Constables of the 14th Ward

[Lou]

Raul's investigation 4c

[sblock=hint please?] Wanna give your friendly neighborhood DM a hint as to where you are going with this?[/sblock]

[sblock=explanation]Raul has not yet heard the information about the mapmaker's office, so I thought I would start exploring other ideas that I could in-character....

Are other mapmakers around the city being attacked? Need to seek out other mapmakers.
Where can we get an accurate map of the 13th Ward? Need to seek out other mapmakers.
Are there any maps of the area around and inside the Dammit Wall? Need to seek out other mapmakers.
Are the sewers part of the 13th Ward? (I assumed they were.)

Once Raul hears the report on what was found inside the office:

Is someone planning a new set of tunnels in the 13th Ward? Who would know? Why? Compete with The Shiv?
Is so, did these plans upset someone? Who? Who would know?
Did Lyman stumble on something while in the field in the 13th Ward? Where has Lyman been recently?
Who destroyed Lyman's maps of the 13th? Lyman? The Orcs? Someone else?
Is someone trying to attain or destroy all maps of the 13th? Need to seek out other mapmakers.
If the idea that the sewers (or the 13th) are being used to bypass the Dammit Wall is correct, did Lyman stumble on this while in the sewers?

The bottom line is that Raul is beginning to think that we need to seek out other mapmakers to get some answers.
He is sure that his fellow constables will have other good, or even better, ideas on our next course of action.
[/sblock]

 

[Leif]

[sblock=explanation]Raul has not yet heard the information about the mapmaker's office, so I thought I would start exploring other ideas that I could in-character....

Are other mapmakers around the city being attacked? Need to seek out other mapmakers.
Where can we get an accurate map of the 13th Ward? Need to seek out other mapmakers.
Are there any maps of the area around and inside the Dammit Wall? Need to seek out other mapmakers.
Are the sewers part of the 13th Ward? (I assumed they were.)

Once Raul hears the report on what was found inside the office:

Is someone planning a new set of tunnels in the 13th Ward? Who would know? Why? Compete with The Shiv?
Is so, did these plans upset someone? Who? Who would know?
Did Lyman stumble on something while in the field in the 13th Ward? Where has Lyman been recently?
Who destroyed Lyman's maps of the 13th? Lyman? The Orcs? Someone else?
Is someone trying to attain or destroy all maps of the 13th? Need to seek out other mapmakers.
If the idea that the sewers (or the 13th) are being used to bypass the Dammit Wall is correct, did Lyman stumble on this while in the sewers?

The bottom line is that Raul is beginning to think that we need to seek out other mapmakers to get some answers.
He is sure that his fellow constables will have other good, or even better, ideas on our next course of action.
[/sblock]

OOC: Ok, I see that a word of explanation is in order here. There are three distinct areas underground in Lauralie Summerhome, the sewers (which really aren't very deep at all, and auxiliary to the surface), the Understreets (likewise not very deep and considered to be an extension of the surface streets), and the 13th Ward. The 13th may have some links to the sewers and/or the Understreets, but they are really all separate areas. As far as you know, there is no map of the 13th. This project by Krado Lyman is the first that you have ever heard of such a thing. The "13th Ward" is, of course, not really an official Ward of Lauralie Summerhome at all, it's just local slang. (There is no offical 13th Ward, as that number was omitted by a superstitous city father when the city was originally laid out, and this was what gave rise to the slang term in use today.) Also, with reference to inside the Dammit Wall, it is highly unlikely that it would even be possible to make an accurate map of that area, because buildings, streets, etc. change so often. It is clear that any cartographer who attempted such a map probably wouldn't survive the attempt, IF (and this is highly unlikely) you could find one who was brave enough to even try.

Also, depth is, itself, not an absolute gauge of whether something is or is not part of the 13th Ward. For example, it is widely rumored that the Brotherhood of Eleven's home base communicates directly with the 13th. You have also heard tales of temples to evil gods that are located in the 13th Ward, where all sorts of demonic/diaboloical rites are carried out. But you have never heard of the specific location of any such, and this may be just an old wives' tale.

And, as far as you know, there are no other mapmakers being attacked in the city.

I hope this explanation helps.

 

[Scotley]

Raul will signal to Alarion and others guarding the outside that he is going to circle the area about one block out before settling in about 30 yards away to watch passerbys who may be observing the constables. Anyone taking an interest in our work?

There are several people watching the constables. The second ward is a pretty quiet place. None of the observers appears to be out of place in the 2nd.

