ok.

• Boden smiles

(Loch) What is the name of the village that you're from, Belden?
(Belden) Oh, we don't live in a village, per se.
(Falke) It sounds interesting but would your parents be willing to put up with a man who is completely ignorant to the nuances of farming?
(Belden) My parents send my brother to Diablotin if we need anything we can't glean from the farm, or trade for with one of our neighbours.
(Belden) My parents like to feed people.
(Boden) Well Falke, if they put up with me they'll put up with you.
(Kalman) heh
(Boden) I was more use down a kobold's hole than I ever was on the farms.

• Falke smiles.

(Loch) Besides a couple of extra backs this time of year are always welcome.
(Boden) Yeah, but it'll have ta dry up a bit first I think.

• Falke occasionally scans the crowd as the guards chat.
• Kalman listens but doesn't really have an 'in' to this discussion so stays quiet

(Loch) It can't rain all the time.
(Narrator) You pass by salespeople setting up their carts and stands for the day, children playing in the mud and puddles, and people on their way to work or market.

• Falke sighs happily.
• Falke waves to a few people he knows.

(Falke) Is the job always this easy?
(Boden) nope.

• Falke half smiles and he looks amused.

(Belden) I'm afraid not...

• Kalman nhakes his head
• Loch shakes his head no

(Boden) but I like the lack of kobolds...always a good sign.
(Falke) Are there many kobolds in town?
(Belden) I don't think they let them in the city.
(Boden) no
(Loch) No
(Kalman) . o O ( ....enoygh with the Kobolds... )

• Boden says happily.

(Loch) I take it you're from the city, Falke?
(Falke) I am.
(Loch) Why did you decide to join the Guard?

• Pavo yawns tiredly.
• Falke smiles, pleased.

(Falke) Well...
(Falke) I like to style myself a student of humanity...

• Falke blushes slightly.

(Loch) Excuse me?
(Falke) I enjoy watching people... seeing what they're doing, what they're saying...
(Falke) So, I figured I might as well put my hobby to good use.

• Falke shrugs.
• Pavo yawns wide, shaking the sleepies away, finally.

(Narrator) You are approaching a section of Pearl City called the Rookery, an area that is well-known for harbouring a veritable warren of thieves, thugs, dealers in narcotics, and the cheapest whores. It is always best to be on one's guard in the Rookery.
(Falke) It probably sounds a bit weird... I'm a bit embarrassed that I told you.

• Falke clears his throat self-consciously.
• Loch will be more on guard

(Belden) Don't worry, we're all friends here!

• Kalman will also be more on guard and keep an eye out
• Belden will keep her eyes peeled as well.

(Narrator) The second and third stories of rickety buildings overhang the narrow streets here, nearly blocking out what little sunlight is present. A cold drizzle begins to fall, defeating the purpose of the haphazardly-hung rows of washing strung above your heads.

• Falke keeps all senses open for any disturbance.

(Narrator) A distinctive smell permeates this area, a combination of sweat, boiled cabbage, and something less identifiable - vaguely acidic or sulfuric, perhaps. It makes your eyes water.

• Kalman will pull up the hood of his cloak

(Belden) . o O (Oh well, smells better than the Shambles!)

• Boden will throw the butt to the ground and boot it out.
• Pavo keeps his whip handy.

(Narrator) A loud shout attracts your attention. A strong male voice calls "Oy! Summun gimme a hand with this baggage, now!"
(Kalman) ugh.
(Narrator) You see up ahead of you a fat man beside a cart laden with fruit. He crouches, partly supporting a slumped figure, mostly hidden by his bulk.
(Narrator) At his shout, a number of heads peek out from cracked windows and behind doors, but disappear when they spot your cloaks.

• Belden heads over to the man.

(Narrator) As you draw nearer, the fat man stands, turning towards you. The figure behind him slips down and onto its side, but is still mostly obscured. The man swallows and tips his hat to you. He wears a grimy blue and red vest that is many sizes too small for his bulk.

• Boden follows Belden
• Kalman heads over also

(Fat_man) Sirs, I weren't doin' nuthin 'cept my duty as a citizen.
(Belden) (sense motive)
(Narrator) (You don't sense any deception from him)

• Loch trails behind the group
• Falke also does, loosening his morningstar in its leather thong surreptitiously.

(Belden) What seems to be the problem here, ser?
(Fat_man) Arnek Swart, costermonger, atcher service.

• Fat_man sticks out a meaty palm for you to shake.
  • • Fat_man is now known as Arnek
• Belden will shake his hand.

(Kalman) what's going on?
(Arnek) A real shame, it is. Pretty young girl like that... I got three daughters of my own at home, it's a real shame.

• Arnek gestures to the slumped body behind him.
• Kalman looks past the man at the slumped figure
• Belden will crouch down by the figure.

(Belden) (Are they alive?)
(Narrator) The body behind him sits on the street, slumped awkwardly against the wall. It is a young woman, perhaps 18 or 20, with fair hair plastered to her once-pretty face and darkened by the rain. She wears a white blouse and a pair of knee-length lacy knickers. Her green eyes stare sightlessly into the distance.
(Belden) Oh, no...

• Kalman frowns

(Belden) (m) May you find peace in your next life...

• Kalman watches Belden checking her over

(Kalman) Where was she?

• Pavo sighs and drops his gaze to the ground.

(Belden) (Can I tell how she died?)

• Falke will carefully watch the fat man.
• Arnek seems genuinely concerned.
• Boden looks kinda distressed.

(Falke) Do you know who she was?

• Falke asks Arnek.

(Arnek) I've never seen her 'round here before. I'll wager she's not from these parts, from the look of her. Too posh by half.

• Falke nods.
• Belden nods...
• Kalman nods

(Falke) When did you find her?
(Belden) Look at her clothes...
(Narrator) Belden, upon examining the body more closely, you notice several things:
(Kalman) (I don't recognize her, do I? ;D)
(Narrator) (no)
(Kalman) (didn't think so ;)
(Narrator) Belden: Though the girl's feet are bare, they are soft and more or less clean. Similarly, her hands are neither rough nor heavily callused. In general, her skin is very pale, with no sign of wounds.
(Narrator) However, the veins in her face, neck, arms and legs are grossly engorged, a violent black-purple against a creamy-white background. Her tongue, which protrudes slightly from her mouth, is a similar shade.
(Belden) (could she have been poisoned?)
(Belden) (Do I know of any substances/spells which could do this?)
(Belden) Someone carried her here, after she was dead...
(Narrator) (rolling)
(Boden) hmmm
(Narrator) All of you except Boden recognize the distinctive signs of an overdose of sheen, a popular but expensive drug reputed to bring users to incredible heights of pleasure.
(Kalman) Where was she?
(Boden) Where did you find her?

• Kalman repeats

(Arnek) Just right here, sir.
(Belden) Sheen...

• Kalman nods

(Arnek) Leanin' against that there wall.
(Boden) sheen? I heard o that stuff.

• Arnek points

(Pavo) What a waste.

• Loch moves forward
• Boden will purse his lips.

(Falke) What time did you find her, Mr. Arnek?
(Belden) I don't think it's an accidental overdose though...
(Loch) What is sheen?
(Falke) A drug.
(Pavo) (By what matter is Sheen administered?)
(Narrator) (It is smoked, usually)
(Boden) guess there might be a house round here were she could be dosing.
(Belden) As I said... she didn't walk here...
(Falke) A lot of people use it here.
(Arnek) Just found here before you walked up...

• Falke nods.
• Kalman nods

(Kalman) (sense motive?)
(Narrator) Kalman - you don't sense any deception from him.
(Pavo) (Would that mean it's hard to OD on it?)
(Narrator) (It's not that common, no. Perhaps it can also be administered other ways, you're not sure.)
(Pavo) Hell, if she's as posh as our friend here (indicates arnek) thinks, she might have just bitten off more than she could chew.
(Belden) (is it the kind of thing where you could smell it on her mouth if she'd actually smoked it? If so, then I smell her. ;)
(Kalman) possibly...
(Narrator) Belden - you don't smell anything except wet body and grime from the street.

• Belden frowns.

(Boden) well, the streets not a good place to drop a body.
(Kalman) I wonder why she would be brought out here...

• Belden will close the girl's eyes, with a sad, solemn look.

(Boden) maybe the people who droped her were doped up too.

• Pavo shrugs.

(Belden) Maybe she was with someone...
(Falke) Kalman, Mr. Arnek, why don't we go inside? Belden can get the information we need from the body.
(Pavo) Would YOU like to be found with her corpse after you offered her "the time of her life"?
(Arnek) Beg pardon, sirs, but if she were clothed when she fell here, her clothes might not have lasted the night, if you know what I mean.
(Belden) Someone who didn't want to be associated with her death, whether it was accidental or not.

• Falke tries to organize things a bit but isn't sure if it's his place to do so, being the newbie.
• Boden brightens up a bit.
• Kalman raises an eyebrow at Falke

(Boden) That means that whoever droped her must still be close by!
(Belden) We should look around the spot where she was found.

• Kalman nods to Belden, though
• Boden will start to use his tracking feat to see if he can track who droped her...
• Falke falls silent and lets the others handle things, while he observes, then.

(Kalman) (Is this the kind of place where Sheen might be made?)
(Kalman) (nearby in anycase...)
(Kalman) did you see anyone nearby before you noticed her?

• Kalman asks Arnek
• Falke scans the crowd for anything unusual. Maybe someone saw something last night.

(Narrator) Boden - you can see booted footprints, one set, leading to where she lies, and then some confusion around the body (probably from Arnek and Belden and possibly some others).
(Narrator) (The footprints you can see are small, probably female.)

• Boden will start to track the footprints giving a quick grunt to the others.

(Arnek) No sir, no one.
(Kalman) hmmm

• Loch will stick with Boden

(Belden) (Just how wet is she? Like, is her hair soaked? Is her back wet where she was leaning up against the thing, or only damp? How long do I estimate she's been here? And how long do I estimate she's been dead?)
(Narrator) Boden - you track them to the end of the street, then lose the trail)
(Boden) crap.
(Loch) Lost it?

• Falke looks for people who might look sort of guilty, or as if they know something but don't want to tell...
• Kalman asks Belden "Is it possible she walked here under her own power before she died?"
• Belden shakes her head.

(Narrator) Belden - she is very wet. You would say she's been here several hours at least, possibly up to 8 hours.
(Boden) yeah, but maybe I'll be able to find it again.
(Belden) Well, it's possible, but she didn't.

• Pavo looks over the tracks Boden was following

(Belden) Look at her feet.

• Boden will spend a bit of time trying to find the trail again.

(Belden) They're clean.
(Pavo) Is there sign that these tracks were dragging something?

• Kalman will kneel and look at them

(Kalman) hmmm..
(Belden) If she'd walked barefoot through Pearl...
(Narrator) Belden - you would guess she's been dead 6-8 hours, perhaps.
(Pavo) .oO(How is Sheen made?)
(Belden) She'd probably be muddy *and* bloody.
(Kalman) true
(Narrator) (sheen is composed of several organic substances, but is refined)
(Boden) (pavo: was that question to me?)
(Kalman) unless someone has been by and stole her shoes
(Belden) Why just her shoes?

