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Tizbiz Zeitgeist Campaign
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<blockquote data-quote="Tizbiz" data-source="post: 7107485" data-attributes="member: 6874057"><p>We venture to the inner city to shop for crucial equipment for our trip to Cauldron Hill as we'd like to make is as safe as possible. Just when we finished shopping, it is clear to us "out of the blue" that Nevard will probably need a while to reach his contact by foot / mule. (<span style="color: #0000ff">Obviously players misread signs sometimes. Macbanning telling them “ist not raining the next days” does not mean “almost dying Neward ist ready to race to Cauldron Hill” on short notice. It even is the name of this adventure.</span>). Since we assume that the weather will stay calm for the next few days, we decide to spend the rest of the time investigating Nilasa's contacts. After we pick up the report of the blood analysis (<span style="color: #0000ff">the name of the bloods owner was missing, because I was not really prepared for the spell and needed a quick solution without giving away too much information that early. Later their new NPC assistant told them that it was odd that the name was missing and did a new test.</span>), we travel to the “blue birds” pension and ask for the whereabouts of the mysterious doctor. The pension's receptionist tells us that the man, Dr. Wolfgang von Recklinghausen had departed 2 days ago and seemed to have been in a hurry.( <span style="color: #008000">I wonder if Recklinghausen is based on the von Recklinghausen M.D. family...</span>) She tells us that Recklinghausen was a Danoran citizen (<span style="color: #0000ff">actually from one the malice states but the maid did not know this information and the players never bothered to ask at the embassy</span>) who had planned an excursion to Ber and therefore had to name two people as "contacts" who could vouch for him: a colleague, Dr. Barnaby Camp and a human biologist from Pardwright University, Lynn Kindleton. Otherwise he had been a very nice and generous man. She is willing to take us to his vacant room, where he has left some of his traveling equipment behind. Therefore we suspect that he will not have left the city yet and might be hiding somewhere else. Unfortunately, we cannot gain any more clues from his equipment as some documents are clearly missing. The receptionist also tells us of a policeman, a certain Mr. Porter, who had come to the pension two days ago and asked for the doctor as well. This guy did smell strangely like burnt oil and after a bit of searching we find a handkerchief with an oily "blood residue" in a trash can which could belong to the man the doctor supposedly attacked. </p><p></p><p>Since we suspect that either Porter or the doctor would have taken the missing documents with them, we go to the corresponding police station and ask for their colleague Porter. However, we quickly realize that there is no police officer with his name working there. (<span style="color: #0000ff">there was a young errand boy working for the police force who was called when they asked for a Mr. Porter working for the police</span>) When we study the report on the blood analysis, we find that the blood has to belong to an augmented human being who has been attacked by Recklinghausen. Since Porter is nowhere to be found, we decide to visit the two contacts of Recklinghausen, as we suspect that they might know more about his whereabouts or have even given him shelter.</p><p></p><p>Camp, who is maintaining a medical practice nearby can not help us much further, but describes the earlier work of Recklinghausen and mentions that he is in the process of combining healing, magic and alchemy. Apparently Recklinghausen achieved pretty amazing results. He had been on his way to Ber and had good contacts with Lynn. He also tells us that a certain Porter visited him earlier and we ask him not to give the man any more information since he is definitely not a Risuri police officer. Instead, he should immediately report back to the RHC or the next police station should Porter return to him. </p><p></p><p>Our path leads us to Pardwright University where Lynn seems to be in a practical pathological exercise. After dismissing her students, she shows herself to be unusually repellent and anxious. She agrees to accompany us to the RHC, but would only like to talk to us there. We guess she that Porter already paid her a visit and is therefore overly careful. After arriving at the RHC, Lynn realizes that we are actual RHC agents. In our office, she tells us that her highly esteemed Dr. Recklinghausen, with whom she had studied together at the university (<span style="color: #008000">and with whom she is obviously in love</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">Never really understood where that impression came from but I went with it as the players mentioned it. Lynn and the Dr. got to be a couple later and left for a honeymoon in Ber.</span>) has recently gone undercover. However, she was able to keep in touch with him via written letters. We offer her to stay in our office, if she is afraid of Porter, but ask her to send a letter to Recklinghausen in our name. She agrees to hand over the letter "at the usual address" (<span style="color: #008000">the butchery under her flat</span>) and to describe "both agents of the RHC " as trustworthy people. As her letters are always picked up in the morning, we decide to call it a day.