[WFRP] The Hour After Midnight

[LCP]

The Tongs - Maria

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Maria listened attentively to Raffy’s speech.

“I thought there was something interesting about you, Mr Rafale,” she said. “Klaus is perhaps a little... naive, sometimes.”
She smiled.
“A man sent to bring us in wouldn't confess to it, and I know Marius despises Halbermann's dogs just as much as I do. I think I can trust you - if you can keep the Society's business secret.”
She leaned forwards, lowering her voice to make sure that only Raffy & Illiiya could hear what she had to say. It was perhaps the closest Raffy had been to anyone of her birth in his life.
“Don’t tell Marius what was said. His father mistreats him, but he’s terribly prickly about the ‘family honour’”. She grinned and rolled her eyes. “If he knew we were impugning the Baron, he might take exception. He is a member of the establishment now, after all. He and Klaus were tutored together, and Klaus daring to speak to him about his views was how they fell out in the first place.”

“Do you have to tell Klaus that I deceived him?"

“Your secret is safe with me. The Society is a wonderful thing, but it is not made up of many practical men. Marius’ plan seems like it might achieve something, if he’s kept from chasing after us - if you can undermine the Hounds, that's more help than any collection of charity.”
A thought seemed to strike her - she glanced around them, making sure they were not being watched. Seth studiously looked away.
“In fact, I might have some information for you – but it would be best if it was said somewhere more secure. Come to my house tomorrow morning.” She gave a rueful half-smile. “I’m afraid it would be best if you used the servant’s entrance. My neighbours are very strict about keeping up appearances. Just ask for Samtzunge House, on Manor Street. You may as well bring your friends – I’d be intrigued to meet these beast-slayers. The heads in Judge’s Square are quite impressive.”

Sitting back, she stood up.
“For now, I’m afraid I must be going. Thank you for your honesty; and remember, only tell Marius what he needs to know - that the Society is innocent.” She turned to Illiiya. “If you ever need anything, it would be my honour to help.”

OOC: Unless you have anything more to say to her, she takes her leave & exits the Tongs. Within ~ 15 minutes, the last members of the Society have filtered out as well, meaning there's no-one to notice Seth talking to you any more.

[hr]

The Crow

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Deliberating for a short while, Lothar matched the raised stake - the dice clattered again. Again, they fell with an alarming disregard for the laws of chance, scuppering any attempt at skill - the older man grumbled to himself as one of his companions took the pot, sweeping his dice sharply back towards him.

"Again," he grunted. "Ten schillings."

"Too rich for my blood," said one of the others, cutting his losses. The second man joined him, sitting back in his chair - only the winner of the last round remained in the game, a self-satisfied grin on his face.

[Another_Poet]

Raffy the Sparrowhawk

Raffy is grateful for Maria's understanding. He swears to keep the Society's dealings a secret from Marius, and agrees to come meet with her as she requested.

Once everyone is gone from the Tongs he is still a little nervous about talking openly with Seth. He asks Illiya if she wants to go for a walk and heads out. If Seth follows he ducks into an alley where they can chat in secret.

"Want to go find Lothar? I'm guessing it's the Crow for him."

His heart sinks as he realises it'll be the Crow for himself too, starting tomorrow morning, now that he is broke. Oh well.

He heads over toward that bar, confident that none of the Society members are likely to be there and equally confident that, if they are, he can recognise the 3 who witnessed his staged altercation.

[amgodtic]

Seth makes a small show of pretending to polish off the contents of his tankard, which in truth has been empty for quite a while, then heads out of the Tongs at a distance from which Raffy would notice him, but it wouldn't seem they were leaving together.

"So I caught bits and pieces. I take it you trust these inciters, or you wouldn't have made us to them. Regardless, we'd best be off quick; Lothar seems the type to merrily and knowingly gamble his last copper and sleep in a ditch till the money comes back in of its own accord. Which I'd have no problem with, if I didn't expect to have him at my back in a fight in the near future."

[Another_Poet]

Raffy affirms that he trusts the Society, or at least thinks they are innocent and finds Maria to have a common interest in bringing the Hounds to justice and finding the real bombers.

He explains that Maria is the noblewoman.

They arrive at the Tongs and Raffy cases the place for any sign of Society members before sitting by Seth. He'll share any info he has in general, but skip the particulars of what the Society discussed.

