How to get away with murder
It takes only a few minutes and Mapple opens his eyes, looking confusedly at us and asks us what happened as he cannot remember anything besides a loud bang. We take this opportunity to tell him that he's a hero who fought against the bandits with his bare hands and managed to crush quite a couple of them. Then the train driver comes to us and says that he saw Mapple throw heavy objects as if they were nothing, so maybe he could help getting the barricade off the track. When Mapple tries to interact with the wood however, the barricade turns out to be an illusion spell
(again: Jackasses, all of them! But now we at least know why the train stopped so abruptly).
We still take Mapple to Malia Baccarin and tell her about the man's heroics. We argue that he'd deserve at least a third or second class ticket to wherever he'd want to travel, being a hero of this Avery Coast Train. Malia agrees and she also thanks us and Cardiff for our effort. We explain that we are berans which means that the strong protect the weak and their turf and don't hide in their compartment like cowards. Also, we are quite used to fighting raptors as they are part of the natural environment of our homeland. Cardiff just says that his father insisted to give him a proper military education.
We enter the train and Malia shows Mapple where he may find an empty seat. We make sure that everyone we come along hears the story of the kind “heroic stowaway” who protected them all from the bandits and the passengers seem thoroughly impressed.
(
Putting Mapple on open display was a bit of a gambit. After all, it was 'officially' him who stole Isobel from Elanor. But Margit had made sure that the matchmaker would miss the train and be unable to talk reasonable words for the next day and Elanor's guards were part of the enclave hotel staff and wouldn't be traveling with us. On the other hand, sweet Mapple was - again - the perfect scapegoat for our heroics. After all, the train's driver saw his superhuman strength and also him getting shot in the head. So we just kind of made him the first official train superhero.)
Then we move back towards our compartment. On our way there, Boone just found himself another young woman and is shamelessly making out with her. He brags with his deeds and says that he just bravely protected all the nice ladies in here.
This is the final straw for Hector, who really risked his life to save the other passengers. He growls that he despises cowards like Boone who, despite their superior gunslinger skills, prefer to stay in the rather safe first class wagons among security and a veteran like Bree while the poor second- and third class passengers die like flies to monsters and bandits. Boone shrugs and replies that it surely isn't his job to protect the passengers as this is what the security officers are for. This causes Hector to call him an honorless scumbag and he spits out in front of Boone's feet while Boone spits out in return.
We turn to leave the Tiefling, but Hector tackles him when he passes Boone before hissing quietly “You only act tough when your shooting targets are little girls. I know
exactly what kind of despicable person you are”.
We are only a few steps away from the Tiefling when Hector suddenly hears a faint warning by a familiar sounding female voice inside his head: “Take cover, child!”. He instantly ducks and barely escapes being shot in the head by Boone who's looking hatefully at his adversary. Hector whirls around, draws his weapons and cuts the Tiefling all over the chest. Amira draws her weapon as well and tries to jab at Boone, but is held back by bystanders. “Let me go! He tried to kill my husband!” she shouts and calls for both the security and the opportunity to pierce the “murderer's“ heart in retaliation.
Fortunately, Malia Baccarin and her staff see no reason to doubt our attempted murder story as we have enough witnesses and so Boone is put under arrest and chained to a bar in one of the baggage cars. Even if no one knows why the charming Tiefling would all of a sudden lash out that violently.
This time it is Hector who takes Amira's hand to lead her to our compartment as he seems a bit uneasy. We come across Bree Kaldeckis, who is almost awaiting another scolding akin to Boone. To her surprise, Hector says that he can totally understand why a danoran veteran would stay to protect her sovereign's nephew as this was her duty and she'd surely fight and die for her Jierre youngster. Bree laughs as she didn't expect that and states that she's somehow relieved to see the shady Tiefling arrested and would love to see him hung for his crime. She doesn't go into more detail though.
We leave Bree and return to our compartment while Malia Baccarin calls for “the doctor” Victoria Royceton to care for Mr. Boone's wounds somewhere in the background. Once inside, Carlyle takes a few seconds to get his mind straight and then apologizes for letting his encounter with Boone escalate that much. He's ashamed that he endangered their mission just because his emotions got the better of him. He explains that Boone now knows that he's well aware of the tiefling's nightly activities due to his mistake, which is why he needs to kill the guy before matters get even more out of hand. Auryn replies that she completely understands his feelings and isn't mad at his emotional outbreak. She says that he simply got a very fine sense of justice and that's why he cannot let a vile murderer like Boone run free. She admits thinking about possible methods to get permanently rid of the guy as well, but was unable to find a good opportunity yet. So if he got a plan, she'll totally support it.
“Thanks for your help, but this burden is mine to bear.” Carlyle says. “It was my mistake. And I even have an idea how to get to him, now that he's chained up in the baggage cars”
“What about a magical mishap? We're in the malice lands after all, and the bandit's magic 'mysteriously backfired' on them as well” Auryn suggests.
“That's a damn fine idea. Don't worry, I'll shred him to bits in an instant”
So Carlyle waits some time and then turns himself invisible, opens the window and climbs the train's roof. He then moves forward until he reaches the baggage cars and uses the various openings (thanks, hydra!) to get back in and sneak up to Boone. There he releases his astral rift power to make it look like Boone just tried to escape via magic, had a mishap and got turned into small Boone bits. He then returns to Auryn the same way he left, looking relieved, but also unusually grim.
(
Now when the scene with Boone happened, I was kind of surprised by Carlyle's unusually direct show-off with Boone. We suspected the guy to be possessed by some malevolent, demonic force inside of his pistol, but couldn't find any means of cleansing or stopping him. At least not without risking to blow our cover.