 

[Scotley]

[highlight]"Rahvin, please help Moru with the stove since he's acting a bit loopy today."[/highlight] says Darius. While speaking to Rahvin, Darius recalls a trick that Stormcrow had shown him a few months ago. Holding the clipboard at an angle to the light, Darius scrutinizes the top sheet for imprints that may have been left by writing or drawing on the preceding sheet. Then, blackening a couple of his fingers with soot from one of his used torches (or from the stove if needed), Darius lightly dusts the surface of the top sheet with his fingers to make any such imprints legible. [sblock=ooc]Darius will "take 10"+3 for a search check. Or here's a die roll if needed:1d20+3=9[/sblock]

Darius' efforts are rewarded as a series of lines begin to appear on the page. It seems to be a drawing of a series of rooms and passages. There is a notation near the top that must be meaningful only to Krado or perhaps other mapmakers. It is just a series of numbers and letters connected by dashes. Three of the areas on the drawing are marked, "altar, pit, and broken furniture."

 

[Scotley]

Thea pauses for just a moment to gaze quizzically at the inscription left behind. "Bloody amazing, isn't it? Nigh on to functionally illiterate in their own native language- makes it hard to tell if it is a boast or a warning..." Seeing that Moru and Darius had taken most of the easy leads, she began poking through the basket of recent correspondence, looking for any interesting tidbits, then turned to the worktable to see if any recent items might have left crucial traces. While the locked cabinet might be useful, she didn't want to tackle that until the rest of the place had been covered.

Thea finds bills from a local artist's supply shop. A couple of orders for world maps and then something that might be of interest. A letter that reads:

"We found the map most helpful in making a successful foray. We were able to follow it to the area you told us about and we were able to recover some wealth. Unfortunately, the resistance we encountered was significant and we had to withdraw. During the withdrawal we were forced to abandon some items. Sadly, this included the bag containing your excellent map. We would like to acquire another copy of the map and a catalogue of any other maps you may have that lead to similar locations. Enclosed is payment for the replacement map. Please send the map to the 'Fur Burners' care of the 'Dancing Bear' 143 Middlebrook Downs, 14th Ward. Sincerely, Malcolm Blacklung.

 

[Helfdan]

[sblock=OOC]
way to go, Thea!
[/sblock]

 

[Scotley]

Completing his reivew of the area outside the shop, Andrew will make his way back to the shop proper and remain outside as it appears more than crowded. Making the most of his time, he begins to examine the exterior of the building for signs of forced entry or anything out of the oridnary.

Andrew also notices that the local citizens are beginning to gather on the corners to discuss the goings on at Krado's shop. A small cafe down the street seems to be doing a booming business as the locals gather to gossip over coffee. There are no signs of forced entry. The only things of interest are some scuffs and smuges on a drainpipe and wall at the back of the shop suggesting that perhaps someone climbed to the roof of the shop recently. There was nothing of interest found up there earlier. The doors of the shop are secured with good locks and the windows are upright slits in the masonry that would not permit entry to a man-sized burgler even if they were broken out. Note that large windows are not common in Lauralie Summerhome given the cold climate and high cost of glass. Andrew does note the tiny brown stains on the ground outside the door that could be blood.

 

[pathfinderq1]

Thea finds bills from a local artist's supply shop. A couple of orders for world maps and then something that might be of interest. A letter that reads:

"We found the map most helpful in making a successful foray. We were able to follow it to the area you told us about and we were able to recover some wealth. Unfortunately, the resistance we encountered was significant and we had to withdraw. During the withdrawal we were forced to abandon some items. Sadly, this included the bag containing your excellent map. We would like to acquire another copy of the map and a catalogue of any other maps you may have that lead to similar locations. Enclosed is payment for the replacement map. Please send the map to the 'Fur Burners' care of the 'Dancing Bear' 143 Middlebrook Downs, 14th Ward. Sincerely, Malcolm Blacklung.

Thea read through the letter once, then wracked her brain for a moment, trying to see if the names or location mentioned were at all familiar. Then she read the letter aloud to her colleagues in the shop. "Well, gentlemen, this may be a bit of a lead, if we can trace it back... Perhaps the 'resistance' found this abandoned map, and came looking for its maker to prevent some crucial detail from being publicly known."

OOC: Knowledge (local) +11, to see if the names are familiar, roll 21; (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1191071)

 

[Scotley]

OOC: Thea is familiar with the Dancing Bear. It is a tavern and inn of modest quality in the Middlebrook neighborhood near the center of the 14th. It doesn't have a reputation for trouble. She doesn't know Malcolm or the 'Fur-Burners'.

 

[J. Alexander]

Andrew Dresden

Andrew will take a sample of the brown stain then quietly walk over to the cafe where the locals are gathering and evasedrop on the conversations even going so far as to order hot tea and taking a table.