[WFRP] The Hour After Midnight

[LCP]

The youth with the broom looked round as they approached the door.

"Did Mister Ziegberger send you too?" he asked, simply. He paused as he noticed Pieter, blinking. "Hey, weren't you the man asking questions out the front? How'd you get back here?"

[hr]

Raffy

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Lingering out in the yard, Raffy wondered what to do, trying his best to look down-at-heel and helpless: looking him up and down, one of the serving-girls approached him, the others ignoring him as they went about their work.

"Is it true you're that man's cousin?" she asked, quietly. "I didn't think he'd have any family that din't ride around in a gilded carriage. Are you from Nuln?"

[Another_Poet]

Raffy is not good at pretending, but the nice thing about pretending to be a socially awkward person is that it's the easiest kind of pretending.

He fumbles for words, looking pained to produce them. "Near there," he answers. "I, uh, mostly lived in the country..."

For some reason, he finds that he alters his voice a little, as if to affect a different accent. Hopefully the girl will assume it's just an upper class thing?

[LCP]

Raffy

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The girl looked a little dubious.

"Well, I'd look for someone else to help you out, mister. I saw your cousin just t'other day, arguin' with some rich slicker out the back here. Sounded like he owed him something fierce." She looked sideways. "You go looking for him, and he might end up tryin' to get you to help him out, not visey-versey."

[Another_Poet]

Little Lord Raffleroy

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Raffy puts a hand up on the back of his neck and rubs it uncertainly. Looking down at the ground, he says, "What happened that he owes so much money?"

[-Sentinel-]

The youth with the broom looked round as they approached the door.

"Did Mister Ziegberger send you too?" he asked, simply. He paused as he noticed Pieter, blinking. "Hey, weren't you the man asking questions out the front? How'd you get back here?"

"I walked through the door," answered Pieter dryly. "Still looking for herr Felix Lenkster. I'm told he has friends around here."

[LCP]

Raffy

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"I don't know. I'm only telling you what I saw, right?" She shrugged. "It was something about a box. Your friend was handing over this wooden box, and his mate was saying something about a debt. It looked like Mister Lenkster wanted to get away." She shrugged. "That's all I know."

[hr]

Others

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"I don't know no Lenkster," said the youth, stumbling over his words a little - the lad had something of the air of a simpleton. He gestured ruefully at the door. "Mister Ziegberger sent me to get Mister Vanya, but he won't come out."

[-Sentinel-]

Not my problem, Pieter was tempted to say. But this Mr. Vanya was a playwright or something like that, wasn't he? He had just talked about a play not being finished. Maybe he knew Lenkster.

Taking a chance, he knocked at the door.

"Herr Vanya?" he said politely, trying to sound official. "Sorry to disturb, but I'm looking for herr Felix Lenkster."

[LCP]

Not Raffy

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There was a sudden silence from inside - then, rapid footsteps, and the door flew open. A man with heavy-lidded eyes and a drooping moustache stared into Pieter's face.

"Who are you?" he demanded, the strong traces of a Kislevite accent curling the edges of his speech. He stopped as he recognised the elves. "You? What are you doing here? Why are you looking for... this man?"

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter went for the most likely reason anyone would look for Lenkster.

"It's about his debts, sir. I'm afraid my employer is growing impatient. Do you have any idea where I might find him?"

[LCP]

Not Raffy

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Vanya blinked, the question seeming to give him a moment's pause.

"No," he said. "No, I don't think so." Stepping back from the door, he made to close it. "Now I'm sorry, but I am very busy..."

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter followed Vanya's gaze. He was looking at the Elves suspiciously.

Okay, maybe the lie didn't float.

"Actually, we're investigating about him for an unrelated matter, but that's not something we can talk about openly," he whispered with a glance at the boy with the broom. Then, in a normal tone: "Well, thanks all the same. If there's anything you can tell us about his whereabouts, we'll be grateful."

He not-so-subtly jingled his purse.