• Arnek nods at that.

(Belden) (is she wearing any jewelry?)
(Kalman) does she have any jewellery or anything else easily portable?
(Pavo) (Boden: Yup)
(Arnek) And her skirt, by the looks of things. She'd have been pretty cold dressed like that last night.
(Kalman) hmmm...
(Boden) hmmm
(Narrator) There are no signs of drag marks, and she is not wearing any jewelry.

• Belden looks thoughtful.
• Boden will check the tracks to see if I think the person was carying anything or watnot.

(Boden) (you know...from the depth.)
(Kalman) Boden... do you think those tracks could be hers?
(Narrator) Boden, you don't think so.
(Belden) (If she'd been moved around for the purposes of stealing stuff, she'd be all muddy, though, wouldn't she? And is she?)
(Boden) um guys.
(Loch) Yes?
(Narrator) She's somewhat muddy, but remember, she's under an overhanging second story here. She's sheltered somewhat from the worst of the elements.
(Boden) I don't think the one set of tracks leading up to the body was carying anything...

• Belden looks up at Boden.

(Boden) (are the tracks leading *away* from the body...and if so were are they coming *from*)

• Loch will move to the body and cast Detect Magic

(Pavo) Perhaps we should consult some sort of Toxicologist.
(Narrator) Boden - the tracks lead up to the body, and go no further, as far as you can tell. You followed them back to the corner, but lost them there.
(Narrator) Loch - you detect no magic.

• Pavo looks at the tracks... (Are they of a size she might make?)

(Belden) I think it would be most useful if we could find out who she is...
(Boden) (how big are the boots that made the tracks?)
(Kalman) mayeb someone else has reported her missing...
(Narrator) The tracks were probably about right for her size, though they have expanded as they melted, of course.
(Arnek) Still, she did bring it on herself, I say.
(Kalman) oh?

• Arnek leans on his cart

(Kalman) what makes you say that
(Arnek) Sheen's a nasty business.

• Pavo looks up along the wall of the building she was found beside.
• Belden shakes her head sadly.
• Kalman stands back up

(Kalman) mmm...true

• Pavo looks for windows.

(Arnek) Not too many people around here use it... too expensive.
(Boden) I think the tracks may have been hers...maybe, but they are boots.
(Falke) (Julie, is there a place where bodies go for autopsies and stuff? Is Diablotin that advanced?)
(Belden) (m)I weep for a life so unhappy it turned to poison for pleasure...

• Kalman shakes his head

(Kalman) well
(Falke) (w) She's just one of many.
(Narrator) The building she leans against has a few doorways in either direction, but no windows on this floor.
(Kalman) I can't think of anything else to ask you at the moment, Mr. Arnek..
(Narrator) Bodies go to the guard post, where they are kept until claimed or disposed of.
(Pavo) Some turn to a glass of water on a hot day, Belden. But if you can't swim, a river can be as dangerous as Sheen.

• Kalman looks at the rest of the group
• Arnek tips his hat to you

(Kalman) could you tell us where we might find you, though, in case anything else does come up?
(Belden) A glass of water is hardly comparable to drinking a river, Pavo.
(Pavo) I wasn't implying one should drink a river.
(Arnek) If there's anythin' further, sirs, I'll be in this area until nightfall, with my cart.

• Pavo turns to Arnek. "Thank you for taking time out of your day to care for her."
• Arnek shrugs

(Belden) Yes, thank you.
(Arnek) Just doin' what I'd hope summun would do for me...

• Kalman nods as well

(Belden) We should return her to the guard house/
(Falke) (Julie, using City Lore 3, do I know of any "Sheen houses"? Is there anything like that? Might be good places to go start asking questions)

• Kalman nods. "is there anything else we can learn here?"
• Arnek takes up the handles of his cart and trundles away down the narrow street, loudly calling out the goods he has for sale.
• Kalman will look at Boden and Belden, since they are tracking and doctor types ;)

(Pavo) (Did you say anything about my toxicologist line Julie?)
(Kalman) (Yeah, do I know any of the kind of p[eolke who deal in or use sheen? ;)
(Narrator) Falke - you think about it for a bit, but nothing leaps to mind in this area. You know there are probably some such houses, but it's a more expensive drug than would usually be used in an area this poor.
(Pavo) (or anyone else? :D)
(Narrator) Pavo - like I said, bodies go to the guard post (well, actually, a building near the guard post), where there is a priest or healer stationed. No toxicologists, per se.
(Falke) (Well, where are the ones that do exist? We have established that she was transported here, haven't we?

• Falke looks thoughtful.

(Boden) maybe we should knock on a few doors...nobody'd say nothing...but we might smell smoke and find the fire type thing.
(Belden) (no, we haven't)
(Falke) (OK)

• Belden nods to Boden.

(Belden) Someone should stay with her, to make sure she doesn't lose anything else...
(Narrator) Kalman - you don't know of anyone specific, but it is the sort of drug people from your social class would be more likely to use.
(Loch) I'll go send for the cart... be back soon.
(Kalman) hmm
(Kalman) alright

• Loch will head off to find the body cart

(Falke) Some of the houses around here probably might have heard or seen something. Whether they will tell us is the question.
(Belden) The truth will always out... eventually
(Belden) Come on, Boden...
(Kalman) ...

• Pavo rolls his eyes while Belden isn't looking.

(Boden) ok

• Boden follows Belden

(Kalman) I'll stay here
(Narrator) Falke, you do know of one place that might sell sheen in Pearl City. It's called the Scarlet Sign. It looks like a real hole in the wall from the outside, but inside it's a rather classy drug den - or so you've heard. The problem is, you don't actually know where it is - they say it moves around to avoid detection.
(Falke) (OK)
(Belden) Alright, Kalman
(Falke) Should we find out if anyone is missing her yet?

• Belden and Boden go and knock on some doors, then.

(Kalman) Hopefully Loch will check into that

• Falke nods.

(Kalman) if not we can see when we bring her back

• Kalman shrugs

(Falke) If we can find out what she was wearing, we can check some of the pawn shops and whorehouses for her clothes.
(Narrator) Belden and Boden, you knock on doors. At some, no one answers. At others, they just shake their heads and say they don't know anything. You find little information from these people.
(Belden) (sense motive!)
(Falke) It might give us some leads.

• Falke seems doubtful.

(Kalman) we have to get that far first
(Belden) (Are they lyin'?)
(Falke) I know.
(Narrator) (They're scared of you, but you don't get the sense that anyone is deliberately lying about not having seen the girl before.)
(Belden) (ok...)

• Belden will be as friendly and cheerful as possible to try and show them that guards are your friends!

(Narrator) After about 20 minutes or so, Loch returns with the horse and cart for the body.
(Pavo) (Is the building she's outside residential or...?)
(Narrator) (yes, residential)

• Falke would like to figure out where the Scarlet Sign is at the moment. Would Gather Information help me do that?
• Pavo will wait to see if Belden talked to the folks with the windows right above this location.
• Loch will enquire about any missing persons reported from the Grand while he gets the cart

(Narrator) (Yes, I can roll for you... just a sec)
(Narrator) (Falke, no one you talk to knows, or perhaps they're just not willing to tell you.)
(Narrator) Loch - no missing people matching this girl's description.
(Falke) (Figured. ;^) )
(Pavo) (You're trying to be nice, cherful and unthreatening ... while going around with the ogre that is Boden :D)

• Falke wonders if Reanne might have heard...

(Belden) (He's a friendly giant!)
(Loch) Nobody looking for her yet... not surprising. It's still early.

• Loch will help get the body on the cart
• Kalman nods

(Pavo) (WE know that)

• Kalman will help also
• Pavo assists Loch

(Boden) (look up, waaaaaayyyy up.)
(Narrator) Loch, as you lift the lifeless form, you hear something clatter on the stones near your feet. A small round shape rolls a short distance away.

• Falke picks it up.

(Kalman) what's that?
(Narrator) It is a heavy button of bone, which perhaps once held closed a skirt or dress. On it is carved the shape of an Owl with an unfurled banner in its talons.
(Falke) Well... it seems she might have been of the House of the Owl, possibly.

• Pavo looks at the item in Falke's hands.

(Pavo) That's even more reason to speak to them.

• Falke will Appraise it.

(Narrator) Falke - cheap. It's just a bone button.
(Belden) Is it a particular family sigil?
(Falke) It's just a bauble, though. Not worth much...

• Kalman will look at it

(Pavo) They might be able to tell us something about what happened last night, with their powers or something.
(Kalman) (do I recognize it?)

• Falke hands it over to Kalman.
• Kalman frowns

(Loch) I'll take the body back to the guardhouse and catch up with you afterward

• Kalman looks around to see if anyone is paying attention
• Belden is paying attention

(Kalman) This is the seal of the count of Childress.
(Boden) I'll go with you Loch and help you out.

• Kalman says quietly

(Belden) ...
(Belden) Who's that?
(Kalman) That's the Warlord's grandson.

• Pavo is as well!
• Kalman says, equally quietly

(Belden) (w) Oh.
(Narrator) You get the body loaded into the cart. Who is going with Loch?
(Kalman) is there anything left here, or should we all head back?

• Belden will volunteer.

(Belden) (Unless we're all going)
(Boden) (I'll go with Loch

• Kalman will go also

(Loch) (that leaves Pavo and Falke... I guess were all going)
(Falke) I'd just like to check something out... would it be all right to meet up with you again at the Guardhouse?
(Belden) Where are you going?
(Falke) Well... I know there's a sheen house here in Pearl City. However, it moves around. I'd like to see if I can find out where it is at the moment.
(Loch) It's not wise to wander off alone, Falke.
(Pavo) I'll go with you... that's hardly a safe endeavour to be made alone
(Belden) Oh, there is?
(Belden) Good idea, Pavo

• Kalman nods
• Falke shrugs.

(Falke) Sure.

• Loch will pull Willam off his shoulder and set him on Pavo's

(Kalman) we'll meet you both later, then
(Belden) If you don't have any luck, I know someone else who *might* be able to help us out...

• Pavo quirks a brow at Belden

(Loch) Take good care of him, Pavo. We'll catch up.
(Kalman) oh
(Kalman) ?
(Pavo) 'Oh I will... *supresses a chucklE*

• Kalman seems vaguely surprised that Belden would know any of that kind of people ;)

(Narrator) Okay, so everyone except Pavo and Falke are going back to the guard post. Pavo and Falke are going... somewhere else.
(Narrator) I'll deal with Pavo and Falke first, then.
(Falke) (Would Reanne be working at this time of day?)
(Narrator) No, it's early morning still; she would probably be at home.

• Boden looks very surprised Belden might know someone...but says nothing.

(Falke) Well, Pavo, I guess you get to meet the folks.

• Belden looks a bit embarrassed when she notes other people's surprised expressions...
• Falke heads towards his parents' house (that's where she lives, right?)

(Narrator) (yes)

• Kalman smiles at her embarrassment

(Kalman) I just can't imagine you hanging around anyone who would know much about sheen
(Narrator) Okay pause everyone else... Pavo and Falke head towards Birdcage Alley, a more well-to-do section of Pearl City.

