[WFRP] The Hour After Midnight

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya Jaelrae


Illiiya hurried out of the room trembling, and rushed to Ithelus, clinging onto his arm. She looked visibly distraught and shaken, but not hurt in the least.

C-can we go? Please...?


Outside

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Illiiya took the note warily, not certain if anyone else with her could read. She opened it closely alongside anyone else who seemed interested in it's contents.

Her face went pale. (Well... MORE pale)

I knew. She muttered under her breath, No. No no no no no. I knew. She lied to us, but I knew.

She did not seem for a moment to doubt the note's contents. If anything, she seemed more confident than she had been in a long while that something she had felt was right. It was almost, liberating.

I.... I'm sorry Raffy. She is a bad woman.

[Another_Poet]

Raffy

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Raffy lets Illiiya take the note, as he has given away most of his money and has no way of tipping the kid.

((@ LCP: am I literate?))

At Illiya's muttering, he frowns. Once he has either read the note or been told what it says, he catches the kid by the shoulder.

Swatting down beside him, he looks him in the face, not unkindly.

"Sixpence for delivery, sure. But a little more if you can tell us who sent us this note. Who was it? What do they look like? Where are they?"

[LCP]

Raffy, Lothar, Ithelus & Illiiya

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The urchin shrugged.

"I dunno," he said. "Some little old man. He looked like a beggar, all covered up in rags. I din't see 'is face." The child frowned. "He had a funny sort of voice."

OOC: I think only the elves (+ Pieter) are literate. It's the Read/Write skill.

[goblinpaladin]

Not Pieter

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Lothar scratched at his beard. "What kinda funny voice?" He had no idea what the note said- but judging from Illiiya's statement to Raffy, it was about Maria. Didn't mean it was true, but it matched with his gut instincts about that woman... Rich, pretty nobles weren't that nice to commoners without good reason.

Inside

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Lothar stood when Illiiya finally emerged, looking relieved. "How'd it go? Actually," he added looking around, "how did everyone's meeting go?"

[LCP]

Raffy, Lothar, Ithelus & Illiiya

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"Sort of high-pitched," said the boy, impatiently. "Can I have sixpence? He said you'd give it me."

[Another_Poet]

Raffy

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"Where was he? Where did you meet him, that he sent you?" asked Raffy.

[LCP]

Lothar, Raffy, Ithelus & Illiiya

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"Just in the Neumarket, mister, down by Helstrum's Ward. He called to me out of an alleyway and said to go find you." The boy fidgeted. "People said they'd seen some elves going to the castle, so I followed you here."

He seemed to notice the scarf around Raffy's neck, and his eyes widened.

"Did you actually kill them, mister? Is it true one of them had lobster arms?"

[Another_Poet]

Raffy

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Raffy motions to Lothar. "Pay the kid," he says.

In response to the kid's question Raffy loosens his scarf and pulls it down to reveal his horrible cuts and bruises.

[goblinpaladin]

The Scooby Gang

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Lothar fished out a half shilling and flicked it to the kid. "One had lobster arms- another had huge eyes like a really big fish. They kinda glowed a bit too, like he could see in the dark." The soldier bugged his eyes out really wide and stared down at the boy.

[LCP]

Raffy, Lothar, Ithelus & Illiiya

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The boy caught the coin, staring up first at Raffy then at Lothar with wide, wondering eyes.

"Wow," he breathed, before scampering away, practically skipping between the horses and pedestrians of the broad cobbled road. Within a few moments, the child had vanished into the growing morning crowds.

[goblinpaladin]

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Lothar laughed to himself and turned to the others. "Well, that was fun. So, what does that message say?

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya Jaelrae (I call Velma! I refuse to be Daphne!}

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It says that Lady Maria isn't all she seems. Look for the Mandrake man. Illiiya read quietly, And I knew it... I knew it I knew it. Everybody loves her, and why? I felt... things... around her twice. I knew I did! But no one would believe me and everyone falls all over themselves to defend her.

She grew more and more emotional as she spoke, having a rare moment of intensity and almost... anger. No stuttering or hesitation in her words at all.

She knows what's happening, I know it! Please... someone believe me!

[Another_Poet]

Raffy

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Raffy's hand instinctively goes to the breast of his shirt. He looks upset.

"Well I said we should take the wagon on its rounds, and if there's anyone out there supplying Pilserier with mandrakes, that's the way to find him," he says as levelly as he can manage. "Who's in?"