[Exeson]

Ithelus grunts slightly. He throws 10 schillings onto the table. 'Last round... last one...' he says with all the conviction of an addict.

[LCP]

The dice tumbled over the table - this time, fortune favoured Lothar, the soldier scooping up his winnings with a satisfied cackle. Snorting in frustration, the older human they had been playing with pushed his chair back, heading over to the bar to buy himself a drink with what depleted funds he had left - last round's winner shook Lothar's hand, excusing himself from the table to follow his friend.

Behind them, the door to the inn rattled - looking round, Ithelus Raffy and Seth enter the Crow, Illiiya close behind them.

[Exeson]

Ithelus looks up and waves to the rest of the group. He nods them over with a grin. 'Find out if they did it?'

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya Jaelrae

Magic is on her. Illiiya added almost absently, Like ripples in a pond. I felt it outside before she arrived, but she didn't do anything past that.

She looked around warily, as if someone might be listening to the three of them, and lowered her voice.

She scares me.

[Another_Poet]

Raffy

Raffy looks at Illiiya in surprise. "Magic? On Maria?"

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Also I'll just reiterate what I said in my previous post - Raffy "shares any info he has in general, but skips the particulars of what the Society discussed." I really don't enjoy retyping conversations you can all go back and read, so assume I fill you in. If you're not big on going back and reading, the short answer is: the Society of Free Men is innocent, and we may have an ally in a noblewoman named Maria.

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya Jaelrae

Illiiya gave a nervous nod.

I felt it right before she came in. She confessed timidly, staring down at the floor, I guess it... um.. it m-might not have been her. But she didn't fit in there... and they all seem to like her a lot. And she was really... um... really interested in me.

Illiiya looked around at everyone awkwardly, wrapping her arms around her slender torso and feeling nervous now that everyone was looking at her.

I-I don't want to talk to her again... She muttered hurriedly, and dipped her head into sullen silence.

[Another_Poet]

"Maria wanted to meet the rest of you, but we could leave Illiiya," Raffy says to the others in an effort to be helpful.

[Exeson]

Ithelus pulls Illiiya into his embrace. 'Its ok, she won't hurt you... us. So, who is staying where? I'm heading over the the cellar, Illiiya do you want to come?'

[Another_Poet]

"I've got my room at the Tongs tonight but I may be moving into the cellar tomorrow if it's alright."

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya Jaelrae

Illiiya's anxiety faded into a soft squeek as Ithelus tugged her into his arms, and for the first time in days, a faint smile crossed her lips. Trying so hard to strong had taken a lot out of her, but in that instant, everything just seemed to fade away.

Mnnh. She mumbled at Ithelus' suggestion to stay with him, tearfully nodding her head.

[Exeson]

Ithelus smiles at Illiiya's change of mood. 'Seth?'

[amgodtic]

"Back to the North Wind for me. Gods, it feels like I've been walking for days. These scabs keep re-opening from all the jostling I'm giving them. Just to clarify, tomorrow morning: We stop by Von Brucker's office, bring him up to speed, then...perhaps try and track down the black powder buyer with the burnt face?"

Assuming this plan is confirmed and nothing more is needed of him, Seth is eager to be in bed and bids them all a hasty farewell.

[Another_Poet]

"We need to stop by Maria's in the morning," says Raffy a little too quickly. Then: "Or at least I do, but she wanted to meet you guys. I suggest we do that before we talk to von Brucker, in case anything she tells us changes the situation. She said she has info."

[Exeson]

'Then it is agreed, meet at the corner of Faulkes street just after sunrise, head over to the Lady's, report to the Captain and then continue the hunt from there?'

'If you don't want to meet the Lady again We can always wait for the other in the morning,' He says to Illiiya, concern in his eyes.

If no one has anything else significant to add Ithelus will get up and go with Lothar (and Illiiya if she wishes) to their lodgings.

[Another_Poet]

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Raffy agrees with the plan. He'll hang around in the Crow till late with the others, and won't head back to the Tongs until no one else is willing to stay up any more. He'll stick with tea though rather than booze. Then he'll head to the Tongs, escorting Illiiya if need be, and go to bed late. I assume we can wake up from the light/noise in the morning but if it is a worry I will ask the innkeeper for a morning wakeup call.