• Pavo whistles on the way...

(Loch) (I will follow Pavo's and Falke's adventures as best I can through the link with Willam)

• Falke enters the street-level carpentry shop owned by his father.
• Falke holds the door open for Pavo.

(Narrator) (okay, you will get vague impressions. I'll let you know if there's anything noteworthy)

• Pavo steps through.

(Falke) Hello, father.

• Pavo scritches a non-pointy part of the creature.
• Jarl is a slender man, late forties, with dark hair.

(Jarl) Falke, what are you doing here?

• Jarl looks up from his work, surprised.

(Falke) On coffee break? The guard has gotten soft since you were on it.

• Jarl chuckles

(Falke) Is Reanne home?

• Pavo tilts his head

(Jarl) She's still asleep, I think. Late nights for her, you know
(Jarl) She should be upstairs.
(Belden) (being a ho and all)
(Falke) Thanks. This is Pavo, by the way. He's on my squad.

• Jarl nods to Pavo, politely

(Falke) Pavo, my father, Jarl.
(Jarl) Good to meet you, Pavo.
(Pavo) Likewise *offers hand, or similar Diablotin greeting*

• Jarl brushes sawdust from his hands and shakes your hand.

(Falke) I'll be right back, Pavo.

• Falke goes upstairs.

(Narrator) You go upstairs to the room your two sisters used to share (until you moved out, that is).

• Falke taps on the door.
• Reanne mutters something from inside that sounds like "go away"
• Pavo yawns and looks around the place.

(Falke) Hey now! Is that the way to treat the guy who made it possible for you to have your own room finally?

• Jarl goes back to his work, keeping an eye on Pavo
• Reanne mutters something else, perhaps "come in"
• Falke swings the door open and steps in.
• Reanne is under her covers in bed.

(Reanne) Aren't you gone yet?

• Falke smiles and leans against the door.
• Reanne pokes her head out at you.

(Reanne) Did you forget something?
(Falke) No.
(Falke) I'm sorry to wake you up, but it's business.
(Reanne) Urg.
(Belden) (with your *sister*???)

• Reanne pulls her head back under the blankets.

(Falke) I was wondering if you might have heard anything about the Scarlet Sign?

• Reanne looks out again

(Reanne) What do you want to know about that?
(Falke) Just where it might be.

• Reanne squints at you
• Pavo offers the hedgehog his palm...

(Reanne) Try Dove Court.

• Reanne says after a bit.

(Falke) Thanks. You're the best.
(Reanne) Urm.
(Falke) Sleep tight.
(Loch) (Willam eats Pavo's palm)

• Falke turns and leaves.
• Reanne grunts and pulls the blanket over her head again.
• Pavo grumbles and will have to visit the nursery and buy a new one. ):|
• Falke comes back downstairs and promises himself to get her something nice when he gets his first pay.

(Falke) Right, let's go.

• Falke nods respectfully to his father and heads out.

(Pavo) ... alrighty.

• Jarl bids you farewell.
• Pavo nods as well, and steps out

(Falke) Let's go find the others.

• Falke heads towards the guardhouse.

(Narrator) Okay, back to the others now.
(Boden) (as we walk, Boden will talk a bit..)
(Boden) I can't figure out those tracks...they don't make sense.
(Belden) How so?

• Kalman listens

(Boden) well...they might have been her...wearing boots.
(Boden) but she wasn't wearing boots, and no other prints come away from the body.
(Kalman) we think someone might have taken her boots
(Boden) so how did she lose the boots...and what was she wearing that had that button on it.
(Belden) I guess someone could have taken her boots, like Kalman said...
(Boden) but that someone would have left tracks too.
(Belden) You're right...
(Boden) there should have been other tracks.
(Kalman) one way or another...
(Loch) We're the tracks made by someone in good health? Was the person staggering?

• Boden is all confused and is thinking aloud.
• Boden will think about that for a bit...(julie were the tracks staggering?)

(Boden) hmmmm./
(Boden) now that I think of it...the tracks were weaving a bit.
(Boden) and there were tracks around the body...just not leading to it. So some locals could have taken her stuff.
(Belden) Oh, alright...
(Boden) were did the button come from?
(Belden) It probably was locals... If someone had taken her dress and boots to hide who she was, or something, they wouldn't have been so sloppy as to leave that button behind, I don't think...

• Belden looks saddened.

(Kalman) they may not have noticed it... we didn't

• Belden thinks about the kind of person who would see someone in distress and only think about stealing her shoes.

(Belden) :(

• Kalman shakes his head

(Narrator) You bring the body to the corpse house near the guard post and hand it over to the ministrations of Sister Maulde, who is on duty there at the moment.

• Falke seems preoccupied as he and Pavo make their way back to the guard house.
• Sister_Maulde is a middle-aged woman with thin grey hair and blue eyes, from the order of the Wolf.

(Belden) Hello Sister...

• Pavo whistles faux-casually

(Narrator) (pause, you two :)
(Sister_Maulde) Hello, dears. Oh, what have we here?

• Sister_Maulde clucks her tongue

(Sister_Maulde) Tsk tsk, what a shame.
(Belden) An unfortunate, wayward soul...

• Sister_Maulde nods.

(Belden) I hope she finds a better path.
(Belden) -_-
(Sister_Maulde) Put her over here, would you, one of you big strong fellows?

• Sister_Maulde gestures to a slab.
• Kalman will give Boden a hand

(Narrator) You notice that several of the slabs are occupied already, even at this time of day.
(Belden) (any... commonalities?)

• Kalman sets her down carefully

(Kalman) do you know if anyone has been reported missing?

• Boden is helping Kalman.

(Narrator) Not that you notice. Two stabbings, one that looks like a drowning, and a couple without obvious signs of trauma.
(Sister_Maulde) Not that I've heard of, dear.

• Kalman nods
• Belden looks around the room sadly.
• Sister_Maulde comes over to take a look at the body.

(Falke) (let us know when we arrive)

• Sister_Maulde does some cursory examinations.

(Narrator) (I assure you I will)
(Sister_Maulde) Tsk tsk...
(Kalman) Belden thinks it might be a sheen overdose

• Belden nods.

(Sister_Maulde) Yes, that's right, dear. But...
(Belden) The signs are quite distinctive...
(Belden) But?

• Loch watches quietly

(Sister_Maulde) But you see here?

• Sister_Maulde points to a spot between the woman's fingers, on her left hand

(Sister_Maulde) Puncture mark. She was injecting it, not smoking it. Much more dangerous that way.
(Kalman) Hmmm..
(Belden) Between the fingers?
(Belden) Is that usual?

• Sister_Maulde shrugs

(Sister_Maulde) It's easy to hide, I suppose.

• Belden picks up her other hand and looks for older scars.

(Sister_Maulde) But this is a very strong reaction, even for sheen.
(Narrator) You don't notice any, Belden.
(Belden) I don't see any older marks...
(Kalman) (Is sheen actually illegal? do we have anti-drug laws in Diablotin?)
(Sister_Maulde) It could be an unusually strong dose, I think. Perhaps even tainted somehow.

• Belden frowns...

(Belden) If she had enough of a habit to be injecting sheen... one would think...
(Narrator) It's illegal to sell it or transport it. Since it's made from various plants, just growing them is not a crime.

• Sister_Maulde nods

(Sister_Maulde) Perhaps she usually smoked it, and had just moved up to injecting it...
(Loch) What would a large dose of Sheen do to you? Would you even know you're dying?
(Kalman) maybe

• Sister_Maulde looks to Loch
• Boden takes up The Stance

(Sister_Maulde) I don't think you would know right away. I believe you would mainly feel very tired - it's an opiate, after all.
(Belden) (smoking it doesn't do anything convenient like make your teeth a weird colour, does it?)
(Narrator) (nope)
(Belden) (dang)
(Narrator) (there is an odour from smoking it, but she doesn't have it, as I said)
(Belden) (does sheen itself count as a poison for the purposes of detect poison?)
(Narrator) (yes, I'd say so)
(Belden) (k)
(Pavo) (Cast and see!: D)

• Sister_Maulde goes back to examining the girl's body
• Belden watches her work.
• Loch will head outside
• Kalman is half watching and half thinking

(Narrator) (Okay, Pavo and Falke can show up now)

• Falke notices Loch and heads towards him.

(Falke) Any news on the girl?

• Pavo slips into the room.

(Loch) Not much more than we knew before.

• Falke nods.

(Loch) (I will call Willam back to me)
(Kalman) she was injecting the sheen...
(Falke) Well... the Scarlet Sign may be in Dove Court right now but by tonight it will have moved.
(Pavo) Hrm...
(Belden) (Boden is still in the romo too, right?)
(Falke) They'll know we've been asking.
(Boden) (yep)
(Loch) It that close to where we found her body?
(Falke) (is itJulie?)
(Narrator) (It's fairly close, a few streets distant - maybe a 5-10 minute walk)
(Falke) It's five or ten minutes away.
(Falke) So... close enough, I'd say.

• Kalman nods

(Pavo) But we should be able to see THEIR tracks.
(Falke) How long has she been dead?
(Pavo) It would have to be some one strong enough to carry her. And their combined weights would HAVE to press their tracks futher into the street wouldn't it?
(Belden) (I already said 6-8 hours)
(Kalman) hmm?
(Belden) (back at the scene)
(Loch) She could have wandered there and her boots stolen after she died
(Falke) (Julie, was it raining overnight, 6-8 hours ago?)
(Kalman) ...yes.
(Narrator) (It's been raining on and off since yesterday)
(Kalman) It's possible that she was one of the count's servants
(Boden) so belden, what now?
(Belden) Well, I guess the next step is to find out who she is...
(Belden) She is connected to the Count of Childress somehow...
(Belden) Maybe one of his staff.

• Boden nods.

(Kalman) Some of us could go and check into that
(Belden) I was hoping there'd be just one thing that we missed, you know...
(Belden) That would help us understand.
(Boden) well...

• Boden seems to ponder for a while.
• Belden looks sadly in the Sister's direction.
• Sister_Maulde is still examining the body

(Falke) (How heavy has the rain been, Julie?)
(Narrator) Falke - the rain has been light, mostly
(Boden) (Is she wearing anything that would have that button on it?)
(Narrator) Boden - no, she's not.
(Kalman) It might be worth having someone investingate that Scarlet Sign, but it could be quite dangerous
(Falke) (Just wondering if it might have been strong enough to obliterate tracks in the mud)
(Falke) I think it would be quite dangerous.
(Boden) Belden...where did the button come from?
(Boden) I mean...it seems really odd you know?
(Belden) From her dress...
(Boden) nope
(Boden) look
(Belden) The dress was probably removed
(Pavo) ... or perhaps she pulled it off ,and it was in her hands.
(Pavo) We don't know for sure where it was before we picked her up.
(Belden) Like her shoes...

• Belden nods.

(Pavo) Did anyone look at her hands before she was picked up?

• Boden still looks troubled

(Belden) I looked her over...
(Falke) Loch...
(Pavo) (Julie?)
(Boden) um
(Narrator) Belden, you think you would have noticed if she was holding something in her hand.
(Belden) It must have been caught on some of her clothing... the fruit vendor had moved her already when we got there, remember?
(Loch) I never examined the body closely
(Belden) I would have noticed if it had been in her hand.