</p><p></p><p>On our way home, Carlyle decides to pay “our” street cafe a visit. There he is watching the man we only know as "Don Cippiano" as he plays boule with a group of children. After a while, Cippiano decides to sit next to Carlyle, but the two do not exchange other words than a polite "good evening".</p><p></p><p>Auryn changes into her leisure clothes and heads to Riot-Room philosopher Hennet. She tells him in private that she does have an interest in philosophy, but she does not want to be compelled or put on display. In addition, she has kept both her identity and occupation a secret, as, being an Eladrin, she has a lot to lose. Therefore does not want to risk someone being able to have a complete picture of her too quickly. Hennet seems to understand and Auryn suggests that the students might be able to use their commitment and money for a good cause: to find a good lawyer who might help the strikers / trapped workers. She hands him her essay on the necessity of authority (<span style="color: #008000">laws protect the weak and authorities ensure that they are implemented; in an anarchy only the strongest rule. For more details, take a look at the actual essay</span>). Furthermore, she discusses the possibility of a charity concert for financial support for the workers with Thames Grimsley.</p><p></p><p>The next morning we trace the very complicated path of Lynn's letter back to a warehouse and the headquarters of the Kell Guild, the Scoundrel's Theater. (<span style="color: #0000ff">I made the letter pass a lot of different hands so the players saw the extend of the networking of the enemy yet it failed to impress the players as they felt they could corner the gang boss on its own turf. I even made a point to let the players overhear a conversation of red scarfed gangers leaving the theater of scoundrels that they are at “war” with the RHC</span>) As the letter is nowhere to be found, but we are still sure that Kell and his guild have to know its content, we decide to perform a surprise attack through an upstairs window. Our target is the guild's leader, Lorcan Kell. We plan to wait until there are only a small number of guild members with him, rush to him and hold him at gunpoint. Or swordpoint. (<span style="color: #0000ff">both players specialise in melee only and it is a running gag that they should buy some guns soon</span>) This way, we might use the brief element of surprise to get information from Kell and run for it before he can summon reinforcements. When Kell's crooks start beating up the “artists” at the stage, we see an opportunity to both sneak up on Kell and maybe stop their brutal act. Unfortunately, the crooks are more attentive than suspected, and we are quickly surrounded by Kell's men. The situation seems pretty tense, but luckily we can convince Lorcan Kell to dissolve the whole affair without bloodshed as he seems to be interested in establishing contacts within the RHC (<span style="color: #008000">and having dead constables would be considered a very bad start</span>). We quickly realize that he knows where the missing doctor is, but Kell demands a compensation for his important knowledge. Since he is apparently waging a secret war with the Familia, he suggests that we could do him some favors regarding the Familia's bravuras. But as we are not interested in dragging the RHC into a feud with an international crime organizations, we politely deny his request. Instead, Auryn proposes to perform in private for the "obvious art enthusiast" (<span style="color: #008000">although she is more than just disgusted at the thought of entertaining such a creep</span>), but the Guild's leader would rather see 10,000 gold. We explain that negotiating sums this high is far above our pay grade and that we'd have to discuss this matter with our superiors first. (<span style="color: #008000">Glad we made it out alive... plus Auryn was utterly afraid that Kell might recognize her being an Eladrin. </span><span style="color: #0000ff">Oh, I missed that business opportunity </span><span style="color: #0000ff">completely</span>)</p><p></p><p>When we are back in the RHC and present our case to Delft, he categorically rejects paying Kell for information, but he agrees to observe the area around the Scoundrel's Theater.</p><p></p><p>Since the "event" will probably take place at the Bayou on the evening of this day, we decide to take a look at the mysterious “house elf” beforehand. The house elf turns out to be no elf at all, but a honeybadger-training gnome. The little guy starts tossing around snippets of knowledge of magic, animals, alchemy etc. at Auryn, which, to the gnome's surprise and delight is countered by her likewise broad knowledge. While the two are engaged in conversation, Carlyle takes the opportunity to search the house of the magician. He discovers various buckets of lightning powder, and a passage to the neighboring house , the shop of Ms. Waryeye, on the upper floor. In addition, Carlyle finds several undeclared alchemical vials in a vault. (<span style="color: #0000ff">he found some nasty traps to</span>) When her colleague is finished with his examination, Auryn