The Black Shingle Fiasco II: Electric Boogaloo

[Marlowe]

"Tunnels. An island", murmurs Avita. "Well, it all appears to be adding up to something. Something different from what we were sent to find, but that's the way it's gone these past few days. Dirk!" She's a little interested what the guardsman's opinion is of recent events, and looks around to see the expression on his face.

"You're on carrying-things duty, since the big manly men need to carry their big manly weapons.
And the Goblin's skived off somewhere to nick Parker's man-porn collection or something. And I'm a lazy arse. Let's get the interesting-looking stuff piled up and get it to the Sage's Guild before we have another complication."

[rax]

"Yes, an island," Sarrazin muses as he pores over the maps. "And tomorrow night, Laelth has invited us to meet him on "Crab Island". Some of you are locals, are you not? Would that happen to be the island on the map?"

"And another thing. Laelth said his people have spies in the city, and that they used them to gain intelligence about Senra's military and political situation before they decided to invade. So whatever one may think of the Pelorites and their tactics, they're right about one thing - there are people in this city, perhaps in positions of power, who've been colluding with the demons for a long time. Are we certain we can trust this Sage's Guild?"

[Marlowe]

Avita gives Sarrazin a sidelong look. "I fear I didn't get much of a chance to check out the local sites down in the bunkers of the temple getting my lifeforce entropized. Yet I find that this island is the one Pretty Boy mentioned highly plausible.

"As for the Sage's Guild; no. I'm not sure we can trust them. So-far, they've been stingy with thanks and information and we've got reason to believe that somebody there is passing information to the Pelorites. However, we've got to get somebody on making sense of all this mess for us."

She puts a hand to her chin. "Might want to stay there. Get them to talk through what they can tell about all this. Make sure none of it "disappears". Send a message to the Lieutenant. We should be trying to track down what happened to Maia Fields but I fear that's a lot of work down a cold trail."

[YossarianLives]

Hearing his name called, Dirk pries himself away from a copy of Illario Milton: A General's Autobiography, and trudges over to you. He looks confused, perhaps a little frightened, but is putting on a great show of bravery, back straight, chin up, and one hand on the hilt of his new sword. He listens carefully, nods, and starts shoving all the evidence into a large sack he seems to found somewhere or other. While doing so, he mutters something absentmindedly. Then, realizing none of you could hear, it repeats it louder. "It looks a bit like Crab Island - the hill near the centre matches - but I can't say for sure. Hardly anyone goes there. Those who do have a habit of not returning."

[Marlowe]

Avita nods. "Cheers, Dirk", and draws a finger down her cheek. "Tempting to send the Pelorites a message about this little play-date. See if we can get them to send their army there, and have it not return...". She clicks her jaw.

"Well, that's the Lieutenant's call."

[YossarianLives]

With your search of the library concluded, you move on to Parker's office.

It is fairly clean, almost sterile, when compared to the other room. A large window overlooks the back garden - the cloaked figure is still hanging about - but the room is sparsely decorated, containing only the essentials. A fine cedar desk and chair, along with several filing cabinets. The former is covered in a disordered pile of books and papers - mostly Guard business, by the looks of it. Messages to and from other outposts, requests for troops and supplies, orders. Nothing seems incriminating, but a thorough search is required to be totally sure. The contents of the cabinets are much the same, though they date back over five years.

Dirk looks apprehensive.

[Marlowe]

Avita, more for form than anything else, triggers her wand a fourth time to check the room for aura.

Spoiler: Spellcraftnesses.

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(1d20+2)[14]

"Odd", she says tonelessly. "Parker didn't really seem like the sort to take his work home. Finish the day. Go down home. Drink yourself silly. Seemed like the type..."

Out of curiousity, she starts looking through the filing cabinet under "S".

[rax]

"Searching those cabinets could take a while," Sarrazin muses out loud. "If I understand the situation correctly, we are certain that Parker was cooperating with Laelth, correct? And that he likely orchestrated the defeat of your expedition into Black Shingle?"

"If we need proof of his duplicity, it's possible that going through his paperwork could reveal something of interest - unusual equipment requisitions, troop movements, or requests for information, for instance. And of course, it never hurts to literally get to the bottom of things. We should take a look under and behind the cabinets and the desk, including any drawers. In fact, let's begin with that."

OOC: Looks like Sarrazin has the highest Search skill in the party (which isn't saying much ). How about I roll a Search check in the OOC thread and everyone else piles in with Aid Another checks?