• Kalman nods

(Pavo) Ok.
(Boden) yeah, it wasn't until we picked her up.
(Boden) could he have been robbing her as we got there...you know...hiding stuff in his cart?
(Falke) I don't know much about magic... but could someone have used any sort of magic to get her body to that place without leaving tracks? Would anyone even bother?
(Belden) No...
(Kalman) he called for us... it doesn't seem likley
(Belden) He seemed honest to me.
(Pavo) He called us over, I doubt he'd have been doing that.
(Boden) I don't know...

• Falke is wherever Loch is- I think that's outside.

(Boden) something just doesn't feel right...like I should think of something or something.
(Kalman) hmmm
(Loch) Magic could do it, but it doesn't seem to fit.

• Falke nods.

(Falke) It was just a thought.

• Kalman goes back over where the sister is
• Belden nods to Boden.
• Sister_Maulde looks up as you approach

(Kalman) Is there any other sign of... violation of anysort?

• Belden bites her lower lip.
• Loch will head back inside
• Sister_Maulde pushes her glasses up on her head

(Sister_Maulde) She was no maiden, but I don't see any signs of violence of that sort.
(Kalman) alright
(Belden) Well, that's a mercy, at least...

• Falke heads in too. No sense standing out in the rain.

(Boden) I bet on sheen it wouldn't take a lot of violence for that sort of thing.
(Sister_Maulde) No, you're right. But I don't think she would have had very long...
(Loch) Why spend the money on Sheen when whores are cheaper?
(Kalman) how long would she have had?
(Sister_Maulde) From what I can tell, she injected the drug, and was dead ... less than half an hour later.
(Sister_Maulde) That's my best guess, at least.
(Belden) I have a feeling...
(Belden) Well... I don't know.
(Belden) Just a bad feeling.
(Sister_Maulde) See, the veins in her feet are still clear... It didn't have time to circulate through her entire body.

• Belden closes her eyes.

(Kalman) I suppose that narrows down how far she could have come from, if she was moving under her own power

• Sister_Maulde nods to Kalman
• Kalman looks over to Falke

(Sister_Maulde) And I noticed something else... I don't know if this will help you or not...
(Kalman) Did you find out where that drug house is?
(Kalman) Or was, even?
(Falke) Yes.

• Sister_Maulde points to the girl's waist.
• Belden looks up at the priest.

(Falke) But if we don't go there soon it won't be there anymore.

• Belden looks down.

(Falke) However, it will be dangerous.

• Kalman nods

(Sister_Maulde) She was wearing some kind of skirt, I'd say, but it was torn from her - see the marks here and here? Probably after she was unconscious or dead, though.
(Falke) It's a lucrative business. I'm sure the owners have invested in protection.

• Belden nods...

(Belden) Yes.. her shoes were taken too.
(Boden) would the skirt have had the button on it?
(Sister_Maulde) No signs of a struggle, and even on sheen, most people would try to resist having their clothes torn off.
(Sister_Maulde) It could be, dear.
(Belden) We're not sure if it was to try and hide who she was, or if it was just someone who wanted them for themselves...

• Sister_Maulde shrugs

(Kalman) hard to say
(Kalman) one of the count's household may know who she was, at least
(Falke) It could easily have been someone who wanted some clothes, in Pearl City...

• Belden nods to Kalman.

(Sister_Maulde) I hope I've been of some help, dears. Good luck finding this girl's name.

• Falke says, perhaps with a hint of sadness.

(Belden) Thank you very kindly, Sister.

• Sister_Maulde nods and goes back to her work.

(Kalman) Yes, thank you, Sister

• Loch will head back outside again
• Belden will head outside, to stand in the damp air.
• Boden goes outside.
• Falke heads out with the rest.

(Belden) You know...

• Belden says thoughtfully
• Kalman goes out as well

(Belden) If someone did steal her clothes...
(Belden) They may have tried to sell them...
(Kalman) possibly
(Falke) Yes, but we don't know what they look like.
(Loch) Would a servant be able to afford sheen?
(Kalman) possibly...
(Kalman) It depends on how well paid they are
(Belden) Probably someone would remember fencing something nice like that...
(Belden) Oh well... I don't really know much about that sort of thing
(Kalman) I expect the injected kind would be more expensive than the regular kind, though
(Loch) How well payed are they they in the Grand?

• Loch looks at Kalman
• Kalman asks the gm, sec ;)

(Kalman) It depends
(Kalman) some of them can make between one and two Imperials a day if they are well trusted...
(Kalman) To my understanding though, sheen runs about 50 Imperials a dose
(Kalman) (Is Sheen addictive?)
(Narrator) (yes)
(Belden) She doesn't look wealthy enough to support that kind of habit...
(Kalman) no...
(Loch) Imperials aren't the only currency out there.
(Kalman) true
(Kalman) One of us, at least, should visit the count's house

• Belden nods to Kalman,
• Loch nods in agreement

(Belden) I think the next step is finding out who she is...
(Kalman) I'll go
(Belden) I will, too
(Kalman) alright

• Belden says resolutely.

(Narrator) And what are the rest of you doing?

• Pavo will go along.

(Loch) I guess the rest of us will head back to the Pearl... keep watch until you find out more.
(Falke) Maybe we should keep watch around Dove Court.
(Kalman) alright, let's go, then
(Belden) Do you know where it si?
(Loch) If we stay in the vicinity of Dove Court on our route... well, its just a concidience

• Kalman nods
• Belden asks Kalman.

(Belden) Alright.
(Narrator) Okay. Pavo, Belden, and Kalman are going to the Grand. Boden, Loch, and Falke are going to the vicinity of Dove Court, if I understand correctly.

• Falke smiles.
• Pavo straightens out his clothes.

(Loch) (yes, I believe so)
(Narrator) (okay then)
(Narrator) I'll deal with the people going to the Grand first, then. Everyone else can pause for now.
(Falke) (ok)
(Narrator) The home of Eynard Arguelles is on the majestic Celandine Way. It is a massive, rather squat stone building, only three stories high, but very wide. The solitary guard at the gates swiftly allows you to enter upon seeing your badges.
(Belden) (ooh, swiftly!)
(Narrator) A butler opens the door promptly at your knock and stands back to allow you to enter. His red coat shines with brass buttons, identical in design to the one you bear.
(Kalman) . o O ( this could be unpleasant )
(Butler) Yes, how can I help you?

• Belden tries to hide her discomfort, letting Kalman take the lead.

(Kalman) Goodday
(Kalman) I'm Kalman Vak Andras, these are Sister Belden and Pavo, my associates

• Pavo nods
• Butler arches an eyebrow on hearing your name, and nods
• Belden bows her head in greeting.

(Kalman) We are investigating the death of a young girl who was found in Pearl this morning
(Butler) Dear me.
(Butler) But what does this have to do with my master?
(Kalman) We believe that she may have been associated with this household
(Butler) It could be, sir. This is a large household.
(Butler) Did you wish to speak to my master?

• Kalman nods

(Kalman) Please.

• Butler claps his white-gloved hands gently and a maidservant appears as if out of nowhere.

(Pavo) .oO(... I'd be fine speaking to anyone who would know her :o)
(Kalman) . o O ( bleah )

• Maid bobs a curtsey and disappears up the stairs.
• Kalman is diplomatic enough to hide his displeasure at having to deal with this guy like this, bleh bleh bleh
• Maid is wearing a red skirt and white blouse.
• Pavo simply tries to look anti-ruffian

(Narrator) The hall you stand in is richly carpeted with a complex red and white pattern. The dominant feature is a huge mirror with an ornate frame hanging on the wall, which on its own must have cost a fortune.
(Narrator) After a few moments, the maid returns, and you are escorted up the stairs, down a hallway and into a bedroom. The maid curtseys again and leaves.
(Pavo) (Does the maid have bone buttons we can see?)

• Pavo discretely eyes the maid's skirt

(Narrator) (yes, you can see one at the top of the skirt, in the back, as you follow her up the stairs)
(Pavo) (Identical to the one we have?)
(Narrator) (As far as you can tell without sticking your face in her ass, yes)
(Pavo) (eww!)
(Narrator) Inside, the most obvious characteristic of the room is the massive mahogany bed, hung with heavy red curtains that are currently drawn back and tied with silk cords. A young man sits, or rather lounges, there. He is dressed in a silken smoking jacket and his black curls are tousled as if he has just woken.
(Eynard) Yes, what can I do for you?

• Eynard says from his bed.
• Belden exchanges a look with Kalman and Pavo re: the button.

(Kalman) We are investigating a death in Perl.

• Eynard sits up a bit more.

(Kalman) A young girl who we believe may have been connected to, or even part of , your household
(Eynard) Well, as you can see, I've just awoken, and I haven't had time to do a head count of my staff yet.

• Eynard says somewhat brusquely.
• Kalman nods

(Kalman) (Sense motive)

• Pavo puts on a sheepish face.

(Belden) (sense motive arrr)
(Pavo) (Empathy pirates?)
(Belden) (yes)
(Eynard) (He seems to be telling the truth, but Belen, you think he's worried about something)
(Eynard) (Belden, that is)
(Eynard) Could you provide a description of this young girl?
(Kalman) Of course, we understand that
(Pavo) .oO(dead...)

• Kalman looks to Belden to provide that, I don't want to do *all* the talking ;)

(Belden) Well, sir...

• Belden will describe her.
• Eynard looks surprised.

(Eynard) That ... that sounds like Tria. She is... was... one of my maids.

• Eynard rises from the bed, pulling the robe tighter around his waist and sliding his feet into black silk slippers. He walks to a dressing table, pulls open a drawer and removes a silver case, from which he takes a cigarette. He lights it and paces to the window.
• Pavo sighs...

(Belden) (sense motive, ahoy!)
(Kalman) (is the surprise genuine?)
(Narrator) (Belden - he seems truly upset, perhaps more than would be normal for someone who has lost a servant.)
(Narrator) (Kalman - he seems... you're not sure. Not entirely surprised. More like angry.)
(Kalman) Would you, or any of your servants know what she would have been doing last night?
(Eynard) I saw her quite late...

• Eynard says quietly.

(Eynard) I don't know where she went after that.
(Kalman) (lying?)
(Narrator) (You're not sure.)
(Belden) (sense motive)
(Narrator) (you're also not sure)

• Kalman nods

(Eynard) Where did you find her?
(Kalman) She appears to have died of an overdose of Sheen.

• Kalman says neutrally
• Belden watches his response to that statement...

(Belden) (SM)

• Eynard paces a bit more.

(Kalman) (me too)
(Pavo) (You guys are gonna sense motive him to death!)
(Belden) (if only)
(Pavo) (:D)

• Kalman will tell him the general area we found her in

(Narrator) (Belden - you don't see a noticable reaction to that. Kalman, however, you think he twitches a bit, as if that statement was significant to him)
(Eynard) An overdose of sheen?

• Belden nods silently.