Ready to fast forward to meeting at Faulkes Street.

[LCP]

“You’ll excuse me if the cellar doesn’t appeal, but I’ll be stayin’ here,” said Lothar, sitting back. “I’ve had worse bunks, and it’s cheap enough.”

The elves and Seth excused themselves, Raffy remaining with Lothar – the tavern’s landlord looked scornfully at him at his request for tea, but Lothar at least remained amicable into the late hours, the two amusing each other with a sort of arms race of exaggerated tales – Raffy’s of bandits around his home village, Lothar’s of monstrous fish-men from the Nordland coast, and other oddities from the campaign trail.

Finally, Raffy got up to go, making his way back through the dark streets towards the Tongs. As long as he remained in the lower town, he stayed on his guard against the night’s human predators – but no-one followed him, the only other sign of life a pair of rats that stopped fighting over a dead pigeon long enough to watch him pass from the shadows of their alley. Reaching the Tongs, he threw himself down on his comfortable bed, drifting off to sleep with the day’s discoveries and his newfound poverty jostling for position in his fading thoughts...

[hr]

Ithelus awoke to the side of the householder’s scraping footsteps over his head – the air of the cellar, which had been damnably cold when they’d arrived last night, was now stiflingly hot and stale with his and Illiiya’s accumulated breath. Sitting up, he winced as his stiff back protested at its night on the hard-packed earth.

A shaft of candle-light pierced down into the total darkness as the trapdoor creaked a little way open, their human keeper’s craggy face peering down at him as he winced in the sudden light.
“You awake, elf?”
“Mmnh,” managed Ithelus.
“Your friends are waitin’ on the street outside. I ken see ‘em out my winder.” His duty of helpfulness discharged for the week, he let the trapdoor slam shut again, sealing Ithelus and Illiiya back in the stifling darkness.

Gathering their things as swiftly as they could, they headed out onto Faulkes street – sure enough, the others were waiting on the corner. Illiiya remained as resolute as yesterday in her desire not to see Maria again – electing to remain with her, Ithelus proposed to meet the others at the Guard House, the two elves heading off towards the old town and Judge’s Square as the three humans set off for Manor Road...

[hr]

Samtzunge House – Raffy, Lothar & Seth

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Heading south, towards the richer district that encircled the Castle, Raffy began to feel decidedly out of place. These were streets he had never seen as a child, cobbled and clean – at least, compared to the rest of the town. As they reached Manor Street, old houses that spoke of wealth and breeding rose up around them, liveried servants and shuttered carriages plying to and fro along the broad street.

Stopping once or twice to hesitantly ask directions to Samtzunge House, they came to one of the largest of the houses, on the other side of the road from the castle mound – its stone facade seemed relatively new, a carved coat of arms bearing a trotting fox on an emerald field standing guard over the imposing front door. Remembering Maria’s advice of the previous night, Raffy led the way down the cobbled alley at the side of the house, looking for the servant’s entrance. Sure enough, a lower wall extended from the back of the manor, pierced by a broad wooden gate – a man-sized door was set in one half of the gate itself, painted a faded green. Tugging on the black iron bell-pull, Raffy waited.

After perhaps a minute, his hand was straying back to the bell when he heard a faint voice from within – certainly not Maria’s, it was reedy and cracked, a steady, indistinct grumbling growing closer. There was a rattle of bolts from within, and the green door opened – an old man stood before them. A tangled mess of white hair adhered to the lower slopes of his gleaming skull – his dusty green doublet and reddened, slightly bulbous nose would have made him seem almost like a clown from an Altdorf stage play, were it not for the milky cast to his eyes. From the way he peered at the party on his doorstep, he had to be nearly blind.

“Yerrrsss?” he said, managing to combine snobbery, scorn and suspicion into one drawn-out syllable.
“We’re here to see Maria?” said Raffy, hesitantly. “I spoke to her yesterday...”
Seemingly offended at this familiarity, the man drew himself up, glaring down his nose at Raffy.
“Hname?”
“Rafale. And friends.”
“Hwait here, please,” he drawled, shutting the door again. The muffled muttering resumed, receding away into silence – Raffy looked at Seth and shrugged. After a couple of minutes, the man’s footsteps returned – he opened the door, grudgingly gesturing for them to enter.