declares herself to be an acquaintance of Nilasa and starts talking about her grim fate. She tries to tell him that she'd promised to be Nilasa's replacement “in case of events” and that she wants to accompany him to the bayou. The gnome, however, rebuffs her, and after we leave him alone, he heads to his wife's house via the hidden passage under the roof. As Carlyle already expected such a move, we confront the two gnomes when they try to reach their carriage. After a brief exchange of charm spells (<span style="color: #008000">Carlyle manages to resist, but the gnome falls to Auryn's “you're my good friend” spell</span>), the gnomes tell us that they would be expected at an exchange of money which would take place in the Bayou this evening. However, they are now too scared to take us with them, which is why we decide to head to Pine Island on our own (<span style="color: #008000">silly gnome could have put more effort into helping out her new dear friend...</span>).</p><p></p><p>When we arrive at the pier in the Bayou, we discover a group of Risuri on a boat who are led by a Crisillyiri. After we've checked all our options (<span style="color: #008000">the piranhas in the water turn sneaking through the water into a very dangerous affair, distracting the piranhas could in turn alert the crooks ...</span>), we decide to openly declare to be substitutes for the gnomes. After getting some side-eyes, the guys who seem to be members of the Familia take us with them on their trip to the Avery Islands. (<span style="color: #008000">After what happened in the Scoundrel's Theater, we thought that fighting 8 Familia bravuras wouldn't sound like a particularly healthy plan. Especially because from our point of view, the Familia seems to be the more powerful organization.</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">They are smarter and far more likeable than the red scarfed Kell gangers.</span>)</p><p></p><p>Near the Islands, we meet up with another ship. The other ship's crew hands the bravuras three chests containing special, universally usable wands in exchange for a total of 160,000 gold (<span style="color: #008000">150k in bills, 10k in gold pieces</span>). After the transactions, the Familia members get back to the bayou and share some delicious chicken pasta with us and we befriend a nice bravura called Pietro. One of the three crates is handed over to some run-down people onshore, and we recognize some of them as Nevard's guardian druids. We are pretty sure that possible wand-based attacks or sabotages can be prevented after a conversation with Nevard and / or Gale and decide not to intervene (<span style="color: #008000">especially as the ship is still full of Familia members...</span>).</p><p></p><p>The other boxes are driven by coach to a well-known cafe, where an equally well-known Don Cippiano is interested in who else is arriving alongside his two boxes. Since he seems obviously aware of who we are and who we work for, he greets us with a warm smile and invites us to a cup of very good coffee and small snacks. (<span style="color: #0000ff">he gave his bravuras a “we speak later of how you where fooled by the RHC” look</span>) He explains that his people want to gain a foothold in this region and that he wants to gradually take root in Flint's underworld. But since the Familia represents certain moral principles, does not want to work at the expense of the ordinary people and would rather exploit rich people and other gangs, we agree that, for now we don't need to disturb Cippiano's work, as long as he refrains from endangering the peace and security of Risur. In addition we decide to give the Don a small crash course on the special characteristics of Flint. He tells us that he already made an agreement with Renard's people and will have to put up a fight with the Kell guild in the not so far future (<span style="color: #008000">again, no problem for us as we don't like these brutal creeps either</span>). We ask him to keep an eye out for a certain Dr. Recklinghausen, and he promises to do what he can in this regard. We give him the advice to be careful when it comes to matters of the Fey (<span style="color: #008000">they might be heading towards a civil war now and we make sure he understands that Ethelyn's supporters are considered traitors</span>) and look at the well connected Guy Goodson. He also asks us to be lenient with his "godchildren", the bravura, should they happen to kick over the traces. We say that we will not act against Risuri laws for his sake, but may put in a good word. By and large, we are under the impression that the Don Cippiano could be quite a decent man.</p><p></p><p>The next day, we are both surprised to find a small package containing a new espresso maker and a packet of good coffee at our doorstep. When we report the issue of our late-night meeting with the Familia to Delft, he does not seem to be averse to the agreement as long as Cippiano's men do not threaten the internal and external security of Risur. He also hands us forms for the "proper declaration of the received goods" (<span style="color: #008000">Carlyle was skeptical as to whether he could accept the gift, Auryn thought it would be an affront to not accept them and was already considering to give the Don a home-grown flower in return</span>).