(Eynard) Such behaviour is most unlike Tria. She was much too clever to get involved in something like that.
(Belden) (SENSE MOTIVE)
(Kalman) (indeed ;)
(Narrator) (shrug - not sure - either this guy is telling the truth, or he's a very, very good liar)
(Kalman) (same thing for me?)
(Narrator) (yes, for both of you)

• Kalman nods again
• Pavo attempts to look like he knows everything... (Bluff. Just a general look of "Nothing I hear is new")

(Eynard) Guards, I want you to do everything possible to discover how this came about. I'll offer you a reward of six hundred Imperials for a quick and satisfactory answer.

• Eynard says, turning to face you.
• Kalman waits for Belden to turn him down ;)

(Eynard) A *discreet* answer.
(Belden) ...

• Belden looks surprised, and confused...

(Belden) We... we can't accept that money, your excellency

• Eynard looks surprised.

(Eynard) What? Of course you can.

• Kalman smirks

(Belden) We will do our best, as we always do

• Pavo stifles a grin as bst he can.
• Belden grows a little more confident.
• Eynard looks angry.

(Belden) I'm truly sorry, your excellency
(Pavo) Our friend is unaccustomed to accepting gratuities.
(Eynard) You'll take the money.
(Belden) But to do so would create the perception that we give preferential treatment to those with greater means...
(Belden) No sir, I will not.

• Eynard says in a somewhat strained voice.
• Belden hardens the line of her lips.
• Pavo holds his hand to his temple.

(Eynard) Of course it would. That's the point.

• Belden shakes her head.

(Belden) That simply isn't true.
(Belden) That's not how the guard is supposed to operate.

• Eynard inhales sharply.

(Belden) We are here to serve the people. All of the people. Equally.
(Pavo) Lets just say, we'll return to update you once we've concluded our investigation, milord.

• Eynard turns to Pavo
• Pavo throws a "you're being stupid" look to Belden.
• Belden shoots Pavo a very sharp look.

(Eynard) Very well. I expect a quick resolution to this matter.

• Eynard waves a hand to dismiss you.

(Pavo) Come on Belden, we have important work to do...

• Pavo turns to leave.

(Kalman) With such interests in mind, may we have leave to question any members of your staff who may have been familiar with Tria?
(Belden) Good day, your Excellency.

• Eynard turns back to the window.

(Eynard) Yes, of course.

• Belden says politely.

(Kalman) Thank you.

• Maid waits nervously outside the door to show you out.
• Pavo follows the maid.
• Belden waits for Kalman.
• Kalman will leave also, I guess
• Kalman turns to the maid
• Maid looks unhappy.

(Kalman) Miss, did you know Tria?
(Maid) (q) Yes.
(Kalman) Did she have many friends on the staff?

• Maid clears her throat
• Kalman tries to sound sympathetic

(Maid) She wasn't... exactly on the staff, sir.
(Kalman) ahhh...
(Maid) She was the master's ... *personal* maid, sir.
(Kalman) of course

• Pavo nods knowingly

(Pavo) .oO(Does the 'master' have a wife?)

• Belden looks slightly uneasy.

(Narrator) (not that you know of)
(Kalman) Was she friends with anyone, regardless?
(Maid) I don't think so, sir. She spent most of her time with the master.

• Kalman nods

(Maid) She thought she was above the rest of us, if you see what I mean.

• Belden whispers to Kalman.

(Belden) (w) We still need someone to identify her conclusively.
(Kalman) I see

• Kalman nods to Belden

(Kalman) Did she live here?
(Maid) Yes, sir.
(Belden) Might we see her room?

• Kalman nods

(Maid) I... suppose so...

• Maid seems a bit nervous at that.

(Kalman) Also, we will need someone to come down to the guard house and make sure that it really is her
(Maid) oh...
(Maid) Who?
(Kalman) anyone who would have known what she looked like, and can be spared, I suppose.
(Kalman) It will be up to the Count if he wants to collect the body
(Maid) I suppose I could go...

• Maid says timidly

(Maid) Did you still need to see her rooms?

• Kalman nods

(Kalman) please

• Maid nods and leads you down the hallway and opens a door.

(Kalman) Do you know of she had any family or any friends outside of the count?
(Narrator) The room is large and spacious, much beyond what a servant would have.

• Belden follows along.

(Maid) I don't know of any, sir. It could be.
(Kalman) do you know how they met?

• Belden steps inside, and starts looking around.
• Belden will look in drawers, jewelry boxes, etc...

(Maid) I'm not sure, sir. It was two years ago, I'd say.
(Narrator) Belden, you look around. (rolling)

• Belden is looking for anything out of the ordinary, but specifically anything that might suggest a sheen habit.
• Pavo will look around as well, without really moving anything.

(Narrator) Belden, you find several nice pieces of jewelry, again beyond what a servant might have.
(Narrator) You also find a small, empty box that retains the smell of sheen.
(Kalman) Do you know if she may have had a sheen habit?
(Narrator) Pavo, you see nice clothes, an unmade bed, thick carpets, and so on.

• Belden sighs quietly, and sadly.

(Maid) It could be, sir. I wouldn't know ...
(Belden) Kalman...

• Belden brings him the box.
• Kalman looks over to Belden

(Kalman) ...
(Belden) Smell it... :/

• Kalman sniffs it.

(Narrator) (smells of sheen)

• Pavo listens to the little voice in his head that says he should look at the buttons.
• Kalman nods
• Kalman should be sense motiveing this girl

(Narrator) Pavo, you looks at the clothes. Some have nice buttons, some less nice.
(Kalman) (why does she seem so nervous?)
(Narrator) (because she's hiding something, you'd say.)

• Kalman nods

(Kalman) Do you know if she went out at all last night?

• Maid coughs slightly and holds out a hand discreetly.

(Belden) (how discreetly?)
(Narrator) (pretty discreetly. Are you still looking around the room?)

• Kalman will give her an Imperial, why not?

(Maid) She left late. I think the master sent her out on an errand for him.

• Maid says, quickly pocketing the Imperial.

(Kalman) (SM)
(Narrator) (you don't think she's lying)

• Belden hides her displeasure.
• Kalman nods

(Kalman) did he often send her out on late night errands?

• Belden wonders if he is a user as well.

(Maid) Only when he was out of something he needed, sir.
(Kalman) What sorts of things?
(Belden) ...

• Belden takes that as a yes.
• Kalman asks, looking at the box
• Maid clears her throat again and looks away.

(Pavo) (Are the buttons all with the same design?)
(Narrator) (No, there are many different kinds of buttons)
(Kalman) I see...
(Kalman) I think we've probably seen everything we need to here

• Kalman looks for confirmation from Belden and Pavo
• Belden nods.

(Narrator) (Are you guys done here? I want to get on to the other group...)
(Belden) Let's move on.
(Belden) (k)
(Narrator) You can take the maid back to the corpse house to identify the body, which she does.
(Narrator) Okay, moving on to the other group, what are you guys doing?
(Falke) (that's a charming name... ^-^)
(Loch) (I figure we do our job while the other three are playing detective)

• Falke is being quiet and following the lead of the others, but always watching for anything of interest that's going on as they travel.
• Boden goes with the others.

(Narrator) (were you actually going to look for the Scarlet Sign, or not?)
(Falke) (I think we were going to hang out in Dove Court)
(Falke) (Or close to it)

• Boden will be more watchful than usual.

(Falke) (But going *into* the Scarlet Sign doesn't seem very conducive to staying alive... I could be wrong, though)
(Loch) (we were going to check out the area of Dove Court)
(Narrator) You go to Dove Court. It's a fairly run-down part of town, old houses that used to be nice but are now falling apart.
(Narrator) The Court itself is reached by an alleyway, and is a small open square that dead-ends.
(Loch) (any other exits that we can spot or figure out?)
(Narrator) There are three doors leading into buildings, plus the alleyway that you came up.

• Falke will watch for people coming and going into the buildings in/around Dove Court. Does he recognize anyone who he knows is a sheen addict?

(Narrator) As you guards are standing there, no one seems to be going in or out.
(Falke) (Figured)

• Falke wonders if there's a plain clothes unit among the guard, and if there is, whether he might be able to transfer to it eventually.

(Loch) (if the place is down a dead end allyway.... I dont think we would want to go up it and give our interest away...)
(Falke) (me neither)
(Narrator) (well, if you're not going up, then you definitely can't see anyone going in or out.)
(Narrator) You loiter aimlessly, then.
(Falke) (Are there any shops nearby that might afford a view of the alley and give us a plausible reason for being there? Lunch time or something? ;^D)
(Loch) Either of you think there is a back entrance to that place?
(Narrator) (It is about lunch time by now, but there aren't any shops right here.)

• Boden will ask the others if we should check out fences in the area...just in case they sold the boots.

(Falke) Probably there is. But we're not going to see anything dressed like this.

• Falke sighs.

(Narrator) (well, do something, people. It's getting late here. If you just want to go back and meet up with the others, that's fine, but don't just sit here.)
(Loch) I doubt the boots will lead us anywhere. lets just loiter around the area, see if we can spot anything by chance, and wait for the others to come back and let us know who the girl was.
(Boden) ok

• Boden will start to smoke then.

(Loch) Then we'll get organized and storm the place to find suspects.
(Falke) If there are any left.

• Boden nods. He will also offer tobacco and papers to the others if they want some.
• Falke shakes his head and waves the proffered items away.

(Falke) No thanks.
(Narrator) Well, you stand there loitering for an hour or more, and then the other group find you.
(Narrator) Rejoin to your heart's content.
(Loch) Any news?

• Kalman nods

(Belden) Well... she was the count's mistress...
(Kalman) we've identified her
(Boden) oh
(Boden) maybe he owed them money

• Falke files that tidbit away.

(Kalman) According to one of the maids, she was probably sent out on an errand late last night
(Belden) I got the impression that the errand was sheen-related.

• Kalman nods

(Loch) Does he want us to hit the Scarlet Sign?
(Kalman) that seemed to be the implication, in any case
(Kalman) He didn't mention it
(Kalman) he does want a quick and discrete resolution to the investigation, however

• Kalman comments
• Kalman seems vaguely amused

(Loch) Well, this is the best lead... do we go for it?

• Belden purses her lips and shoots Kalman a vaguely annoyed look.
• Kalman thinks

(Belden) I think we should.
(Belden) How should we go about it, though?
(Kalman) I don't know...
(Boden) in the door...fast?
(Kalman) If we knew for sure that this was the right place, I'd suggest getting some extra people
(Falke) I would too.
(Falke) Time is also of the essence.
(Falke) They may already be gone, if they were here to begin with.
(Belden) Well, if you found them once, we probably can again...
(Kalman) how reliable was your source?
(Belden) It wil be harder, but...
(Falke) She works in a tavern. She overhears things, sometimes.
(Boden) I think we should go in now.
(Falke) I would consider *her* reliable. However, her sources may not be.
(Kalman) does this place just run sheen?
(Falke) (Do I know anything else about it, Julie?)
(Narrator) (you think it offers many drugs, not just sheen)

• Falke shakes his head and explains that, then.

(Kalman) hmm
(Kalman) I think we should get back up

• Falke keeps scanning for anything interesting.