Stepping over the threshold, they found themselves in a narrow yard. A pair of superb black horses watched the party with wide, curious eyes over the doors of their stables – a padlocked gate to the left of the cramped stable presumably held the carriage they would draw, abutting a turret of the house behind. In that bulge of the stone wall, a heavy wooden door stood open.
“Please follow me, gentlemen,” said the old man, shutting the bolts on the gate behind them – hobbling out in front of them, he led them inside.

The room they found themselves in was nothing Raffy or Lothar had ever seen – elegant, stuffed chairs and a large chaise-longue occupied the centre of the room, an ornately-decorated harpsichord standing in one corner. Packed book-cases stood against three of the four walls, the fourth being occupied by a small fireplace and a tall portrait of a severe-looking man, perhaps in his early fifties: Raffy thought his green eyes bore a certain family resemblance to Maria.

“The lady will be down presently,” said the old man. Seemingly relieved to have discharged his duty, he shuffled away, another door banging behind him.

“Ulric’s teeth,” murmured Lothar, whistling through his teeth. He grinned. “This lady friend of yours must be worth a mint, Raffy my lad.”

The door clicked, and the lady in question swept into the room, a broad smile on her face. “Rafale! You brought your friends.” She paused, noticing who was absent. “Illiiya couldn’t come?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“A pity.” Shrugging her shoulders, she turned to Lothar and Seth, extending a hand to each of them in turn – the soldier had to do his best not to stare. He had seen his fair share of pretty girls, but this noblewoman was really something else.

“I do hope Alfons didn’t give you any trouble,” she said, extending a hand to Lothar and Seth in turn. “My father’s old valet; I’m afraid he can be a little difficult at times. Maria Samtzunge, at your service – I don’t believe we’ve been introduced?”

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OOC: Do you tell her your real names?

“I hear we have you gentlemen to thank for the destruction of the Beastmen on the north road.” She gave an odd little smile. “Which is more than the Hounds could manage, at least. It’s good to see Marius employing someone competent to look into things.”

She gestured towards the chairs that were artfully strewn about the drawing-room.

“Please, take a seat. No doubt Mr Rafale has told you why I wanted to speak to you.”
“You said you had something you wanted to tell us – about our investigation for Captain von Brucker.”
“Quite,” said Maria. She took a seat herself, looking down at her hand in a moment’s pause – turning her eyes back to her guests, she began, speaking in an articulate, assured manner.

“No doubt Rafale has told you about the Society. You might have gathered from our talk of Magda’s pamphlet,” she said, looking towards Raffy, “that its influence extends a little way beyond the talking-shop in the Tongs. Going back to before the destruction of the old temple, the Society kept contacts with people who were... closer to the ground, so to speak. Men and women among the common people who share the same convictions.”

“Some time before the old temple collapsed, a man calling himself Henrik Puderbrand approached Klaus and his friends, looking for the same kind of work. He had a gaggle of like-minded followers, and claimed he had served as an artilleryman in the Imperial army – which was where he said he’d got the burn down the side of his face. He had no love for the Emperor, and less for the Church of Sigmar, and said he wanted to help.”

“Naturally, I was suspicious – the Spring Driving was just beginning in Kislev, so why would the army be turning away trained cannon-crew? It seemed likely to me that the man was a mercenary, or worse. You understand how fatal it would be for an organisation like Klaus’ to be linked back to violence. This was a violent man... so I made it a condition of my continued support that Klaus turned Henrik Puderbrand away.”

“He was angry, as I’d expected he would be, but that was the last we saw of him. When the temple went up a couple of weeks later, a plot of fire and powder... well, I thought of him, but by then the witch-hunt was at its height. You understand - I couldn’t report my suspicions without exposing the Society to danger.” She flushed a little. “I’m taking a risk even telling you – but I believe you can be trusted with keeping the Society out of the public eye. If Marius has hired you to investigate out of von Kemperbad’s sight, that may be the only chance we have to end this hysteria.”

“I don’t know if he’s still in Delberz, but I know Puderbrand’s old address, and the names of a few of his cronies.” She hesitated. “I’m afraid I kept an eye on him for a while after Klaus turned him away. I suppose I was hoping he would turn out to be some dreadful criminal or something, so that he could be safely put away... unfortunately, there was nothing of the sort, at least that I could find. If you don’t believe my imagination’s running away with me, I can give you the names and places.”