[goblinpaladin]

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"Hrm. I'm in, but I don't know- we should look into this thing. Either it's for real, or someone's tryin' to set Maria up."

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya Jaelrae

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Illiiya looked crestfallen, her expression dropping to one of mirthless depression.

.... you don't believe me. She said softly, looking down to the dirt beneath her feet, Is she... that much better than I am? T-that no one can call her into question? Is it... b-because I'm not... human?

Her voice sounded strained, and she was unable to look up at her companions.

Ith. You believe me, don't you? She pleaded, tugging on Ithelus' shift lightly, Please believe me...

[Another_Poet]

Raffy

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Raffy can't help but roll his eyes. "Of course we have to be suspicious of her," he says. "Just like anyone else. But so far she's only been nothing but helpful to us. Can't just turn on her."

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya Jaelrae

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I felt magic around her. Twice! She pleaded with Raffy, She's involved. Please Raffy. I know you like her, but she's dangerous and... I don't want you to get hurt.

[Another_Poet]

Raffy

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Raffy raises his voice. "There's magic around you and we don't accuse you of--"

He stops mid-sentence, remembering who he's talking to, and tries not to come across so angry at the elf girl. But it's still a sour, bitter voice he has as he talks to the rest of the group: "Can we go check out these mandrakes or what? They're in the wagon and we're burning daylight for our trip."

He'll head to the guard house if the others are coming too.

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya Jaelrae

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Illiiya flinches back as if Raffy were about to hit her, clinging to Ithelus' arm. She wasn't difficult to startle, nor did she have it in her to speak up again... just hiding herself like a struck child. There would be no more objections from her.

[goblinpaladin]

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"Illiiya... it's not that we don't believe you- it's that the magic could be 'gainst her. Could be a trick. It could be that she's a genuine person, and the agents of the Enemy are tryin' to turn us on her." Lothar spoke softly.

"We've gotta look into it."

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya Jaelrae

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Illiiya was nervously quite for some time.... standing behind Ithelus and glancing at Raffy warily. After a few moments, she looked to Lothar and gathered a bit of willpower... and finally spoke up.

If... if magic was being used a-against her... She wouldn't be p-pretty, and rich, and perfect with hundreds of friends and everyone stumbling all over themselves to defend her. She said, bitterly, I know magic.... I r-really do. All it does is.... ruin your life.

[Exeson]

Ithelus et al

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Ithelus took a very defensive stance in front of Illiiya, "Raffy, dont let your feelings get the better of you. I dont like her either, it is all too convenient." he pauses, "right, lets go to the wagon."

[Another_Poet]

Raffy just follows along bitterly.

[LCP]

Raffy, Lothar, Ithelus & Illiiya

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When they reached Judge’s Square, the Guard House was in chaos – men in the uniform of the city hurried back and forth, Marius having left his habitual seat behind the stacked paperwork of his office to move among his men – he was standing over a battered table with a couple of senior-looking watchmen, a rumpled map of Delberz spread out between them. It was feathered with coloured pins, mainly on the east side of the river: looking up at the party’s approach, Marius excused himself, hurrying over to them.

“There you are,” he said, his voice seething with impatience and frustration. “I hope you have some ideas – things have gone from bad to worse.”

Leading them over to the map, he gestured to the pins that speckled the inky streets.

“Four more murders last night – and we might find more before the morning’s out. All of them torn open, just like the first three.” The Captain shook his head. “A murder rate that would put Altdorf to shame. And on top of that, Halbermann is breathing down my neck about some subversive pamphlet that some agitator has been posting up across the town, and our two prize prisoners have been found poisoned in their cells. The guard who was on duty last night ought to have been dragged in by now,” he added, the thought seeming to fractionally brighten his day, a brittle, angry smile crossing his face. “Do you want to come see what the incompetent oaf has to say for himself? Before I sack him, that is.”

[hr]

Pieter

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After what seemed an interminable wait, the chill air biting at him through his clothes, Pieter saw the Hounds on guard by the body straighten their backs at the sound of approaching hoofbeats – turning, Pieter saw the familiar form of Aldric Jagrun dismounting from a tall black horse by the top of the steps, the Witch Hunter’s wide-brimmed hat unmistakeable against the pale grey sky.

Tying his horse to an old, weather-scarred wooden post, the man descended the stone steps towards the body, making the barest touch of an acknowledgement to the Hounds standing guard.