[LCP]

Not Raffy

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"No. I mean - I am not sure I even know this man you speak of." said Vanya. "I cannot help you. Ask someone else!"

He closed the door rather abruptly in Pieter's face.

[Exeson]

Not Raffy

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Ithelus shakes his head in frustration and anyone present can see a look in his eyes, as if he has finally had enough of this intruigue 'I'm growing tired of this,' He walks over to the door and hammers his fist on it three times. 'Sir, we have some questions for you and if you don't tell us the next person who will come asking will be a certain Witch hunter, and he will not be so compassionate in his approach.'

He looks over at the youth, 'go tell your master that he is indisposed at the moment, breath a word of us or what any of us have said and we will know. And things will go bump in the night.' He face is a mask of seriousness.

[LCP]

Not Raffy

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The boy hesitated for a moment, mouth hanging open like a fish - closing it in a hurry, he scampered off, vanishing around a corner.

With a click, the door opened again, the playwright looking out at Ithelus.

"The Witch Hunter?" he said, his accent momentarily a little thicker. He looked the elf up and down. "I thought you were one of the Lady's friends. Are you one of Sigmar's dogs, instead?"

[Exeson]

Not Raffy

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'No sir, you misunderstand,' He pauses a moment, 'we are working to solve the case the witch hunter is pursuing, before he brings harm to innocent people in his over zealous investigations. I'm sure you understand therefore the reason for our need for urgency, the longer we wait the greater the chances that he strings someone up who does not know a thing.'

[LCP]

Not Raffy

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"I see. And this man is with you?" He indicated Pieter. "Looking for... this... Lenkster character?" The man's bellicose attitude had only diminished slightly. "Why?"

[-Sentinel-]

Not Raffy

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"I thought you were one of the Lady's friends. Are you one of Sigmar's dogs, instead?"

The Lady's friends? What Lady?

He remembered Raffy and the others leaving the reception with Lady Samtzunge and her little club the night before. Was she the one Vanya was talking about?

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya Jaelrae: AKA: Not Raffy

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We need to know about Lady Maria. Illiiya said suddenly, her nervousness fading against the desire to get an answer for once, What you say could save her life... so please... tell us everything you know about her.

[LCP]

Not Raffy

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Dmitri blinked.

"Perhaps... perhaps you should come in," he said, opening the door a little wider. Inside was a room rather shabbier than expected, with a rickety table propped up by a pile of odds and ends under one short leg, and a couple of chairs that looked as if they had seen better days. Cheap paper festooned every surface, and scrawls of ink festooned every page.

"I don't understand what it is you're saying," he said, slowly making his way over to the table and pouring himself a glass of amber liquid from a half-empty bottle that stood by his work. "But the Lady Maria is a very kind patron. Very generous. For anyone who says they wish her well, I have time."

He sat down, and took a rather more enthusiastic swig of his drink than seemed usual for this time of day.

"Why do you think she is in danger?"

[-Sentinel-]

Not Raffy

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Pieter licked his lips nervously. The situation was hard to explain.

"Think we should show him the note?" he whispered to Ithelus and Lothar.

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya Jaelrae

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They don't listen. They never listen. They just pat you on the head and do what they want. They treat you like a pet. There was a time when you would own these wretches! Find your spine, girl.

If Illiiya hears Pieter, she didn't take note of it, instead walking into the room with an oddly disconnected look on her face... a lot calmer than she normally was. Seemingly from nowhere, she had a bearing so unlike she had normally, that she seemed another person. She seemed... confident.

The witch-hunter is looking for a killer. He thinks there's a cult. She said in a even voice, eerie only to those who knew how she usually spoke, He's suspicious of the society and all their rabble-rousing during a killing spree... and that means he'll look to Lady Maria eventually. He might be all ready.

She looked the playwright unflinchingly in the eyes as she spoke, her words even and ever so slightly stern.

Unless a better suspect comes up... she might be in trouble. That's why we need to find Lenkster. We think he's involved. If you're concerned about Maria, and you've more to prove her innocence than just your word... we can take that too him as well.

So. Will you help us?