[amgodtic]

"Not at all, milady. Indeed, your information serves to confirm suspicions we were already planning to follow up on-not to mention saving us a lot of time and energy in the process."

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Is there a "Do I think she's lying" skill, and can I roll it on her claim that she INSISTED on keeping this guy out of the Society? It seems at least as likely that the society could have been cozy with these guys, until they realized they were in over their heads, and now they're hoping these guys will end up dead before the link is exposed. Just a conspiracy theory, but one worth a die roll to explore.

And yes, I most assuredly tell her my first name.

[LCP]

Samtzunge House

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“You’ve heard of him already, then?” said Maria.

Reaching over to a small table that stood to one side of the chaise-longue, she opened a drawer, withdrawing an envelope – she evidently had prepared this beforehand. Sitting up again, she handed it to Seth.

“Henrik used to live in Helstrum’s Ward, in the lower town to the west of here - the landlord’s name was Aldo Feuerstein. He might well be gone by now – Puderbrand was an out-of-towner.”

“His followers were mostly local men, though – there were only about five or six of them, and I didn’t learn all their names. The ones I found were Friedrich Hoffer, a carter, and a man called Rudolf Dagen – I believe he was night-watchman at the Temple, before it blew up. Hoffer’s address I never learned, but you might find him at the Carter’s Rest, in the northern part of town; Dagen used to live with his wife and children on the southern edge of the Neumarket, in a place called Brenks Alley.” She shrugged. “I’m afraid I don’t know what either of them are doing now, but the names and addresses are all in that envelope. If you can find them, they might be able to tell you where they last saw Henrik.”

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OOC: Maria doesn’t know it (but it would be reasonably likely, which is probably why she told you face-to-face as well as giving you the letter) but remember that Illiiya is the only one of you who is literate.

“One more thing,” she said, turning to the drawer again – she produced a small money-pouch, looking round at Raffy. “Much as your generosity was appreciated, I don’t like to see someone giving more to the Society than they can afford.” She smiled again. “It rather defeats the point of using the money to help the poor. I hope you’ll accept this as a token of my confidence in your efforts.”

She passed the bag to Raffy.

“I asked Pieter to tell me how much you gave. Consider that I made the donation in your stead.”

Raffy:

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The bag contains however much it was you gave to the Society, rounded up to a whole number of gold coins.

[Another_Poet]

((Important: is the address she gave us in Helstrum's Ward the same as the Faulkes Street cellar by any chance?))

Rafale

Raffy nods appreciatively but not without reservation. "Maria," he says, using her given name for the first time, "I donated because it was the right thing to do. I can only accept this to finance our investigation - anything not used for that purpose will be distributed as alms." He gives her a look like, "Are those terms acceptable?" If she shows any further concern he adds quickly: "I'm accustomed to living in straw and eating a lean diet. It's why they call me the Sparrowhawk."

Once the matter of the "donation" is settled he says, "We have heard of this man, and the realy mystery is how the authorities haven't. He did a horrible job of keeping his head down, and he's been fingered by the power-merchants, the local street gangs and his old landlord. Is there some way he could have paid off Halbermann to get away with this? Or a reason they would intentionally let him get away?"

[LCP]

Samtzunge House

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Maria nodded. "I didn't mean to offend. As you say, please take it as my contribution to your efforts."

She blinked at Raffy's next question - it seemed to catch her by surprise.

"...I hadn't thought of that," she said at length, "but it could be true. Halbermann is as greedy and corrupt as they come, whatever pious frauds he claims to work for. I must say you surprise me, though - I looked for Henrik myself, after the Temple exploded, to satisfy my own suspicions... at that time, it seemed as if he had vanished off the face of the earth. Perhaps if you've heard so much of him, it means he's reared his head again more recently?"

OOC: No, Faulkes Street is not in Helstrum's Ward. They're reasonably near to each other, though.

[Another_Poet]

Raffy weighs that option, nodding his head as he does so. "Perhaps. We haven't talked to anyone who's seen him in at least a week though... maybe they are just talking more because the hounds are putting the heat on."