(Belden) I agree...
(Falke) I can go get some if you like.
(Belden) If we're just going to go straight in, we should get more guards.

• Loch shruggs

(Kalman) sure. Talk to the lieutenant
(Belden) We have to keep things official, Falke.

• Belden says, in a not unfriendly tone.
• Falke looks at Belden with a peculiar expression.

(Falke) Of course.
(Falke) Back in a bit.
(Narrator) So, you're going to get backup, Falke?

• Falke heads off at a walk and then when he's out of sight of Dove Court, he goes into a lope.

(Falke) (yup)
(Narrator) What are the rest of you doing?

• Boden will be standing in The Stance, waiting to be told what to do.

(Kalman) I think we might be able to discreetly keep an eye on this place a little better
(Narrator) Okay, you're standing around.
(Loch) what's your suggestion?
(Belden) I don't know how discreet we look hanging about like this...
(Kalman) we can at least split up, go around to the next block and keep an eye on the back entrance

• Kalman nods to belden

(Loch) There is no back entrance
(Narrator) A crossbow bolt flies seemingly out of nowhere and hits Loch in the upper arm, for 3 points of damage.
(Belden) O_o
(Narrator) *thwack*
(Kalman) ...or not

• Boden looks around to find the source!
• Belden pulls out her morningstar.
• Loch grunts
• Belden looks around as well.

(Boden) (and draws my sword.)

• Kalman pulls his Crossbow and looks for the sniper
• Kalman will move into better cover too

(Falke) (They don't like you guys)
(Narrator) Another one clatters off the wall behind you, not hitting anyone. They're coming from the opposite side of the street, where the alley is. Perhaps from inside a building or on top of onw?
(Kalman) (can I see anyone up there?)
(Kalman) They might be distractinhg us....
(Narrator) Another bolt flies, hitting Belden in the chest for 6 damage.
(Loch) (need to find they are comming from)
(Belden) urk
(Boden) Get to the walls!!!
(Kalman) shit.

• Boden runs to the walls so the can't hit him.

(Narrator) That one definitely came from inside a building - you see a narrow window on the third story, Kalman.

• Belden lurches after Boden.
• Loch will charge forward with Boden

(Boden) Wich building?
(Narrator) (what walls are you running to?)
(Kalman) they're inside the building

• Kalman says
• Kalman watches and takes aim so the next sniper to aim he can try and shoot back
• Belden will cast Bless.

(Boden) (which of the two buildings that make up the alleyway does Kalman indicate...)
(Belden) (that affects multiple ppl, right?)
(Narrator) Anoter bolt clatters harmlessly to the street. Kalman, I'll roll for you to try to shoot back.
(Narrator) Belden - yes.
(Kalman) (yay)
(Narrator) Boden - the left one.
(Narrator) Kalman - you shoot, but your bolt sticks in the wooden wall. That window is a small target.
(Kalman) we Boden, go after them

• Boden will look for the door to that building and try to break it down...

(Kalman) I'll try and keep them off us

• Kalman reloads quickly
• Loch will follow boden in

(Narrator) You presume the door must be one of the ones down the alleyway, in the court.
(Kalman) are you okay, Belden?
(Belden) (can I cast a Doom spell on the guy if I can't see him?)
(Belden) Ungh.
(Belden) I'm alright.

• Boden will charge and try and make it to the snipers.
• Belden says through gritted teeth, although she is bleeding quite heavily.

(Narrator) (you have to have LoS, Belden)

• Belden will go behind Boden.
• Pavo steps in front of Belden.

(Narrator) Okay, so Boden, Loch, Belden and Pavo are going down the narrow alley, while Kalman stays out, right?
(Boden) (yep)
(Loch) Iguess so
(Narrator) Okay. Let me do a bit of rolling.

• Pavo is covering Belden as much as possible.
• Kalman is trying to give cover while they get across

(Kalman) (since I seem to be the only one with a bow)
(Narrator) Boden, as you're coming down the alleyway, you see the door in front of you open briefly, then slam shut again. You're the only one who sees that, as others can't see around you.
(Belden) (heh)

• Boden will run to that door and break it down.

(Belden) (old "Big Ass" Boden ;D)
(Narrator) (sec)

• Belden will lay a hand on Boden and cast Guidance.

(Narrator) Boden - you run up to the door with all your strength, and it splinters around you, collapsing inwards.

• Boden is looking for the bad guys.

(Narrator) Inside, there is a hallway, and it's very dark.
(Narrator) It takes you a second or two to get free of the remains of the door, so that others can enter as well.
(Belden) (this would be when I cast it on him)

• Pavo takes a moment to switch to his nasty claws.
• Loch will cast light on a door shard that I pick up

(Falke) (Julie, did I get very far before all hell broke loose? Might I hear the sounds of combat?)
(Narrator) Okay Boden, you can proceed, as can everyone else, but you'll have to go single-file down this hallway.

• Boden will go quickly.

(Narrator) (Falke - you might have heard something unusual, but it's up to you whether you turn back or not)
(Kalman) (baaaaackuuuuuuuuup!)
(Narrator) The air is faintly hazy with smoke, and an acrid scent hits your nostrils.
(Falke) (Probably not, I was ordered to get help)
(Belden) (keep going!!)
(Loch) (whats our order here... Boden then who?)
(Falke) (I'm going, I'm going!)
(Pavo) (Doors in the hallway?)
(Narrator) Kalman - whoever was shooting seems to have stopped.
(Belden) (what kind of smoke?)

• Falke runs faster.

(Narrator) Just one door at the end of the hallway.
(Belden) (Boden, Pavo, me,?)

• Kalman will watch the other doors for a moment while the other make their way inside, then joins them
• Falke scans for guards on his way, that he might be able to send.

(Belden) (I would have reached sort of... around Pavo guess)
(Loch) that works... Boden Pave Belden Loch
(Narrator) The smoke... you're not sure. A mixture of different odours.

• Belden wrinkles up her nose.

(Belden) ugh
(Narrator) From inside the building somewhere, you can hear someone yelling "Guards! Guards!"

• Boden runs (as fast as I can) to the voices.

(Belden) (Do I think inhaling as much of this stuff as is in the air here is going to adversely affect us?)
(Narrator) It opens into a large, dimly-lit room. The air is more cloudy here, a perpetual miasma of fumes hovering near the ceiling. The room is cluttered with low couches, some of which are occupied by prone bodies clutching pipes, trying to struggle to their feet or simply staring vacantly at the ceiling.
(Narrator) (Could be, you're not sure)
(Narrator) Boden, there is some hasty movement near the rear of the room, where another hallway leads into darkness. Sounds of grunting and dragging can be heard.

• Boden runs to it...I am carrying my longsword drawn.

(Narrator) Belden and Loch, you are both starting to feel quite light-headed from the smoke or perhaps loss of blood.

• Kalman will catch up to them at some point?

(Narrator) Yes, Kalman, you can be at the back of the group.

• Belden will pull out a handkerchief and wet it from her canteen, then tie it around her nose and mouth.

(Belden) I don't feel so well...

• Kalman will exchange his croossbow for his shortsword
• Belden tries to keep up with Boden.

(Narrator) Boden, in the hallway, you see a tall, thin man with a mop of red hair dragging a body towards the door. The body is male, fairly large, and the thin man seems to be having difficulty moving it.

• Kalman is keeping an eye on Belden and also an eye out for ambushes

(Narrator) When the thin man notices you, he drops the body and runs for the door.

• Kalman scans the room of druggies as well

(Boden) (I have the run feat.)
(Narrator) A bright light hits your eyes from the outside, along with a breath of fresh air, before the door slams closed again.
(Boden) (my ass is fast!)
(Belden) (lol)
(Narrator) People in the main room, those who are capable, at least, are pushing and shoving each other in an attempt to make it out the front door.

• Belden will check out the body.

(Narrator) Okay, Boden, you're chasing the guy.

• Belden will try to pull it outside to do so...
• Loch will start herding the occupants of the room into a line against one of the walls

(Narrator) Belden: The body in the hallway looks to be a man in his early thirties, moderately well-dressed. His veins are blackened and distended in a manner identical to those of the woman you found earlier.
(Belden) (dead?)

• Pavo will block the door and assist Loch, wearing his nasty looking catclaw gauntlets.

(Narrator) Yes, dead. You can't really move it, though. You're too weak.
(Belden) (If he's dead I'll leave him for now and go with Loch.
(Narrator) Loch and Pavo, you can be herding people in the main room, though you think some of them still get away in the confusion.

• Pavo will keep note of faces if possible.

(Narrator) Boden, you run through another court and alleyway, out onto another street. You chase the man, who is some distance ahead of you.

• Kalman can help heard
• Belden will approach Loch unsteadily.
• Boden will yell.

(Belden) Are you very hurt?
(Falke) (Do I run into any squads on the way who might be able to go serve as backup immediately?)
(Boden) IF YOU MAKE ME CHASE YOU FAR...I'LL HURT YOU MORE!!!
(Kalman) (LOL)
(Boden) (OVERBEAR)
(Narrator) (Falke - you find some guards, and start to head back to the court)
(Loch) I'll be fine
(Narrator) Boden - the guy falls to the ground, cowering.
(Falke) (Okay)
(Boden) (sweet!)
(Belden) You sure?

• Belden asks weakly.
• Boden runs up to the guy and will pick him up with his left hand and push him against the wall

(Belden) Is everyone else alright?
(Falke) (How many? I wonder if I can get some to go to the back of the buildings and catch any escapees there, and the rest of us go in the same way as my squad?)
(Narrator) The guy seems to be in his mid-thirties, gaunt and pale.
(Falke) (I won't be able to see where they got in until I get there though)

• Kalman nods

(Kalman) look after yourself, Belden...
(Narrator) Falke - another squadron, that being 6 other guards.
(Loch) ... the crossbow bolts may have been poisoned.
(Belden) ...

• Pavo will, when the the den itself seems secure, (if...) step out the door and try to follow Boden.
• Belden casts Detect Poison on Loch

(Narrator) Boden isn't too far down the street.
(Boden) Were are the fucks that shot at us!?
(Pavo) All under control Boden?
(Narrator) You don't detect any poison, Belden.
(Kalman) (Are the guys we rounded up being good?)

• Dude cowers.

(Belden) I don't ... see any
(Pavo) (Was there an upstairs to the den?)
(Narrator) Most of the people you've rounded up are too spaced out to be much trouble.
(Kalman) where are the snipers?
(Narrator) (Probably)

• Belden will then hold on to her wooden Wheel, and cast Cure Light Wounds on herself.

(Narrator) (Belden - you can heal yourself for 6 points)
(Belden) (yippee!)

• Kalman asks, mostly for the benefit of the guards
• Boden reaches back like a pimp and bitchslaps the dude!

(Narrator) (You'd have to look)
(Kalman) they were upstairs
(Kalman) ...

• Dude cowers more
• Loch looks around for stairs
• Kalman will also look for stairs

(Boden) Pavo!, take this guy...I'm going back to look for the shooters.

• Boden will push/throw this guy one handed to Pavo.