[Marlowe]

"I must say, I'm immediately interested in what he knew about us." gravels Avita, looking for "Santiago", "Sarrazin", "Spade" and "Sunblade" just for a start; and not forgotting to check for "Sarim" and "Silvet" just on the off-chance Parker filed things in an inconsistent way.

"Because whatever he knew, the Demons now know. Laelth didn't know my name yesterday, boys and gir-boys. I want to see what else they might have."

[YossarianLives]

Avita continues to scan for magic, but detects nothing.

Meanwhile, Sarrazin and the others root around behind and under the furniture. There is nothing there, save for dust bunnies, but a quick search of the desk's drawer turns up something that may be of interest: a name and address, written on a scrap of paper. It reads 'Kathe Rietvelt, 123 Merton, Greater Senra.' As you recall, Merton is a small town several miles from the city, built right on Senra's western border.

Most of the files under 'S' mean nothing to you - the names of criminals and soldiers, mostly. There are brief records for the service of Avita Santiago, Andras Sunblade, and Eric Spade. It's the standard mercenary contract - a position as an honorary guardsman, payment based on the quality of work completed, until one party decides to terminate it. One week's notice must be given. But the writer, presumably Parker, seems to have taken a few notes. He seemed to think the first two had considerable promise, though Avita is specified as an insubordination risk and possible troublemaker. Eric, on the other hand, had been flagged as a possible traitor. Parker apparently suspected him of being a spy from some distant nation, remarking that the elves usually hold their agents to higher standards.

[Marlowe]

Avita snaps her teeth. "And I was the one who was polite to him. Well, we see now much that gets me." She resumes searching for "Cooper", "Blackaxe", "Olidar", "Ygor", and "Kresh".

"Kathe is the Elven "sage" they co-opted to take down the college's wards. Let the Demons get the item" , she throws over her back.

[rax]

"A disappointing haul, but at least we know for certain where this Kathe resides, and this slip of paper can be used to corroborate that she and Parker had dealings if that ever becomes important. Anything exciting in those files?"

[Marlowe]

"Oh. And Parker suspected our old Elf of being a traitor. Nothing shocking. The thing about traitors is that once there's a suspicion of one people are very quick to start spotting another." She taps her chin.

"But no personal or family details. That's good. Now. Assuming that Parker wasn't completely stupid--dangerous assumption--there's a missing piece to this puzzle. Something to keep the Wheelers honest. Something, assuming the rod does what we're told, to stop them from turning the Handymen on the city. I must admit I'd hoped we'd find something here."

She shrugs. "Then again, maybe the rod doesn't allow the bearer to command the Zanghifd.
Maybe it just summons them to devour him. Maybe that's the twist. It would fit how we've seen Pretty-Boy running from them both times we've encountered him." And then with a look of annoyance counters herself; "But then why would he lie to Thaddeus? I don't believe yet, by the by, that Parker necessarily sabotaged our military efforts. His treason is supposed to have stemmed from a desire to save the city, and frankly, The City Guard don't NEED to be sabotaged."

[YossarianLives]

Avita moves on to the next filing cabinet, and continues searching. Sarim's file is no different to your own, though Parker remarks upon his excellent abilities to take orders and kill demons, even suggesting that the dworc be formally inducted into the Guard. The folder marked 'Silvet Cooper' is the same, with a brief mention that she was moved to an outpost half a mile south of the main compound.

It takes you some time to find the other records. Olidar has only a single, small page dedicated to him. A fairly unremarkable soldier of common birth and average ability, he joined only six months ago and was promoted to corporal because most of the other ones had died. Senrish by birth, he still has family living somewhere in the slums.

Ygor is a whole other matter. His folder is a good five pages. Currently serving his tenth year with the Guard, he achieved success early on - single handedly capturing a notorious smuggler within his first six months - his career advancement soon ground to a halt. Soon after his promotion to sergeant, rumours started to circulate that Ygor was a relentless drunk and lecher. It didn't take long for these rumours to materialize into hard fact, supported by several accusations of unsuitable conduct made by colleagues. It got worse when Ygor started quarreling, with his subordinates, his superiors, and even a few civilians. Parker dryly remarks that Ygor has managed to develop quite a reputation for petulance and irascibility.

Surprisingly, Lieutenant Kresh's file is a little sparse. Originally from the Great Emirates to the southwest, he apparently moved to Senra as a teenager and enlisted not long after. While most officers are recruited from among the nobility, Kresh made up for what he lacked in talent with hard work and dedication and was eventually promoted to Lieutenant after a decade of service. The first lowborn foreigner to ever achieve such a position in the Senrish military. Parker seemed to like and trust him, naming the orc his second-in-command, but also acknowledged a tendency towards reckless behaviour.