</p><p></p><p>Around noon we finally meet LeBrix in the cafe. The long time of waiting for the danoran security chief finally pay off as he can tell us some new, albeit "purely hypothetical" findings: For example, that he was not even present in the embassy at the time of Nilasa's death. Therefore it had been impossible for him to shoot at her. He confirmed that both Nilasa and Recklinghausen have been frequently in the embassy, suggesting that Nilasa might have told the doctor about her plans. (<span style="color: #0000ff">she wants to tell, that the agents assume that them meeting was no coincidence and they where actually working together from the beginning which later proved to be wrong</span>) When we ask him what kind of sensible documents she could have found in the embassy, LeBrix tells us about ownership documents and secret papers as well as his own investigations in some danoran factories, where strange incidents had taken place. He wanted to get to the bottom of the incidents and found small hidden vials containing a black, stinking liquid, especially in those factories where working conditions were particularly dangerous. However his superior, the ambassador, had prohibited further investigations and kept LeBrix' report in his safe (<span style="color: #008000">which Nilasa had then plundered</span>). From his statements we also suspect that "Porter" could have had contact with the ambassador and also possibly shot Nilasa. (<span style="color: #0000ff">I felt early in the investigation that the players needed a success and had LeBrix be angry about being ordered to cover up the messy death of Nisala and LeBrix actually wanted to someone else to continue the investigation of the witch oil.</span>)</p><p></p><p>We thank LeBrix for his hypotheses and report back to Delft. As a previous investigation about Porter had revealed that he might be a Risuri whose strange condition could stem from an accident, he asks us to continue our investigation in this direction (<span style="color: #008000">even if he really wants to let the presumed veteran have his peace</span>). (<span style="color: #0000ff">The players asked … I think it was Lynn Kindleton … about altered humans assuming she knew about all kinds of biological oddities and I told them half jokingly that as a student she heard about forbidden human enhancement experiments and she suggested that the RHC could possibly have more information about secret government research … well, they asked Delft about the Project and Delft pulled out an old ledger with the title Project X … *pun on x-files intended* The file had some information about different former war research into human enhancement but ended with the new kings decree to end all research into “bleak magic” human enhancement</span>) As for the vials, he is really worried. We discuss a couple scenarios that might justify a massive search in Parity Lake's factories without causing a panic, but we assume that we'd need another RHC division to discreetly examine the whole affair in a timely manner.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Tizbiz, post: 7107485, member: 6874057"] We venture to the inner city to shop for crucial equipment for our trip to Cauldron Hill as we'd like to make is as safe as possible. Just when we finished shopping, it is clear to us "out of the blue" that Nevard will probably need a while to reach his contact by foot / mule. ([COLOR=#0000ff]Obviously players misread signs sometimes. Macbanning telling them “ist not raining the next days” does not mean “almost dying Neward ist ready to race to Cauldron Hill” on short notice. It even is the name of this adventure.[/COLOR]). Since we assume that the weather will stay calm for the next few days, we decide to spend the rest of the time investigating Nilasa's contacts. After we pick up the report of the blood analysis ([COLOR=#0000ff]the name of the bloods owner was missing, because I was not really prepared for the spell and needed a quick solution without giving away too much information that early. Later their new NPC assistant told them that it was odd that the name was missing and did a new test.[/COLOR]), we travel to the “blue birds” pension and ask for the whereabouts of the mysterious doctor. The pension's receptionist tells us that the man, Dr. Wolfgang von Recklinghausen had departed 2 days ago and seemed to have been in a hurry.( [COLOR=#008000]I wonder if Recklinghausen is based on the von Recklinghausen M.D. family...[/COLOR]) She tells us that Recklinghausen was a Danoran citizen ([COLOR=#0000ff]actually from one the malice states but the maid did not know this information and the players never bothered to ask at the embassy[/COLOR]) who had planned an excursion to Ber and therefore had to name two people as "contacts" who could vouch for him: a colleague, Dr. Barnaby Camp and a human biologist from Pardwright University, Lynn Kindleton. Otherwise he had been a very nice and generous man. She is willing to take us to his vacant room, where he has left some of his traveling equipment behind. Therefore we suspect that he will not have left the city yet and might be hiding somewhere else. Unfortunately, we cannot gain any more clues from his equipment as some documents are clearly missing. The receptionist also tells us of a policeman, a certain Mr. Porter, who had come to the