(Narrator) Kalman, you find a set of stairs in one of the back rooms.
(Pavo) (Boden, i have clawed Gauntlets on...)
(Narrator) Falke, you arrive back with the reinforcements.
(Boden) (Pavo, Boden is kinda pissed right now and slapped around a guy who wasn't resisting...he doesn't care.)

• Pavo will bare his teeth at the man and order him back to the sheen den, guiding him with the claws.
• Dude_ will go with you, still cowering
• Kalman goes upstairs, carefully
• Falke suggests maybe half of them go around the back and see if anyone's there, and the other 3 go in to the building with him, but he's not their boss, so it's just a suggestion.
• Belden will follow Kalman, then.
• Loch keeps control of the room
• Boden runs back to the house and searches for the crossbowmen.

(Falke) (Are there crossbows firing at us?)
(Narrator) Falke - they'll do just that. No, there aren't any crossbows being fired at you. You find the situation mostly under control in the main room.
(Loch) Check upstairs

• Falke will do a quick search through all the basement rooms then.

(Falke) (er, bottom floor, rooms, rather)

• Boden will rush in and run up the stairs looking for the guys with crossbows.

(Narrator) Belden and Kalman, you go up the stairs.

• Belden is being cautious this time, sticking to walls and whatnot.
• Pavo orders the man against the wall with the rest. "Loch, watch this one, he's the one who took off."

(Narrator) It's dark up there, and it doesn't seem to follow a normal layout. There are hallways branching off all over the place.
(Loch) Got it

• Kalman is being careful, trying to place the inside space with where he saw the shot fired from
• Pavo will leave the downstairs to the backup and head up the stairs cautiously as well.

(Narrator) It's like it was a series of big fancy houses once, that have had walls knocked down and moved around.
(Narrator) Kalman, you eventually find the spot. There's a narrow window looking out onto the street, but you don't find anyone there.
(Falke) (Are any of my squad downstairs still?)
(Loch) (I am)
(Narrator) Pavo, you join them upstairs.

• Kalman will stop and try and listen for people

(Pavo) (Are there any other stairwells?)
(Narrator) Kalman, you do hear movement, but because the layout is so confusing, you can't place its source.

• Kalman frowns

(Narrator) Like, it's coming from your left, but you don't see any doors that way - that sort of thing.
(Boden) (do the walls look thick?)

• Kalman will move quietly and hope other take the cue
• Boden will try a wall to see if he can go through.
• Kalman will keep looking though, trying to find doors that go in the right places :p
• Falke just wants to make sure things are under control downstairs. Are there people there that need to be guarded? Any squad members who need help?

(Narrator) Boden - probably, but they might be rotten in places.

• Belden will be quiet and cautious, and listen for bad guys.

(Narrator) Falke - yes, there are people there who need to be guarded.

• Boden will try a wall to see if he can go through.

(Narrator) Kalman - you eventually find a door that goes the right way, which leads to a hallway.
(Falke) (The three guys I brought, can they do it?)
(Narrator) (Yes, they can)

• Belden is sticking with Kalman.

(Narrator) Downstairs, the guards are already restoring order, taking fines and such.
(Falke) (I will go upstairs then if none of my squad are down here.)
(Belden) (loch is, isn't he?)
(Narrator) Falke - there is also a locked door that no-one has been able to open yet.
(Narrator) Loch is still downstairs, as far as I know.
(Loch) (I am)
(Falke) (Does someone tell me that?)
(Falke) Loch!
(Narrator) You would see it on your survey of the situation downstairs.
(Falke) Everything all right?
(Falke) Heard anything behind here?
(Narrator) Those of you upstairs, you follow the direction of the sounds.
(Loch) The rest are upstairs trying to track down the shooters

• Falke indicates the locked door.

(Loch) No. Can you open it?
(Narrator) Boden, you didn't get through the wall. Too solid, you guess.

• Falke smiles and pulls a little rolled up piece of leather.

(Falke) Shhh.
(Boden) (ok)

• Falke will try to pick the lock.

(Narrator) Kalman, you're leading the way. You find an open door, and can see some light from within.
(Falke) (Open Lock of 6)
(Falke) (he pulls his tools out of his pocket, didn't type that by accident)
(Narrator) (Okay, you're working on it, Falke)

• Kalman will enter cautiously

(Narrator) Inside the room upstairs, there is a trapdoor that opens onto the roof. It is open.

• Falke listens carefully for the tumblers clicking into place.

(Kalman) damn

• Kalman willclimb out and look around, still being careful

(Narrator) Kalman, you look around on the rooftops, but you don't see anyone else up there.

• Boden will look for tracks in the wet roof.

(Boden) (maybe in puddles or stuff.)
(Narrator) Boden - you see no tracks.
(Boden) (crap :/)
(Narrator) Falke, you can't seem to get the door open.
(Falke) Damn.

• Falke curses under his breath.
• Kalman loks for ways down off the roof

(Belden) They got away...

• Loch will go over to the dude that Pavo brought in
• Boden will head down as well.

(Falke) (Does it seem to be a normal kind of lock?)
(Loch) What's behind that door?
(Boden) Want me to get the door?
(Narrator) Kalman - there are probably infinite ways off these roofs, from jumping to going down through another trapdoor, to ladders or fire escape-type staircases.
(Kalman) (right....)
(Narrator) Yes, it seems to be a normal lock, just of pretty good quality.
(Belden) I guess we should jsut go back down, Kalman.

• Kalman looks and sees if he can see any fleeing types in the streets, but isn't very hopeful ;)

(Belden) We should search the upstairs for evidence and clues first, though!

• Falke idly wonders if his crowbar might work. ^-^

(Narrator) It might, Falke.
(Narrator) Kalman, you don't see anyone.
(Narrator) Loch, you're talking to the dude?
(Falke) (Or it might permanently screw up the lock)
(Pavo) (ugh... where can I reenter?)
(Falke) (Can I try picking it again or do I think it's beyond my skill?)
(Loch) (yes)

• Belden will go back down through the trapdoor.

(Narrator) Falke, you think it's beyond your skill to open it without breaking it.

• Boden will see Falke picking the lock.
• Dude_ runs his fingers through his shaggy mop of hair

(Kalman) back down, I guess
(Boden) I could probably just take out the door like I did the front one.
(Falke) (OK, I'll bring out the heavy equipment. Crowbar, and if that fails, I always have my morningstar)
(Dude_) I don't know what's going on here.
(Dude_) Ah, void it all, this isn't my problem.
(Boden) um...Falke...

• Dude_ whines.
• Falke shrugs and steps asied.
• Pavo supposes he finds himself down with the Dude & Loch

(Falke) If you want to try, be my guest.

• Belden is searching rooms upstairs.
• Boden will motion for Falke to get out of the way...

(Falke) (let's hope the TREASURE is behind this door.)
(Narrator) Belden - there are several rooms that look lived-in, but none contain people at the moment.
(Falke) (I'm already out of the way)
(Loch) Well, you were dragging your problem, so unless you want us to think you're the one responsible for his death, you may want to start helping us.
(Falke) (And since she's upstairs, she won't be any the wiser! :^D )
(Dude_) It's not my fault, I just work here.

• Boden will run and the door and try to break it down.

(Pavo) Haha
(Narrator) Boden, you bounce off the door. It's harder than the other one!
(Pavo) And a respectable and legal profession that i, too?
(Pavo) is

• Kalman will look around the upstairs with Belden, but probably doesn't find anything interesting either

(Belden) (I am searching for clues! :D)

• Boden looks surprised.

(Falke) Bruised?
(Dude_) (Okay, I'll let you know if you find any :)

• Falke moves in again with his crowbar.

(Boden) its not often that on inside door is stronger than a front door.

• Boden looks unhurt.

(Boden) (I also look like I've done that before.)
(Narrator) (Boden - this one is locked ;)
(Falke) (lol)
(Boden) (I thought you said I splintered the last one...)
(Dude_) (Yes, you did. It was barred with a piece of wood, not a metal lock...)
(Dude_) You promise you'll let me go, I'll give you all the stuff that's here, and all the money too.

• Dude_ wheedles to Loch
• Falke checks the lock for a trap before trying to force his way in.

(Narrator) Falke - you think if there were a trap, you'd have set it off by now, either by poking at the lock or having Boden try to break down the door...
(Pavo) We've already GOT all of the stuff here.
(Falke) (right)
(Boden) maybe we could use the crowbar together

• Falke crowbars.
• Dude_ points to the door

(Falke) Let me try first.
(Dude_) You don't have what's in there...

• Dude_ says slyly

(Loch) If that door opens to stuff, I may be able to forget I saw you here
(Falke) We're about to.

• Pavo laughs derisively at Dude.
• Boden will look to the dude.

(Pavo) As if that's going anywhere.
(Kalman) (search dude for keys ;)
(Narrator) You struggle, but can't seem to break the lock with a crowbar.

• Boden will walk over to the Dude in a menacing fashion.

(Falke) (Oh yeah)
(Falke) So, by the way, do you have the keys?

• Dude_ cowers from Boden
• Falke pauses in his prying while he awaits an answer.

(Boden) um, just wondering...
(Dude_) Keep that psycho away from me!

• Boden says in a very fake friendly kind of way.

(Boden) do you let patrons carry large weapons in this establishment?

• Dude_ tries to hide behind Loch

(Loch) (I am going to bed all... if we get the door open, I will cast detect magic and identify anything magical that may be in there for the group... night all)

• Boden will flex the left hand with the gauntlet on it.

(Dude_) (okay, night)
(Pavo) (Ciao terry!)
(Boden) (night)

• • • Loch has quit IRC (Quit: )

(Falke) Boden, do you mind seeing if he has any keys, please?
(Dude_) Ah... ahh.. look, people come in here, they pay their money... it's not my job to search them for weapons.
(Boden) but what if they had a weapon visible?

• Dude_ shrugs
• Boden will reach out with his left hand and take the man by the neck.

(Falke) I'd hate to destroy such a fine example of the locksmith's trade.
(Dude_) urgrfh
(Boden) um

• Dude_ gurgles

(Boden) what I was getting at is the fuckers with crossbows.(I'm not choking him...just holding on)
(Boden) I think they worked for you
(Boden) and they shot my friends.
(Kalman) (I suppose it is a big upstairs to search... la la la)
(Dude_) No one works for me, man, I work for them.
(Boden) what do you think of that?
(Boden) who is them? Who were they?
(Narrator) Kalman and Belden - eventually, you decide there's nothing more to find upstairs.
(Dude_) Look, if you let me off, I can tell you who owns this place. Believe me, you'll want to know that.

• Dude_ squirms
• Falke gives up and just pries.
• Belden comes downstairs, then.

(Belden) Nothing upstairs...
(Dude_) You want that door open, man? I can do it...
(Falke) Please do.
(Dude_) You can have whatever's in there. (Belden> (I want to go to bed... but if I do, Belden won't be able to stop them from stealing the evidence!)

• Falke steps aside.
• Dude_ is still being held by Boden...

(Belden> Whatever's in there will have to be turned over to the proper authorities.

• Belden says.

(Belden> (so tired... work tomorrow... :() (Boden> why are you still bargaining with us? (Narrator> (yes, well, just remember whose fault it is we started late... :( (Boden> we have you for murder (Boden> and we are willing to hurt you badly.