[LCP]

Not Raffy

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Dmitri shook his head with a cynical smirk. “No-one can prove anyone’s innocence in the eyes of a Witch Hunter. All you can prove is guilt. And even if you could, it wouldn’t matter. The Lector has brought that man here to serve his own ends, not to find the ‘truth’. That man has more secrets than a coven of mages, and he’ll not rest until everyone who dares say it has been hounded out of town. Or to their grave.” He drained his glass, and refilled it. “I’m sure she’d appreciate your concern, but von Kemperbad has cordially detested the Lady ever since he came here. Money has a power all of its own. She knows how to look after herself.”

He shrugged. “You are looking for this ‘Lenkster’? I cannot help you. I have never heard of the man.”

[-Sentinel-]

Not Raffy

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If you've never heard of him, wondered Pieter, why did you react this way when I mentioned his name?

He was fairly sure Vanya was lying, but he made a last-ditch effort just in case he was not:

"It's said he comes here often. Hangs out with theater people. We have it on good authority that he's neck-deep in debts, and he's likely to be in bad health. Have you seen someone like that?"

[LCP]

Not Raffy

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"He sounds highly disreputable." Dmitri downed his second drink and poured himself a third. "I wouldn't associate with anyone like that."

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya Jaelrae

Insolent human. We know what you're hiding. You can't save your whore from me.

Illiiya's lip curled in into what could easily pass for a smirk... if a very dark one.

Noted then. Uncooperative. Arrogant. Slandered the Lector and the church itself. And I believe you made mention that the lady would bribe her way out of this... and that she's done such things in the past? Illiiya said with a nod, That should be enough. Thank you for you cooperation, sir. I'm certain someone more official will be by to see you soon.

Illiiya gave the man a nod, and turned to go... striding past the surely-confused Ithelus as she left. If he decided to speak... well enough. If not, she was already more convinced than ever that she was right... and that he was hiding something. She had no idea why she felt to different. So... angry. But it felt familiar. It felt... good.

[LCP]

Not Raffy

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Vanya nodded absently at Illiiya’s words, his mind seemingly somewhere else – their meaning seemed to strike him as she was halfway to the door, his eyes widening to saucers as he leapt to his feet, knocking over his chair and the bottle in the process.

“Here – hey!” he said, scrambling round to interpose himself between Illiiya and the exit. “I thought you were friends - da? Friends?” He looked around at the others, as if for support. “The lady jokes,” he said, with a broad, false smile. “The elven lady makes a very... very funny joke.”

He trailed off, seeming at a loss as to what to say next.

“You would not go to Sigmar’s dogs. They are just as bad for you as they are for – as they are for us.” He pointed a little uncouthly at the elves. “You want to find Mister Lenkster? I can take you. I only said – I didn’t want him to be getting into more trouble.”

He gestured to Illiiya’s chair.

“Please.”

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter

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Pieter was not sure whether he should admire Illiiya or be genuinely scared of her. There was certainly more to her than met the eye.

"We only wish to speak with Felix about an important matter," he assured Vanya truthfully. "He's not a suspect... neither is Maria, and neither are you."

[LCP]

Not Raffy

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"Good! Good," said Vanya, a little too cheerfully. "Come tomorrow. Come tomorrow morning and I will bring him here, so he can talk to you. He is a little difficult to find sometimes, and this Ziegberger, he is breaking my back, but tomorrow I will bring him." He looked around. "Is that... acceptable?"

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter

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Pieter threw a sideways glance at Illiiya.

"For me, it is," he said coolly. "But this is more important than your career or reputation. Lives are at stake."


OOC: I'm not speaking for everyone. If anyone objects to waiting until tomorrow, please say so.

[Exeson]

Not Raffy

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Ithelus stood in shocked silence, was this the real Illiiya? What was this... Malice... He knew better than it to be an act, the only way Illiiya could do this was if it was truly her. Once outside he turns to her.

'Illiiya...' he started but just trailed off. 'Have.... Have you... got your memories back?'