pension two days ago and asked for the doctor as well. This guy did smell strangely like burnt oil and after a bit of searching we find a handkerchief with an oily "blood residue" in a trash can which could belong to the man the doctor supposedly attacked. Since we suspect that either Porter or the doctor would have taken the missing documents with them, we go to the corresponding police station and ask for their colleague Porter. However, we quickly realize that there is no police officer with his name working there. ([COLOR=#0000ff]there was a young errand boy working for the police force who was called when they asked for a Mr. Porter working for the police[/COLOR]) When we study the report on the blood analysis, we find that the blood has to belong to an augmented human being who has been attacked by Recklinghausen. Since Porter is nowhere to be found, we decide to visit the two contacts of Recklinghausen, as we suspect that they might know more about his whereabouts or have even given him shelter. Camp, who is maintaining a medical practice nearby can not help us much further, but describes the earlier work of Recklinghausen and mentions that he is in the process of combining healing, magic and alchemy. Apparently Recklinghausen achieved pretty amazing results. He had been on his way to Ber and had good contacts with Lynn. He also tells us that a certain Porter visited him earlier and we ask him not to give the man any more information since he is definitely not a Risuri police officer. Instead, he should immediately report back to the RHC or the next police station should Porter return to him. Our path leads us to Pardwright University where Lynn seems to be in a practical pathological exercise. After dismissing her students, she shows herself to be unusually repellent and anxious. She agrees to accompany us to the RHC, but would only like to talk to us there. We guess she that Porter already paid her a visit and is therefore overly careful. After arriving at the RHC, Lynn realizes that we are actual RHC agents. In our office, she tells us that her highly esteemed Dr. Recklinghausen, with whom she had studied together at the university ([COLOR=#008000]and with whom she is obviously in love[/COLOR] [COLOR=#0000ff]Never really understood where that impression came from but I went with it as the players mentioned it. Lynn and the Dr. got to be a couple later and left for a honeymoon in Ber.[/COLOR]) has recently gone undercover. However, she was able to keep in touch with him via written letters. We offer her to stay in our office, if she is afraid of Porter, but ask her to send a letter to Recklinghausen in our name. She agrees to hand over the letter "at the usual address" ([COLOR=#008000]the butchery under her flat[/COLOR]) and to describe "both agents of the RHC " as trustworthy people. As her letters are always picked up in the morning, we decide to call it a day. On our way home, Carlyle decides to pay “our” street cafe a visit. There he is watching the man we only know as "Don Cippiano" as he plays boule with a group of children. After a while, Cippiano decides to sit next to Carlyle, but the two do not exchange other words than a polite "good evening". Auryn changes into her leisure clothes and heads to Riot-Room philosopher Hennet. She tells him in private that she does have an interest in philosophy, but she does not want to be compelled or put on display. In addition, she has kept both her identity and occupation a secret, as, being an Eladrin, she has a lot to lose. Therefore does not want to risk someone being able to have a complete picture of her too quickly. Hennet seems to understand and Auryn suggests that the students might be able to use their commitment and money for a good cause: to find a good lawyer who might help the strikers / trapped workers. She hands him her essay on the necessity of authority ([COLOR=#008000]laws protect the weak and authorities ensure that they are implemented; in an anarchy only the strongest rule. For more details, take a look at the actual essay[/COLOR]). Furthermore, she discusses the possibility of a charity concert for financial support for the workers with Thames Grimsley. The next morning we trace the very complicated path of Lynn's letter back to a warehouse and the headquarters of the Kell Guild, the Scoundrel's Theater. ([COLOR=#0000ff]I made the letter pass a lot of different hands so the players saw the extend of the networking of the enemy yet it failed to impress the players as they felt they could corner the gang boss on its own turf. I even made a point to let the players overhear a conversation of red scarfed gangers leaving the theater of scoundrels that they are at “war” with the RHC[/COLOR]) As the letter is nowhere to be found, but we are still sure that Kell and his guild have to know its content, we decide to perform a surprise attack through an upstairs window. Our target is the guild's leader, Lorcan Kell. We plan to wait until there are only a small number of guild members with him, rush to him and hold him at gunpoint. Or swordpoint. ([COLOR=#0000ff]both players specialise in melee only and it is a running gag that they should buy some guns soon[/COLOR]) This way, we might use the brief element of surprise to get information from Kell and run for it before he can summon reinforcements. When