Anyway, Carlyle is usually able to keep his posture no matter the circumstances. He only gets loud or intimidating when he really wants to. Not because he's enraged, but rather to make a statement. So I thought that either the identity of Hector had influenced his thoughts in some way or there had to be an aspect of Boone that really ticked him off. I now know what it was all about, but as this is linked to Carlyle's past and will be brought up later, I don't want to spoiler it at that point )
Despite our heavily damaged train we manage to easily pass the border to Drakr which is marked by a giant tower. We reach Trekhom a bit later where the weather is even more icy than in Beaumont. The snow here seems grey though as it catches the smoke emitted by the massive ironworks that are spread throughout the city. Parity Lake doesn't seem so bad right now...
Before we arrive at the train station we are visited by Malia Baccarin who tells us that she's sorry to inform us about the tragic deaths of 40 passengers who died during the attacks in the malice lands. A 41st dead person was found a bit earlier as it appears as if Olivert Boone exploded in a wild magic effect. Even if she's sure that we for one won't miss him after all that happened earlier. We play both surprised and also a bit relieved at this news.
Malia then tells us that the dead will be brought to a theater in the city where their families may say goodbye to them. She also mentions that there have been accusations against the Avery Coast Railroad company due to the security issues in the Malice Lands, but we say that we won't be charging them as long as Malia makes sure to abolish these dangerous safaris. As long as the train isn't filled with all-beran passengers that is. We also muse that the dead dwarf we performed our ritual on might have cursed the whole train despite our effort. Which is why we suggest further rites to calm the spirits of the other dead people.
At the station we are told that our dead people changed the schedule of Vlendham Heid, one of the most popular eschatologists in Drakr. He was supposed to hold a talk, but in light of this tragedy decided to debate about the nature of death and the proper ending of life and maybe all of the world. Amira doesn't seem so keen on eschatology, but she's a panoplist, so she won't miss this opportunity to learn about this aspect of drakran culture. Damata Griento who's looking pretty down as well despite knowing his family safe asks us whether we'd like to accompany him to the event, so we agree to join him.
We talk a bit with Damata and find out that he must have had a hefty fight with his wife, but don't inquire further. Once we reach the theater, the dwarven philosopher turns out to be quite easy-going and serene. He explains that he got paid to talk about his philosophy, but decided to take this opportunity to remember those who died in today's tragedy. He says that every life finds an end someday, which is the whole nature of life, so the only thing that truly matters is whether or not someone can lead a fulfilling life till its proper end. Then he offers all attendees the opportunity to ask him questions.
Now Auryn herself would surely wish to ask him a lot of questions as she herself and her Vekesh and seedist philosophies are quasi-detrimental to eschatology, but as Amira is a panoplist, she decides to turn the matter to the afterlife. She explains that in her clan's faith, people are judged by their ancestors after their death. If someone lived for family, clan or their Bruse, then they'll be welcome to live among the honored spirits and given the opportunity to guide those who come after them. Hector wishes to return the question to Heid as he asks him about his own opinion of the afterlife, especially as endings of all kind seem so important to him. Heid replies by laughing and saying that he really doesn't know. He then adds that what happens after the end isn't nearly as important as the path to reach that end.
Damata is the next one to talk to Heid. He says that all these senseless, sudden deaths today made him thoughtful and melancholic. And that they made him think about his life and the way he was leading said life until now.
(
Damn this cover. Auryn would have totally seized the opportunity to talk about the tragedy of death and the impact of loss and all this survivor's guilt. Amira had no reason to fear death though.)
Damata goes on to say that he was tricked by a fraud ( the false Mr. Michael Carlyle) to invest a good fortune of money in what he thought to be the Avery Coast Railroad Company. His shares turned out to be fakes though and so he had to lend a lot of money (200,000 gold) from the Familia to cover his expenses and continue his business. But now the Familia wants their money back and he doesn't have a copper to spare. So he got all of his clan's family heirloom fetishes to turn them in instead. However, this would be a disgrace for a clan's chief and bring dishonor to his whole Clan Griento.
He now sees that his original plan was full of cowardice and believes that a true chief would take responsibility for his failures. Which is why he plans to fight the local branch of the Familia, like every good and honorable chieftain would. However, he knows that he cannot do this alone which is why he asks for volunteers to help him on this mission. And to no one's surprise, he turns to the “capable raptor hunters” and compatriots, the Fernandez.
We feel honored by Damata's request and say that his plan is honorable as well, but ask him to carefully go through his plan's details. We tell him that the Familia is no ordinary foe one could fight a clanswar with. Instead, they are masters of fighting in the shadow, using dirty methods like assassination, poison, bribery or blackmailing. Starting a war with the Familia will also ensure to endanger all of his family, including his kids. We agree to help him though if he promises to discuss the plan with Ejeka and gets her okay in return. We explain that we deem it the wrong approach to put his family in grave danger without their knowledge or agreement. Damata thanks us and promises to talk to his wife before getting into action as his meeting is scheduled to be in Nalaam.
(
Now we know that Cippiano wouldn't drag kids into a Familia feud, but we neither know whether this Don is an exception nor would the Fernandez know much more about the Familia than what one could possibly know as an urban business owner)
After the talk, we go down to the hall of the dead as Carlyle wishes to calm the restless spirits and send them to the life beyond. He manages to guide the forty passengers, but he's also harassed by the still malevolent spirit of Boone who curses his adversary and swears that he'll get his revenge someday.
(Now I hope he's only taunting Carlyle... Boone was already crazy in life, and we don’t really wish to see him return as some sort of Poltergeist)