He seems to think of something. "Is it possible the Lector himself might be turning a blind eye? He has gained a lot..."

He hopes the suggestion does not offend.

[LCP]

Samtzunge House

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"As I said, I haven't seen him since the Society turned him away," said Maria, brushing the matter aside. "Your guess is as good as mine."

She seemed to consider Raffy's suggestion seriously. Her tone hardened a little when she next spoke.

"That is ... a dangerous suggestion to make. But since we are speaking in private - I would put nothing past the Lector. He's as cunning as he is ambitious. You should ask Klaus to take you to meet Ilsa Weisemann, in the lower town - she could tell you what von Kemperbad is capable of."

[amgodtic]

"Milady, if we bring this man to justice, it seems likely that he will attempt to implicate the Society, including possibly even yourself, in his endeavors. Do you have any idea what sort of claims he might make to that end? The more we know about what he'll say, the better we can prepare a defense."

Seth's brow furrows, and his voice takes on a slight pleading tone. "I...I worry, greatly, that your noble cause may sustain more harm than you anticipate; for even if his accusations are unfounded, the fact that the Society exists in secrecy will add weight to his words."

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Here's where my luck breaks down, ladies an' gents...

Fellowship: 39 (+10 etiquette) = 49 (1d100)[20]

[LCP]

Samtzunge House

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Maria nodded.

"He may know my name, and a few of the others' - those of us who were present when he first applied to the Society. He had some idea of our work, but that was before the destruction of the Temple, or the arrival of the refugees - the Society was not as active then as it is now. Unless he chooses to spread lies about us, that is all he can tell." She considered the matter for a moment. "Perhaps it would be best, if you find him, not to give him any clue that you have spoken to us. Let him think you are agents of the Baron or the Church, and let him direct his hatred against them."

She looked down.

"However... I don't think it very likely that he would try to save himself with words. He was a violent, unpredictable man - if you go after him, you should look to your own safety first."

[LCP]

All - Judge's Square

Taking their leave of Lady Samtzunge as courteously as they could, they headed back out into the yard – Lothar looked back with an amused grin as Raffy lingered to give Maria his assurance that they would hunt Puderbrand out, wherever he was hiding. If the boy wanted to play hero, let him...

Heading back north, they found Ithelus and Illiiya waiting in Judge’s Square – entering the Guard House, they found Captain von Brucker in the same place he had been before, sifting through a pile of parchment with an extremely bored expression on his face. He livened up as they entered, a glimmer of excitement coming into his eyes.

“Something to report?”

Raffy stepped forwards, and began to recount their findings – being careful to sweep Klaus’ name out of the picture early on, he told the Captain about their suspect, and their plans to close the net around him.

“This is excellent progress,” said Marius, listening intently. “Where did you find all this?”

“It was like you said, sir,” said Raffy. “People are more willing to talk to folks like us. Out of uniform.”

“Hm,” said the Captain.

“If I might ask, sir,” said Raffy, slowly, “how high do you think this goes? Our fellow is in it up to the hilt, for sure – but he’s not a powerful man, and we’re still no wiser as to why he might have done it.”

Marius frowned, thinking. “The honest truth is that I don’t know. There have been estimates made of how much powder it would have taken to destroy the old Temple – if it was paid for, it would have been beyond the means of any commoner. But we still don’t know where it came from – whether it might have been stolen, or brought in by outside forces. All attempts to trace it came up with nothing.”

“I want to believe that it was just madmen – set off by the invasion coming so close, and striking too soon.” He met Raffy’s eyes. “But as the months pass, one cannot help but think that such men should not have been hard to catch – unless they had someone here in Delberz with the power to obstruct the course of justice.”

[Exeson]

Ithelus stands in the Judge's square, his back still stiff from sleeping on the hard packed earth floor. He leans back and absorbs the sunlight, relishing it whilst it was around. He glanced down at Illiiya every now and then, a faint smile playing over the corner of his lips as he played the dice through his fingers. Yes, Ithelus was back in business.

He nodded at the others as they arrived, but declined to make comment, following them into the Guard House. At the Captain's final statement he half raises a hand in a comical nature.

''Scuz, sir, but who exactly does have the power to do that?...Apart from you of course' he pauses for a second with a thoughtful expression then it dawns on him who he just insinuated, '...oh'