The constables finally returned to Flint after successfully exploring Xambria's dig site. They arrived on the 11th.
The constables were a little surprised when one of the train station attendants informed them that their carriage was waiting outside. The party was less than enthused to see that the coach driver was Eberardo.
"Evenin constables; his lordship would like a word with ya"
Uncertain at first, the constables decided to take the offered ride rather than walk to RHC HQ in the rain. Calaphax was waiting inside the coach and was eager to hear what they had learned in the temple of Apet. The pit fiend appeared relieved to hear that the portal in the temple led to a pocket dimension. When they mentioned that the Voice of Rot had revealed an intelligent escapee from the temple, Calaphax remained upbeat about the news.
"A single interloper is only a small threat. I'm confidant you can keep this situation contained."
Upon arriving at the RHC, the party was met by Pam, the office mailwoman, who had a letter for Kirk, a package for Rai, and a message from Saxby. Saxby wanted to see the constables as soon as they got back, but they decided to talk to Delft first. Delft gave them bad news; Bergeron, their chief suspect, had been murdered while they were in the bayou, and Xambria had skipped town on a ship heading for Ber.
They went to Saxby's office where she informed them that the curator of the museum had filed official paperwork to claim custody of the staff. Irony didn't protest since they believed the artifacts weren't a threat anymore; she also handed over the sword and amulet claiming they had been at the temple. They took the time to request the aid of a healer to cast a Remove Disease ritual for Doran.
On the way to the Silver Swan Inn, the officers opened their mail. Rai had received a thesis resulting from the academy's study of the Gidim creatures. Kirk received an invitation to a ball the next evening being hosted by Lord Price-Hill.
The murder scene at the inn was unpleasant. The philanthropist had his brain removed forcibly through the roof of his mouth. Irony performed a Last Sight Vision ritual but only learned that Caius had been surprised, and his assailant was a tentacled monster (which they had already surmised). The constables located a map pointing to a location off the coast of Ber, and the empty secret compartment inside the chest.
Having spent most of the morning on the train, the constables decided to file reports back at the RHC and then retire for the evening. Doran also received the Remove Disease ritual on their return.
In the morning, most of the team accompanied Irony to track the monster while Doran visited his contact in Bosum Strand.
Dorothy had made inquiries among the dockers about Lorcan Kell and his gang for Doran in the week they had been gone. Kell is a consummate thug that murdered his way to the top. Kell rarely leaves his territory and usually stays in his theater. The recent gang wars are his attempt to expand his influence and bring all criminal activity under his control. Kell's forces have practically taken over the Nettles and are pushing into the Cloudwood. Kell's enforcers have been given an edge over the competition by unusual drugs that make them more dangerous in combat. Dorothy wasn't able to find out where these drugs are coming from, but Doran had a fairly good idea.
The constables investigated Xambria's apartment first. They found the place in disarray and detected a strong energy signature. They followed the signature to Saxby's manor. Thinking quickly, Kirk bluffed the guards at the front gate expertly.
"We're here to investigate the break in for Lady Saxby."
The baffled guards claimed that the investigation had already been finished and that Saxby hadn't told them of an other team being sent. The guards wouldn't let them in, but they still confirmed that there had been a break in recently. Irony then carefully followed the trail leaving the manor across town to a small warehouse by the Stanfield Canal. After breaking into the warehouse, they discovered the scene of a murder. The large empty crate and blood spattered floor was all the evidence the constables needed to conclude that the monster had seized the golden seal from the mysterious conspirators.
The constables went to Thames Grimly to ask of any unusual cargo had gone up or down the canal in the last few days. Grimly asked around but could offer no leads on the whereabouts of the golden seal. With the seal obscuring the monsters trail, the officers had hit a dead end.
The officers returned to the RHC to talk with Delft. They requested a ship be made ready by tomorrow for them to set off for Ber. They could have requested the Impossible, but the team decided they couldn't afford to wait a week for the Impossible to finish her current assignment. When asked about the break in at Saxby's manor, Delft told them he had nothing about it nor any investigation.
Kirk's invitation to the ball allowed him to bring one guest, and he asked Irony to be his date for the ball; she reluctantly agreed. Irony was more comfortable in the upper class opulence than Kirk. The Lord Viscount pulled Kirk aside to discuss the future with him. He told Kirk that Risur would need dependable patriots like him in these trying times and offered to send experienced sailors with them on their voyage to Ber. Kirk managed to ask the Lord Viscount about the break in at Saxby's manor. He confessed he had not heard of this matter and was disturbed that Lady Saxby would conceal such a thing during the audit.
The Lord Viscount also mentioned that the city was changing rapidly since the fall of Macbannin. Specifically, many of the factories that Macbannin had purchased through front companies had been seized and auctioned off by the city; this spurred new competition in the industrial sector. The most noteworthy of the new faces in Flint came all the way from the Dreaming. An Eladrin by the name of Lord Caliphray Nachtwald had bought up several of the factories, setting off a veritable riot of rumors amongst the city's elite. The more conservative crowd are cautiously optimistic that this could mean a shift in the Unseen Court's stance on technology; others were worried, because the only other prominent fey that weighs in on the matter is the terrorist Gale. What's more the fey lord was attending the ball as well.
Kirk reunited with Irony, and they quickly searched the ball for another Eladrin. The constables' hopes sank when they confirmed their suspicions; Lord Caliphray was Calaphax's Eladrin persona. In the week they had been absent, Calaphax had been busy establishing a firm power base in Flint.
The constables have a firm lead in Ber to follow, but the situation at home seems to be spiraling out of control. How long can they afford to leave Lorcan Kell alone to pursue his ambitions, and how far can they trust the helpful devil that is slowly sinking his claws into the cities political power base?
| GM: | Hmm it seems no matter how abbreviated I make the update posts, they are still really really long.
I guess it may be because we have long sessions and accomplish a lot in each one. |
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