Kell's crooks start beating up the “artists” at the stage, we see an opportunity to both sneak up on Kell and maybe stop their brutal act. Unfortunately, the crooks are more attentive than suspected, and we are quickly surrounded by Kell's men. The situation seems pretty tense, but luckily we can convince Lorcan Kell to dissolve the whole affair without bloodshed as he seems to be interested in establishing contacts within the RHC ([COLOR=#008000]and having dead constables would be considered a very bad start[/COLOR]). We quickly realize that he knows where the missing doctor is, but Kell demands a compensation for his important knowledge. Since he is apparently waging a secret war with the Familia, he suggests that we could do him some favors regarding the Familia's bravuras. But as we are not interested in dragging the RHC into a feud with an international crime organizations, we politely deny his request. Instead, Auryn proposes to perform in private for the "obvious art enthusiast" ([COLOR=#008000]although she is more than just disgusted at the thought of entertaining such a creep[/COLOR]), but the Guild's leader would rather see 10,000 gold. We explain that negotiating sums this high is far above our pay grade and that we'd have to discuss this matter with our superiors first. ([COLOR=#008000]Glad we made it out alive... plus Auryn was utterly afraid that Kell might recognize her being an Eladrin. [/COLOR][COLOR=#0000ff]Oh, I missed that business opportunity [/COLOR][COLOR=#0000ff]completely[/COLOR]) When we are back in the RHC and present our case to Delft, he categorically rejects paying Kell for information, but he agrees to observe the area around the Scoundrel's Theater. Since the "event" will probably take place at the Bayou on the evening of this day, we decide to take a look at the mysterious “house elf” beforehand. The house elf turns out to be no elf at all, but a honeybadger-training gnome. The little guy starts tossing around snippets of knowledge of magic, animals, alchemy etc. at Auryn, which, to the gnome's surprise and delight is countered by her likewise broad knowledge. While the two are engaged in conversation, Carlyle takes the opportunity to search the house of the magician. He discovers various buckets of lightning powder, and a passage to the neighboring house , the shop of Ms. Waryeye, on the upper floor. In addition, Carlyle finds several undeclared alchemical vials in a vault. ([COLOR=#0000ff]he found some nasty traps to[/COLOR]) When her colleague is finished with his examination, Auryn declares herself to be an acquaintance of Nilasa and starts talking about her grim fate. She tries to tell him that she'd promised to be Nilasa's replacement “in case of events” and that she wants to accompany him to the bayou. The gnome, however, rebuffs her, and after we leave him alone, he heads to his wife's house via the hidden passage under the roof. As Carlyle already expected such a move, we confront the two gnomes when they try to reach their carriage. After a brief exchange of charm spells ([COLOR=#008000]Carlyle manages to resist, but the gnome falls to Auryn's “you're my good friend” spell[/COLOR]), the gnomes tell us that they would be expected at an exchange of money which would take place in the Bayou this evening. However, they are now too scared to take us with them, which is why we decide to head to Pine Island on our own ([COLOR=#008000]silly gnome could have put more effort into helping out her new dear friend...[/COLOR]). When we arrive at the pier in the Bayou, we discover a group of Risuri on a boat who are led by a Crisillyiri. After we've checked all our options ([COLOR=#008000]the piranhas in the water turn sneaking through the water into a very dangerous affair, distracting the piranhas could in turn alert the crooks ...[/COLOR]), we decide to openly declare to be substitutes for the gnomes. After getting some side-eyes, the guys who seem to be members of the Familia take us with them on their trip to the Avery Islands. ([COLOR=#008000]After what happened in the Scoundrel's Theater, we thought that fighting 8 Familia bravuras wouldn't sound like a particularly healthy plan. Especially because from our point of view, the Familia seems to be the more powerful organization.[/COLOR] [COLOR=#0000ff]They are smarter and far more likeable than the red scarfed Kell gangers.[/COLOR]) Near the Islands, we meet up with another ship. The other ship's crew hands the bravuras three chests containing special, universally usable wands in exchange for a total of 160,000 gold ([COLOR=#008000]150k in bills, 10k in gold pieces[/COLOR]). After the transactions, the Familia members get back to the bayou and share some delicious chicken pasta with us and we befriend a nice bravura called Pietro. One of the three crates is handed over to some run-down people onshore, and we recognize some of them as Nevard's guardian druids. We are pretty sure that possible wand-based attacks or sabotages can be prevented after a conversation with Nevard and / or Gale and decide not to intervene ([COLOR=#008000]especially as the ship is still full of Familia members...