OOC: Breaking off here in case you want to approach him about something as soon as he arrives. If you want to wait and see what he does, just give the word & I'll keep moving on.

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter

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A chill that had nothing to do with the cold wind ran up Pieter's spine. Trying to conceal his nervousness, the initiate slowly walked closer to the other Hounds to make sure he missed nothing of what the witch hunter did or said.

[LCP]

Pieter

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Walking past the militiamen without a word, Jagrun crouched down on one knee by the corpse, lifting one corner of the sodden cloak to examine its wounds: the sight of the atrocity beneath the cloth did not seem to perturb him at all, the Templar of Sigmar examining the mysterious killer’s work as dispassionately as a merchant might evaluate a shipment of timber. Letting the makeshift shroud drop back to conceal the ravaged corpse, he stood again, rattling off a series of curt questions to the Hounds who had discovered the body. Seemingly satisfied with not much more than Pieter had already heard, he nodded, looking out towards the river as if in thought.

“Take the body to the Temple of Morr with the others,” he said, gesturing for it to be done. As the Hounds clustered in, he held up a hand. “That should only take two of you. The rest of you, with me.”

He turned back toward the steps.

“I have some questions to ask of Captain von Brucker.”

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter

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A mix of curiosity and dread tying his stomach into a knot, Pieter moved to follow herr Jagrun.

[goblinpaladin]

Scooby Gang, with an elf as Velma. Raffy is Daphne.

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Lothar nodded. "Aye, sir. We do."

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya Jaelrae

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Its not going to stop... Illiiya muttered ominously, following along with whatever the group chose to do. She knew full well her opinion on the matter.

[LCP]

Raffy, Lothar, Ithelus & Illiiya

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Heading into a side-room, Marius spoke briefly to a guard who saluted him at the door – the man left, leaving them alone in the room with a man still in civilian clothes, who looked like he’d just been dragged out of bed.

Looking down at a piece of paper in his hand, Marius set his face in a harsh frown.

“Corporal Faul?” he asked, sharply.
“Yes, sir?” said the guard, clearly worried.
“Do you know why you’ve been summoned?”
“Nosir,” said the guard, obediently. “I just got off my shift, sir, then Gunther was knocking on my door saying I had to come back.”
“Then perhaps you could tell me why the two prisoners who were left in your care were found poisoned in their cells this morning when you were relieved.”
The man looked shocked. He opened his mouth like a fish, then closed it again, staring in amazement at the captain.
“Do you have nothing to say for yourself?”
“I – I didn’t do it, captain, I swear –“
“Then who did? There is only one door to the cells, guardsman. If you were doing your duty, you should have been sitting beside it.”
“There was a girl, captain –“
“A girl?” Marius’ contempt was audible. “So, you deserted your duty for –“
“No, not like that sir – there was a serving girl, come to bring food for the prisoners. She had a basket of bread and things.”
“I instructed you that no-one was to see them unless they had my explicit permission.”
“I know, sir, but she did! She had a letter!”
Marius paused.
“Faul, you can’t read.”
“Yessir! But it had your mark!”

At that moment, someone knocked on the door behind them. Another guard opened it a little way, putting his head through.
“Someone to see you, sir.”
“Not now,” snapped Marius, snapping out of a dumbfounded silence.
“I think you’d better come, sir. It’s Mr Jagrun.”

[hr]

Pieter

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Following the Witch Hunter with the two other Hounds who had been requisitioned, Pieter watched as the crowds on the streets parted before the man on the black horse, people bustling by in respectful, cowed silence as Jagrun moved among them like a pike in a shoal of minnows. After what seemed like far too long, they arrived at the Guard House – a large number of people seemed to be crowded around the notice-pole in the centre of Judge’s Square, reading something that had been nailed there.

Dismounting and handing the reins of his horse to one of the Hounds to tie up, Jagrun knocked on the door – it was opened by a flustered-looking guard. The Witch Hunter stepped over the threshold without so much as a ‘come in’, taking off his gloves and looking around.

The interior of the Guard House was a hive of activity - a group of uniformed men were gathered around a map speckled with coloured pins, others hurrying back and forth on seemingly urgent business. Each one of them stopped, however, at Jagrun's entrance, silence falling.

“I have come to speak to Captain von Brucker,” said the Templar, calmly. “Fetch him, please.”

OOC: Feel free to look at the map previously posted in the OOC thread, as Pieter can now see it too. You don't have to post anything here if you don't want to - I'm just waiting on something from the others.