• Falke glances at Loch (whose player is not here now)
• Dude_ 's eyes bug out

(Boden> I'm willing to bet you will talk before I even break a sweat. (Dude_> Maybe the sheen was bad somehow, I don't know, I don't take the damned stuff. It's not my fault. (Falke> Boden, please let him open this door. (Falke> There could be valuable information inside.

• Boden turns to Falke.

(Boden> trust us.

• Boden says it in a menasing way...but then winks at you so the dude can't see it.

(Boden> are you going to open that door now? (Dude_> As soon as you let me go.

• Boden will let him go, but stays menacingly close to him.
• Dude_ goes over to the door, takes a key from a pouch at his belt, and opens the door.

(Falke> Thank you. (Narrator> The room is lined with shelves, which are covered with various powders, bottles, and other paraphernalia. As well, there is a locked strongbox. (Boden> open the box. (Dude_> So, you're gonna let me go if I do, right? (Belden> We can get it opened at the guard house. (Boden> No, but you walk out of here.

• Dude_ squirms some more

(Dude_) And what if I tell you who owns this place? I can do that...
(Dude_) I just wanna get out of here.

• Boden looks down at him sadly.

(Boden) you still don't get it do you?

• Dude_ looks miserable
• Belden gives Kalman an anguished "We can't just let him GO" look.

(Boden) Your guys shot at guards.
(Dude_) I told you, they're not *my* guys.
(Boden) You'll be lucky if you don't get executed.
(Dude_) I don't have anything to do with them.

• Kalman nods to belden

(Pavo) Dude: And by telling us who's they are, and who's place this is.. you prove they weren't yours.
(Dude_) They're *his* men.
(Boden) well then, I'd stop worrying about being let go and try very hard to make us not execute you.
(Kalman) whose?
(Pavo) whose
(Boden) be helpful.
(Dude_) Yeah, you got it.

• Dude_ says to Pavo
• Falke wanders into the room and checks some boxes. I assume they're various drugs and things.

(Pavo) Dude: That doesn't mean you weren't working here though...
(Kalman) in fact, you've already admitted that you do
(Kalman) haven't you?
(Narrator) Yes, drugs.

• Belden is watching the room and the guy alternately.

(Pavo) So since you can't go for gold... go for the silver.
(Dude_) It's Orain Talavera, right? Big nobleman, he's the one who's in charge. He deals the sheen, he makes the money, he orders the guards around, and if anyone knew it was bad, it was him.

• Dude_ spills in a flood of words.

(Falke) Well, we'll need an armed escort with a wagon to get rid of all this.
(Pavo) (... is that Loick's father?)
(Pavo) (ooc question first, then outloud if I need to)
(Narrator) (You don't think so - no doubt a relative of some kind, though)
(Pavo) (ok, then if I don't think it's his father, I don't think I'd name Loick...)
(Kalman) (sense motive just to make sure this guy isn't making this up, though I doubt he is...)
(Narrator) Some of the other guards have already sent for reinforcements and wagons to get this stuff.
(Narrator) Kalman, you don't think he's lying. He seems too panicked.

• Falke files away that tidbit.

(Dude_) You don't understand... if you take me in, I'm not going to survive.
(Kalman) (figures. DO I know who Loick Talavera is?)
(Dude_) He's gonna get rid of me.
(Narrator) (Yes, he's on your NPC sheet, I believe)
(Kalman) (not Loick, the other one)
(Pavo) (Kalman: Noble, playboy, swings both ways, or at least Pavo's way :D)
(Kalman) (i know)
(Narrator) (What other one?)

• Kalman raises his eyebrows again when he hears the name

(Pavo) (Orain)

• Kalman wonder what his mother will think of that :o
• Falke steps out of the room again.

(Belden) (I am going to bed)
(Narrator) (Pavo - you've heard of him, he's a nobleman, but you don't know anything specific about him)
(Falke) (ok)
(Boden) (ok.)
(Falke) (Lates Sas)
(Pavo) (Night)

• • • Belden has quit IRC (Quit: Still the prettiest. )

(Narrator) The wagons from the guard post show up and guards start clearing away people and drugs.
(Kalman) Well.

• Dude_ is still squirming and looking around, as if he already fears for his life
• Falke watches the proceedings and memorizes faces of the people in this room in case he runs into them in the future.

(Falke) (I help too)
(Dude_) If you don't let me outta here, you'll be responsible for my death.

• Kalman will keep an eye on Dude

(Falke) (But I'm making note of names and stuff if we get any)
(Dude_) I guarantee it.
(Kalman) We'll need to make a report on that soon
(Kalman) I don't doubt it

• Kalman looks at the guards from his group

(Dude_) I gave you everything you wanted....

• Pavo eyes Kalman back.

(Kalman) we should take him back to headquarters

• Falke is helping process prisoners.

(Falke) I agree.
(Boden) I'm willing to be responsible for your death.
(Kalman) Let's get going then. Gotta get you somewhere safe, don't we?

• Dude_ looks crestfallen

(Pavo) Was there anything identifying the deceased?
(Boden) you were dragging a corpse when I found you.
(Boden) who was the new dead guy?
(Dude_) I don't know.
(Falke) And... what's your name, by the way?

• Boden turns to Kalman...

(Boden) and we never even asked this guy about the girl yet.

• Dude_ squirms some more

(Kalman) Do you know any of your customers by name?
(Dude_) What girl?
(Dude_) Most people don't want to chat.
(Falke) (I've got to go to bed myself)
(Kalman) Young, blonde. Well dressed
(Kalman) She would have been here late last night
(Falke) (If I learn anything useful by memorizing faces and finding out names with these drug addicts, etc. you'll let me know, right Julie? :^) )
(Narrator) (yes, I will)
(Falke) (thanks, it was fun!)
(Dude_) Yeah, I remember her. She came in, got a shitload of sheen, and left.

• • • Falke has quit IRC (Quit: )

(Pavo) Did anyone follow her?

• Dude_ looks confused

(Dude_) No, why would they?
(Pavo) For any multitude of reasons.
(Pavo) Thievery and murder spring to mind.
(Dude_) I don't know anything about that
(Pavo) Mmhmm
(Narrator) Some of the other guards come up to you and ask if you're ready to go. Everything else has been cleared out.

• Boden looks at Kalman.
• Pavo shrug

(Boden) we should get all the info out of this guy that we can before he gets himself killed.

• Pavo frowns.

(Kalman) true
(Kalman) (did I think he was lying about that being all she did)
(Kalman) did she come in alone?
(Narrator) (no, you don't think he was lying)
(Dude_) Yeah.
(Narrator) The other guards are getting impatient..
(Kalman) (just lety me know if I think he is lying about any of this, though I do doubt it ;)

• Kalman shakes his head

(Narrator) (will do)
(Kalman) I think that's about all we need, really
(Kalman) I'm assuming she wasn't very talkative?

• Dude_ shakes his head

(Dude_) Stuck-up bitch.

• Kalman nods again

(Kalman) didn't buy any more than she used?
(Dude_) She bought a lot more than she would need for herself, that's for sure.
(Boden) What about injections and stuff?
(Kalman) you sure no one followed her out?
(Dude_) That's what she was buying, the liquid sheen.
(Dude_) No, I didn't see anyone follow her.
(Narrator) So, you're taking this guy into custody, then?
(Kalman) (yeah, I guess so)
(Narrator) Okay. You take this guy, along with about a dozen other patrons of the Scarlet Sign, into custody, and take them back to the guard post where their fines will be issued and they will be questioned further if necessary.
(Narrator) You also took all of the drugs and the cashbox.
(Narrator) The drugs will be destroyed, but the contents of the box will be divided between you.
(Boden) (ok)
(Narrator) You return to file your reports on the day's events with Svodoba before you are free to go about your own business.
(Boden) (we try and hide it from Belden if we can.)
(Narrator) You can't, it's being divided by Svodoba. She can refuse her share if she wants, though.
(Kalman) (the box thing, is that just something we do or is that standard?)
(Kalman) (keen)
(Boden) (even better.)
(Boden) :)
(Narrator) That's standard for big jobs, any profits are divided between the guards who did the job (and the City takes a cut as well)
(Narrator) You file your reports on the day's events with Svodoba before you are free to go about your own business.
(Boden) (how much time went buy from last session to this one?)
(Narrator) Anyone keeping anything back from Svodoba in your reports?
(Narrator) Nearly a month, Boden.
(Boden) (ok)
(Boden) (not me.)
(Narrator) I'll assume not unless you tell me otherwise.
(Pavo) (Not I.)

• Kalman won't

(Narrator) Svodoba says there would be great difficulty in even proving that Orain Talavera was involved, let alone successfully charging him with any crime. She tells you that you did the best you could, and instructs you to leave it at that.
(Pavo) What about the informer Dude? Will he just get lynched?
(Boden) ok...in that case I think some of us might report back to the duke guy.
(Narrator) He gets fined like everyone else, and will be let go once they've finished questioning him,
(Kalman) (count)
(Narrator) Okay, you can do that. What will you tell him?
(Narrator) (just a rough summary will do, we don't have to play it out...)
(Pavo) I ask Svodoba if he has the option of an escort somewhere.
(Boden) (well...if Kalman tells us about the money well collect on that and tell him the full story.)
(Pavo) If he wants it, he should have the opportunity to leave the city once his fine is paid.
(Narrator) Svodoba laughs at that, Pavo. "He can leave if he wants, but it's not our job to keep him safe."
(Narrator) Then it's up to Kalman, I guess.
(Pavo) It wasn't his job to tell the truth either.
(Narrator) Svodoba shrugs. "If you feel so sorry for him, you can protect him yourself."

• Pavo scowls.

(Pavo) Perhaps I will.
(Narrator) So, Kalman?
(Pavo) (I'll ask if anyone else is willing to escort him out of the city)
(Narrator) (well, it's hard for me to say, since half my PCs are gone...)
(Pavo) (We can deal with that next time perhaps)
(Narrator) (yes, if you want)
(Narrator) But right now, I need to know what Kalman is doing.
(Boden) I think there is more boden may want to do on this.
(Boden) I think Kalman is sleeping.
(Kalman) (yeah, I'll mention it, why not?)
(Narrator) Okay, so you're telling the others about the rewards and going to get it without Belden, am I right?
(Kalman) well, I'd not go
(Narrator) Okay.
(Boden) yes. and I'll offer if the count has info he may want to give us so we can keep tracking the situation down.
(Pavo) (He DID say Discreet)
(Kalman) I'd say she'll be upset, and it doesn't matter to mne, but if they want to cater to the whims of the rich that's their perogative ;)
(Narrator) No, the count doesn't have anymore information, and he thanks you for your help.
(Boden) ok
(Narrator) He'll pay you the 600 Imperials, which you can divide as you see fit.
(Boden) I'll say that I'm not really trying to curry favor with nobles...but I *am* hoping he'll give us info that will catch the killer.
(Boden) I like catching killers.
(Kalman) I'd tell you I don't think he knows anything else that he'd tell you
(Narrator) And we'll call it there, because I'm hungry and tired.
(Narrator) If there's any further following up you need to do, you can do it next time.