[rax]

"That's all very interesting, but does it tell us anything useful at the moment? I suggest we take such files with us as we might need for future investigations and then move on to the Sage's Guild. That is, unless someone's up for removing the watcher out back? It could be useful to get a closer look at him - if he's carrying weapons and armour under the cloak there's the possibility that he's not actually a demon, but perhaps a Pelorite templar."

[Marlowe]

Avita tucks the folders into her backpack. "I was going to suggest we leave him alone to keep Laelth guessing. And then I remembered I don't really care what Pretty-Boy thinks." She shrugs on her backpack , draws her bow, and notches an arrow.

"A stroll in the garden, dear boys? Shall we?"

[Blackhawk748]

Fion shoulders his sword, "Id hoped you would ask"

[rax]

"Before we throw ourselves headlong into battle... should we attempt to capture instead of killing this watcher? Assuming it's the latter - Avita, are you confident enough in your archery skills to be the first into the garden to try and feather him? Or do you prefer that Sarim or Captain Fion lead?

OOC: Just a friendly reminder - if anyone manages to melee this chap, Sarrazin will be providing +1 to your attack rolls. And if you happen to be flanking, you get +3 to your damage roll. No luck for archers though, sorry.

[Marlowe]

Avita gives Sarrazin a inquiring querulous look what speaks of interrogation. "I've pulled off some decent shots in the last few days, but in general, as an archer, I make a good necromancer. And as an archer and a necromancer I'm puzzled by the suggestion that I should go in front. I'm a small-sized teenage girl in raddled leathers with flesh withering off her bones from progressive lichification. What part of this says "Person that goes in front" to you?"

And her eyes flicker to Sarim and Fion. "Boys...lead on."

[rax]

"The part that says an archer needs a clear field of fire, which won't be forthcoming once all the wide-shouldered warriors have engaged the target," Sarrazin replies with a crooked smile. "But no matter, the choice is yours. So - boys - as the lady says... lead on."

[YossarianLives]

You go down the stairs, through the dining room, to the kitchen - a mostly uninteresting room, with an empty fireplace and a variety of cabinets - and out into the back garden.

Past the garden, scenic path, flower beds, and apple tree, a narrow alley runs perpendicular to Parker's house, between the ordered rows of buildings. From there, the cloaked figure still watches you. Motionless, but somehow giving off the impression that it could burst in action at any moment.

[Marlowe]

Very well. That's weird.

Avita steps out from the group, her bow pointed low, and says; "Sir. Please identify yourself."

[YossarianLives]

After a few moments of stillness, the figure starts slowly edging toward your position, still completely concealed by the heavy brown cloak.

[Blackhawk748]

Fion raises his sword in a guard, ready to assault the figure if necessary. "How do you wanna play this ma'am?"

[Marlowe]

Avita slows her pace, letting the larger men draw ahead of her, and tightens her grip on her bow.

She hadn't completely wasted her time with Brin the previous day. Time to practice some Abyssal...

"Reveal yourself. Now" she slowly growls in the language of Demons, hoping very much she hadn't misplaced an inflection and asked for the location of the nearest strawberry patch instead.

Although, that might work too.

[Kushina43]

Sarim regards the creature ahead of them with some caution, stepping in front of Avita. He slowly grips the handle of his axe just in case of a fight, but avoids looking eager to draw it as he actually is.

[rax]

Sarrazin advances into the garden, taking up a position that will allow him to move in and flank the cloaked stranger if there are hostilities. Curious, most curious, he ponders. "Do as the lady says - stop and show yourself!" he calls out in Common.

[YossarianLives]

At Avita's request, the figure perks its head up, but otherwise stays still. You could swear you hear a slightly humming coming from its direction.

[rax]

So, you understand the language of demons, Sarrazin thinks to himself when the creature reacts to Avita's command. "This is your final warning! Show yourself or we will strike you down where you stand!" he calls out in Abyssal.

Let's try a Knowledge (the planes) check to see if Sarrazin knows if there are any demonic species known to... hum. (1d20+7)[13]

[Marlowe]

Avita's breath hisses through her teeth. "Am I too nice? Who thinks I'm too nice? Nobody LIKES nice. Is that it?'

And she raises her bow and fires an arrow at the figure. "Warning shot!"

Spoiler: *CLACK*

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(1d20+5)[21]
Damage (1d8+1)[5]

"Take him, boys!"