[/COLOR]). The other boxes are driven by coach to a well-known cafe, where an equally well-known Don Cippiano is interested in who else is arriving alongside his two boxes. Since he seems obviously aware of who we are and who we work for, he greets us with a warm smile and invites us to a cup of very good coffee and small snacks. ([COLOR=#0000ff]he gave his bravuras a “we speak later of how you where fooled by the RHC” look[/COLOR]) He explains that his people want to gain a foothold in this region and that he wants to gradually take root in Flint's underworld. But since the Familia represents certain moral principles, does not want to work at the expense of the ordinary people and would rather exploit rich people and other gangs, we agree that, for now we don't need to disturb Cippiano's work, as long as he refrains from endangering the peace and security of Risur. In addition we decide to give the Don a small crash course on the special characteristics of Flint. He tells us that he already made an agreement with Renard's people and will have to put up a fight with the Kell guild in the not so far future ([COLOR=#008000]again, no problem for us as we don't like these brutal creeps either[/COLOR]). We ask him to keep an eye out for a certain Dr. Recklinghausen, and he promises to do what he can in this regard. We give him the advice to be careful when it comes to matters of the Fey ([COLOR=#008000]they might be heading towards a civil war now and we make sure he understands that Ethelyn's supporters are considered traitors[/COLOR]) and look at the well connected Guy Goodson. He also asks us to be lenient with his "godchildren", the bravura, should they happen to kick over the traces. We say that we will not act against Risuri laws for his sake, but may put in a good word. By and large, we are under the impression that the Don Cippiano could be quite a decent man. The next day, we are both surprised to find a small package containing a new espresso maker and a packet of good coffee at our doorstep. When we report the issue of our late-night meeting with the Familia to Delft, he does not seem to be averse to the agreement as long as Cippiano's men do not threaten the internal and external security of Risur. He also hands us forms for the "proper declaration of the received goods" ([COLOR=#008000]Carlyle was skeptical as to whether he could accept the gift, Auryn thought it would be an affront to not accept them and was already considering to give the Don a home-grown flower in return[/COLOR]). Around noon we finally meet LeBrix in the cafe. The long time of waiting for the danoran security chief finally pay off as he can tell us some new, albeit "purely hypothetical" findings: For example, that he was not even present in the embassy at the time of Nilasa's death. Therefore it had been impossible for him to shoot at her. He confirmed that both Nilasa and Recklinghausen have been frequently in the embassy, suggesting that Nilasa might have told the doctor about her plans. ([COLOR=#0000ff]she wants to tell, that the agents assume that them meeting was no coincidence and they where actually working together from the beginning which later proved to be wrong[/COLOR]) When we ask him what kind of sensible documents she could have found in the embassy, LeBrix tells us about ownership documents and secret papers as well as his own investigations in some danoran factories, where strange incidents had taken place. He wanted to get to the bottom of the incidents and found small hidden vials containing a black, stinking liquid, especially in those factories where working conditions were particularly dangerous. However his superior, the ambassador, had prohibited further investigations and kept LeBrix' report in his safe ([COLOR=#008000]which Nilasa had then plundered[/COLOR]). From his statements we also suspect that "Porter" could have had contact with the ambassador and also possibly shot Nilasa. ([COLOR=#0000ff]I felt early in the investigation that the players needed a success and had LeBrix be angry about being ordered to cover up the messy death of Nisala and LeBrix actually wanted to someone else to continue the investigation of the witch oil.[/COLOR]) We thank LeBrix for his hypotheses and report back to Delft. As a previous investigation about Porter had revealed that he might be a Risuri whose strange condition could stem from an accident, he asks us to continue our investigation in this direction ([COLOR=#008000]even if he really wants to let the presumed veteran have his peace[/COLOR]). ([COLOR=#0000ff]The players asked … I think it was Lynn Kindleton … about altered humans assuming she knew about all kinds of biological oddities and I told them half jokingly that as a student she heard about forbidden human enhancement experiments and she suggested that the RHC could possibly have more information about secret government research … well, they asked Delft about the Project and Delft pulled out an old ledger with the title Project X … *pun on x-files intended* The file had some information about different former war research into human enhancement but ended with the new kings decree to end all research into “bleak magic” human enhancement[/COLOR]) As for the vials, he is really worried. We discuss a couple scenarios that might justify a massive search in Parity Lake's factories without causing a panic, but we assume that we'd need another RHC division to discreetly examine the whole affair in a timely manner. [/QUOTE]
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